Jenny S. is fighting her way back into the saddle and already has a next goal

Created: 12/24/2022, 11:50 am

By: Nikola Obermeier

She is happy on the back of her pony Colin: Jenny S. beaming in the saddle during the course with the co-trainer of the para dressage team.

The smiley blanket symbolizes the 45-year-old's indestructible optimism.

© private

When Jenny S. sits on her Colin, she is happy.

She trots, gallops, enjoys long rides in nature.

It's a small miracle that Jenny is even sitting up there on the horse.

Because since the beginning of February, the 45-year-old from Ampermochingen has not been able to move her right leg.

The story of a fighter.

Ampermoching – For Jenny S., nothing has been the same since that day in February.

And even before that, it wasn't what other people would call good.

The 45-year-old from Ampermoching suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease.

No wrong.

She doesn't suffer, she just has it.

"It doesn't help," she says and grins.

Since February of this year she also has a paralyzed leg.

At that point it seemed as if everything that gave her pleasure and strength would be taken away from her: the walks and mountain hikes with her dog Peewee, the rides on her horse Colin.

But Jenny S. fought her way back onto horseback, and she fought to lead an independent life again.

She is eternally grateful to many people who have helped her along the way and are still helping.

If she gets severe, she has to go to the hospital

Jenny S. doesn't say many words about her illnesses and doesn't want pity.

The SLE determines their lives.

During an attack, organs, especially the skin, joints, muscles, tendons and nerves are affected because the immune system attacks the body's own healthy cells.

In addition, there is tiredness, nausea, no performance, and a lot of pain.

"If an attack is particularly bad, I have to go to the hospital," says Jenny S.. Doctor appointments determine her weekly rhythm, she has to take a lot of strong medication.

The incurable disease was diagnosed almost 20 years ago.

Before that, Jenny S. completed an apprenticeship as a wholesale and foreign trade clerk after high school, and made a commercial specialist.

But the lupus was already making itself felt.

Nevertheless, she worked and began studying business administration at the same time - "but then nothing worked anymore".

Twelve years ago she was released from rehab as "unable to work".

Since then she has received a modest pension.

But there was something else: Two years ago, a facial nerve was damaged during a dental operation.

Trigeminal neuralgia developed.

Since then, the result has been hellish nerve pain in the face, which is triggered by wind, cold, shaking and laughter, which resembles an electric shock and occurs several times a day.

She has been in the saddle since she was three years old

Jenny S. has been living with her parents in Ampermoching since she retired.

What she was born with is the love for animals.

Ever since she sat on a horse for the first time at the age of three – her neighbor took her to the Waldfrieden riding facility when she was a child – she has been practically unbearable.

Her be-all and end-all are Colin, a Connemara pony, and fox terrier Peewee.

And in February of this year, it appeared that riding would be taken away from her as well.

It was a Friday morning, Jenny S. was in a friend's office for coffee.

Suddenly her hands swelled up and hurt like hell.

"And her legs had lost their strength and could no longer be straightened." Shortly thereafter, she was unable to move her right leg at all.

"I knew then that I was going to Bogenhausen" - to the hospital.

Surprise party in the stable

She had no idea that it would take eleven weeks – first two weeks in Bogenhausen, then nine weeks in a clinic in Oberammergau.

Also not that there would be no improvement.

The reason why she can no longer control her leg has not been found.

The doctors suspect that a previous shingles has triggered the paralysis.

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My space

The first time after rehab on the horse.

© Private

When Jenny S. was released again after eleven weeks – with a wheelchair and crutches – and came to her collin in the stable in Deutenhofen, her stable mates welcomed her with a surprise party.

"Colin was all dressed up and shiny, there were garlands everywhere and there were cakes.

That was so nice!” The first thing Jenny S. did: She sat down on Colin, just like that, in the box.

And Jenny S. started struggling to get back to an independent life.

Mobile again thanks to the chain of helping hands

Although she had great support: "I am so grateful to my parents, they drove me around every day.

Apart from everything else!” Her parents took care of their dog Peewee, although “they aren't that much animal people”, in the stable other horse owners took care of Colin, exercised him, looked after him.

Friends, acquaintances from the stables and neighbors picked her up and drove her home.

She is also grateful to the readers of the local newspaper, who donated to the chain of helping hands.

Because that's how Jenny S. got a subsidy for her "Flitzer".

An electric vehicle with which she can move independently again and can also go for a walk with Peewee again.

"Without all these people it would not have been possible!"

Mobile again with the "Flitzer": Jenny S. is mobile again with this electric vehicle and can go for a walk with her dog Peewee.

© Private

Then Jenny S. had the saddle modified: "So that my right leg has more support, my saddler fitted it with extra knee rolls that you can move as you like." She went horseback riding a lot and rode on the square - against all odds.

Because there were muscle cramps in the right leg, some of which lasted up to an hour and spread to the arm or the other side.

On a course with the para dressage team

In the summer she consulted a physiotherapist and hippotherapist who was enthusiastic about Jenny S. and her riding.

"She said I should think about whether I want to be active in para-sports." Jenny S. wants.

She found out about a course in the district of Rosenheim with the co-national trainer for the para dressage team, for which a place had become vacant.

"I called my parents, they were on the train to Rome and the reception was bad.

I was completely euphoric and explained to them that I wanted that for Christmas and my birthday!” Her parents didn't hear anything, but said yes.

And so Jenny S. spent three days with her Colin on the course - and has been floating ever since.

"I'm totally blown away, my pony was so good and it was so great!" And trainer Rolf Grebe was enthusiastic about Jenny S.. In addition to the riding lessons, physiotherapy was also on the program in between.

"By the end he had tears in his eyes and he said my leg even moved a little."

weekly injections and further training

Jenny S. now gets a magnesium injection twice a week to treat the cramps, "it's fine with that".

Three times a week she spends the entire morning at the neuro-robotics center in Unterschleißheim.

"Here I also learned to stand freely again, right after the rehab." Her leg is moved passively in robotic medical devices, "so that the joint function is maintained and improved and the muscles are strengthened".

However, the spasticity, i.e. a stiffening of the muscles in the leg, often stands in the way.

And of course the SLE, which doesn't like the cold at all.

It is uncertain whether she will ever again be able to lead a life without a wheelchair and without crutches.

But Jenny S. wants to continue, continue to attend courses with her pony, maybe go to a tournament.

Of course it's all expensive and she doesn't know yet

how to finance it.

Jenny S. only knows: It gives her strength.

Next destination: the Kranzberg

She has another goal, a passion: the mountains.

Her dream is to go up the Kranzberg alone again.

Anyone who knows her believes that she can do it!

"And when I do that, many people have already said that they will accompany me!" says Jenny S., brimming with optimism.