Babies and horses...

[Nat_in_Kent]

Im looking for words of hope and inspiration!!

right Ive had a baby before ( shes now 7!) and ive had horses before.....but never both at the same time!

Im 38weeks pregnant, and with winter setting in fast.....
how do those of you with babies and horses on diy cope? and tips/coping strategies welcome!

My IDx boy is out on loan thankfully, and my cob is on assisted diy ( so he gets brekkie, and turned out/brought in) so that means I only have to go up once a day and wont have to abandon the kids in the car to trapse through mud in the pitch black every evening which is a blessing!

Ive bulk ordered hay and bedding, and feed so being super organised, whilst not usually being a strength i possess, is a must.

But aside from the stable duties, I would actually like to ride a few times a week too! weekends arent a problem as family will be around, but for my cobs fitness ( and mine!) and for sanity reasons Id like to ride 3 times a week if poss.
Im lucky that we have an indoor school and the car can be parked 10metres away, so Im hoping to sneak schooling in whilst baby is asleep with the use of baby monitors!

how do you all cope?? and how soon after giving birth did you get back riding?
x

 

[Quartz]

Don't really know what to suggest for you, but interested to hear any tips. I have 2 kids who I take to the stables with me, and they can get in and out of the car when they please. Its well set out, so I can see them whether they are in the car or not. I also take a portable DVD for them so they watch that while I work the horse and then they get a ride at the end. However thinking about having another baby next year but have no idea how I would be able to ride and have a new baby!! Would possibly think of buggy by ring while riding. Would personally be nervous of leaving baby in car if couldn't see car, just because of people breaking into car being possible etc. But then I am very well known for being a big worrier!!!!

 

[MosMum]

As you suggested yourself I think it will be a case of being super organized. I'm sure you've already thought of everything, but what comes to mind is, breast or bottle fed? (So you can leave her with a childminder to do some riding?)

I'm not sure how soon you are intending to start riding again, but remember that even with the car parked 10 meters away, you won't really be leaving it turned on so leaving baby in potentially a cold/hot car depending on season. Also bear in mind that if you did come off and get hurt, no one would be there looking after baby? Perhaps this could work if someone went with you and sat in the car/near the car to watch baby?

I can imagine you'll certainly have your hands full and remember that how you feel after the baby comes may mean you don't necessarily care about riding for a little while, if you have baby blues or are completely absorbed by baby, both are normal reactions and you can't tell in advance how you're likely to feel...

and finally, just to be on the safe side, is there anyone who can do full DIY for a while arfter the baby comes, just incase you have a c-section or need to stay in for a few days/weeks? Better have a plan in place, just in case, one less thing to stress about

Hope it all goes to plan for you and you're back in the saddle in no time!

 

[Nat_in_Kent]

well im lucky that there are always at least 2 girls ( staff) on the yard, and im only intending on riding my sturdy sensible cob for the foreseeable future so hopefully risk of falls would be minimal!

There is a viewing gallery in the indoor school, but in the depths of winter I do worry it would be chilly, but then so would the car! But I have invested in some artic strength snowsuits/mittens/hats etc so will just have to play it by ear I think!

This is all going on the presumption i have a straightforward birth! But youre right on the other point, so I have the contingency plan in place incase Im out of action for a while.

But I def dont want to have to cut down to riding just once a week for example, I loaned my horse out during my pregnancy with my first daughter and was therefore horseless for almost 2 yrs and with hindsight, I found that giving up totally (whilst being highly advised by non horsey friends and family to do this!!) and my whole daily life just being babies/nappies I got quite down, so just hoping I can find a happy medium this time!

But we shall see lol.... the theory and the practice can be poles apart!

 

[EgerdenFarmStud]

CONRATULATIONS...

