Zara Tindall says it was 'hard getting your body back' after having children

24 January 2023 , 12:30

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Zara Tindall says it was 'hard getting your body back' after having children

Zara Tindall has opened up about her struggles of "getting her body back" after returning to competitive horse riding after giving birth to her three children.

It came during an interview with her husband and former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here star Mike Tindall on the very first episode of his new YouTube series Mike Drop.

The series, which promotes the Australian equestrian event Magic Millions, sees the former rugby player chat to figures from the equestrian world - with Zara, a former world champion eventer the first to appear on the show.

During the candid and at times emotional chat, the couple talks about their three children Mia, Lena and Lucas - and how Zara returned to the sport after becoming a mum.

Zara with young son Lucas at the Burnham Market International Horse Trials last year (PA)

Zara comforts her younger daughter Lena (PA)

But she opened up about how hard she found it returning to competing in tournaments after giving birth.

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Talking about riding again after welcoming their eldest daughter Mia in 2014, she explained: "It was hard getting your body back when you've been riding for 25 years, and then your body is just completely not doing that.

"Your muscles [are] doing nothing and stretching and creating an amazing thing but it's completely different.

"Trying to get your body back to where it was, I found, was hard work.

Mike with his and Zara's two daughters Mia and Lena (PA)

"But she was along for the ride as well, she was very much taken around to the shows, which is kind of easier when you have one.

"I found it hard getting myself back to it. Mentally, you feel guilty as a mother leaving your child to go and do something else."

Mike joked: "Is that because you didn't trust dad?"

And Zara replied laughing: "I had to ring you everyday to make sure you were doing the right thing.

"But you do feel guilt, I feel guilty all of the time but that's just an aspect of my life now."

Zara was moved to tears during an emotional interview with husband Mike (Magic Millions / YouTube)

Zara opened up about competing in equestrian events as a mum-of-three (Magic Millions / YouTube)

Elsewhere in the chat, Zara got teary as she talked about her horse High Kingdom, with whom she won her Olympic medal, and revealed how delighted she was she won the medal, especially for the horse's owner Trevor Hemmings, who died last year.

She said: "We managed to get him [High Kingdom] to the Olympics, which was incredible. Trev – Trevor Hemmings – has won so many amazing things racing, in his racing career, and Grand Nationals and things like that."

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Zara was interviewed by her husband Mike for his new YouTube series Mike Drop (Magic Millions / YouTube)

And she held back the tears as she added: "But to see his face at the Olympics and to get that team medal was amazing. And to be able to give something back to him when he had supported me for so long was incredible. I'm going to get emotional."

As she shed tears, Mike proudly told her: "I think that sums you up. You always put your owners and your horses first, sometimes at the detriment to yourself.

"You will train a horse before you train yourself and you will make sure the horse is right before you do it to yourself."

Meanwhile, at the end of the chat, Zara hinted that she may have an eye on competing at another Olympics.

She told Mike: "I mean, I'd love to win an Olympic gold so that's probably driving me at the moment. I'd love to go to another Olympics."

Jennifer Newton