Competing Whilst Pregnant

aerodynamic

aerodynamic

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I have just recently fenced judged at a horse trials and discovered that a lady that fell off was over 5 months pregnant, not only did she catch my eye going round the course by looking unbalanced and left behind most of the time but she was competing at quite a high level in BE eventing. Is this allowed, as I feel personally that it is quite irresponsibe and should not be allowed and I cannot believe there is not a rule to stop this, nothing happened but you never know what damage could be done or has been done!
 
I know of other people who have competed at a reasonable level while 5 months pregnant. I can't really get my head about it. I don't think it's wrong to ride while pregnant but sort of think maybe competing is taking it a bit far - I mean is your back protector going to protect the pair of you?? In saying that I wouldn't question someone going out for a quiet hack on a sensible horse they trust. But anything could happen so maybe I'm being niave!! I don't have children so don't know what I'd really do if I was pregnant!
 
One of my friends rode and her horse was in full SJ competitions while she was up to 5 months and she was fine, but she trusted the horse and trusted what she was doing. She did fine and as long as you trust everything I don't see a problems. But of course accidents do happen.
 
When I was pregnant I didn't ride at all. Both of my horses are tricky and personally didn't want to take the risk!! You have to be responsible I think and put your baby before yourself, even when it's inside you! I did everything else myself (I had to as horses are at home and my partners not horsey!). My daughter came a couple of months early possibly due to everything else you do with horses and I felt guilty enough then, thinking maybe I should have got someone in towards the end. If I'd have ridden and something had happened, I'd never have forgiven myself. For 9 months, it's not a small price to pay to have a healthy child or a child at all.
 
Sanolly said:
So what would you say to Mary King who completed (and won) badminton whilst 5 months pregnant?
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Actually, she didn't....it was at the Europeans in Italy in which she helped the team to win Gold, and nobody knew about her pregnancy until after, and they told her that had they knew, she wouldn't have been on the team but only as an individual...just saying :P
 
I think it shouldnt be allowed. I'm all for riding whilst pregnant, but competing is extremely high risk. I actually think it's a very selfish behaviour. Xxx
 
If you can't miss half a dozen months of riding to have a child, how can you have time to bring one up?
There are lots of things you can do without actually taking the risk of getting on board, why put the baby in danger? I'm at the end of mine, not ridden at all and it's been very hard. But it's one of those sacrifices you make when you want something. 12 days left and counting, may be a few more before I can ride again though ;o)
 
Surely that is a decision for the rider and not something that should be legislated.

Falling of your horse is unlikely to make your baby fall out, however, as your ligaments soften during pregnancy it will make you more prone to injury. That said, if you feel healthy, fit and know and trust your horse then why shouldn't you compete, particularly if riding is your livelihood.
 
The risk of falling off is small, multiply this by the tiny risk of anything happening to bubs if u do, I would say it was down to personal choice. I d rather someone rode than smoked 40 a day when pregnant but we dont legislate against that we just advise ppl of the risk. I'm A bit sick of the nanny stTe tbh
 
duggan said:
If you can't miss half a dozen months of riding to have a child, how can you have time to bring one up?
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Again, Mary King seems to have found time to bring up her children - why are women so quick to judge other women's choices, based on their personal decisions:confused::(

I rode when pregnant, but I did not jump or compete, my choice. That does not mean everyone who makes a different choice to me is wrong - they can only make their decisions based on their circumstances. Let's not be so quick to judge.

As you are about to become a mother, you should realise you have a lifetime of people telling you that you are doing it wrong ahead of you :rolleyes: It isn't fun, so I try not to join in;)
 
Pregnancy isn't an illness, its good to keep active and fit. I'm all for doing the things you usually do within reason. Riding a complicated horse or pushing yourself beyond your fittness/capability levels isn't sensible though. Keep it simple and have fun. Babies are tough old boots and mothers to be shouldn't act like delicate flowers.
Agree with the nanny state comment. Too much legislation ruling our lives and taking responsibility away from the majority of sensible people.
 
While I chose not to compete while pregnant and actually gave up riding altogether at 5.5 months, I don't see why we need rules against it. It's a personal choice, not something for governing bodies to get involved in.

If you look at the statistics you are much more likely to have problems from bacterial infections like listeriosis, but I don't see anyone legislating against pregnant women eating blue cheese! The chances of having a car accident are probably higher than falling off a horse and potentially more dangerous for pregnant women but again it's a personal choice how much driving you want to do when pregnant.

Out of interest, the foetus has no legal status in the Uk and in many other countries. If the foetus requires a medical intervention to prevent illness, injury or even save its life, the mother can refuse for no good reason, on exactly the same grounds she can refuse any medical treatment.
 
Why on earth would you want to risk a baby, a new life for one event! Anything could happen, I can't get my head around why people would do it, it's clearly not worth it, as we saw in badminton, even the best of riders fall so they can't exactly say they're safe, your never safe around horses!
 
Some of you i have to disagree with about babys getting hurt
My friend was 5 and a half months pregnant when she was riding , when she went to a days competing on a horse she very much trusted I'n
The horse ended up catching it's front legs and fell my friend was underneath horse
It landed on her and baby
She lost the baby throw impact
Till this day she has never forgiven herself
I rode when i was pregnant but not anything more then a plod around the field here and there
Let alone competing
 
I will continue riding my B but I am selling my youngster as she has not grown as quiet as I had hoped. She is still a little too sharp for me to want to risk riding and handling while pregnant/responsible for a baby. She will go and have a big BD career hopefully.

It is a very hard decision but I think the best one, I can trust B with my and anyone else's safety doing anything within reason (jumping will be limited to novice stuff) but a baby horse, responsible for the safety of my baby??? I never expected this when I bought her which is a long story and this is the wrong place for it but I will do the best I can by her.

I will compete B but only well below her comfort level ie she is happy up to 1m15 with no help from me so I will be competing 95cm and below only.

I think it is an individual decision and should be carefully considered looking at all the factores, ability, the horse etc. I will not be smoking or drinking and will be eating all the right foods, I am told I should continue to exercise so I will, with help from my B!!
 
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