having children and horses.......do you?

charlie76

charlie76

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Not that I have anything to tell you!
Just wondering how you managed when you had children? Did you ride when you were expecting and if so how long for? Did you compete? How long after you had a baby were you back in the saddle/competing?
What would you do with the child when you were riding/doing horses?
Thanks!
 
I've got a 2 year old daughter, and one horse, which I keep at livery. I rode whilst pregnant until about 7 months gone, but stopped jumping straight away. I hacked, and schooled, and would have competed (unaff dressage) but didn't have transport so it would have been too much. I stopped riding as it was starting to hurt my pelvis and hips. I went 2 weeks over, and was still lunging my horse and doing all jobs until the day before I went into hospital to be induced.

I was back riding 2 weeks after giving birth (with a sheepskin saddle cover!) and back having lessons and schooling properly about 8 weeks after. I had my daughter in Nov, so weather conditions stopped me doing a huge amount of riding straight away.

My husband or parents have my daughter whilst I ride at weekends and have my lessons. She slept in the car sometimes, or in the pushchair, but my daughter wasn't a great fan of daytime naps so I didn't get much time then. It was hard to begin with as I was breastfeeding, and only had 2 hour gaps in which to get to stables, ride, do jobs and get home.

It's still hard now cos i've got a toddler trying to help me muck out, brush the horse etc so I can't ride if I've got her. I normally manage a decent ride at the weekend now, and a couple of 20 min sessions during the week, plus one lesson a fortnight. I don't compete, but again that's cos of transport. I've managed a couple of rides round somerford park whilst my husband had my daughter.

I've been struggling this week because of the snow; my yard is in walking distance, but the lane is frozen, my daughter can't walk all the way by herself, and the pushchair is unusable in this weather. Plus it's been -10 in the mornings, which is a bit too cold for my daughter to be out in for any length of time, however well wrapped up she is :)
I've been wondering this week whether it's such a good idea having horse and child!
 
I had 3 horses on DIY when I was pregnant. I rode my old mare until I was 6 months, when it became very uncomfortable as she's a jogger :) I was competing until 5 1/2 months as I didn't start to show until then.

The day before I had him I mucked out all 3 on my own. I did this most days throughout my pregnancy although I did get help on occasion.

Once he was born, I had the horses turned out for me in the morning. Once I'd fed baby we went up the yard and I mucked out and got everything ready for the evening. Baby had a nap while I did this. I had a C Section so wasn't allowed to ride until after my 6 week check - I got on the day before this and almost fell off because my stomach muscles just didn't work :D

I have since moved to a house with my own land and stables. I have had 6 horses here before - child comes up the yard with me and plays his DS while I muck out. I now only have 3 again, sadly, so it's a bit easier :D

I used to ride while he was at playgroup/school although I'm not riding at the moment due to the weather. Serious ice on the roads and the round pen is knee deep in snow!!
 
I have 2 children....one is 15 and the baby is now 3. I bought my own land when I was pregnant for my youngest.

I rode until I was 5 months gone.

I reached melt down point in July as I just couldn't do it anymore......building stables,land maintainance, looking after 3 horses and coping with my little boy with challenging behaviour.

I gave loan pony back and have put the other 2 on full livery and rented my land and stables out.....I needed a breather as I wasn't enjoying it at all.

Best thing I ever did.....I found it a nightmare!
 
I turned my pony away for a year while I was pregnant.

Started riding again 6 weeks after having my daughter, although those occurances were rare!

Pony continued to live out for another year being ridden very very lightly as could only do so when parents or OH could have her.

Decided last week that I miss my hobby and needed to get my bottom in gear and get out of this flat so Pony is stabled at night. Every morning I go down with daughter to do all chores. It isnt too cold here so I just make sure my daughter has plenty of layers on, a good coat and blanket and a warm bottle of milk and off we go. I am lucky that my new stable is inside so Daughter can watch quite happily while I do everything. Only problem is that my field is quite far away so I do have to walk with Daughter in Pushchair and pony together. I know some of you wouldnt agree with this but I would NEVER put my daughter in danger and my pony is 100% bombproof. Its the only way I can do things. Otherwise I would still be in my flat with no motivation to do anything. I feel now that I have my hobby back and although I still only ride occasionaly, I have the enjoyment of mucking out etc. Plus I would love my daughter to be an outdoor girl and this means getting my backside in gear and getting out!

I also questioned keeping horse when having a child (as you will see by my very depressing post a few months back). Truth is, its hard....very hard but we need our hobbies to give us a break. Since bringing my pony back in at night, I feel a different person and am much happier.

However, not sure I will be having anymore children anytime soon! lol!
 
its hard.... I have two horses at home with a now 7 yr old and a 4 yr old. I get up very early before everyone is awake to do the horses and do jobs in small chunks if needs be. Baby used to sit in pushchair or play on the grass on a rug (out of reach of horses of course!!). I am very lucky that my horses are literally outside my back door and the baby monitor reached into the field so I could in theory be outside whilst he had a nap. I tried not to lean too much on babysitters etc just so I could ride so I only really rode once or twice a week.

