COPD

[horsescatsdogs]

I there I'm new to this side any advise or help would be much appreciated. I suffer from COPD, I love Horse riding and applied for my Dressage Test which is due in a Weeks time. I had to cancel it as I struggle with breathing doing the Trot. I just like to know is it good for me to keep on riding or shut I just slow down and just do a bit of trotting.

[Hidden]

Welcome horsescatsdogs your name reminds me of my daughter. This is something which you'll obviously have to decide for yourself, but I would say that life with COPD is a roller coaster of a ride when sometimes you'll feel well able and others not. If you were jumping then it would be different, but I wouldn't have thought Trotting to be much of a problem once you have learnt to time your breathing with the movement. Actually I've just written about 'Lungs' which is relevant here, worrying about this could have an adverse effect. Just take it easy until you get the timing right. Good luck.

[horsescatsdogs in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I can trot a bit but the test is a 4 minute and that is were I struggle with. If I stop in between I'm fine but in this test I can't stop and is getting to me. I so would love to do it. But I think is just better for me just ride a bit.

[Hidden in reply to horsescatsdogs]

Well it's the "getting to you" bit that I was trying to warn you about. Don't give in too easily, be patient and give it a try. Since you love it, the rewards could be great, but you know best. 😉

[horsescatsdogs in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, no I won't give up, I love riding too much just have to take it easy a bit. Is nice I joined this side so many tips and I can use them all. Helps a lot.

[skischool]

Welcome.you will have to adopt a shorter handle or accept an abbreviation such as H,C and D.i just dug out this little snippet which may be of interest and help to you,i didn't realise how much work a rider does in controlling a horse during dressage.

horsenetwork.com/2017/10/do...

Best of luck.. Ski's and Scruffy cat...S&S

[Hidden in reply to skischool]

Excellent link Skis. 👋

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to skischool]

Wow, fascinating link thanks Skis. I had no idea there was so much breathing involved in riding a horse. Not that I'd ever given it much thought. Those deep breathing exercises sound really good 🐎

[skischool in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

The wonders of google,something for everyone,man or beast x

[horsescatsdogs in reply to skischool]

Thank you Skis, I had a look at the Link and is great. I spoke to my Riding Teacher today She will help me as She was a Opera singer and She knows about Breathing. Unfortunately I can't do the Dressage Test this coming Sunday as Christel heard her foot. Takes about a week to heal. But there will be many more riding coming up. Thank you again.

[skischool in reply to horsescatsdogs]

My pleasure :)..... S & S

[Ozzy16]

Hi i have severe copd and have been told to keep doing as much as i can so i would think it's the same no matter what you do so carry on and good luck

[horsescatsdogs in reply to Ozzy16]

Hi ozz16 thank you, yes I will keep on going. Love my riding.

[Izb1]

Hi and welcome to the site horsescatsdogs. Love the picture. I think its marvellous that you are horse riding and cant imagine it could do you any harm. The exercise can only be good providing you are not overdoing it, and i can imagine the effort this requires. I would love to ride, but horse's just dont like me. My sister used to have them on her farm and they would always try to bite me, she just couldn't understand it as they weren't like this with anybody else and put it down to my fear, although i didn't fear them until they tried to bite. Keep on doing what you love and take it easy when you feel the stress x

[horsescatsdogs in reply to Izb1]

Thank you Izb1 sorry to hear that. You not the only one, I have heard People saying that they think Horses do not like them. Thank you for the compliment regards my Photo. That is Christel I tell every one She is mine no one is allowed to ride her (only in a joking way). She belongs to the Riding School were I help out and I can rider. She is my Girl.

[Izb1 in reply to horsescatsdogs]

Christel looks lovely and a calm horse. Great that you are helping out at the stables, again its all good exercise which will keep you fit and thats what we are all aiming for.

[horsescatsdogs in reply to Izb1]

I love this Girl and yes She is so calm. Christel is the only Horse I will ride, I trust her and I believe She know's how I feel.