My little Jack ( now 5 months old ) has been on the yard since he was 3 days old... We work from home ( horses ) so it is helpful, but alot of the time I am on my little yard on my own. It is hard but now we're in a routine it's fine! I am lucky in that he was an angel from birth so just stuck with the routine that every day at 10am he has a nap in the pram, I just keep pushing till he nods off. The. Ride whilst he's asleep, park him outside the ménage with rain cover or whatever over the trolly... Then get as many jobs done as I can whilst he's asleep ( 4 horses in ) I do the outside jobs first, feeds, haylage etc then muck out last, I just push the pram around with me. If he wakes up early he has all his toys in there and has to keep him self occupied whilst I'm busy ... Sounds dreadful, but he's happy I promise haha. I think as I did it from day 1 he doesn't know any different. I started riding again after 7 days ( I was incredibly lucky and has really easy labour, no stitches etc ) so all was fine to get straight back into it. I put on 4 and a half stone whilst I was pregnant ... I was MASSIVE , all our friends round the shows thought it was great fun laughing at me whilst inwaddled up and down the ramp and back and firth from the rings in the burning heat , was in the final of miss England 10 months before so went from one extreme to the other haha, but riding has got me back to normal really quickly. I do no exercise other than the horses so think it has definitely been what got me back to normal. I am also breastfeeding so I am proof that feeding your baby yourself and riding etc is not impossible! Good luck and enjoy your baby.

Sorry just realised I have been rambling on about a load of rubbish for ages ... I don't get out much hahaha

Xxx

 

[Nat_in_Kent]

haha no no, the rambling has been great!!

Just what I need to hear, someone doing it and coping!!!lol, my closest friends are all non horsey, telling me "you cant do this/that/the other when you have the baby" etc, so to hear your plan is going well is great, thats exactly how im hoping it will go for me, routine is the key! and Im only planning to ride for 30mins when I do, so hopefully I can combine this with natural nap times and yard duties only take me 30mins too so hopefully its do-able!

Planning to keep the pram in the stable (obviously horse is turned out lol!) whilst mucking out etc, just incase a loose horse should trample through the yard ( hasnt ever happened but just incase!) and have a portable monitor that will clip onto my boot whilst riding, so hopefully I can have my cake and eat it!

but roll on summer, when I can escape in the evening for summer hacks lol!

 

[Hels_Bells]

OK, I haven't done it (yet!), but I think if I did, it would depend on the time of year as to the obstacles and how to deal with them! In summer I would try to make sure the horses are out 24/7 if possible, but at this time of year I would imagine it's a case of pack the essentials, wrap them up super warm in the pram, park them in the stable and get mucking out!! I also think that to begin with I might be tempted to get one of those back-pack carriers and then I could muck out and do chores with baby on board - probably amazing for getting back in shape - like doing an army style back pack 10k run i should imagine!!!

As for riding... my first ever riding instructor was taken out in a special cradle saddle when she was tiny... but that was many many years ago and I don't think many folk would be doing that kind of thing these days as it's pretty dangerous, so for actually riding a baby sitter would be required. I guess you could maybe lunge if you were able to keep baby at a safe distance on one side of the fence and be sure he/she would be safe!??!

 

[Maiziemouse]

I have 5 horses (3 in work) and they live at home which helps massively. I am lucky that my little girl is a very easy and relaxed baby (6 months old). She will sleep for 12/13 hours at night so I can get out early in the morning before she is up (long range baby monitor in pocket just in case), I then get everything organised in the mornings for bringing in time later. In the evenings it’s wrap up warm and in the buggy and quick bring in and rug.

In terms of riding, summer is easy she was happy in the buggy parked by the school, not so easy now it is cold. But as I am into eventing it is not the end of the world if the horses have an easy time now, I can always get out at weekends though when my husband is home to take care of her.

I had a long and rather difficult labour of 3 days ending in a c-section. However, with hindsight that was very fortunate as I was able to recover quickly – riding again after 2 weeks and eventing after about 10 weeks. I am still working on getting back into shape and being the fitness I would like to be, I try to eat sensibly and go to the gym as well as riding so getting there slowly, although still about a stone to go.

At various stages throughout my life people have told me I wouldn’t have time to ride, when you start GCSEs, A Levels, uni, work, etc, etc .....but in the end Ialways have somehow - if you want to and are determined and organised you will be able to and it will be well worth it. I’m glad I have had the horses, they help my stay sane amongst all the nappies!

If I am having a moment where it all seems too much I take inspiration from top riders such as Ingrid Klimke and Stef Croxford, who have achieved such a lot and are new Mums as well.

Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you.