Robert Gielen, one of Canada’s top endurance athletes, scheduled his knee replacements between competitions.
Photo: Robert Gielen Collection
internationally many times, including at the 1988 and 1996 Olympics. She admits, “I could ride, but it involved a fair bit of stretching since the width of the horse was a challenge. It wasn’t comfortable. I was waking up at night due to the pain.” So, in 2012, Smith had both hips replaced. She says, “My surgery was bilateral so both (hips) were replaced at the same time. After two years, it was discovered that one did not grow in properly for some reason, so it was redone. This happens in less than two percent of replacements. [Because of that] the physiotherapy was more extensive to get my body symmetrical again and I continue to work on that.” Smith’s new joints made an amazing difference. “I was immediately pain-free. When I first started back, it took a while for my brain to figure out that straddling an exercise ball or getting on and off a horse would not cause pain.” After her recovery, Smith has continued to
Bionic Riders
ride and compete, bringing along young horses and aiming for the FEI levels while coaching students of all ages.
Joint Replacements Keep Riders Astride
“It’s surprising how many people have
By Tania Millen
full lives. The technology improves all the
Reprinted with permission of Canadian Horse Journal.
time,” she says.
As the riding population ages, joint replacements have become commonplace. Unable to resist the lure of horses, many riders with artificial joints return to the saddle mere months after joint replacement surgery.
(joint) replacements and live very active,
Determined to Ride Candace Cameron took a while to decide that hip replacements were the right choice. Cameron is a former reining trainer in British Columbia who was plagued by
Joint
former reining trainer Candace Cameron,
diminishing hip mobility and increasing
Replacement Registry, the number of
and endurance rider Robert Gielen share
pain for over 15 years. Although her physi-
Canadians having joint replacements has
the benefits and challenges of their joint
cian suggested joint replacement, Cameron
increased 17 percent over the past five years,
replacements.
put it off, unsure whether the whole ordeal
According
to
the
Canadian
with 130,000 surgeries now performed an-
would be worth the effort.
nually. In 2017-2018, that included almost
Becoming Pain Free
59,000 hip replacements and more than
Almost a decade ago when she was in her
“I was incredibly skeptical. I was a doubter,”
70,000 knee replacements. Riders are part of
early fifties, Gina Smith started getting
says Cameron. “It’s major surgery. At one
those numbers, and with six artificial joints
arthritis in her hips. Smith is a Canadian
point your leg is detached from your body. I
between them, dressage rider Gina Smith,
dressage rider who has represented Canada
was scared to go under anesthetic.
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Fall 2020 | Riding Instructor
