Riding horses during treatment?

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Laurie09
Laurie09 Member Posts: 313
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness

I was wondering if there were any horse people out there who have gone through treatment. 

I'm trying to decide whether it's safe for me to continue riding when I feel OK during chemotherapy.  Not anything serious, just some low key riding when I feel up to it. 

Has anyone else done this? 

Thanks

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  • mizbabygirl4
    mizbabygirl4 Member Posts: 163
    edited April 2009

    Hi Laurie,

    My oncologist vigorously recommended exercise during chemo, provided I felt up to it, and I managed to do some serious lap swimming pretty regularly. I know that's very different from riding, but I can't think of anything about chemo that would hamper your ability to ride--except for the joint and bone aches associated with taxol.

    Hope that helps.

    Janet

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Member Posts: 894
    edited April 2009

    Hi - This really doesn't answer your question, but I saw "horse" and immediately jumped in!! 

     I didn't do chemo, so I'm not the one to answer, but I rode up to my surgery and then after, when my boobette could stand the bouncing, and during rads, when I had the energy.  Just smelling that delicious horsey smell of my boy made me feel so much better!  And, just grooming him when I didn't have the energy to saddle him up was great therapy.

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  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 850
    edited April 2009

    Like Janet, I exercised all through chemo, in fact I teach fitness classes...so I taught an hour at least each day.  I don't see why you can't ride!  It it makes you happy, do it!

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited April 2009

    I went through chemo during hot summer months so the heat really bothered me.  However, on the days I felt well I did ride my very good TB who takes good care of me.  He sensed I was off and was very careful with me.  I actually did a 5 mile trail pace in Sept with him and it was on my 7th Taxol treatment.  I figure I had such a miserable summer I was not going to miss out on a trail ride that I had been so looking forward to.  We did very well.

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  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited April 2009

    my onc thought it was a great idea. she said ride if you feel up to it.  Don't if you don't.  Pretty simple.  After all, isn't everything better when you ride a horse.  Life is good, Horse are better.

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  • Laurie09
    Laurie09 Member Posts: 313
    edited April 2009
    Everything is definitely better when you ride a horse!  No question. Smile  Glad to hear others have kept on riding through treatment.  It helps my outlook on everything so much. 
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  • Jorf
    Jorf Member Posts: 498
    edited April 2009

    I rode as much as I could during my whole treatment. It was a little shaky when I first got on about 10-14 days after lumpectomy/axillary dissection. I said to my horse, "Just don't do anything crazy." She was so very good until some pony nosed around in a trash can that was leftover in the indoor from the horse show the day before. She started to scoot and then stopped. Just a small pull on the arm!

    My biggest thing was that I got much more nervous with treatment. I really didn't want to fall. I didn't have the confidence that I used to have. A 2'6" fence looked like 3'6". I backed off quite a bit with jumping but was fine with my dressage and other flat work.

    Anyway, go for it. If you feel like you're not up to it then don't do it. If you feel like you are then do it. My only concession was wearing gloves more when I was in the barn in terms of the whole germ phobia thing.

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