Baby and new horse search

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d003kk

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Hi,

My wife and I are currently expecting our first baby. She loves horses and I don't want to stop her doing anything she enjoys, but there will be perhaps a couple of month gap where horse riding is just not physically possible.

She currently has one horse, which is quite talented but intermittently lame and a bit "mental" (Not an easy ride!!)

She would like to start looking for another horse, which will provide a bit more enjoyment (less lame, less mental !!). Shes looking for a horse that is fun to ride basically.

So finally to my question. Is it better to look for this horse before the baby arrives? or after? Looking before will be easier, as no car seats and other baby kit to carry about, but if we get the new horse there will be a period of about two months when its not ridden at all (I don't ride myself, but don't mind looking after it)

Thanks in advance.

Husband of horse obsessed wife.
 
What a nice husband you are! Congrats on the impending arrival.

Now is probably not a time for her to be trying horses she doesn't know, as even those advertised as safe may not be. I did the same thing before I knew I was pregnant, and came off a young horse at a dealers. Not anyone's fault including the horse, and no harm done (well, baby is now over a year, and seems ok!). I would be inclined to wait until after the birth (and avoid the expense and extra work for a little longer).

That said I didn't take my own advice, bought a different horse that day, and he was very lovely all through my pregnancy.

Good luck whichever you decide.
 
Congratulations!

Can I suggest you wait until after the baby is born?

Babies do funny things to mothers...one of which could result in a complete reassessment of needs and wants.:D

After my first was born I don't think I physically could have ridden in the first couple of months. I ended up with an emergency sunroof job for a start, which may or may not take a long time to recover from. Secondly, though, I had a form of post-natal SPD and my bones literally ached for months. I just wouldn't have been able to climb on, let alone have some fun.

My daughter was a different kettle of fish - I kept very fit and hardly put on any weight. No C-section this time - but I couldn't sit down on a saddle for about six weeks due to grazing. TMI - sorry - but the truth.

A new baby also makes one reassess risks rather a lot. I found myself driving everywhere ultra carefully for the first couple of months - and mitigating for all sorts of things. Riding a horse post number one was quite far down my list of priorities.
 
Unless a horse your wife knows well and is perfect comes up for sale I would wait until after the baby is born . Things change when you become parents and people vary in how they want to play it ,your wife may well feel she wants to take a longer break after having the baby.
Having nearly killed myself trying a horse I don't think I would want a friend doing it while pregnant .
Enjoy parenthood when the time comes.
 
My friend was trying to buy a horse when pregnant and both a dealer and a private owner refused to let her ride in case she had an accident. You may find if it obvious she is pregnant then she might have the same experience.
 
I'm pregnant at the moment, just about at the end thank goodness!
If I was your wife I would would wait until after the baby. I have my horse and I am still having the odd little ride even now (37 weeks!) as he is a safe well known horse
However I can't ride him properly anymore it's physically impossible and I have had friends and family helping me to keep him jumping and competing and the rest of it. I can tell you it is the most frustrating feeling in the world not being able to join in the fun and games and watching others enjoy my horse.
I also know I won't be able to ride just after the baby is born and I probably won't want to either, have planned on giving my horse a short holiday for a month or so while I just concentrate on my baby and recovery.
I think if she buys a horse now she won't be able to enjoy it untill after the baby so she may as well wait. Then once she has recovered and is ready to ride she can crack straight on with a new horse :).
 
Another one thinking 'what a lovely husband!' - good for you. Also agree with those suggesting waiting until after the baby is born. Congratulations! :)
 
Thanks very much for sharing your experiences.

You have raised some issues that we had not thought of. My wife is reading these posts too so hopefully we should know what is best to do for her and the potential new horse.

thanks again

Ben
 
i bought a new horse when i was pregnant, fairly early on, as the one i had i knew was too risky to keep. I had come off him in the early stages of pregnancy and also knew he wasn't the type that would fit in round having a baby. He was sold and i bought myself an easier type that fitted the bill. I rode her all through my pregnancy, just pottering about really although i kept up fw lessons and intro dressage. My 'baby' is now a year old and buying my mare was the best decision ive ever made as im actually out doing a bit of everything with now and loving it! The big factor however, and i do think its a BIG one, is that i knew the mare i bought already.. she belonged to a friend and id already ridden her a fair bit. For me, that worked out to be just perfect and very lucky, I wouldnt however have gone out trying unknown horses. Hope that helps.
 
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