Horse riders with disabilities or health conditions

Kaci007
Kaci007 Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
in Everyday life

Hello everyone,

I've been having a chat with a few people about horse riders who are disabled or have long term health conditions (invisible illnesses being the bane of their existence) and just wondered if we have any in these forums? My wife loves horse riding but struggles to do it with her health issues, our daughter also loves doing so and she has a few health issues such as hypermobility and her hips are not facing the direction they should be (there's a name for it but I can't remember what it is), and though I don't ride I also have health issues myself so I can relate to certain problems.

What I am finding though is some disabled riders feel they aren't represented in general life very much (obviously in sports there's the Paralympics and the RDA etc) and that horse riding is very much advertised as able bodied people. Whether that be on ads for brands, posters, funny tshirts and mugs, general housewares with horse riders on or horse riding kit, whatever the physical form it takes.

Would you say as a disabled rider you feel under-represented? Is this a genuine problem or am I just happening across a small amount of the population who feel this way and others don't?

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Comments

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 2,828 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @Kaci007 and welcome to the community! My mum has MS and has been horse riding for years. She absolutely loves it and is lucky to have an RDA school nearby. She hasn't ever considered representation but thinks it should be advertised more as it's such a rewarding hobby. She mentioned that the RDA mainly advertise through schools so it's typically children that go. It'd be great for more disabled adults to be able to join.

  • yves
    yves Scope Member Posts: 99 Empowering

    Hi @Kaci007 ,

    I rode my horses everyday untill i became ill. I have a long term condition that has created more conditions and effects my mobility and joints. I rode until it became to dangerous( my horses are definitely not riding school horses ) which was difficult for me to accept. I even miss the daily chores around the yard and the satisfaction of a freshly made stable brings me 😁. There are two RDA's near me, but I haven't used them. There is also a few stables that offer riding for disabled or just being around horses for therapy, so I wouldn't say we are unrepresented in that way as ive noticed these types of places becoming more popular. As for the marketing around horse riders, paralympic riders do have brand endorsements whether thats clothing, horse feeds, tack, photo shoots etc. Im still very involved in the horsey community and family members have their own for competing. Over the years we have come across a lot of riders with disabilities in some form or another. I think the closer you are, the more it becomes apparent.

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 15,375 Championing

    The impression I’m given from people I know is that no-one is actively excluded, but barriers (caused by ignorance or short-sightedness) are put up unintentionally.

    Compounding the issue is perhaps its image as a hobby for the well-off so people are left to fend for themselves under the assumption they can cover the costs. Of course no thought to adaptations or adjustments one may need that money can’t buy!

    That said I’m commenting on the obstacles and by and large it’s a fantastic hobby for people with all kinds of disabilities.

    In a lot of ways it’s as beneficial as a scooter or wheelchair; there are places you can’t go on wheels. A horse might be the most practical way to explore some of the most beautiful places that not being able to walk shouldn’t deprive someone of the opportunity to benefit from

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