Its much easier when they start a playgroup / school. Its also much easier when its summer as they can play outside (especially as the garden again looks over the stables and fields and I could potter around whilst the children played within eyesight and ear shot.

I am not sure how people cope having their horses on DIY livery and having babies / young children to be honest

However I loved having the horses even when it was hardwork and the children were young because it meant I had some me time / some peace and quiet and also that I got out of the house every single day
 
Yep - 4 children (ages 8-2) & 1 horse

Have always been on DIY yards and would still have to go up to muck out, turn out etc right until waters broke (luckily never there lol) and was back down the next day after being released from hospital.

I also stopped riding at about 6 months - some schooling and hacking out mainly (no jumping at all after I found out I was expecting; but generally because Im rubbish at it lol)

Luckily with my final child, Dizzy was out 24/7 so I still went down 2x a day, rode etc but didnt have to muck out :D

Tbh though, I was stupidly doing MORE when I was pregnant as I have that obsession "Im Not ill - its just a baby" lol :rolleyes:

It is hard to juggle kids with horses but you do tend to just manage it eventually
 
i hve two kids, 11 and 7 and one pony. altho i've only had my own pony for 2 and a half years now. my 11 yr old rides once in a blue moon the rest of the time he stays at home when i go to the yard, which is 2 mins walk away. and my 7 yr old comes with me. he doesnt mind most the time, altho has no interest in riding. he enjoys playing footy in the orchard and climbing the trees while i sort pony out. he also really enjoys walking the dog with me while i ride out. we only go if the weather is decent tho. i guess i'm quite lucky that as my pony lives out 24/7 i'm not committed to going down early etc. i go down after the school run in the mornings and once a week in winter its my turn to do the hay in the eve. i got the day my youngest is at footy after school so he only needs to come down in the school hols and every other weekend when he is home with me. if the kids were any younger i simply couldnt hve had a pony. i'm a single mum with no family near by to baby sit, so i had to wait till they were both at full time school and i was earning enough money before i could follow my dream. even tho it works, i look forward to when my youngest starts secondary school as he'll walk himself there, i'll hve so much more time on my hands at the start and end of the day. i might even be able to ride more than twice a week with any luck!
 
I have a 2 year old and 3 horses.
I go to yard very early before other half goes to work, the later in the evening when hes he is home.

You have to have an understanding partner, he knew i would always have horses when we got together so he new what he was taking on!
 
i have 3 little ones (4yo, 2.5yo & 8month old) & 2 on private land out 24/7. i go down mornings and do morning checks & feed after dropping eldest at preschool, go back lunchtime, poo pick & make up evening feeds after picking eldest up from preschool & they have a picnic in the nice weather whereas in cold weather they sit in car or feed room & have lunch if in the car they watch a cartoon. evenings i nip down when OH gets home & pop feeds out & do quick check over & kiss both goodnight.
i am still not allowed to ride due to health issues so i lunge them lunchtimes (alternate days) & then do the more strenus stuff weekends.
wouldnt change it for the world, by having our own land i have a small area fenced off with bits for the kids ot play with or they "help" poo pick.
 
When pregnant was down in Calcot and rode pretty much until I had daughter (but was on T who I knew well!). Didnt compete as much afterwards I have to admit.

Day to day things, baby sling and had to get on with it! Where I went baby went, it was very hard though and you don't get quite the same pleasure in doing things as always on a bit of a timer (baby needs feeding, nappy etc).

Riding I was blessed with mum....who babysat....

I have to be honest, it has never stopped me from doing most things, but once you have a child (one was enough!), your freedom is gone, that includes your whole life! - I am still blessed with my mother who will have my daughter overnight and lives in same village as me, however, if I didn't have that support, I don't think I would even still have horses!

Childcare fees are horrific if you work full time and unless you have supportive family or are completely insane (yes I think I fit that one!), I would not try and mix the two until baby is a toddler!! Which is then a nightmare as they don't stay where you put them!

I thought things woudl be easier once daughter was self sufficient in riding......which it is in some respects, however, whilst she can muck out and handle, catch, feed, ride pony on her own now, she also wants to compete which doubles the price, so my riding has taken very much a back seat! Thats what you do for your kids tho.

If you ever enter into motherhood be prepared for a large shock at the other end....life is NEVER the same and your time with horses is NEVER the same!!!

Sorry if I sound pessimistic but I struggled with it big time having to cut riding short, feeling I was only giving the horse half attention etc etc, hence as you know I went back to a pony! - it wasnt so serious, it didn't need to be super fit and didn't cost as much!

I wouldn't be without my little girl, she is a shining star in my life, however........it is damn hard if you are horse addict!!! But it can be done! I suppose tho, if you have partner who shares your horse addiction it would be whole lot easier?! x

xxx
 
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