Hanging up my spurs, my last time on a horse

11 January 2011, 08:26

Four and a half hours gathering cattle over 1800 acres with three other guys on a filly that hadn't been ridden in a year. She couldn't walk downhill without almost falling on her face, tried to buck me off 4 times. Couldn't watch where she was walking when we got off by ourselves because she couldn't stand being without the other horses. She spent the whole time at a trot because she was too nervous to walk and I spent the whole time up on the balls of my feet with the reins tight so my knees are gone today. I'm too old to fight with these things and after 7 knee operations I don't want to any more.

I officially hang up my spurs and will let the young guys ride the horses and throw the calves. I'll run the branding iron, castrate, notch ears or just sit back and tell the youngsters how much better I did it when I was younger.

11 January 2011, 13:15

Will

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11 January 2011, 15:22

Idaho Sharpshooter

the older I get, the better I was.

Twenty years ago it seemed those calves could be tossed around with one hand while holding mamma down with the other, and biting the ear notch without losing my Redman. What happened?

Rich

11 January 2011, 15:45

Cross L

I sing "I out grew the wagon " By Ian Tyson alot and my knees resemble that remark.

SSR

12 January 2011, 04:23

ravenr

country like that you could ride
a japanese quarterhorse.

14 January 2011, 18:49

jwm

I saw the title and opened this thread fearing some sad tear-jerker of a tale. I'm glad that I was wrong!

14 January 2011, 19:24

sharpsguy

I'd get rid of the horse.

16 January 2011, 00:35

mustbhuntn

No reason to ride a colt when there are so many well broke horses out there.

22 January 2011, 22:46

ledvm

quote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
Four and a half hours gathering cattle over 1800 acres with three other guys on a filly that hadn't been ridden in a year. She couldn't walk downhill without almost falling on her face, tried to buck me off 4 times. Couldn't watch where she was walking when we got off by ourselves because she couldn't stand being without the other horses. She spent the whole time at a trot because she was too nervous to walk and I spent the whole time up on the balls of my feet with the reins tight so my knees are gone today. I'm too old to fight with these things and after 7 knee operations I don't want to any more.

I officially hang up my spurs and will let the young guys ride the horses and throw the calves. I'll run the branding iron, castrate, notch ears or just sit back and tell the youngsters how much better I did it when I was younger.

Why not just get a good horse?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM

A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House

No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.

23 January 2011, 05:19

Fjold

I don't own a hay burner, she's a ranch horse.

24 January 2011, 10:59

Brice

Hell Fjold,
Your top half looks mighty fine. Too bad the lower half ain't keepin' up.
Brice

25 January 2011, 18:59

PARA1977

Dont Give Up! My dad is 61 and just spent a month in Idaho Training Pack Mules, But my mother says this only proves what she has known
her entire Adult Life LOL.

26 January 2011, 17:55

bracer

For me, there is a lot of change in what the body can do going from 55 then 65 then 75 years old. At 55 years elk ,mule deer,pronghorn ,varmints , small game, and birds were hunted on foot and some on horse. At 65 years I would still go after all of them. Now 75 years, the week before deer season damaged my knee I went from deer hunting to hunting from a blind,that not hunting--I may not go next year.

27 January 2011, 02:35

Will

quote:
Originally posted by jwm:
I saw the title and opened this thread fearing some sad tear-jerker of a tale. I'm glad that I was wrong!

Oh no, not another tear-jerking hangin'-up-my-spurs thread again.

27 January 2011, 02:55

wyoske

Nothing wrong with taking it a little easier, we're not 25 anymore.

30 January 2011, 21:36

Painted Horse

I don't like to put the first 30 days on colts any more. But I'm not ready to give up riding. And since Elk and other large game require some method of retrieving them off the mountain, I'll have horses as long I still hunt.

I had always hoped to have some sons to help with the work, but I had 5 daughters and none of them have successfully brought home a son-in-law who was into hunting yet. But not all of them are married, There is still hope for a straping young man to go hunting with me and do all the work.

Last mondays hunt was a serious work out. Took two trips from the kill site back to the truck to haul al the meat and hide.

01 February 2011, 03:48

Tim Vining

Use to be young and tough and able to ride the rough string. Anymore I look to ride horses that are well broke and bomb proof. Its not getting thrown off that bothers me, its the landing.

02 February 2011, 02:23

ledvm

For a cowboy...the old saying goes: "never walk when you can ride".

02 February 2011, 20:07

Fjold

Just got the word from my orthopedic surgeon yesterday. If I continue to work out on my present schedule I will have to have my left knee replaced within the year. If I stop the exercise bike and the evening walks I may get another three years.

04 February 2011, 21:58

ledvm

All I got to say is...go ahead and have the knee replaced now...you'll be glad you did...then ride all you want!

05 February 2011, 05:14

Fjold

Lane,

That's what everyone tells me but my doctor says that because of all the previous surgeries with the screws and staples already in my femur and tibia I may be limited to one knee replacement in my lifetime. I have to have a lot more bone cut off than a replacement normally entails to get clean attaching points. He wants me to try to put it off as long as possible.

05 February 2011, 18:56

ledvm

How old are you?

05 February 2011, 19:42

Bailey Bradshaw

As I have recently learned from bilateral hip replacement......do you want quality of life now.....or three years from now.

As most I have spoken with that have have joint replacements done say, " I wish I would have done this sooner".

I fully understand it is a personal choice, but once again, pain free joint now, or later.

05 February 2011, 20:35

Fjold

quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
How old are you?

