are any of you pregnant or have young children????

[keekee]

I am!!!! just found out im pregnat very happy and excited but also worried about my horse just wanted to ask some of you that have experienced it ...is it a struggle financially,physically and mentally im still riding her but when will i have to stop and wen i do should i turn her away for a few months i really dont no what to expect xx

 

[Ellies_mum2]

Having not ridden whilst pregnant I can't give any advice on it

but


CONGRATULATIONS

 

[annaellie]

I rode up untill nine months preganant though you are taking a risk, I was told by the midwives that as long as I felt comftable I could carry on though as just said its a big risk. That was with my 1st but not long had another baby and I currently do not have any horses and I put on loads weight and felt totally crap in myself. Me personally would continue riding if you are sensiable but only you can decide to ride or not.

 

[dwi]

Congratulations

The only thing holding me back from pregnancy at the moment is not knowing what would happen to D but lots of people on here do seem to manage it

 

[moodiestmare]

I have a 2 year old. Its difficult but manageable!

My hubby also works away during the week which makes it a bit more difficult.

As long as you are organised you can do it. If you are at livery though you will have to make sure it isnt a problem. I'm not but I don't think it would work for me if I was because my daughter is always with me and up to her eyes in everything!

I didn't ride when I was pregnant but I didn't get my horses until my daughter was 3months old.

 

[johannapage]

cant comment which is unhelpful but another CONGRATS!

 

[GT_02]

First of all - Congratulations!!!

I rode during both of my pregnancies, but only on a horse that I felt completely safe on. My other half was fine with this as well. I stopped when I just didn't feel balanced anymore - about 8 months. I was lucky enough not to get too huge in either of my pregnancies though.

Yes, it is a struggle financially, but you will always find a way to manage if you put your mind to it. Would it be possible to have your horse go barefoot for a year or so? Have a think about expenses you could be cutting back on. With regards to turning her away, I think it depends on your circumstances. Do you have people you trust who could keep an eye on her while you have a break when you have your hands full with your new baby? Is she the kind of horse that will thrive if she is turned away for a while or would she be better being loaned out for a bit?

Mentally, I think having a distraction away from your baby can be a godsend. It's a link to the life you knew before!! However, you need to make sure you have people who can look after your horse when you have your hands full with your baby, and equally, people who can look after your baby while you have your hands full with your horse. Otherwise, it will turn into an endless guilt trip if you feel like you aren't giving either the time they need.

Ultimately though, yes it is possible to enjoy both - it just needs a bit of planning and supportive people around you.

Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy! xx

 

[chevs]

Hi

Congrats!!

I have one son who is 3 now. I rode up til 2 weeks before he was born. When i gave birth i loaned my mare to a friend as i was breastfeeding and was pretty much glued to my baby for the first few months. My friend continued to compete my mare and i trusted her 100%.

My mare is pretty easy going and i trust her 100%. Getting off was pretty tricky towards the end, i used to have to park her besdie a gate or something similar to climb onto instead of jumping down. The further into your pregnancy you go the more you have to pee all the time too!! This could be slightly problematic!! But i did enjoy riding her.

I got her back from my friend when my son was 1. It is a bit of a struggle the first wee while til you get into a routine but all my horsey friends have children and seem to manage pretty well.

Life now is pretty easy, well, easier!!!! You get into a way of managing to ride and footer about with the horse with a little one.

Enjoy and Good luck x

 

[luckilotti]

Congratulations !!!
i didnt ride during my pregnancy - however i had the huge shock that it was twins! (had a lot of complications) Its rather sad but since giving birth - over 7 months ago now i can count the number of time i have ridden on 1 hand! i have 8 horses and i manage

one of my mares also foaled this June, and i managed foal watch (abit very tiring!!!)! I manage my horses with the help of my parents and hubby. TBH, my situation is quite different i guess as i have 2 babies to manage hence its not as easy to get stuff done.
It will all work out i am sure - re riding - just do what you feel comfy doing.

