Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

  Can you expect to ride again after knee replacement? The definite 
answer is..............it depends. On a lot of things. Here are some of 
those things: 1) The clinical reasons you have the replacement done 
(fracture, osteoarthritis, infection, cartilage thinning etc.,.) 2) Your 
physical condition and history before the procedure 3) The extent and 
success of the procedure 4) The stability of the joint after the 
procedure 5) The extent and result of your post-op rehab, and the list 
goes on. There is a general agreement among most orthopedic surgeons 
(with caveats) that many people can return to such activities as hiking, 
swimming, cycling, and, yes, horseback riding. They aren't usually aware 
of the rigors involved in endurance riding per se, however. They may 
think horseback riding just involves a leisurely ride across a meadow 
for an hour or two. So, again, it depends.
  Now might be a good time to put in a plug for what I predict will 
steadily become more popular in the future, even in endurance riding-- 
the gaited horse. There have been and currently are several good gaited 
horses in our sport. Julie Suhr finished Tevis on her cherished Peruvian 
mare, Marinera. Sue Walz has completed Tevis on her 16 hand Kentucky 
Mountain Saddle Horse at least three times, and finished near the top 20 
last year, I think. I have enjoyed much success on my foxtrotter mare, 
and will take her to Teivs this year. I have also enjoyed very high 
completion rates on several other gaited horses. Karl Phaler has a very 
tough, seemingly unstoppable Spotted Saddle Horse that has over 2,200 
miles. I see more gaited horses in the LD ranks, and I am certain the 
trend will continue, as we are all getting older, and increasing numbers 
of us are showing up at rides with old joint injuries, arthritis and 
joint replacements. I have found that it takes longer to condition a 
gaited breed, but with proper care and conditioning they can not only 
complete, they can compete.
  If I had a knee replacement, I would attack my rehab like Rocky 
Balboa, and find the best gaited horse to keep taking me down those 
trails that I love so much.
  FWIW,   Dr Q


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