Here is a video of my friend Nora and her Hanoverian mare Larissa. She is warming up for her first test at second level. Warming up is very important to Nora because she has rheumatoid arthritis. This means she tires easily, is stiff and has constant pain. She gives herself weekly injections of a biologic called Embrel to keep the symptoms and the damage of the disease at bay.
Nora missed a qualifying score in her second level test 4 by two points. "I picked up the wrong lead and got a four when I should have gotten an easy six or seven. I also found that with the arthritis I'm having a real problem holding onto the reins. This means I'm always fussing with them and that is one reason I picked up the wrong lead. I just ordered some new reins which will hopefully help me keep a better grip on them -- otherwise I may need to go the USEF/USDF and get an exemption for having loops in the my reins so I can hold onto them."
As the average age of dressage riders begins to rise, I wonder what type of accommodations will have to be made for those who want to continue to compete?
Nora missed a qualifying score in her second level test 4 by two points. "I picked up the wrong lead and got a four when I should have gotten an easy six or seven. I also found that with the arthritis I'm having a real problem holding onto the reins. This means I'm always fussing with them and that is one reason I picked up the wrong lead. I just ordered some new reins which will hopefully help me keep a better grip on them -- otherwise I may need to go the USEF/USDF and get an exemption for having loops in the my reins so I can hold onto them."
As the average age of dressage riders begins to rise, I wonder what type of accommodations will have to be made for those who want to continue to compete?
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