 

[Mavis]

Congratulations! Its a very individual decision - everyone is different and everyone has very differing views. I decided to continue riding, I rode up to the day before I had my baby, but I was very small indeed. I was (well, still am!) very lucky in that my parents will always look after my little boy, who is now 3, if I want to ride and my husband is at work/busy.

We did not struggle financially as I was lucky enough to get full pay for the 6 months I was on maternity leave. It can be a struggle (particularly of conscience) but it is certainly possible depending on your circumstances. My baby was very quiet and happy to sit in his buggy whilst I mucked out and did chores, and now he's older he does his own fair share!

 

[mrsdoyal]

anna25 - same here! Rode up to birth first time around on a steady horse. Infact, the only time I felt totally comfortable was when i was sat on a horse (getting off was hard though, walked like a cowboy for half an hour after every ride). Had another baby straight away but this time didn't ride the horse i had (s*d to ride). It really does depend on how confident you feel on your horse. Word of warning though: riding gives you pelvic floor muscles of steel.... tricky for giving birth.

 

[Arabelle]

Congratulations!

I found out I was pregnant just after buying my wee mare. However, it all worked out. I kept riding, on the theory I had been riding anyway before I knew (I was about 16 weeks gone before I realised). When I didn't feel comfy to ride, I lunged.

After my daughter was born, I could manage 20min schooling sessions during her morning sleep - that gave me time to catch pony, ride and untack. I woud then give her a feed while pony ate, and she would come on my front/back to turn pony out.

I also have my mum on hand to help, which has made an enormous difference. Financially, things were tight anyway. I was freelancing and managed to keep some work going. We just managed, really.

You will find your own way to balance it out. Just make sure you enjoy your new baby - it is such a brief, precious time. before you know it, they are starting school.

A

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Congrats - I am 20 weeks pregnant and am still riding ocasionaly. I felt too sick and dizzy for the 1st few months to do anything much at all, I now ride about 1 or 2 times per week, but stick to bumbling about on my 14.1 who is a saint. I am not hacking, jumping or competing (lowering the risk factor!). I am very lucky however, my other child is 17 and shares our mare, so she is able to help excersise and do jobs when I feel tired. 24/7 turn out helps too.

I will stop riding totaly if/when I feel to large/unsteady. My sister continued to the end. The answer is do what YOU feel is right, even though your inlaws, work collegues will tut and inhale sharply!

As far as money goes, you will be skint forever - but as you have a horse you know what that feels like already! I have got most of my baby stuff already, 2nd hand - try asking about at work, its amazing - I have got about 65 baby vests! God knows what I am going to do with them all.

As others have suggested, try letting your horse go 'native', he/she wont mind at all. If thats not possible consider a sharer. If you give up horses completely you may regret it. When I am with my horse I feel normal and like 'me' again, rather than a 'pregnant person'. Also consider that 40 weeks is a relatively short time. Babies are only babies for a blink of an eye and at 2 he/she will be going to playgroup, at 4 he/she will be at school! As I mentioned my other child is 17, it only seems like yesterday we were leading her about on her first pony!

 

[LauraBR]

Congratulations, how exciting!

I have a 5 month old baby and I continued riding until I was 28 weeks. I would have continued but my pelvis was getting sore and I started to sit on the horse a bit oddly as my balance changed so called it a day.

Coped fine with my horse all the way through the pregnancy, even with a longish period of box rest.

Sadly I didn't find it easy once my baby was born and after months of struggling I finally sold my horse this weekend. My baby wasn't happy to sit in his pram while I mucked out etc and I didn't have anyone to help me with him particularly as my husband works away/long hours; was just too difficult and I wasn't enjoying it.

That said, a friend at my yard copes brilliantly and her baby girl is quite happy to sit and watch her get all her jobs done and ride! It totally depends!