A new link for those
LadyAmp's who want to get back into horseback riding. Ann from our Message Board
has created a new bulletin board that is specifically for amputee riders,
prosthetists, therapists, trainers, and anyone involved with amputee riders. You
can visit her board here:
EZ
Board-Horseback Riding. Thanks Ann for posting this link!!!I found this link in the Amps4Amps newsgroup. It's from PBS online, and is an intriging read about phantom pain. PBS Online-Phantom in Literature.
Sara was sweet enough to
do the grudge work of finding information on the Internet about rubber boots
that work well for LadyAmps who love gardening. Thank you Sara!! (I've also
placed these links on the
Tips page).Some basic French gardening boots:
http://www.gardenscapetools.com/pages/Boots.htm - This is a nice looking, probably quite serviceable example. I'm not sure the heel is high enough, but it's not dead flat, so it would probably work quite well, especially with all that lovely traction. $50
Wellingtons: The Standard - http://www.wellie-boots.com/usmofcart/original.html English people don't usually say "garden boots" or "rubber boots"; they say "wellies," meaning Wellingtons. These are top of the line, brand-identified -- even have owners' social clubs. People who own them are passionate about them, and apparently for good reason; I've heard of people losing their wellies, but never wearing them out. The "Hunter Original" is probably the best for our purposes, with its nice heel, exemplary traction, and big calf buckle. It is $89, however.
(NOTE: Even if the heel looks big in the picture, so does the sole. When measuring the height of a heel, you really only want to take into consideration the difference in thickness between the sole and the heel. So even though this heel looks like it's an inch or more high, the sole looks like it's at least half an inch thick, so the actual height will nicely meet the arch of your average prosthetic foot.)
Muckmaster
http://www.growersupply.com/muckmaster.html - The groovy thing about these is that they breathe. $98, on sale right now for $79.95
Currin Rubber Work Boots
http://www.currinboots.com/rubberbtwebpg/rubber_workbootsHP.htm- Much of the variety I described above is represented on this one page, from cleats and steel toes to economy models. You see a lot of this type in Southeast Alaska (nicknamed "Skagway sneakers") because of all the rain: http://www.currinboots.com/rubberbtwebpg/xtrtuf.htm
Everyone wears them everywhere, and even eventually wears them out. These, though, look like they might be made just for your purposes: http://www.currinboots.com/rubberbtwebpg/gray%20max.htm I don't see any prices.
A more feminine option: http://www.clogsonline.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Product/asp/product-id/341322.html- These are smaller, lighter, and more fitted. You don't have to roll them down to get them on, but you also can't go calf-deep in mud, compost or manure in them. However, they might be just the ticket for more ladylike activities or just puttering about. They've also got awesome traction and what looks like a perfect heel, they come in some nice colors, and they're only $26.95.
A good deal on another solid choice: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product.asp?wc=true&base_no=64372 - I think Le Chameau is another respected brand of well-made gardening boot, and this is a classy looking but still quite practical boot with great coverage at a sale price of $45.95.
Lacrosse hunting boots at L. L. Bean: http://www.llbean.com/ If you can hunt in it, you can weed-whack in it. Here's another nice, tall boot with somewhat sculpted calf, appropriate heel, traction, and a buckle. You can get it in camouflage so the weeds never see you coming, or go for the nice smooth green.