A woman who stopped riding her horse because she felt “too fat” and feared she would crush it, lost nine stone to get back in the saddle. Abbi Newton, 25, weighed 23st 3lbs and struggled to squeeze into a size 24 at her heaviest after piling on the pounds when she lost her job in December 2021.
After seeing a photo of herself on a boat trip with her family and partner, Rich, 44, a van driver, she was horrified and decided to make a change to her lifestyle. Abbi, a keen rider, had stopped going out on her horse, fearing she would be too heavy for her Warmblood, May, eight.
Abbi lost nine stone in total, is now a healthier 13st 13lbs who can slip into her size 12 jodhpurs with ease, and is back up on her horse. Abbi, a HGV driver, from Bodmin, Cornwall, said: “I felt too big for my horse.
“I really missed it. I hadn’t realised how big I had got until I saw the picture of me and was disgusted, it was a big kick up the bum.
“It was so lovely when I could get back on the horse. Now I’m back riding once a week.
“I had to get a whole new wardrobe and I’m feeling absolutely amazing.”
After realising she needed to make a change, Abbi started swimming and walking to shed the weight.
“After losing my job, I would just sit there eating,” she said. “I hadn’t realised how big I had got.
“Rich worked at Lidl at the time and would bring back pastries that I’d snack on.” Abbi swapped full English fry ups, pastries, chips and takeaways for grilled breakfasts, chicken, tuna and salad.
Abbi said: “I used to have big portions of everything. We’d have a naan each with our curry rather than sharing one.
“After dinner we’d have cheese and biscuits or chocolate.” After reaching 15 stone in September 2022, Abbi felt confident enough to get back on her horse and started riding again.
Speaking about her love for horse-riding, Abbi said: “It’s a passion of mine so I was happy to get back to it. I’ve ridden all my life.
“When I got fat, I stopped riding. I just felt too big for her.”
Now Abbi is a slender 13st 13lbs and a size 12. She is now happy to pose in front of the camera.
A proud Abbi added: “I actually ask my partner to take photos of me now. None of my wardrobe fit me anymore so I had to get new stuff.
“I used to buy frumpy, black outfits and now I can wear nice, branded clothes." Abbie has another stone to lose before reaching her goal weight but is proud of her journey.
Speaking how she feels about her weightloss, Abbi said: “I look like a different person, I can’t believe what I looked like before.
“I don’t think Rich can believe the difference either. I look completely different and feel amazing.”
