Super Flynn and the para
hoist.
Well now we have the para
hoist up and working (it’s all been paid for from kind donations from, Downend
round table, Pearce brothers mobility and Severn vale riding club) the hard
work begins. We have been training Super Flynn to get use to the hoist. The
first time we did this we made sure we had plenty of carrots!!!
Beth is getting quite good
at setting up the hoist now; we are actually like the McLaren team… I sit and
supervise while Beth stands on a chair and puts it all together. I do wish I
could be of more help and I find it very frustrating that I have to watch! Well
it doesn’t take long now and once we have it all attached and a with a pocket
full of carrots it’s time for the unveiling.
My daughter Stella is in
charge of bringing Flynn round the corner of the lorry while Beth is sitting in
the hoist, What an absolute star Flynn was, He is a 7 year old Connemara with
such a big heart.. He walked round and waked up to the hoist and just stood
there. We moved Beth in the hoist up, down, round and round. The hoist is very
quiet and doesn’t make any noise, so we
could swing her round and let Flynn see what’s it’s all about. Once we had Beth
up alongside, Flynn gets carrots… Nom nom nom.. He is so interested in the
carrots he doesn’t even seem to care that Beth is swinging around his head. We
moved the hoist up into the highest position and let Beth dangle, Stella then
walked Flynn underneath Beth in the hoist and back round, we did this a few
times and I don’t know if it was beginners luck but Super Flynn was truly
super, he never batted an eye lid!!!!!!
So on she went. We moved
Flynn underneath and lowered Beth down…
I think we could change Flynn’s status from super to statue!! (No we won’t
he is super we all know that!!!) Flynn didn’t move, Beth mounted and sat, we
lifted her up and walked Flynn through, making sure we knocked him gently with
the hoist, on his head, ears, back and tail and did the whole process again. I
am happy to say that for his first lesson, he made amazing progress.
A few days later we did the
whole thing again, as before Flynn (the statue) was a star, he just wondered
where the carrots were!! Up her Flynn in the hoist Beth says as she’s waving
them over his head... “Oh up there, what you doing up there mummy” Flynn
says!!!! Ha hah ha-ha he’s so cute. This time Caroline was in charge of
steering Flynn around and under the hoist. It was great to see that Flynn still
wasn’t fazed by the whole thing. This time I was thinking oh get off Beth and
let me have a go!! (most people who know me well know that I am not the most
patient person in the world, so for me
to wait till 2nd time that’s fantastic)
My mouth must have engaged
and instead of thinking it I said it “oh let me have a go” I was so excited,
Beth dismounted and it was my turn. I positioned myself in the hoist and Beth
was in charge of the controls, Up I went and Caroline walked Flynn up to me in
the hoist, carrots at the ready then Flynn’s head was in-between the hoist
sling and me and he’s thinking “well
when I come here everyone tells me I’m a good boy and gives me treats where are
the carrots”!!!”
Then it’s my turn to be hoisted
up and Caroline walked Flynn underneath... Beth lowers me down and I’ve landed.
It was a really hot sunny day, thank god for wearing ray bans!! The tears came
flooding out, I can’t believe it, well after 18 months since my accident I get
my first sit back on a real horse. It couldn’t have been more perfect to sit on
Flynn. Beth was crying too!!! It was overwhelming to have such a special moment
mounting a horse and sitting there, I stayed in the hoist and just went up and
down a few times. This was enough for the first time, I know it doesn’t sound
like hard work, but believe you me… I had to work so hard at balance and
concentration my body aches and my brain!!
The next week we arrange
another hoist session, this time my friend Michelle has the pleasure of
assisting me, the one thing I keep saying is that I need a big team of
supporters; I can’t do any of this para horse stuff alone. Hopefully the para
team at lone oak stables will grow in strength. I think we will call ourselves
“Lone Oak para team” it has a ring to it… we still need sponsorship and am
still looking for help and support with this, I have an amazing sponsorship
offer from Julia Mottram. Keystone physiotherapy that provides human and
veterinary physiotherapy. Julia has offered to work with me and Flynn when we
start out riding together, some of this will be sponsored by her and some will
need to be funded, these are all things which are so important to horse and
rider to be able to work together in harmony.
