Working With Horses

I guess working with horses has deteriorated my elbow. It's is killing me! I don't know whether it is "Golfer's Elbow", or "Tennis Elbow". It comes not from these aforementioned sports (which I do not play) but due to working with horses. Mucking out box stalls can put a strain on the fragile human body. Being body-checked by a horse can also cause unpleasant side-affects.

This page is not an advertisement. I would like to give my solutions to pain and I would like you to also help others in this predicament by sending me your helpful hints on pain fixing.

My left elbow is very tender to the touch and it hurts when I use it. The best solution is to stop using it until it heals. Unless all the horses become constipated or learn to use the toilet, I need to muck out about 9 box stalls a day. Resting my arm is not an option.

Joint Inflamation

I tried analgesic cream (Myflex) but it did not really help. It did help my friend Caroline who had shoulder pain due to single-handedly building a small addition to her house.

Celadrin is a joint cream I got at the local health food store. That seems to work better. It did not work for Caroline.

My doctor gave me a prescription for anti-inflammatory. I might have to try them although I don't like taking any medication other than headache relievers.

Stable Cleaning Tips
Working with horses requires you to work with the right tools helps relieve muscle aches
Try These Simple Solutions

• When Mucking out the box stalls bend from the knees when lifting up the shovel.

• Never swing a full shovel over your shoulder into the wheelbarrow.

• Use a mucking fork that is the right size for you. I use the fork at the far left hand side of the photo. The sides are higher so that manure does not roll out when I lift the fork.

• Bring your wheelbarrow inside the box stall (providing there is no horse present) This saves you trips back and forth with a heavy load on your fork.

• Don't lift a full fork and shake to sift the clean shavings form the manure. To separate the shavings from the manure: pick up a load with the fork and drop the load with a swoosh motion on the floor. This will separate the manure from the clean shavings, then pick up the manure balls with your fork. It saves time - and gets those hidden pieces and is less heavy. It also saves you shavings.

• Use shavings that are fine as opposed to coarse. It is lighter to pick up. (Sawdust creates less dust but is quite heavy. Peat moss is very heavy).

• To save your back use a shovel with an ergonomic handle. If you can't find a mucking tool with that kind of handle, buy a shovel with an ergonomic handle and switch it to your mucking tool.

• Get a massage from a certified massage therapist once and month. (Fat Chance)

• Take a good soak in the bath with Epson Salts and/or bubble bath.(Yea, I have so much free time...)

• Get occasional help mucking to give your muscles a chance to rest. (In my dreams...)