I took over 3 years off from riding all together and had 2 babies within that time. I am finding it extremely difficult physically and mentally to get back in the saddle. I have a pretty safe horse, but hes big. I never needed a step ladder before to get on a horse but now its a must. Since I am only 4 months postpartum I am hoping that those muscles come back eventually (probably wishful thinking). 

Mentally, I struggle with the "what if" of getting hurt. This thought hardly ever crossed my mind before kids, even after taking a few pretty nasty spills. Now its ALL I think about. I think I may try a helmet and a sure grip seat for confidence building. 

Anyway, just wanted to see how others who may have struggled getting back in the saddle handled it and if there was anything you did that really helped you. I am open for any recommendations. For now I am focusing on the basics, just getting riding again before I even think about barrel racing. Shoot, I probably couldnt afford to go to a race these days anyway

Took Mrs Mighty Broke a while to get back into the swing of things---balance, timing, coordination etc. Just give it time and take it slow and use that time as your time and I am sure you will get it back. Also---YES to the helmet. We all should wear them.

I can't speak for post partum or even a couple years away from riding, but my horse had been unridden due to massive cecal impaction since November. And then Feb she had KS surgery and was out for a few months, so I went about 6 months from getting in the saddle. And the first few times I did get on, my leg would jsut shake and I got up to the point to start swinging my other leg over and the leg holding me would just give out and I'd ungracefully flop on the horse. And then riding was so foreign, like I was a beginner again. And she's spooky as all hell and the whole time up there I'm just like oh lord I shouldve stuck 2cc of ace in her first. I had never gone more than maybe a month without riding and I got hurt so I hadn't been able to exercise so I'm way weaker and heavier than I have been. But everyday I ride gets better, my leg doesn't give out anymore but some days it still shakes a bit trying to mount. And I'm more confident in my seat, I still wish I aced her to ride but knock on wood I haven't fallen off so far yet. And thank god bc she's 16.2 so it's not a short fall. I just got cleared for exercise again so we'll see if that helps. But it does take time, and if you have a more solid horse that will help a ton. Mine's a banshee with a quick reflex to flip the full blackout panic switch lol 

I had many years off (due to family stuff) and then when I finally got back to it, I fell and broke my back. Then I was out even more years! At 62 years old, I've lost my strength and my reactions are slower so I'm worried about getting hurt again. Things go through my head that never went through my head before. I was riding in the arena and looking at the ground and thinking, "Man, that ground is hard. If I fall, I'm gonna break bones!" But I know that if I don't get back to it now, at my age, I'm never going to get back to it and I don't want to be on my deathbed wishing I rode again.

My horses also got old while I was out so I got a little horse. He's a QH but he only measures 13.3 hands. (And yet I still need a mounting block, I am so out of shape.)

I wear a helmet and use emergency release stirrups. (Truth be told, I was already wearing the helmet when I broke my back which was lucky since my head bounced twice and I didn't even get a headache.)

I go slow but I do a little more each time. I started out so slow in the beginning, I got on and then I got off, lol. But I just kept pushing myself a little more each time and now I am riding for about an hour. 

I use the round pen a lot to see what I've got under the hood, so to speak. If you don't have a round pen, lunge. 

I got help. Turns out my new pony is green. He's pretty quiet so I didn't realize it until I started working with him. So I have a young trainer girl coming over twice a week to help me finish him. There is no shame in asking for help. There would be shame in giving up a dream because you have too much pride. At first I was getting on him at the end of her sessions because that helped me feel more confident--he was tired and someone was there--but now I ride him in between her coming. And I know I have to because I want him conditioned so she can work him. Make some kind of date, if not with a trainer, then with a friend to ride with you. Then you HAVE to do it. 

You can do this. 

I didn't own or ride horses for almost 20 years. I was a single mom and broke broke broke.  Anyways, When I met/married my current husband, we had a house on the river and lived the boat/water life and it was amazing!  When my dad passed in 2016, I inherited land and we moved to the country, which also happended to be way closer to his children so it was a win-win. 

A few years back, my husband let me know he wanted to get me a horse for Christmas because he saw how happy I was riding with my cousin's wife.  I bought the sweetest little paint mare and she has helped me build my confidence even though she was pretty green, she just had the the right mind. I didn't start entering races for a while, I just rode and started developing a bond and my seat/balance and putting a solid foundation on her.  For the last 4-5 months we have been working with a trainer and we are just starting to enter and not feel like I'm just making a donation. I feel like because I "know" this mare so well, I'm not so afarid.  We started slow and are adding speed together as a team, and that makes me feel comfortable in the saddle.

Since you have a new baby - CONGRATULATIONS, by the way!!  Unless you were riding and working out consistently during your pregnancy, your body will take a while to be strong again.  I would find a workout program you enjoy, a combination of cardio and strength training; strength training will be your friend to help get your balance and core strength back, body weight exercises are a great place to start if you are a beginner.  I work out 3-5 days a week and I feel stronger and more confident in the saddle than I did before.  And just ride your horse, feel the rhythm and reconnect!!  Best of luck to you and I hope you find great joy in the saddle!!