Well the second mount was
just as exciting as the first. This time we ended up with a bigger audience,
nine people were at the yard today, mostly pulling my leg and spinning me round
and taking the micky (Ian)… all good practice for Flynn and me to get use to!!!
a big audience, (especially when we attend an Olympic stadium!! Ha ha)
Again we started with Beth
in the Hoist, up and down, round and round on and off!! And again super Flynn
stood there so well behaved waiting for the carrots!! So I got into the hoist
and went up and down round and round and round…. And finally settled on top of
Flynn. It feels so high I can’t tell you and I don’t look down. Well this time
I detached myself from the safety of the hoist and I feel like I am leaning to
the left, it feels like a Weston donkey as all I want to do is hold on to the
saddle. How vulnerable do I feel, I had two leaders and 2 side walkers around me,
I am using no stirrups so my legs dangle and my core holds me up... thank god
for seona and the Frampton Fitness sessions.
Sit up and look up, that’s
what I tell myself, my concentration is working overtime now, I want to kick to
go forward, but remember I can’t move my leg!!
Doh!! ”Walk on” I say and try to move my seat and hips. Flynn just
stands there. “Walk on Flynn” I say he just stands there.. The leaders are
actively pulling him now, he takes some slow steps and begins to walk forward,
all of a sudden I think how on earth I will ever be able to ride forward, stay
on top and steer all in one go on my own. I feel so dependent on everyone. Well
we carry on walking and all then it dawns on me we need to turn!! OMG go round
a corner how will I stay on to do that…
I shout to Beth which way
are we going she says to the right, WIDE RIGHT… really WIDE! I am chatting to
Claire and before I know it we are back at the lorry… I actually can’t quite
believe it myself; I’ve just had my first ride. Overwhelming or what. Baby steps
and I will get there.. Time to attach the hoist and get off. Super Flynn just
stands there and we all fuss about sorting the hoist and lifting me up and
off.. I think I need the carrots now not
Flynn!!!
Back on the yard and I am
bloody glad I am still wearing my beautiful new riding hat, as Lin and Beth
were looking at one of the other horses who has an infected bite or something,
I lean over to see what they’re both looking at and the next thing I am going
up in the air in my wheelchair and then bumping down head first onto the yard.
Straight into a massive muddy puddle, I think I wet myself laughing as well as
giving everyone more grey hairs!! Super Flynn who also was leaning over to see
what we were all looking at decided to accidently get his lead rope stuck on my
wheelchair and when he lifted his head up, he took me with him!!! He probably
though “its ok she can fly, she’s always up in the air anyway my new pilot!!!
Let’s see her fly again” Well what a noise I made; none of the horse batted an
eyelid as I went flying across the yard and landing in a heap underneath spot!!
Lucky Lin and Ian (Beth’s
mum and dad) go to the gym as they certainly had a work out that day lifting me
back up into my chair... wet and muddy and still laughing... Note to self must check up on my insurance
policy as realize I am quite a liability to have around.
My weekly riding lessons on
the simulator at the Avon riding centre continue and I absolutely love it. I
have realised this week that I need to change the position I think is straight because
it actually is leaning back and I need to sit more forward with my shoulders,
This is a huge challenge as it feels so wrong and unbalanced, I need to start
to sit more forward and engage other muscles, I need to work more on my balance
ball at home and the equi-trainer I have to push myself a bit more on my core.
I had a setback this week as
needing another cortisone injection into my wrists for my carpel tunnel. My
hands are really painful with pins and needles and this affects everything that
I do, as I use my hands for everything. I also have a urine infection and am
now on another course of antibiotics. I had some bad news from the south glos
CCG saying my application for Botox in my bladder has been turned down for the
second time and I have 28 days to appeal and an argument with wheelchair
services about them cancelling my appointment and then them telling me I did
not attend!!! Wt fudge… so cross!!!!!
Well I also had good news; I
had an amazing phone call with Ann Dunham OBE, para rider, who has given me
some advice and her expertise. I recently enjoyed watching her para display at
Badminton Horse trials 2017, (This was the first time ever para riders have
ridden at Badminton, how amazing and what on achievement) in addition I have an
interview next week... So will tell you more as it evolves as I would love to
secure a stable nursing position. I think I am ready for a change. Even though
more time in the saddle is where I want to be!!! But I am taking things slow and steady. I also
have applied for the leg up for talent apprentice program, so all the
individuals who have followed my blog please look me up on Face book and ask
for a friend request, find me at…
Sallyanne Louise Haigh
I’ve had over 8,647 hits and
views since my blog started! Worldwide,
so there has to be people out there who can help me achieve my goals of 2000
equestrian/ friends and potential sponsorship??? Spread the word!!!! please help Me.
Looking forward to
continuing my training with Super Flynn
Looking forward to
continuing my lessons at the Avon RDA
Looking forward to working
with Beth towards achieving Loan Oak para team
Excited as to what
Legupfortalent.com will develop into
Hoping to stay healthy, as
too busy to be ill…..
Looking forward to seeing
what happens next.
