For those of you who have had a total knee replacement: how long was it before you could ride again? Thanks
My husband had his done and was riding again at 4 weeks. He was very diligent about therapy and rest and followed his doctorâs orders to the letter.
He was 67, in very good shape physically and rode cutting horses.
Hope that helps.
I recall getting on a horse at 6 weeks in May, gradually increasing ride time, and going out fox hunting with first flight in September. I am diligent about exercise, slim, and did everything the MD and PT told me to. I had both knees done at the same time.
About three years ago, friend, retired teacher and trains her own barrel horses, had both knees done at the same time.
Her daughter helped her first week and was then sent home.
Friend cared for stable of 5 horses herself, kept training her horses and was back competing at 6 weeks.
I am on almost 3 1/2 months from second knee in 7 months and, other than getting off being iffy, I think I could easily ride, if I wanted to.
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I will pass this positive thread along to a friend of mine who is looking at a knee replacement in the near future, since nothing else is working for her 
Another friend had it done in February and had a real hard time at first, for a few months, but is now hiking again. (Sheâs not a rider).
Thanks everyone!
both knees done simultaneously? you are the original bad ass.
@hallie2 -seemed like a good idea at the time: 1 hospital stay, 1 time under anesthesia, 1 series of PT, 1 period of no riding . . .other factor was DD was on the MDâs surgical team and she told him she would stay with me. It did work out. FYI the MD himself is now retired. The last thing he did before he moved to Florida was have both his knees done at the same time.
However, unless you have someone to stay with you the first few days, it can be unmanageable.
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Both of my parents had both of their knees replaced. When looking at their knees before the surgery the doctor recommended doing both at the same time. The rationale was that both would need to be done before too long and doing them at the same time doesnât double the healing time. Also doing both means you canât favor either side and mess other body parts up by being uneven. Both had their knees done at the Joint Institution in Fremont, CA which pioneered some of the minimally invasive approaches. Both recovered well, the first two weeks of recovery required more help but after that they regained their independence as they recovered. Both are back to being as active as they want to be. My mom had hers done I think 10 years ago and sheâs still riding now. My dad was about 8 years ago, heâs done a couple trail rides with me but isnât a rider. Finding a place that does a lot of knees seems to be key, that and being diligent with the PT.
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My surgeon said I needed both replaced, âyesterdayâ and normally would recommend at the same time, reasons as above.
The problem is to have someone there 24/7 the first 10 days and that I have asthma and allergies and if something went wrong and it took longer, at least it would not with only rehabbing one at the time.
We did them both 4 months apart.
Retired teacher friend barrel racer had both done at the same time, her daughter helping first week and was not only riding, but competing 6 weeks after surgery! 
OP, it does get better, faster, after those first two weeks.
I just had my right knee done 2 weeks ago⊠I asked this question of everyone I knew also. âIt dependsâ is going to be your answer. Part of what drives recovery time is how badly âdamagedâ your leg was before surgery. How weak are your quad muscles from underuse? Things like that. In my case, I waited too long and I was literally just dragging my leg along when I walked. I could ride - as in sit on my horse - but once off, the stress of having feet in stirrups was so much that I would not be able to do anything else the rest of the day.
I am walking indoors without aids (walker, cane) altho carefully. I am going up stairs, with support. Walking outside, on uneven ground, wet, muddy, and especially if I have to move quickly (as in around an animal) - not a chance.
I expect it will be another month before I feel comfortable going to the barn and trying to get in the saddle again.
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