Nice people thread part 6 - thrice by twice as nice :)

fc123

chat post

I have just had the most wonderful morning at the Equestrian Paras. I am now a dressage fan, it was so exciting and different to anything I have ever seen before.

1st OH and I had no idea on what it was all about but my mum used to ride and her very good friend competes in dressage competitions (she is about 75 so there must be ones for older people) so she explained the deal.

We then had to learn as a crowd NOT to clap until horse and rider had left the ring so we all did silent clapping (waving) which wa surreal and for some we were asked not to clap at all.

We learnt about 'companion horses' as we were a bit mystified as to why a random horse would come on and stand nearby for some competitors. This was because some horses like the 'comfort' of another horse being nearby.

Then the commentator (who had a lovely relaxed way of talking) explained how some of the riders became disabled. 2 stuck in my mind , Canadian was a stunt woman in films until she had an accident when she was 34 and was paralysed from the waist down and a German lady who drank insecticide (I assume as a child in errror) which paralysed her torso/legs.

One rider had no legs and I was in awe as she was riding without falling off (I write that and it sounds silly but do you get what I mean?).

So much to say and we saw Natasha of GB get top score for her round and receive her gold for the previous day.

The venue was half full but someone said they usually only ride with about 100 spectators normally so it was special to have so many viewers.


...oh and we did Mexican waves too a 1st for me as I have never done 'a crowd' thing before

lostinrates

So glad you had a great day fc.

Competitors of all ages compete in open competitions in dressage, the only rule is an experience rider and horse combo cannot compete together at rhe lower levels (more complicated than it sounds though) an experienced rider can bring an inexperienced horse up through the levels from the babiest of classes. .

Dressage, done well, is a beautiful thing....when i visit i can bring you stuff to watch (non compeition dressage is even more beautoful imo) and read if you like. You are well built for the sport, and its never too late to learn.

Edit, you are rifht bout it being impressive to ride with no legs, legs, and bum, are the key parts of riding, communicating and staying on both. good riders have excellent pelvic floors too.

silvercar

Tell me if you want this deleted.

silvercar

chewmylegoff wrote: »

i wouldn't want anyone coming near my spine with a ruddy great needle even if they told me i'd win euromillions as a result and get to marry a hollywood a-lister of my choice (although this may be because i am already extremely wealthy as a result of being a hollywood a-lister) so i can quite understand LIR's lack of interest...

If you were ever in the throws of an induced labour you may change your mind, not that you will ever be.

lostinrates

silvercar wrote: »

If you were ever in the throws of an induced labour you may change your mind, not that you will ever be.

He might be there for mrs chewy though, and feel more inclined to look well on them.

silvercar

lostinrates wrote: »

Well, elect an epidural, a pain relief option. I am electing to have brain/spine fluid drained through my spine. Its the same place, but a different thing.

I do know some people can get up and drive themselves straight home (consultant told me) but they will purposefully be draining my brain of its cusioning fluid that it likes swimming about in.

Your changing your decision to have it done on the basis of the administration messing up your appointment, not on your assessment of your clinical need.

Fair enough to say you need more time to decide and the delay has given you that time, but not reasonable to say you aren't having it because of the delay.

Years a go the doctor writer in the times compared scan costs between different hospitals. I think he found a range of £250-£1200 for the same thing. He worked out you could go to Cheltenham hospital have the scan and then spend hours shopping in Bicester outlet village for the cost of having the scan at the Hammersmith!

fc123

lostinrates wrote: »

So glad you had a great day fc.

Competitors of all ages compete in open competitions in dressage, the only rule is an experience rider and horse combo cannot compete together at rhe lower levels (more complicated than it sounds though) an experienced rider can bring an inexperienced horse up through the levels from the babiest of classes. .

Dressage, done well, is a beautiful thing....when i visit i can bring you stuff to watch (non compeition dressage is even more beautoful imo) and read if you like. You are well built for the sport, and its never too late to learn.

Edit, you are rifht bout it being impressive to ride with no legs, legs, and bum, are the key parts of riding, communicating and staying on both. good riders have excellent pelvic floors too.

You know what I am soooo glad you wrote that as I read your post from a few pages back last night (but it could have been from 3 days ago..I was catching up) and I was stressed that I had been writing too much about the pointless things I have bought recently (like a damien hirst scarf) and temperature control butter dishes.:o

in my defence.....it's just so nice to have a bit of spare after so many years of every single penny going to pay for schools/kids/work things and so on.


I know riding is a costly hobby but it did get me thinking... I was surrounded by your 'herd' (and I have never been so close to such a large animal in my life) and it was really ok, not scary at all. Maybe I may take it up as a once a week hobby, we have a school nearby.

Not all the competitors could do the sideways step to the corner so well and one horse did a jump up at the start when it should have stood still facing the judges.....she/he then went into an almost canter at one point when the music changed.


The best soundtrack was the music to the Hotel Inspector series (no idea on the real title) and Alex Polizzi is my current secret guru.

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

...

.... deleted it.

fc123

lostinrates wrote: »

He might be there for mrs chewy though, and feel more inclined to look well on them.

I was given one at the later stages of sons birth and had back ache for some years after plus it didn't get rid of the pain at all....OH does remember the nurse not doing it correctly though and trying to re-do it...I think it was a bit of a mess up at the time.


I would re consider in a day or 2.......or wait until the nice GP is back from hols...is that the one you wrote about who was really keen and helpful?

lostinrates

silvercar wrote: »

Your changing your decision to have it done on the basis of the administration messing up your appointment, not on your assessment of your clinical need.

Fair enough to say you need more time to decide and the delay has given you that time, but not reasonable to say you aren't having it because of the delay.

Years a go the doctor writer in the times compared scan costs between different hospitals. I think he found a range of £250-£1200 for the same thing. He worked out you could go to Cheltenham hospital have the scan and then spend hours shopping in Bicester outlet village for the cost of having the scan at the Hammersmith!

Yes, i get this. The latter option, but i have had medical resevrvations throughout.

Anyway,

The great hope of paralympic fpdressage gb is doing his dressage to music on tv right now