Bruised ribs--did you take a break from riding and for how long?

[Bogie]

I took about 3 weeks off after I broke a rib. My doctor said that falling again could damage my liver.

I rode mostly at a walk to get my horses out after that and when I asked my doctor about hunting, she gave me a terrible look of disapproval! I did make it to the last hunt of the season, which was about 6 weeks after the broken rib, but in retrospect, it wasn’t the best idea as I still hurt.

[2DogsFarm]

Am I the only one who bruised ribs getting ON a horse?

Mounting from a too-short block onto 17h+ WB, bareback, I slammed into Mount Withers & promptly slid back down in considerable pain.
Took a couple weeks before I could sleep on my side or take a really deep breath w/o regretting it.
IIRC, I still rode, but took it easy.
OP:
if that muscle relaxer is Flexoril(cyclobenzaprine) be careful - it made me really sleepy.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;8823486]
Am I the only one who bruised ribs getting ON a horse?

Mounting from a too-short block onto 17h+ WB, bareback, I slammed into Mount Withers & promptly slid back down in considerable pain.
Took a couple weeks before I could sleep on my side or take a really deep breath w/o regretting it.
IIRC, I still rode, but took it easy.
OP:
if that muscle relaxer is Flexoril(cyclobenzaprine) be careful - it made me really sleepy.[/QUOTE]

Last summer, trying a new horse in someone else’s saddle, I bruised my ribs lightly and that left a hand sized, colorful, impressive bruise, while sliding OFF.

I evidently misjudged the western saddle’s swells and hit them as I swung over and down, hitting the edge on my way down.

It does hurt to be stupid, it ought to.

[Sweetums_Mom]

[QUOTE=MNewbie;8823131]
So, don’t be stupid like me. Prioritize what you can do as you’re healing and outsource what you shouldn’t be doing (anything with a wheelbarrow!!)[/QUOTE]

On the bright side, as I was struggling to do barn chores, including using the wheelbarrow, I told my husband that I just couldn’t keep up with picking the paddock and sheds, and two months later, we got a John Deere Gator, complete with cargo lift so I just fill it with manure, etc., drive it to the manure pile, push a button, and dump it!

[DressageChic2]

my sister go kicked at close range in the ribs-bruised ribs, torn muscles, huge haematoma.

she rode in 2 classes at a show the next day, and drove herself to work 2 days later.

i fractured my clavicle in 2 places, displaced all the ligaments and spent 3 weeks driving round with a very near compound fracture sticking out my back waiting for it to be plated back together, was still mucking out and lunging/long reining one handed!

pain killers and kick on…coughing and sneezing hurt like nothing on earth but you do what you need to do.

[2DogsFarm]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8823568]
Last summer, trying a new horse in someone else’s saddle, I bruised my ribs lightly and that left a hand sized, colorful, impressive bruise, while sliding OFF.

I evidently misjudged the western saddle’s swells and hit them as I swung over and down, hitting the edge on my way down.

It does hurt to be stupid, it ought to.;)[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I don’t feel quite so alone now

[Bristol_Bay]

So, an update. The good news is that apparently the rib bruising wasn’t as bad, and I’ve been back riding since Friday.

The bad news is that I’ve developed a black eye! :eek::eek:

All in all, I got off pretty easy compared to some of you. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Bristol_Bay]

Updated update:

Last Monday I was feeling great and went for a three mile jog.

Big mistake.

Only now do I realize the extent of my bruising. The next day I was so sore I had to come home from work. I took the week off riding or doing any exercise, really, and tried riding today. It was not good. I could see myself exacerbating the bruising. The only things that didn’t hurt were cantering in two point and walking. So I mostly walked.

I’m bummed, but will take your advice and just not ride or jog for a few weeks.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;8838141]
Updated update:

Last Monday I was feeling great and went for a three mile jog.

Big mistake.

Only now do I realize the extent of my bruising. The next day I was so sore I had to come home from work. I took the week off riding or doing any exercise, really, and tried riding today. It was not good. I could see myself exacerbating the bruising. The only things that didn’t hurt were cantering in two point and walking. So I mostly walked.

I’m bummed, but will take your advice and just not ride or jog for a few weeks. :([/QUOTE]

I feel for you.
I barely remember, it was long ago, it was hard to breathe, walk around but carefully, not laugh, much less cough.
Hard to climb into the tractor or get off, would not have wanted to try to ride, getting on and off would hurt too much.

Ribs just are in the way of so much we do and we don’t know how much until they are hurting.

Just keep telling yourself, “this too shall pass”.

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=Come Shine;8822536]
I broke 4 ribs on my left last summer. Never missed any work and was even back riding pretty quickly. The only hard part was dismounting off 16.3 without hitting my ribs on my horse’s neck.

Hope you heal quickly![/QUOTE]

I guess some of us are made of tougher stuff!! I’ve galloped many miles on tough race horses with “fugged” up ribs!! I did what I had to do…tried not to laugh or breathe too much, though!! I don’t think there is a “set” time frame. OP…Just do what you feel comfortable doing!!