It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall.
~Mexican Proverb
As I write I am aware that I have the most breath-taking outdoor office. My view? The rolling green pastures, the blue gray Rocky Mountains in the distance, a breeze strong enough to keep the bugs and heat at bay and surrounded by all things horse!
Summers with Gracie at Eagle Feather
When my granddaughter Gracie was small, she and I spent 4 half days at Eagle Feather Riding .
From the time she was five or six, this is how we spent some of our summers. Now she has graduated from high school, is a proficient rider and helps teach other smaller kids how to ride at Eagle Feather!
Kids and grandkids grow up way too fast!
Falls, Sun and Bug Bites – What We Learned
Did she have falls at summer riding camps? Oh yes…a couple of dandy ones. No broken bones thankfully but she did have at least one good sprain that kept her off riding for a few weeks.
Did she or I have too much sun? Oh yes…summer heat without water nearby for me causes me to wilt…and causes horses to be cranky too. Eagle Feather was where Gracie and I learned about a ‘cowboy shower’ – hose and water trough! Always did the job of cooling us off.
Did we get insect bites? Oh yes…the wind was kind most days though and kept the bugs at bay but without wind, we were at the mercy of heat and bug bites.
Our Homeopathic Summer Riding Kit
How did we use my homeopathic summer/riding/rodeo kit? Here are my top suggestions for you.
You will find many uses for the remedies this summer, wherever your travels take you. You can take remedy kits wherever you go and sometimes you will be really glad that you did!
Keep reading and find out what to pack in a little 5+ remedy pouch and what to take in your pocket when riding on the trails!
Sunstroke and Heat Exhaustion
We are having hot days here in southern Alberta and even though we prepare for the heat by drinking lots of water and wearing our riding helmets, it is quite easy to get heat exhaustion or even sunstroke. Each horse and rider have a co-pilot with them, and they do a LOT of walking in the heat, heavy boots plodding away on uneven, mud-lumpy fields.
Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion:
- increased thirst
- weakness
- fainting
- muscle cramps
- nausea and vomiting
- irritability
- headache
- increased sweating
- cool, clammy skin
- elevation of body temperature, but to less than 105°F (40.5°C)
Signs and Symptoms of heatstroke:
- severe headache
- weakness, dizziness
- confusion
- rapid breathing and heartbeat
- loss of consciousness leading to coma
- seizures
- may not be sweating
- flushed, hot, dry skin
- elevation of body temperature to 105°F (40.5°C) or higher
Here is a link to Kids Health resource sheet on how to conventionally prevent and treat heat related illness.
This is one of those times when the body’s temperature can go beyond its set point. (Poisoning is the other situation you may see this.) You are on your way to the hospital if your child or adult is short of breath, faint, lethargic, confused. And if you are a distance from a hospital emergency department, follow these suggestions from KidsHealth.org:
For cases of heat exhaustion or while awaiting help for a child with possible heatstroke:
• Bring the child indoors or into the shade right away.
• Undress the child.
• Have the child lie down; raise their feet slightly.
• If the child is alert, place in a lukewarm bath, spray with lukewarm water, or put cool cloths on their skin.
• If the child is alert and coherent, give frequent sips of cool, clear fluids.
• If the child is vomiting, turn onto their side to prevent choking.
And on your way to the hospital, here are three remedies to give. Read the indications for each. If you only have Belladonna, then give that.
There are three remedies I packed for heat exhaustion and sunstroke. Gracie and I can both get over heated quite easily, so I like to have a choice…just in case!
Belladonna
The #1 remedy for most people, most of the time (pets and horses included) is Belladonna. Yes…the same Belladonna that you use for your child’s fever!
Some symptoms that might make you think of Belladonna:
- Dilated pupils (the black circle in the middle of the colored part practically covers the colored part of the eyeball)
- Burning heat in the whole face, without redness of cheeks or with thirst, body warm and feet cold
- Or…face flushed red, swollen, shining.
- Chill alternating of heat with confusion
- Pulsating headache, pulsating/throbbing artery on side of neck
- Fever 39-40C with convulsions/delirium or unconsciousness
- Fever 39-40C with intense heat of face/head and body cold
Glonoinum
- The speech might sound confused or thick with heaviness of the tongue
- A feeling as if the head were enormously large
Very similar to the symptoms of Belladonna but even more intense.
Gelsemium
Heat stroke symptoms in general but you will likely find that those needing Gelsemium rather than Belladonna or Glonoinum, have trembling and weakness
- Possibly double vision or eye problems
- Heavy feeling or sensation throughout the body
- Head pain in the occiput (back of the head)
- Possibly a feeling of icy cold water running down the spine
Fall off your horse? Get back on and take…
Arnica
- Always your first go to remedy for shock (whoever plans to fall off a horse? No one! But it happens.) and injury where bruising is going to happen.
- Sore, aching bruised feeling. This might even happen after your first day of riding whether you have a fall or not!
- In a serious fall someone might even say to you ‘I’m OK.’ And they do not want you to touch them. Best to insist on Arnica as these are all things someone who really needs Arnica might say.
Aconite
With a fall, a dose of Aconite might be needed as well for the shock if it is sudden, unexpected. You might even see an accident and be affected, go into shock. This would be a good time to take Aconite.
Apis
Bitten by a wasp, bee, black fly?
- Hot, swollen, shiny and watery looking with stinging pain…perfect situation for Apis made from the honeybee venom.
Ledum
This is the other remedy homeopaths reach for when someone is bitten by an insect. Great for any kind of puncture wounds.
Bit by a horse? Take Ledum. It’s sometimes hard to tell if you need Apis or Ledum. You can give one and if it does not help, then try the other.
Hypericum
Stepped on? Ouch!
Sometimes even when you are very careful and your horse is too, fingers and toes can get crushed or stepped on.
- This is one remedy I like to have with me if I think my fingers or toes might get injured.
- Together with Ledum you have the homeopaths remedy for possible tetanus.
In your kit:
Aconite 30
Apis 200
Arnica 200
Belladonna 200
Glonoinum 30
Gelsemium 30
Hypericum 200
Ledum 200
In the Pocket on the Ride:
Aconite 30
Apis 200
Arnica 200
Easy to carry. Easy to share. And you are ready for a giddy-up horse adventure!
Yours in health and healing,
Donna
