Life Changes
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 10:56 pm
I don’t have any children and all my closest family members live in other states. Many years ago I decided that I NEVER wanted someone else to have to take responsibility for my future. Since I’m a retired librarian I, of course, researched. When I discovered communities that included independent living, assisted living, and memory care that seemed like something to look at. My mother was diagnosed with Altszheimers. So I feel I have to consider that. And all my grandparents and great grandparents lived into their late 80s or 90s so I’m assuming a fairly long life. My original plan was to stay on my horse property until my senior horses all passed on. I did start making a list of communities that I might want to consider. Last year I started touring these communities with no time line in mind, but I wanted an idea what they are like etc. I had a list of 25 or so. In the last years my health has taken some odd twists. Although I’m not a large person I’ve always been physically capable. Then I had two minor surgeries, followed by a frozen shoulder and physical therapy. Then an osteoporosis diagnosis. All of this limited my riding to the point that I rarely did it. Then a little over a year ago my wrist started aching and feeling weak. After doctor visits and weeks of more physical therapy I had an MRI and was diagnosed with torn tendons, torn ligaments, and displaced bones in my right wrist. No i
Specific injury just slow disintegration and over use. Months of therapy etc followed with me resisting steroid injections (I finally gave in on this) and surgery. I now have complete range of motion back but not the strength I once had. Meanwhile I continued to take care of my four horses and five acre horse property with some hired help. Then I lost one of my horses last April to the worst colic I have ever seen. It started as what was probably a mild gas colic then the vet thinks he twisted something. He was humanely put down. That was an emotional roller coaster. I felt so helpless trying to keep him up and not crashing into things etc. Putting him down was actually a relief that he hadn’t hurt me or any of the friends who were assisting or the Vet staff. None of the meds could calm him enough to even try to treat him. Shortly afterwards I found a community that I thought might be a future living possibility. However they had nothing available which was fine since I wasn’t ready yet. I continued touring the rest of my list. I still had two senior horses, one 28 and one 25 plus my pandemic pony rescue. Gwen is now three years into training. She is walk, trot, and canter under saddle with a 13 year old. She is doing some out on the roads and trail work and we are considering schooling shows. Considering that we started her with halter work at eight I’m VERY pleased with her. Then I got an email that the community I thought might work had a brand new two bedroom ground floor apartment available. Shock! Fast forward three months. My property sold in two days. Moving was HELL! Gwen went to my neighbor who had been working with her to be a school pony. My two seniors are 15 minutes away in a boarding place with GRASS pasture! Grass pasture is almost unheard of in Arizona! The 25 year old pony who loves to work is being used by local pony clubbers. The first month was stressful for all of us, especially since it was the hottest summer in Arizona history and my two old guys hadn’t been off my property in years. But all has worked out well. Life changes. I’ve met lots of new people. The life style is very active but slower paced for me. It doesn’t take the physical strength I no longer have. I still go to the barn daily and thoroughly enjoy reading here about all of you and your horse challenges. Change can be good for all involved.
Specific injury just slow disintegration and over use. Months of therapy etc followed with me resisting steroid injections (I finally gave in on this) and surgery. I now have complete range of motion back but not the strength I once had. Meanwhile I continued to take care of my four horses and five acre horse property with some hired help. Then I lost one of my horses last April to the worst colic I have ever seen. It started as what was probably a mild gas colic then the vet thinks he twisted something. He was humanely put down. That was an emotional roller coaster. I felt so helpless trying to keep him up and not crashing into things etc. Putting him down was actually a relief that he hadn’t hurt me or any of the friends who were assisting or the Vet staff. None of the meds could calm him enough to even try to treat him. Shortly afterwards I found a community that I thought might be a future living possibility. However they had nothing available which was fine since I wasn’t ready yet. I continued touring the rest of my list. I still had two senior horses, one 28 and one 25 plus my pandemic pony rescue. Gwen is now three years into training. She is walk, trot, and canter under saddle with a 13 year old. She is doing some out on the roads and trail work and we are considering schooling shows. Considering that we started her with halter work at eight I’m VERY pleased with her. Then I got an email that the community I thought might work had a brand new two bedroom ground floor apartment available. Shock! Fast forward three months. My property sold in two days. Moving was HELL! Gwen went to my neighbor who had been working with her to be a school pony. My two seniors are 15 minutes away in a boarding place with GRASS pasture! Grass pasture is almost unheard of in Arizona! The 25 year old pony who loves to work is being used by local pony clubbers. The first month was stressful for all of us, especially since it was the hottest summer in Arizona history and my two old guys hadn’t been off my property in years. But all has worked out well. Life changes. I’ve met lots of new people. The life style is very active but slower paced for me. It doesn’t take the physical strength I no longer have. I still go to the barn daily and thoroughly enjoy reading here about all of you and your horse challenges. Change can be good for all involved.