Those of you who have broken ribs.......how long did it take to ride again?  

I had a couple of fractured ribs and I waited for a couple of weeks before riding as it was painful when you jarred around on the horse. Probably have to see about competing to see if you can hold on to the horn and pull up with your hand too.

don/t envy u they hurt

but i had 4 broke but we vet wrap them as i rode a galloped horses at track  .  not smart  but wait till u can breathe a deep breath and laugh with out crying

I think it depends.  I broke 8 in a horse accident but also had multiple fractures in the ribs themselves. Lots of pieces floating around. It took a good 3 months before I could sleep laying down.  (I also had collapsed a lung so that may have made a difference. ) All in all, it was at that 3 month mark before I felt I could get back on a horse and not do more damage or be in terrible pain.  Due to the multiple fragments taping wasn't an option for me.

I think it depends on whrere the break is and how many ribs are involved.....the first time I had mulitple fractures in ribs 2-8 and a punctured lung, I was back riding probably in 2 months but I certianly couldn't make a run. I was only loping circles and such, I had to use the trailer to get off and on. The second time, was just a couple that were broke and was back on in after about 3 weeks.

Your responses are making me feel better already.  I only have two broken, so after listening to more broken than that  and fragments -- yikes!  So sorry for you all.

Hmmm, taping with vetwrap.  Probably not doctor recommended, but if it means riding over going stir crazy ........ 

Thank you all.

Whenever this topic comes up, invariably someone recommends "wrapping" the chest for broken ribs.  I can see where that might be an attractive option, but it's not a good idea.  Broken bones heal best when the fracture is immobilized, but you cannot immobilize rib fractures unless you wire or plate the ends together or stop breathing.  As long as you are alive your ribs are moving, and that's why ribs take so long to heal.  Two roblems happen when you wrap or tape for broken ribs.  One is if you have restricted respiratory motion from wrapping, any underlying pulmonary contusion (bruising) takes longer to heal and the restricted chest expansion makes you more prone to pneumonia.  The most important thing with broken ribs is a real good analgesic for about 5-7 days.  It's one area where I give enough good pain pills to at least cover them for 5-7 days.  Deep breathing and preserving the ability to cough is important. If you are young, you can probably get away with wrapping, but it's still not a good idea and it's more risky with older folks.

bear

did not mean to sound recommending  this was in early 70  i was young and dumb  we vet wrapped them before i got on first horse  about 5am then off when goty off last about 10am but whem ur 20  ur invincble and a know it all

Thank you for the input.

I has four fractured ribs on one side, I slowly got back to riding after 6 weeks and that was just riding and loping.  
During the first few days, my husband used an ice therapy machine on me, 45 minutes on and 1 hour off...I really think this helped they heal faster.  Within 2 weeks I was able to do most things, I just chose not to ride due to I dang sure didn't want to go through that agony again!

The first time I did a 'better' job of it and had about 3 months that I didn't want anything to do with any kind of physical activity.  They were floating and I was restricted to 4 weeks immobilized and then gradually back to walking, running, driving, working.  And I was a young 25yo.

The second time I was an older 49yo, just fractured, not floating, and I stayed in snail pace for a couple of weeks with my feet on the ground.  It took about six weeks before I wanted to try to swing my saddle up.

Your second time is where I am at, several fractured, nothing real serious, and six weeks seems like forever, but I do get where you are coming from.  Not too anxious to get jiggled around, but def anxious to get back at it and feel good.   Thank you.