Bionic Riders Joint Replacements Keep Riders Astride

Robert Gielen,one of Canada’s top endurance athletes, scheduled his knee replacements between competitions. Photo: Robert Gielen Collection

By Tania Millen Reprinted with permission of Canadian Horse Journal.

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.

According to the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry, the number of Canadians having joint replacements has increased 17 percent over the past five years, with 130,000 surgeries now performed annually. In 2017-2018, that included almost 59,000 hip replacements and more than 70,000 knee replacements. Riders are part of those numbers, and with six artificial joints between them, dressage rider Gina Smith, former reining trainer Candace Cameron, and endurance rider Robert Gielen share the benefits and challenges of their joint replacements.

Becoming Pain Free Almost a decade ago when she was in her early fifties, Gina Smith started getting arthritis in her hips. Smith is a Canadian dressage rider who has represented Canada 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 ride and compete, bringing along young horses and aiming for the FEI levels while coaching students of all ages.

“It’s surprising how many people have (joint) replacements and live very active, full lives. The technology improves all the time,” she says.

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 diminishing hip mobility and increasing pain for over 15 years. Although her physician suggested joint replacement, Cameron put it off, unsure whether the whole ordeal would be worth the effort.

“I was incredibly skeptical. I was a doubter,” says Cameron. “It’s major surgery. At one point your leg is detached from your body. I was scared to go under anesthetic.

“But I was really tired of being the weakest link. When we went out with the kids, they had to wait for me. I couldn’t ride anymore. I was lucky if I got 15 minutes in the saddle and then I was a cripple the next day. But six years ago I thought: Why am I putting this off? I may not be here in ten years, or five years. So I went back to the doctor, booked an appointment, and a week later I had a surgery date.”

Cameron had both hips replaced but at separate times — the left hip was worse, so it was done first in June 2019, and once it had healed, the right hip was replaced in September. “Between 10 and 11 weeks after the second surgery, I was back in the saddle.”

In November 2019, Cameron’s surgeon and physiotherapist gave her permission to do any activities she had previously enjoyed.

She felt total relief.

“It’s unbelievable. I would have done this a lot sooner if I’d known. I don’t remember feeling this good in probably 15 or 20 years. More energy. Literally no pain anymore. I had no idea [I was in so much pain],” she says.

“To me, riding is an addiction,” she admits. “I couldn’t conceive of never riding again. But the fact that I was so limited, it hurt a lot [emotionally] not to be able to go for a ride. I just can’t say enough good about it.”

There has been one challenge, says Cameron. “The biggest thing now is that I’m expecting a bolt of pain and for my hips to lock up like they used to. I’m expecting that, and they’re not doing it, so it’s a real learning curve for me.”

Cameron is overjoyed with the results. “It absolutely is a life changer. I’m 50 going on 20 now.”

For more than 15 years, former reining trainer Candace Cameron had been plagued by pain and decreasing hip mobility, which increasingly limited her riding. After two hip replacements, she is now pain free and able to enjoy her riding passion. Photo: Tania Millen

ARIA strongly advocates the use of SEI approved helmets in all mounted activities.

Less than three months after having her second hip replacement surgery, Candace Cameron was back in the saddle.

Photo: Tania Millen

After having both hips replaced in 2012, Canadian Olympian Gina Smithwas immediately pain-free, and now continues to ride, compete, coach, and train young horses. Photo: Donna Saraff Advice for Others Robert Gielen is a 69-year-old Canadian endurance rider who has competed at three World Equestrian Games and now has two new knee joints. “My knees just progressively got worse,” says Gielen. “I’d had a couple of injuries from hockey, and also twisted my knee falling off a horse, and I’ve had two or three arthroscopic surgeries. So, my knees were starting to really bother me. It affected my walking and I couldn’t run anymore. Everyone said I walked like an old cowboy with bowed legs, and I was going through probably six or eight anti-inflammatories a day. It was affecting my riding too. I wasn’t as balanced in the saddle.” As an international athlete, Gielen scheduled his knee replacements between competitions. He had the first knee replaced in July

2017 at age 67, then did a 75-mile endurance ride four months later. But the second knee replacement had to wait until after the 2018 World Equestrian Games. “Once I got the first one done, I realized how bad the second one was. I was fairly uncomfortable waiting for the surgery on that [second] one.” The second knee was replaced in October 2018, and in July 2019 Gielen did a 100-mile ride. “I honestly felt better than I had for years. Within about six months of each surgery, I was back to competing pretty successfully. I’m living more comfortably now having had both surgeries and I think I’m a better rider. I’m waiting to see where the World Championships will be in 2022. I have a good horse that should still be good in two years. I feel pretty good. The sky is the limit again.” Smith, Cameron, and Gielen all found their joint replacements were beneficial for both riding and quality of life.

Smith says, “Any rider looking at joint replacement should definitely consider it sooner than later. The results from anyone that I have spoken to have been very positive.”

Cameron agrees. “Don’t hesitate if it’s restricting what you do. You just don’t know how long you’re going to be here. Why wait? Quality of life is worth something.”

“Have it done when you need it,” says Gielen, “rather than waiting too long until you’re suffering unnecessarily.”

Good advice from a trio who have joined an

Better Than Ever

increasing number of bionic riders.

Robert Gielen competing in a 160 km endurance ride eight months after knee surgery. Photo: Teresa Finnerty