Getting back to riding after pregnancy

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humph

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I'm currently 6 1/2 months pregnant. Because of complications I haven't ridden throughout this preg and have sent my horse to a friend to ride and compete for me.

I keep having a recurring nightmare where I am just about to get on a horse to go xc when someone yanks me off telling me I'm not allowed to because I'm pregnant, GRRR so frustrating! Anyway, I'd love to hear how quickly people have got back into riding after having a baby. I'm champing at the bit to get back in the saddle and am really afraid that this baby will change my life in such a way as to ruin my riding/horse passion.

I'm not so worried about riding after having the baby (cos I've ridden all my life and have never had a problem with nerves) but rather how I'll manage, time wise, to squeeze in time to muck out, ride, etc etc each day. I can't afford a nanny sadly! How have other people managed this?
 
trust me it doesnt
i got in the saddle after two days and having stiches and having a heamerage which was not nice and platelets went high but that didnt stop me but i asked my midwife and she said its the best form of exercise to have to tightern up everything as long as you are good rider and you dont fall off .
and when i had mine i would put my baby in a pram and ride in the school when he was a sleep
but if you have a c section it could be more tricky time wise getting in the saddle .
but no it doesnt, it helps you
and not anyway does it effect you
once you adapt to it the easy it will get
i know a woman who owns and runs a livery yard with 50 horses and a baby at the age of 5 mths so it can be done is this your first ? dont worry
 
Thanks Ischa,

The girl that runs the livery yd (60 horses I think) where I normally keep my horse has just had a baby so I know that she obviously manages somehow but still can't help but panic!

The baby (yup first one, can't you guess!) is due in June and my horse will stay with the friend who's riding him til the end of the season so I'll prob won't start riding until I start getting my husband's hunter fit in July/Aug so I'll have a bit of time to get settled before needing to do a horse. Bearing in mind it's a 17 yr old hunter that will be needing to get fit after a summer off, i'll need to be hacking it out doing the weeks of walking. If only I could strap the baby to my back and get on with life as normal!

Come October, I'll have a fully fit hunter and my "bursting at the seams" eventer to do, which sounds like heaven to me but I'm just not sure how the baby will contend with this!

Any other tips on how to cope with motherhood in a horsey world will be greatly appreciated!
 
Congratulations!

I had my 3rd baby at the end of November and got back into the saddle at the beginning of February. I do suffer from nerves unfortunately, so had to wait until I felt 100% before starting up again.

It takes planning, but motherhood and horses can work. I used to take my babes up to the yard with me while I mucked out, and my husband and my mum used to look after them while I rode. You might want to think about a childminder or nursery for a couple of days a week? It's cheaper than a nanny and gives you free time on guaranteed days. I also think it's good for the child to mix with others. I did this with my second and he had a whale of a time!

I'm lucky that my husband works shifts, so I can generally fit a ride in when he's at home. It sounds like you have a horsey husband anyway, so I'm sure he'll help. Just take every offer of help going and don't stress too much if your plans go awry occasionally!
 
i forgot to say congrates trust me you it will work ok
dont you know of anyone that wants to earn a bit of spare
money a couple days aweek
or your parents maybe or any family reletives
when plans go a drift maybe ride in the school and have baby in pushchair
if anyone can do it we can good we mutitasking
 
Thanks Ischa,

Am sure that people who could help out and want to earn pocket money will appear. Sadly my mother lives 1.5 hrs away so not much help on a daily basis and my in laws, who live around the corner, would be hopeless - I could rely on them to look after our dogs perfectly but I don't reckon they'll be very baby-friendly! My M-I-L has always said that she finds dogs easier than children and believe her.

I'm def feeling more positive. I reckon I don't need to be a control freak and work out now how it's going to work but just wait until it arrives and it'll all fit in somehow. My horses are my passion so it has to!

