Dizzy and I have started on a new adventure – horse-riding! Now this is something I was really scared about as I hadn’t ridden since I was about four. It also didn’t help that Dizzy was disgruntled about the whole thing (why were we going to visit horses, when we could be visiting Dizzy’s!). But with a disgruntled Dizzy in tow, I managed to get us there and sitting on a horse. Not only sitting on a horse, but pottering around on our little horse (Ruby) for a whole hour. This week we even did some little exercises, such as stretching our arms in the air and leaning forward to touch Ruby’s ears (even Dizzy had to admit that Ruby is pretty cute!)
We haven’t taken any photos of Ruby yet, so instead Dizzy suggested posting photos of her meeting ponies instead! 🙂
One of the reasons we had decided to try this venture was because of all of the huge benefits horse riding provides for people:
- Helps with core strength
- Improves balance and co-ordination
- Helps with posture
- Creates a sense of well-being
- Strengthens muscles and flexibility
- Can help depression
- Creates a feeling of calm and relaxation
- Just makes you happy 🙂
We are doing our riding with a Riding for the Disabled group, which means all the horses are like little angels. All very calm and patient. 🙂 Just what I needed, even though our horse is the slowest one they have. She really likes the quiet life, unless there is any sort of competition, then she’s off! 🙂 But these groups are really amazing and open to anyone with a disability, you can find out all about them and if there’s one near you here. 🙂
Have you ever started a new adventure or hobby that you were really nervous about, but which didn’t turn out to be nearly as bad? 🙂 xxx
A little Dizzy note! 🙂 Betteryou currently have an up to 50% off sale on all their products. Meaning it could be the perfect time to top up on 
some vitamin D for the winter. By using this little link, it also means Dizzy gets even more ginger nut biscuits…but without there being any extra cost to you. Just click on the little monsters. 🙂
What an excellent idea. Horse therapy is really popular for MSers in Switzerland too. Just had my blood test done and started vitamin D drops straight away as it was really low. I spend as much time outside as I can, dont use sun block and eat healthily, but it seems it isn’t enough!
I can see why. It’s so calming, but also really good exercise. I was really feeling it after about 10 minutes of riding! x And you really would expect that to all be providing enough vitamin d. I’m glad you’re on the drops now though, and in time for winter. 🙂 xxx
Are you riding any real donkeys? 🙂
They don’t have any donkeys. It’s very disappointing for both me and Dizzy. 🙂 But the horses are also very sweet. 🙂 🙂 xxx
I am sure you have suggested them!😀😀
So happy to see you are enjoying your experience with horses.
I am so happy to see you are enjoying your horse riding!😃
I really am! I was so nervous, but they are all so lovely there. And it really does help having the slowest horse. 🙂 xxx
Horses are capable of know what a rider needs. Trust me I know this to be true.
Ruby definitely does. I think we make a good pair. 🙂 xxx
Congratulations on starting riding! I’d love to hear more about it!!!
I am planning to post more about our horse riding adventures in the future. And hopefully some photos of Ruby herself! 🙂 x Hope you’re having a lovely week. xx
Thanks! You too!
I love riding horses! Just remember to wear the helmet just in case the animal gets startled (gets stung by an insect or something beyond your control)! Causes even a sedentary animal to shoot off really quick. Brushing the animal off after your ride is good for both you and your mount! Excuse to spend more time with it.
Do you still get to ride at all? And we do get a helmet every session, we each have our own one with a sticker on. 🙂 And I haven’t done that yet, but we did give her a couple of polos last time at the end, which she seemed to rather enjoy. 🙂 xxx
Awe! so exciting! I am happy you love it! <3
Thank you Carol. We are really enjoying seeing Ruby on a Monday. 🙂 Hope you’re having a lovely week. 🙂 xxx
This is such a great idea! Great pictures of Dizzy as well! Thank you Heather! 🙂
Thanks Christy! And it didn’t turn out to be nearly as scary as I was expecting. 🙂 I hope you’re doing ok. 🙂 xxx
I am thank you! I am glad it wasn’t scary. 🤗
That’s great. I was scared to ride a horse way before I had MS. This is great.
