weight question please and also can i ride with 1 (and a half) leg?

[frownyface]

Hello, the tack room is my guilty pleasure :)

Im currently extremely heavy, and contemplating starting to ride again when i get my weight down-i just wondered what sort of weight will i need to be to start schooling again-i have 16 stone in my head is that about right?

Also, I am a below knee amputee (right if that makes any difference) and i am unable to wear a prosthetic limb-this is going to cause huge issues isnt it :(

Does anyone have any knowlege please of riding as an amputee? I have ridden with my prosthetic limb on a few yrs back but this is just not a possibility as things stand health wise.

TIA lovely horsey people :)

Im being daft arent I. Its just not possible. It would be nice to get back to something i used to enjoy is all.

have you looked to see if there are any Riding for the Disabled groups nearby? That would be a start for you at least, and then you could move on to regular lessons once you feel more confident.

Most riding schools will have a weight limit. This will usually vary from 12 to 16 stone. Hopefully this will be a good incentive for you to lose a little weight :)

RDA website: www.rda.org.uk/

I once watched an excellent paradressage display at windsor. The riders rode beautifully and they weren't on 'plods' either so I was very surprised to hear that one young lady had two prosthetic legs! (both above the knee I believe). I know you said you can't wear your prosthetic but I'm sure there is still some way you could ride. I'm wondering about the possibilities of sidesaddle maybe?

I used to ride at a yard where a lady with a prosthetic leg rode, she was an excellent rider.

I also read ages ago about a lady who lost a leg and had a specially adapted saddle (she didn't wear a prosthetic leg if I recall correctly).

I would start by contacting Riding for the Disabled.

Good luck.

Of course it's possible - I know of at least one poster on Horse and hound online who is a non prosthetic wearing amputee who rides her own horse that she had prior to her accident . I also had a girl at my wedding who lost the majority of her left arm from just past her shoulder in a motorbike accident . She rides much more competitively than me . I remember she had a bit of a struggle at first from a logistic point of view, but then she went to the RDA , and they were frankly amazing . My saddler was Team GB's saddler for both equestrian teams , Olympic and para Olympic , and apparently they were both as dedicated as each other . Where are you ? I could always ask him as I know he has a huge amount of contacts who might be able to at least send you in the right direction .

And furthermore looking at our local centre , if you're worrying about weight, they don't just have small horses - I was very taken with their 16 hand Percheron . To quote their website - it's what you can do that counts !

Nothing venture eh ? Good luck !

I can't answer about riding with a below the knee amputation, but have ridden at riding schools at 16 stone so that bits definitely possible. Not always cobs either. A well put together Tb carried me the best!

I haven't ridden for a couple of years now, because of my bad back and being too heavy. If I lost weight and worked on my flexibility, I bet I'd be a lot better. Let's both of us get back in the saddle!

Yaaay! Thankyou so much for all the positive comments! :) Really needed them today.

Tomorrow i shall look into things a bit further and have a look at the above link, will let you know how i get on-where theres a will theres a way :)

Thankyou again i shall have happy horse riding dreams now tonight :)

Yep, you can ride again, and the RDA might be a good place for you to start. They should have very quiet horses, who are used to nervous riders, faffing about etc. I would call them and explain your physical condition and see what they can offer you. From a medical point of view, a below-the-knee amputee is considered in a better off position than an above-the- knee amputee - because you still have a knee joint, which doesn't have to be replaced by a prosthetic. This is obviously a consideration for some amputee riders.

Where I am, there are are many, many good riders without the full functioning of their bodies, some of whom are riding dressage at medium level (and higher), which is far beyond what most amateur riders are capable of (certainly beyond what I am capable of!).

Good luck and hope it goes well .

Definitely start with the RDA, but also - have you considered driving as a place to start? These two may be able to help:

www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk/
britishcarriagedriving.co.uk/

Frownyface- a well known show rider lost his leg after a freak accident. He has now returned to riding in the ring at top level again, anything is possible xxx

I once went to a dressage test and there was a lady competing who had one leg (thigh amputation) and she was riding side saddle!

Lose that weight and get stuck in. Cobs can do dressage too (mine got to Trailblazers finals in Novice and Elementary).

I confess my riding school has a 13 stone weight limit - but that said another school has a horse which carries up to 19 stone so it depends on the school really. I would say RDA the way to go

I think RDA - as they will know what adjustments are required to account for your amputation.

Many many riflers, ride at a very high level, with worse disabilities than yours. I am sure if you looked on youtube there would be video's to inspire you.

Where is the school with the horse that carries up to 19 stone?

I do know of a place in Surrey that goes up to 17 stone and will consider experienced riders who are heavier. And yes you can totally ride as an amputee and the RDA will point you to a good place if you phone them :)

I found that many RDA groups don't take adults without LDs (but it varies hugely from group to group), but I relearnt to ride after losing the use of my arm at a riding school which had an RDA group - the instructor was fabulous at thinking her way through what I could and couldn't do, and they had horses that were suited to thinking about their rider.

There are saddles around with velcro patches to give balance to one legged riders, or with deeper seats. A western saddle really holds you in, and they use their lower leg much less than english style, so might be a good thing to try. Lots of options - its just finding the right person to help you find them

I'm a below knee amputee and I used to ride all the time usually without the prosthetic as it just got in the way. I say go for it . I must do the same it's been far too long since I was on a horse.