dismounting when pregnant - how ??

[JLD]

I am nearly 20 weeks pregnant , no bump to speak of as yet and just hacking out in walk quite comfortably on my very safe and calm boy but just starting to be uncomfortable when I lean forward to get off,can swing round to face the back as I get down but it is the intial leaning forward bit that I am increasingly aware of. dont want to stop riding as it is doing me good and riding itself is fine. he is 16.3 I am 5'4 so options are limited !! anyone else found a good way round this ???

 

[AmyMay]

Leg over his neck?

 

[devilinajar]

My friend would swing her leg over the head and slid off, and as she got bugger this was the only way to dismount comfortably!!

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

Not very BHS or Pony Club but swing your leg over forwards and come off with your back against the saddle. You can do it without leaning fowards - just like doing Round the World again. Oh - and given the height involved try and land on a mounting block!

 

[GT_02]

Yep, another vote for swinging your leg over his neck

 

[SnowandSunshine]

Yup, think leg over the neck is the only way. I am 26wks pregnant but I always get off this way so my horse is used to it. Sliding down onto a mounting block seems to be the easiest way.

 

[Baileysno1]

I'm 5 months started swinging my leg over the front turning in the saddle and sliding off, got someone to hold len the first few times till he got used to it but hes fine now.

 

[Baileysno1]

OOoo just out of interest JLD can you still fit into your breeches? I have a small bump now and find them uncomfortable to wear with the button undone so riding in joggers could do with some stretchy style pull on jogger breech hybrid type things but can't find anything suitable.

 

[JLD]

thank you all very much - this appears to be the way to go. Oh God - I was rubbish at round the world on 12 hh ponies !! alwys worried I'll fall off backwards, I have to bite the bullet and try, my boy wont mind he is terribly patient with me !

 

[JLD]

hi Baileysno1. my bump is still very small and lost so much weight puking for 4 months that my normal clothes all too big still !! but I have gorringe new cord breeches and they are really stretchy and really comfy and I think go up to 34" waist - couldnt wear any of my other jods. also saw on robinsons web site some jods with expandible waist band - not marketed as maternity jods as prob not very Pc but definatley look like them - hope that helps.

 

[Fenton]

Ditto swinging your right leg over the withers and sitting sideways to slide off. I got someone to catch me as I slid down - to save the bump at the end (my horse is tall and I'm small!)

 

[Bowen4Horses]

yup, another vote for swinging over neck... that's what i do.

by the way, i get A LOT of disapproving looks when riding now. i'm about 24 weeks, but have a proper bump showing. i was at a (very sedate) fun ride the other day and over heard some woman telling her friend that her 'babies were too precious' to risk riding with. i'd say the majority of people disapprove of riding whilst pregnant. i feel like getting a tabard made with 'i know my horse is safe' or 'i could get squashed crossing the road'.

 

[marinitagsd]

I rode up to me being 34 weeks!!!! How stupid was I??????? All well though and my baby girl is now nearly 20!
I used to swing my leg over quite quickly and push myself away with my hands so bump was well clear.
Good luck and be careful.
Anita
x

 

[nuffield]

I used to leg-over-neck.

 

[Wasrandyra]

I agree with the swinging the leg over his neck.

Couldnt you make an extra sturdy and wide mounting block so that you can dismount on to that rather than 'plummeting'? Might be easier/safer.

My mum rode until I was banging on the front of the saddle haha

 

[SLC11]

I rode till I was 8 months on my lovely safe boy. I too had the same problem. The easiest way was to get the leg over the neck and slide down. Although try to slide down onto a raised area, a mounting block for example, sliding down to the ground with a bit of a thud, doesn't really do you much good.

 

[sallyellis]

Yes have to agree with all of the others swing your leg over horsey's neck and slide down, My mare drops her head now when we get back from a ride as she got used to doing it whilst I was pregnant, she used to use her head to lift me up when I was trying to mount as well when I got bigger... I managed riding in leggings and chaps when I got too big for my jods.

 

[Tallante]

My apologies if I'm being simple (and I've never been pregnant) but I'm curious.

How do you get on the horse before you find you can't get off?

Can't you get off the same way you get on? i.e. keep one foot in stirrup.

 

[trafford]

You do have to be careful swinging your leg over the neck as your centre of gravity changes when pregnant and could topple off backwards! Extendable waist jods from Robbies are great! http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/Productdetail.asp?ProductCode=22494

 

[Penguinboots]

[ QUOTE ]
OOoo just out of interest JLD can you still fit into your breeches? I have a small bump now and find them uncomfortable to wear with the button undone so riding in joggers could do with some stretchy style pull on jogger breech hybrid type things but can't find anything suitable.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was looking at a German horsey shopping site the other day, and they sell maternity jods! If they make them in Germany, you might be able to get them in the UK as well.

 

[tamatha]

hi

I am 5 1/2 months pregnant and just getting a very noticable "bump".. Im still riding my very sensible (obviously or I wouldnt be riding him) rising 4 year old gelding who I have owned since he was 5 months old, so we know each other very well!!!! As he is young I tried the putting leg over neck but found it was very uncontrolled and should he move I would risk falling over.

My own way of choice is to keep one foot resting in stirrup and stand up, swing leg over and gently let myself go down. I have control over myself and the horse still (basically reverse of getting on). I have taught my youngster to stand back by the mounting block so I can step back onto the block if I need to. I found dismounting uncomfortable from about 4 months.

I will try and ride until I cant anymore, although I only ride in security of arena, wont jump and certainly will not risk hacking as the roads round me are lethal! (drivers and obstacles - not horse!!! :0)

I have my first dressage comp on my youngster on sunday... mmh bought a size 34 waist pair of jodphurs... heres hoping they fit or Im stuck!!!

Good luck to everyone!

 

[the watcher]

I rode until very late into pregnancy, in the end it was the difficulty in dismounting that stopped me (in the last month or so) - I favoured the jockey style flying dismount, although it got less and less elegant as time went on and in the end i was effectively chucking myself off the horse - luckily she wasn't tall