I was so scared! I was driving along really doubting that they would even get me on a horse! But they somehow managed it. 🙂 xxx
I enjoyed both of these posts Heather – I love the bangs on the Shetland pony – how sweet they are. Wonder if they like ginger biscuits too?
I do aswell! And little Ruby on a Monday has them too! 🙂 I bet they do like ginger biscuits too. 🙂 xxx
Ruby was sweet and ginger biscuits would be a treat I’ll bet … Dizzy will be jealous though!! {{{ }}}
I’ll bet that Ruby will love ginger biscuits and I predict Dizzy will be a tad jealous don’t you Heather? {{{ }}}
Good for you! I often think about going riding but I hadn’t thought to see if there was a disabled riding group. Thanks for sharing!!
Definitely have a look. 🙂 It means they really don’t mind about any of our odd symptoms, and they are so patients and lovely, both the people who run it and the horses. 🙂 You also get a couple of people with you at all times, so not much to be too nervous about. 🙂 Let me know if you find one near you. xxx
I will for sure. I grew up going to horse camp and I’ve always missed it. Thanks again for putting the thought back in there!
That’s ok. I also thought it might just be something people hadn’t thought of before. I wouldn’t have known about it unless someone had mentioned it to me. 🙂 xxx
Awww that is adorable. Have a I told you before I love horses and they are my favourite animal? So please post some more photos in future blog posts of the cute horses. Unfortunately we don’t haev a riding for disabled group for adults, The RDA group in Australia only offers sessions for children with disabilities. 🙁 But as an OT I am aware of the many benefits such as improving postural control, gross motor skills, hand eye coordination, strengthening the hip muscles and creating muscle tone as well as the benefits for mental health.
No, you haven’t before. They are wonderful. I did notice most seem to be for children even round here. And where I go only have a couple of adults. x I will try and get some photos of Ruby to post and show you. 🙂 She has a very cute face and fringe. xx Hope you’re doing ok. xxx
Thank you. I am exhausted but trying to think positive and not worry so much about my future. I LOVE horses so much. just such gentle animals.
So much here…having been involved with horse therapy (working with the horses to help them be their very best for the riders) for kiddos with autism, cancer patients, and of course wounded warriors and their families…I know you will gain more than just a fun ‘horseback riding’ outing.
Horses are very healing in ways visible and invisible.
Happy horse therapy, Heather!
They can do so much! And I can definitely feel it exercising my muscles already. x And I just love how soft and furry they are. Ruby has a very long horsey fringe. 🙂 xx Hope you’re doing ok Laura. 🙂 xxx
I used to belong to an RDA group when I was a child – we had so much fun! My favourite was jumping, but we learned a lot about the horses as well, and it was good to get outside and do something active. I really hope you keep enjoying it and experience all the benefits that you listed. X
Jumping and going outside sounds very adventerous! Hehe. x At the moment we are just pottering around indoors, although we did have to try and navigate ourselves round some buckets last week. Ruby had to keep stopping to check their wasn’t any food in them. 🙂 xxx
Haha they probably used the buckets for food so she could still smell it! She didn’t want any to go to waste! XX
Lol, she is a little tubby too. 🙂 xxx
What a lovely new hobby guys. I used to live next door to a Riding for the Disabled centre. such a terrific place. Enjoy xx
They really are amazing. Even patient enough to manage me and Dizzy. 🙂 xxx
This sounds wonderful Heather! I’m glad you found sweet Ruby, and I hope you and Dizzy continue to enjoy your time with her.😊
Thank you Terri. 🙂 And I’m sure we will. It’s so relaxing just pottering around. xxx
Yes! Just this week I joined a creative writing group, where you’re given a prompt, write a story about it for 20 minutes then read it to the group, and at first the thought terrified me to the point where I considered leaving, but I’m so glad I stayed as I actually really enjoyed it! Glad you’re liking horse riding!
You are so brave! The idea of writing something and then reading it out to a group of people sounds terrifying! Well done for staying and doing it. Creative writing is so much fun. 🙂 What was your prompt for your first session? xxx
Thanks! And yep it terrified me as well. We did three different things in the evening, the first prompt was ‘the hat’ the next was three prompts all to be included (going to the zoo, mermaids,broken bicycle) and the final one you were given a new prompt every five minutes to be written into the story. Xx
Woah, that sounds loads, but also amazing! Definitely sounds like it would have got the creative thoughts flowing. 🙂 xxx
I found it so much easier when other people gave me prompts, when I try it on my own I spend more time staring into space!
