Good exercises to prepare for a return to riding?

[Carrotsandcelery]

I am soon to return to horse riding after a break whilst having my babies.

My body is not what it was and I am anxious about how achey and sore I will be after my lessons.

Are there things I can do to prepare for my lessons which will gradually loosen up my muscles and make the experience less of a shock to my system?

Or do I just have to work through the pain barrier?

Your legs might hurt anyway, I ride most days but if I do a bit more than usual there is inner thigh protesting the next day. One thing I had unexpected problems with after a long break from my horse, although did occasionally ride another, was my back/side/shoulders. If I had to not ride for a long time again I'd definitely get help with core stability type exercises at the gym before riding. And I'd start doing thirty minutes of gentler stuff in the school on something less jangly/bouncy, not tearing round the countryside at speed!

Thanks Mitchiest. I am hoping to just start with walking and trotting in the school but I have lost A LOT of muscle tone over the last few years so I am worried even about that.

I have had to change my dismount position so that my c-section scar doesn't touch the knee rolls.

Oh Alpine - I didn't think of anything like that. I didn't have a section but I had severe tearing. I suppose I will just have to wait and see how that goes.

I wasn't expecting it either, just one of those things. Doesn't hurt unless it takes a direct hit. Friends with tears have been back in the saddle at 6 weeks with few problems but you could always get a nice thick sheepskin seatsaver to give you a cushion? Dressage knickers?

I wouldn't worry too much about overall fitness although obviously the goal of core strength applies to anyone. Any form of exercise will have you tender the next day for the first few times.

I ride a bike without problems with the tear and that surely would be worse wouldn't it?

The core strength will take a long time to build up but I really miss it.

I am really excited. [bugrin]

Find a good Pilates class. Excellent for building up your core muscles, and if you look around you can actually find Equilates (Equestrian Pilates) classes aimed specifically at riders. And of course riding is the best exercise to get back into riding! You'll find your muscles build back up in no time at all. I found the loss of muscle tone could be used to my advantage after the birth of my first child - I had lots of riding lessons aimed at ensuring my position was correct and that I built up my muscles to give me the most correct seat possible.

As for having had a tear, I had a third degree tear with second baby, was back riding 5 weeks later (very carefully!) Bought myself a new horse 2 months later, took him hunting a few weeks after that, and 7 months after the tear I am off out tomorrow on a long distance ride. My muscles feel perfectly ready to give my young new horse the guidance he is going to need over the jumps - I'm more worried about his fitness than mine!

Thanks Backinthebox lots of helpful advice there.

Have a great time tomorrow.

second the pilates for core strength but just general fitness - swimming jogging etc will help. Don't worry if you feel wobbly at first, it all comes back to you! Enjoy.

Just get on the horse! Do some short, slow rides at first. Don't expect your body to do what it used to straight away, but it will pretty quickly.