Rider Feature
ACTHA Monthly |September 2015 | 18
Seize the Season
Patti & RD
When California based rider, Patti Patterson, and her Tennessee Walking Horse "RD", registered as Black Dusts Razzle Dazzle, unexpectedly won an ACTHA Competitive Trail Challenge (CTC) June of last season, Patti decided, “Well, if we can actually win one of these, let’s go for it this season while I still can!”
Patti suffers from an autoimmune disease; Erosive Osteoarthritis (EOA). She started having problems at 45, and she is now 60. Basically, her body attacks and destroys the cartilage in her finger joints, her body then "backfills" with calcium and fuses the joints. The result is disfigured, immobile knuckles and loss of finger mobility. EOA is in between rheumatoid arthritis, which comes on quickly and very painful, and regular osteoarthritis that comes on slowly over time. EOA comes on in spurts and is now consistently painful for Patti. With her loss of grip, she rides with knots in her reins. She cannot squeeze a sponge, "grab mane", or snap her fingers. "It makes life a bit painful and awkward - but I try my best to grin and bear it," Patti explains. "Using my hands as much as I do while riding and grooming is making this disease progress faster; causing me to further lose hand and finger mobility. The longer I ride, the sooner I will become totally disabled in my hands. At the same time, my riding and horse activities save my sanity and are my passion. As a financial advisor, riding helps me to de-stress!"
"I'll have to listen again to them telling me it's time to quit riding... I'm just not ready to close this chapter of my life."