[Jollj]

Hi, I too am a COPD sufferer but thanks to the sound advice by a lot of knowledgeable helpful people on this site after struggling to walk more than a hundred yards, I now swim several times a week, an able to walk much further distances and am generally in better health all round,exercise however little you can manage is key, good luck on your journey and listen to the regulars on here,you won't go wrong.

[horsescatsdogs in reply to Jollj]

Hi Jollj yes I'm glad I joined this Group it shows me I'm not alone and that we all can do it with help from each other. I have Asthma and Anxiety problems on top of my COPD and it drives me cracy. I always thought I must be the only one. I have loved Horses all my Life, have ridden as Kid. You keep on doing what you do know, never stop. Take care

[lorianxiety]

hi HCD. I wasn't aware until you mentioned it how breathing is so important when riding,i just know that the horse I went on well over 30yrs as a fun thing galloped and that took my breath away,fab experience ,though im no rider ..at present its stress and anxiety that overwhelms me ,it impedes my breathing (I have asthma--though it could well be Ocpd,anyone know the difference as im somewhat puzzled;recently I had a lung function test -which was ok and sort of confirmed asthma,though I know when I took my one and only aattack,it was triggered by dust ….Its great to have a passion and before I get any older would like to find or to rekindle some sort of activity-don't swim,nor drive ,live in a city and nowhere to walk alone.....be glad of some ideas,;I think that you have the attributes that I sadly lack....my niece owned some horses and rode but not dressage ,she has more pluck than I ever will have.sorry to ramble on ,hope you can eventually master breathing technique to enable you to participate in what you obviously love and enjoy.

[horsescatsdogs in reply to lorianxiety]

Morning lorianxiety don't apologise we all struggle with some thing and shut be able to talk about it. I always loved Horses. Had been riding wen I was a Child. Now here in England after over 30 Years later due to some unverseen circumstances then struggling with depression my Son found this Riding School I help now out. I told her all about what was wrong with me and She just said that's ok, no problem and now I'm 2 Years there and wished I had found this Place much earlier.

Can you think of any thing you rely like and go from there? Sewing, Painting, Animals were you can volunteer? I do hope you will find some thing. Take now

[lorianxiety in reply to horsescatsdogs]

hi ,thanks for your reply.yes I would have loved to have followed up on my interests when younger as you did with horses.Anxiety ,both social and health anxiety dampened my enthusiasm......and now that im older want to connect somewhere love animals especially cats and its only 10 weeks since my wee cat took a stroke only 7 this has been a bit of a setback though im struggling on and this forum helps a bit.good luck with your dressage. and glad you renewed your passion which is half the battle to enjoying life as we age lol! take care.

[horsescatsdogs in reply to lorianxiety]

Why don't you google regards volentieren for Cats Sancuries ? Hope this helps?

[lorianxiety in reply to horsescatsdogs]

Im not that confident about joining things especially since my stress levels are high and it does restrict me as I tend to worry more than doing,vbut I hope to eventually join some singing group,though not mornings.A lovely sunny day here and though its not going to last .will take a short walk,;first good day in over a month(typical Scottish weather),hope you have a nice day.

[ilos]

For a long time I thought that I couldn't do dressage tests because of running out of breath. I was surprised when one of the instructors told me that the judges would let me stop between elements to get my breath back. The first time I stopped twice and got 64%. The last one I was relaxed enough to get through without stopping and got 80.6% top of my group! Don't give up. Incidentally, my lung capacity is 43% of what an average 70 year old's would be and I cannot walk more than a few metres. Horses are the best therapy, (you already know that.)

[horsescatsdogs]

Thank you ilos I will have to have a word with my Teacher about that. That would be amazing if She could sort that out for me. I did Dressage Test last Year but there was more Walk in it, this Year is more Trot in it and at the ending just a walk. Yep my Lung is old as a 100 year old I been told. Thank you again.