Horseback riding&epilepsy

I have yet to mention this in a post of mine, but I am an avid equestrian. I own one horse named Rogue; she is a 2007 Mustang mare. Yes, she was once wild! I do dressage, show jumping, and cross country with her. Along with riding my personal horse, I also ride some other horses. Riding horses is dangerous, even if you don’t have epilepsy. Horses have a mind of their own and can be unpredictable. I had ridden horses well before I was diagnosed with epilepsy, but since my diagnosis, I have had to implement some extra safety measures for myself.

  The main thing I do is always wear a helmet. If I have a seizure and fall, protecting my head is incredibly important. In addition to wearing a helmet, I never ride alone. Whether the other person is on a horse or just watching me, I go out of my way to make sure there’s someone there to help if I need it. The person that I’m with is also made aware of my condition and what to do if I do have a seizure. I have two different types of seizures, so the individual needs to know how to spot each type of seizure and respond appropriately.

Furthermore, I will not get on a horse if I have forgotten to take my medication if I’m stressed, too hot, dehydrated, or any of my other triggers. Finally, I ensure my horses are desensitized to what it looks like when I have a seizure so they don’t get spooked and possibly trample me. At the end of the day, horseback riding and any other sport can be dangerous, but those with epilepsy must take extra steps to ensure their safety.