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Can’t ride because you’re injured? Here’s some ideas to cope with it!
Equestrian is not the safest amongst all sports, but, even if it was, life is dangerous in itself. As I’m sitting here in my chair with a broken rib, I’m thinking that there should be many other injured riders worldwide. So, what does one do when an injury or illness keeps them away from the yard? First of all, stop weeping. I’ve tried it and it doesn’t work. Unless you live in an unbreakable and immobile bubble, chances are that you’ll get an illness or injury at least once in your lifetime. You’re not the first one nor the last person to be in physical pain. Try to be sociable. Feeling…
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Update on Totilas’ health
After the detailed examinations in the Belgian clinic which he was admitted last Friday, Totilas’ final diagnosis seems to be periostitis, according to the magazine dressage-news.com . Totilas will remain out of competition for at least 4-5 months, and his permanent retirement from shows still remains a possibility. According to the website horse-diseases.com, periostitis is a bone disease which makes the bone membrane swallow, and get thicker and redder than normal, thus making its stripping from the bone very easy. There are three sorts of periostitis: the simple/acute, the suppurative and the osteoplastic. The second and the third form can occur as a result of the first one and all three…
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End of road for Totilas’ career?
Last Thursday was a bad one for the German dressage team at the 2015 FEI European Championships in Aachen. From the first moment of the appearance of Totilas’ and his new rider, Matthias Rath in the arena, it appeared that there was something wrong with the welfare of the multi-million stallion. To the trained eyes, it was obvious that Totilas was lame and in agony throughout the test. His rear left leg appeared sore while Rath was saluting. Later, Totilas -now 15 years old- was taken to a clinic and was diagnosed with bone edema. Consequently, a long pause in sports duties has been advised, with the end of his…
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Health and safety frustration
Dear readers, if you own or manage an equestrian club, this might be a disturbing post for you. Very rude, maybe, but it derives from my experience as a volunteer. I will write my opinion, and well, I don’t give a damn if you have cooperated with me and feel that this post has to do with you. Maybe it does. The Greek proverb says “the one who has the fly feels it”. Besides, anybody can write what he/she wants on the blogosphere. For God’s sake, be a little rational when it comes to health and safety issues. Working with unpredictable animals that weight more than 400 kg, is of…
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The benefits of witch hazel on barn injuries
I recently wrote a post about an injury I had while I was volunteering at a local equestrian club. As the bruises continue coming up, I realize the size of the area affected by the horse’s hoof. Bruises are good, because it means that my foot has started healing. My walk is not perfect yet, but at least I can keep all my toes on the ground. Yesterday it felt bad. I had been feeling well during the day, but, in the evening, when I stood up to get ready for the super market, I felt terrible pain on the most affected part. The pain continued till the time…
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The price of volunteering
And now that the… democratic show has officially ended in Greece, it’s time to return to my daily routine, including regular blogging. I failed to blog so often, as I spent many hours watching live on news websites discussions and updates from the Greek and the rest of the political world. This is so irrelevant to this post, but, anyway, I would like to share it with somebody. Two days ago I volunteered with the new equestrian club. Before I even got up in the morning, the day had been proved a disaster. There was a thunderstorm outside, I had to go on foot to the next bus stop (as…