Lol me too. I can spend hours fussing before I even write anything. 🙂 xxx
Aww this is amazing, I’m so glad you got to go! I’d love to go horse riding, I’ve never been but I’ve always wondered about it. Love the pony pics, was Ruby too camera shy to have hers taken? Will you be going back..? 🙂
Caz xx
You should see if there’s any groups near you. Once I got looking there were quite a few, and most of them you just pay by giving a donation if you can. They really are amazing. 🙂 x Lol, it was more me feeling so relieved I’d managed it that I didn’t even think about taking any photos at the time. I was abit nervous… And I will be. It’s on every Monday. 🙂 xxx
Aah, I’ll see about just horse riding groups rather than lessons, see if anything pops up nearby. To have your local group run every Monday is fantastic, and without having to sign up and pay for sessions formally there’s no pressure either, so you and Dizzy can go whenever you feel up to it. Amazing! 🙂 x
Let me know if you find any. They teach you as you go along in the groups too. I knew how to go and stop after the first session. 🙂 xxx
I love horse riding, but haven’t done it in years. Very good for you. All one has to do is go on a nice long ride and feel the aches and pains the next day! 🤣Very good article. Thank you for sharing.
Lol, an hour ride still provides plenty of aches and pains for the next day. 🙂 But I am really enjoying the riding part. Just need to remember to always have a really long hot bath afterwards to avoid being too achy the next day. 🙂 xxx
This was a fantastic idea! This is so good for you and Dizzy to ride the horses and I have heard it is helpful to build muscles. I loved the pictures and of course Dizzy looked adorable. One of my co-workers has a couple horses and said she would let me ride them, but I am afraid that I don’t know how. I guess I should take a lesson from you and just give it a try! You and Dizzy are my inspiration!! Lots of hugs and love to both of you!!
I would say to give it a try! Dizzy and I were so nervous. I really doubted they would get me on a horse, but it’s actually really enjoyable, and so good for you. 🙂 Just check her horses are well behaved horses and won’t get too excited. 🙂 xxx
This is so awesome, on so many levels! Great photos too! Horses terrify me so I have to add that I think you’re very brave. We had a pony on the ranch as a kid and it wasn’t the nicest…it used to run us kids through the brush. In reflection I can’t say I blame it much. 🙂 Enjoy!!
I wasn’t feeling at all brave on the way there the first day, nearly turned the car around! 🙂 Hehe, he sounds a rather naughty pony! x Did you ever try riding as a kid? xxx
He (Blackie) was so naughty!! And yes, my mom put me on the cattle horse, Jingles, (the horse used to round up the cattle) and the horse took off like a bat out of h*** because I was much littler and it didn’t know what was on its back. Since then I’ve been terrified of horses, but they sure are beautiful and I otherwise love them!
I wouldn’t have liked that either. I did go to a few lessons when I was little, and then one day they decided we had to go faster, I never went back. They didn’t seem to understand that I loved just pottered along! 🙂 xxx
I understand why Dizzy was confused about the need for horses in the picture. After all, if you have a donkey you need little else! But I’m glad you rode and that Dizzy was nice about it.
Before I got hurt I went whitewater rafting. The night before, while viewing the videos of that day’s rafters, I was sure I was going to back out. I’m fully against paying for an activity that could well end in my untimely death. But I did go and I absolutely loved it! I wanted to do it again the next day but we had to travel from Virginia back to Michigan so an extra day was out. It’s one of the things I wish I could do again, along with riding I was an avid rider back in the day.
Lol, Dizzy’s still baffled by the whole thing, but she is quite enjoying our outings. They have a couple of horses that are about donkey size, so she quite likes seeing them. 🙂
Whitewater rafting looks amazing, but I don’t think I would ever be brave enough! It looks really scary and I can’t swim. :/
How has your weekend been? xxx
I’m happy for you and Dizzy for having this adventure.
Thank you! We are really enjoying our horse riding. 🙂 xxx
You’re welcome! That’s really good to hear. 🙂