How long after birth did you start riding again?

[Upupupintheair]

I’m 20 weeks FTM, and keen to know how soon after giving birth did you start riding again?

I’m riding around once a week at the moment for an hour (a lesson), which is keeping me ticking over and I plan on riding for as long as I’m still comfortable in pregnancy (please no debate about this - it’s what me and my DH are happy with) plus i’m keeping fit in other ways (walking/exercise classes etc) so keeping as active as I can.

Keen to hear about other horsey mums experiences :-) how long should I be taking off? I’m hoping for a natural birth, but obviously being my first i have no idea what really lies ahead!

Sorry you haven't had any replies - bumping this a bit for you. I think it's a really personal question and depends so much not only on how your pregnancy and birth goes, whether or not you breastfeed and how establishing supply goes and also how your baby is, i.e.are they are contented good sleeper you can easily leave with Dad or another relative for a few hours while you ride or are they a screamy up-all-night velcro type? Also how comfortable you feel leaving your PFB with someone else, even if you have a very easy baby plenty of people just don't want to leave them in the first few months ever . I never felt that way personally but even previously fairly laid back types can be taken aback by the intensity of your feelings for a first baby... There's so many totally unpredictable factors basically and it's really hard to know how you'll feel once baby is here.

I've personally known people back up out and competing BE within 2 weeks but also people who literally had no desire ever to ride again after having their babies and everywhere in between, I'd say most keen riders want at least 3-6 weeks entirely off after and then probably take 3- 6 months ish to be back up to their pre-pregnancy fitness and confidence levels, but honestly the best thing is to take it easy, build yourself back up gradually (you will lose a surprising amount of 'riding' fitness being off for a few months but also your body will feel different post-pregnancy so your balance etc may be off for a while) and take things at your own pace rather than committing to anything too extreme or feeling you 'have' to do anything at this stage! HTH

My mare was basically retired when I had my last. I rode her right at the beginning and then at about 30 weeks, when two laps of the arena at walk left me in agony and then with an awkward realisation that I couldn't get off. Luckily DH and kindly mare helped me parallel reverse park against the mounting block and I was able to get off. Had ELCS, and rode again at approx. 4-5 months? Tbh if I'd had a younger horse, who was also slightly more sane (said mare refuses to accept her age and is "bouncy", with added bonus now of not being so steady on her feet), I'd have kept going more throughout pregnancy and got back on sooner. I think if you can keep it up, it will be much easier in the long run. I've now lost all riding fitness and need to force myself back into it.

Depends how sore everything is down there, plus you want to have less relaxin in your system as working hard (instinctively) to stay on with a spook or spin might well be a risk to ligaments...

I wanted my core to be back to reasonable strength before riding again - it was frustrating knowing what I should be doing but not being able to do it which was what stopped me riding during pregnancy (plus getting off was getting uncomfortable!!!)

I waited until after 6 week check and rode a friend’s steady horse who was in work as mine wasn’t. It took a long time to get back into a riding routine properly and energy and childcare were the biggest factors as well as confidence. Things got easier as daughter got older, try not to have too many expectations of yourself or set targets as you can feel a failure if not meeting them. Huge factor is how much help you can get and how determined you are and suitable the horse is. Good luck it is possible and can be great, congratulations on the baby

With my first 5 weeks for a sit and a half hour hack the following week. Vaginal birth with forced and episiotomy. I was uncomfortable for a few days after the hack and left it a couple of weeks before I rode again.

With my second, my horse was out of action but I could have hopped on within a few days without issue.

It totally depends on how your birth goes. Good luck!

@Htp320 my baby was born like that and too tip - not horse related but sitting on horse related - ice cream tub in hospital bag. To keep clean gently sit the tub on top of closed toilet seat with warm salt water in to soak quickly. I think that tip should be on the NCT it really helped me heal.

Top tip I mean

I had a very wide backed and badly behaved Highland when DS1 was born, I rode him during my pregnancy - just gentle hacking until I was struggling to get on and was fine. Although I was OK in other situations after the birth when I started riding again at around 6 weeks I really did struggle with continence, cantering or anything that made me anxious set it off. It did eventually resolve but did come as an unwelcome surprise.

2-3 weeks with the first (after an episiotomy) and 2-3 months for the second (also episiotomy).

After no.2 I couldn't even poo pick for weeks.

@Upupupintheair

Rode day before giving birth (2 kids, both times) and then 2 weeks after and 1 week after (but I am very fit and very experienced and have had my horse for ages). I jumped till [almost] the end of my pregnancy but only little jumps in the end. Did all flatwork and paused CX after I think 3/4 months (due to covid tho).

I'd say do as you feel comfortable with, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise :)

I rode till about 4 months on sensible horses. I left getting back on board after my births till after the 6 week check. That was with relatively straightforward vaginal deliveries.
It is really, really worth taking your health seriously post birth - do the post natal exercises religiously and don't overdo the lifting (we all know what horsey women cam be like!) A friend who was a physiotherapist explained to me that the abdominal muscles take 6 weeks or so to knit back together, and doing too much too soon can prevent this, leading to future back pain, and also stops your belly getting back into shape.
I had people telling me that they were back riding within a week, and good for them, but I was happier to wait.

I rode about 10 weeks after having my first. Just because that’s when I felt like I sort of had a handle on my life again. But it is very dependant on the baby you get abs your personal comfort levels. Mine was BF but happy to take a bottle from DH so that was good.

About 6 weeks after my c section but I gave up riding soon after - it's hard to explain but since having children I am much more aware of my own mortality (or lack of it!) and became petrified of injuring myself or worse and I lost my nerve when it came to horses and other extreme hobbies