05 February 2011, 20:54

ledvm

Frank,

I bet if you took that knee of yours and had that ole gal in your avatar wrap those things around it every night...there could be magical powers!

05 February 2011, 20:56

ledvm

seriously,

If you knee is bad...do it now! At least get an opinion from 2-3 top knee replacement guys in your area!

08 June 2011, 18:28

DUKE NUKEM

quote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
How old are you?

52

A young fella.

09 June 2011, 08:13

DuggaBoye

New procedures and implants show up on an ever increasing frequency--

@52- procedures and implant types not yet developed await your( and my) future.

As Lane said-- get some more opinions--

Call --UCLA, USC, Cedars-Sinai--etc--ask for their top knee guys

Call the local Pro sports teams and ask who their ortho's are etc--

get a tad more data

30 July 2011, 22:17

Atkinson

I ride every day of my life, training my horses or rather tuning them up and keeping them in shape. I work cattle with friends that ranch from time to time. I hunt off my horses as I'm opposed to walking. I am an avid team roper and steer roper and rope with my grand kids and compete several times a month at team ropings and rodeos..I am 76, almost 77 years old, and this is what keeps me young and in good health, some folks run and walk or swim..I ride and rope..without that I would be in a rocking chair. I hunt for a living and get good exercise doing that also and I have no health issues as yet other than aches and pains and cortozone shots from time to time. If you ever quit your meat~!

04 September 2012, 08:31

Fjold

Well, finally had the knee replaced, I got another year and a half out of it.

I lost what was left of my ACL and PCL but they were shot anyway and the new joint doesn't need them. Normally the scar would have been centered on the knee and much smaller but I had scars from previous operations on both sides of the knee so the surgeon cut along one of those instead of risking cutting between them.

I came out of the operating room at 4:00 PM and walked (with a walker) to the bathroom at 6:00 PM. My knee actually hurt less the day after surgery that it did before I went in for the replacement. I didn't take any pain pills since the Percocet they gave me when I woke up after surgery until 4 days later when we started physical therapy.

Sorry for the gory picture, if you're squeemish.

05 September 2012, 07:22

nobody2

Jeesh! I'm a taxidermist & could have done a nicer sewing job......& NOT leave any tools inside!

05 September 2012, 18:41

Gatogordo

quote:
Originally posted by nobody2:
Jeesh! I'm a taxidermist & could have done a nicer sewing job......& NOT leave any tools inside!

Yeah, but you're working with better hides.

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05 September 2012, 19:03

Fjold

quote:
Originally posted by nobody2:
Jeesh! I'm a taxidermist & could have done a nicer sewing job......& NOT leave any tools inside!

LOL, that was 2 days after surgery and it's flattened out a lot lately. There's metal stuff from previous surgeries left in there, I now rattle like a tin can when I walk.

07 September 2012, 23:07

Crazyhorseconsulting

I had a total knee replacement on my left knee in 2006 at 55 years old. Best thing I ever did.

From discussions with the orthopedist that did the surgery and the results from my one year check up, I may never have to have the other knee worked on.

10 September 2012, 07:47

Painted Horse

Are those sutures or staples? Looks like he stapled you back together.

11 September 2012, 05:02

Fjold

quote:
Originally posted by Painted Horse:
Are those sutures or staples? Looks like he stapled you back together.

30 staples. I think that the most painfull part of the recovery was pulling all those damn staples after 5 days.

The knee looks a lot better now.

16 September 2012, 10:45

333_OKH

quote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
Well, finally had the knee replaced, I got another year and a half out of it.

I lost what was left of my ACL and PCL but they were shot anyway and the new joint doesn't need them. Normally the scar would have been centered on the knee and much smaller but I had scars from previous operations on both sides of the knee so the surgeon cut along one of those instead of risking cutting between them.

I came out of the operating room at 4:00 PM and walked (with a walker) to the bathroom at 6:00 PM. My knee actually hurt less the day after surgery that it did before I went in for the replacement. I didn't take any pain pills since the Percocet they gave me when I woke up after surgery until 4 days later when we started physical therapy.

Sorry for the gory picture, if you're squeemish.

As I read this I was confused as to which post to comment on...the one where I gave up on riding and tossing calves at 35...the one where I joked it was animal cruelty to ride at 6'8" and 300 pounds or the fact that after 3 surgeries on my left knee I was holding out for a few years for a knee replacement!

Did I mention I am missing two disc in my neck as well...Crap.!

What type horse do I buy next?

16 September 2012, 21:35

Fjold

quote:
Originally posted by 333_OKH:

What type horse do I buy next?

At 6'8" and 300 Lbs, you have a lot of choices:

I'd say a Clydesdale, Belgian, Percheron or Shire.

16 September 2012, 22:39

Painted Horse

My father has not ridden a horse in years. Probably 30 years. He had both knees replaced 15 years ago. He has been bugging me for years to put him back in the saddle for a ride. I've been too chicken to let him go for a ride.

I just know that one sudden movement from the horse and he would topple off. He struggles to walk from his recliner chair to the mail box.

Yesterday he announced hewas fealing pretty good and wanted a ride around the neighborhood. So I relented and saddled up my oldest and shortest mare. We left his oxygen bottle and cane and got him a step ladder and worked at getting him up and into the saddle. Pretty tough challenge getting his leg over the saddle. He did ride around the block.

The point being, You may think you have given up ridding, But the yearn will return.

24 September 2012, 06:01

Grizzly Adams

quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
All I got to say is...go ahead and have the knee replaced now...you'll be glad you did...then ride all you want!

Wife had bilateral replacements almost 3 years ago. She can ride better than she has for the last 15 years.

Grizz

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