My husband is horsey but he works every hour of the day so he may not be able to help when it's light in the winter but in the summer I can ride in the evenings when he comes home. Thankfully he totally understands my need to do the horses - I'm a far nicer person when I have my daily installment of horse than I am when I'm without!
 
thats good to here your partner is a horsey person and that he will help mine is not such a horsey person but still helps out when he can as he is a full timer too working 4am till 5.30-6.00
if anyone can do it you can cause woman are good at mutitasking
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I'm a forty year old 'show-jumping mummy'!My daughters are 11,8 and 5 and I rode at shows up til around six months.With my eldest I even went hacking after my waters broke! 'Scandelous' But it FELT allright,so why not?Kids were ok,so was I but wouldn't recommend it to everyone.Got back riding allmost immediately (had to,60 in and at that time no groom!) Found rubber rings handy(to sit on at home) and sheepskin saddle covers (on board!) Now made surprising comeback,and jumping 1.40m every week! Not bad for a 'nearly' veteran!
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i rode up to 8mths pregnant with my third, and got back into the saddle soon after.When i had my other two as babies i used to juggle riding etc when they slept...either drive the car into the field and done abit of schooling or put baby in buggy and done some lunging...theres always a way round it.And if i was lucky i had someone looking after the child.It got abit awkward when the tot starts to walk around and gets into things as they only want to do the same as mummy ,even if its trying to pick the horses feet out
Now the younger ones are at school; 11 and 5 and i have 18yo, so have more time...now juggling around work

I did find that i lost abit of confidence though...maybe i never going to be a gutsey teenager again
 
I rode till I was six months pregnant and just got too heavy for my horse!!! I was pregnant with twins though. Gave horsey a holiday for the rest of the time and some friends hacked her out every now and then - that seemed to keep her interested. I was back in the saddle a week after my c section. Not advisory I know but it felt ok. The only problem I have had is the massive self preservation order I have slapped on myself since having the girls and they will be 4 in August!!!! Completely lost all nerve now and it seems dressage and happy hacking is my forte now the thought of jumping makes me feel physically sick!!!
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I rode till I was 4mths basically had to stop as it wasnt fair on the horses owners if something happened to me and my horse was just backed and turned away so it was easier to stop.

I was a totally fearless rider that would get on anything prior to having my daughter. Everyone said it changes you when you have a baby and I totally ignored them.

I had an emergency c-section so had to wait 6 weeks before I could get back on. Everything was going fine then I just seemed to get really nervous at things that never bothered me before. My youngster came back in to work but he was just too much for me so I had to make the hard decision to sell him (to be fair he is still throwing advanced event riders off regually so he is a monkey but talented)

I have since bought another horse who is naughty but in a cheeky way and far easier to deal with and I am gradually getting more confident again although dont think I will ever be as brave as I was pre-baby!

The only way I have managed to keep it up is that I left my career and have gone back to teaching riding and have a fantastic mother who looks after her when I ride and teach.

It can be done just see what happens, the first year is easy as they will happily stay in their prams.

Congratulations and good luck!
 
Thanks humph for starting this thread and to everyone else with their words of wisdom and tales of experience.
I am due in June too and was wondering the very same thing - when will I be able to get back onboard and will it ever be the same again...It looks like you just need to play it by ear and wait and see.
My 2 are going out tomorrow for a few months holiday - I can feel the boredom creeping in already (and the extra few stone!!).
 
hi
i havent had chance to read all of the replies but congratulations!
i gave birth to to twins 5 weeks ago and cant wait to get back in the saddle! i last really rode on the 18th july last year on my mare that i sadly lost suddenly in january, rightly or wrongly i went and bought another without riding her or seeng her being ridden (long story!) and i cant wait to try her out!
i think when you get back to riding depends on how the birth is and what support you have.
i nearly gave birth at the yard but i ended up with a natural birth, forceps for the 2nd baby and was cut twice, also went on to need a big transfusion about 36 hours later. the only reason i havent tried riding (a horse...) yet is that i think the stitches will be too sore, i'm planning to start of hacking one of my golden oldies to ease myself back into it (what the hell, i dare say i will just hop on new neddy!)
i really would try and not worry as i am sure it will all fit in, especially as your hubby is horsey
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congratulations again!

ps - sorry if its a bably doesnt make sense post, i am typing holding a sleeping baby!
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always ways to make sure i get on here!
 
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