Horseback riding

[Erin18 143]

Just curious as to when it'll be safe to go horseback riding? 6 days post op was thinking about going around late septmber or early October sometime before the wedding

[Erin18 143]

anybody love horses anyways?

[Dita Von Heartless 0]

I love horses and horseback riding for that matter! All the more reason to get my weight down! LOL...

[Erin18 143]

haha, its still exercise, really good for your back too (:

[june09bandit 0]

It depends on what sort of riding you are going to do. I was riding at a walk 2 weeks after surgery. It did hurt and was uncomfortable, so it was a very short ride. At about 5 weeks, I was able to trot a little. At 2 months post op, I was almost back to normal. I can still feel the port move around, but it doesn't hurt so much as just feels funny.

Does that help you any?

[Dita Von Heartless 0]

Yay for any type of exercise;) I thought about joining Curves...

[Erin18 143]

it does help, I was thinking just regular horse back riding with a little bit of trotting

I wish I could join one but we don't have a curves where I live

[hmarko 0]

Hi fellow horseback riders! I have a horse and ride too - I am due to be banded on sept 11. They say no exercise past a walk (ie human) for 6 weeks and especially nothing w/ abs. I do dressage so its all core.

Now you feel your port moving around?? whats with that? And why?

[ashleysara 0]

I would clear that one with your surgeon because it is still going to be ab work which you cant do until your surgeon clears you. Glad to see you are feeling beter :confused: (or atleast I guess you are because you are talking about climbing ontop of a horse which I would do in my best condition :thumbup:)

[june09bandit 0]

Hi Hmarko - my doc did clear me to ride after 2 weeks, but he left it up to me to do what I felt comfortable with. The port is attached to something inside you, so you can feel it sort of tug on the tissue. You know how sometimes you probably want to hold your breasts at the sitting trot? It's the same sort of feeling. Not so much pain as awkward.

Good luck in your journey!

[hmarko 0]

Thanks Lbndoc. Ok the port thing is kind of creeping me out... how do we know it doesn't get loose from the tugging? I doubt my doc will clear me to ride cuz they are saying no exercise that even remotely involves abs until 6 weeks - i mean i may get on and walk. Good luck to you too! I'll see how i am feeling i guess. I don't have that prob w/ my boob and that is weird cuz its not like they are small :thumbup: wonder if like some sort of bandage there would make it less uncomfortable. My fear of riding with a band was a fall and having things slip. She said worse case is the port connectors may come apart same thing w/ accidents or any trauma. Not to jinx myself but I don't usually fall :laugh:

[n2bluegrass 0]

I have my surgery on the 18th but riding was a huge concern for me as we are getting close to prime fall riding weather. The day of my pre-op visit this was my number 1 question and I was told as long as I kept to a flat walk and rode something with brains, I could try it when I felt ready after week 2 post-band.

I probably won't struggle to get my self up from ground level but I'll use the nearest picnic table for mounting and dismounting and give it a go!

For me riding is in the top 3 reasons that I want to lose my weight.

[hmarko 0]

Get up from the ground??? Haven't done THAT since I was 20 :thumbup: I normally do a lot of sitting trot w/ 'movements' (dressage). If I miss just one ride i get sore abs (so tomorrow should be fun since i haven't ridden in two weeks) - horse went lame. I can see walking being ok if you are on something sane (my horse is sane).

[n2bluegrass 0]

Well I haven't gotten up gracefully without losing my saddle for quite a while, but I do remember the feeling of satisfaction of mounting (western) without aid. That's definitely on my list of things I can't wait to be able to do thanks to my new band!!

[june09bandit 0]

It will be fine - I haven't felt like I was going to jar anything loose, I am just aware that something is there. I actually considered wrapping my belly with a polo wrap to hold everything in place. I didn't do it, but the thought did cross my mind.

I ride western. Believe it or not, a fall is what led to the lap band. I was jogging (very very slow) one of the horses around the pasture. The goober horse didn't pick up his feet and he tripped - WE landed on my knee. This led to knee surgery and an arthritis diagnosis. The knee won't get better unless I lose weight. So here I am.

I'm trying to ride a very green broke 4 year old who trots like a pogo stick. I have to sit the trot because of my knee. Therefore, my abs are having to hold my butt in the saddle. I may be taking more of a beating than those of you who can post.

I have not felt like anything was going to come loose. It's more of an awareness that something is different in there.

One of the best perks for me - I'm a barrel racer - just imagine how much faster the horses will be able to run when I lose the excess weight!

Good luck to you all. I'm glad someone started a horseback riding thread. I haven't seen it brought up before.