Hi!

I am currently going through some severe health problems which leaves me not able to comfortably ride right now, when that's all I want to do. I have symptoms that mimic MS, Parkinsons, or even something more serious and I'm on my way to get diagnosed. My anxiety is through the roof, obviously, and usually when I get like this I'll spend it with my animals or riding horses, which is difficult for me to do right now. I'm devastated. I finally went riding yesterday only to end up with worse symptoms today. No doctors in the area are accepting new patients so I am traveling 4 hours tomorrow to try a walk-in, as my doctor lives 10 hours away and I'm waiting for a neurologist to call me to set up a date to see them. 

I'm wondering how many people on here suffer from a life-altering health diagnosis, but who still manage to ride, compete, and carry on with activities they enjoy? And if not, how did you still keep your animals in your life?

Im looking for some positivity today, it's been a rough go here. I finally got myself a nice, older 1D barrel horse who is safe and amazing to ride... No health issues. Yet here I am. And I'm only 28. 

Thanks!

There are many of us out here who have had to deal with health issues impacting the ability to ride. For the past two years, severe adult on-set asthma has kicked my ass.  Thankfully, I finally found a great allergist/immunologist about six months ago who has kicked my asthma's ass!!!!!  I am on track to ride and show my horse again.  Finding the right doctor is so important. You have to be your own advocate.  Also, most important is having a SUPER Primary Care Physician.  That's the doctor that coordinates it all and mine helped me find the right person to help me.  And, of course, taking care of yourself with a good diet and exercise. I will never be the rider I once was -- I am 65 years old now.  No more running barrels and roping, but I am having a ball with my western show horse in various events.  I have learned that trail class and horsemanship are pretty darn challenging and showmanship is one of the most difficult and fun classes ever with your horse!  Back in the day I attended college via a rodeo scholarship and led my Women's team to two Ozark Regional Championships -- and was a high school rodeo finals rider every year I competed. I showed reiners, cutters, jumpers and absolutely loved to rope..... and, yes, it was a rather difficult journey to accept getting older and having to slow down, but I found fun and satisfication with my sweet western show horses..... so many great folks in the show world. Some like me -- slowed down from rodeo world. Sometimes we have to regroup.  I am grateful every day to have my two sweet show horses and all the fabulous memories of my rodeo days. 

I have c.o.p.d.. It sucks. I live where humidity is awful so in the summer I can't ride. I do have a wonderful pulnimary dr who has me on inhalers & they do help. As soon as I get the kinks worked out on my horse, I plan on starting to haul. I carry an emergency inhaler. I'm going to take a inhale so to speak before I go down the alley. I don't know what to suggest for you but I will say I'll say a prayers that soon you will be ok & back riding.

I have been dealing with stress induced illness. My work environment was very toxic and trying to stay until retirement was killing me.  Luckily the major source of the toxin found another job.  It has taken me years to find a doctor to help me with my adrenal insufficiency.  That one person leaving has allowed me to cut my cortef (steroid) use by more than a half.  This is helping me to loose weight.  I had to do a lot of research to help myself until I found a doctor that did the right tests. High quality vitamins have helped me a lot. Also mild detox protocols.  I am on my way to better health with this being my last year working full time.  Honestly after the damage was done to my body I just don't have what it takes the give so much energy to work and have anything left for myself.  It takes all I have to gain my health back and I can't work and improve my health status at the same time

After 12 years of misdiagnosing i finally got diagnosed with crohns and had my own colic surgery in june. It's not like it makes it difficult to ride.. but it does.. because I can't tell you how many times I had to turn around on the way to go feed my horses and ride to go find a bathroom. It makes life inconvenient. Now that I've moved that problem is solved for now..  And I have constant fatigue, GI issues.. etc.. now that we are on the right track we are trying to figure out if i need to get on a lifelong biologic or if i can just keep on keeping on since they removed the segment of scarred up intestines. But even that has its complications and now I really have to pay attention to where a bathroom is. It's real sexy for sure. 

Me. I deal with multiple issues that affect my balance and knowing where my hands and feet are. Sometimes I fall off, but I keep riding. If I die doing what I love I'll call it living.