Horses and Pregnancy

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joyny

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Does anyone have any advice/experience on the best thing to do with your horse while you are pregnant?

I am 5 months pregnant, have stopped riding and are now wondering what to do with my horse. He is only used for light hacking and i am thinking of turning him out for some time off and then bringing him back into work in about a years time. (He has been turned out before for time off and been fine) However would it be fairer to find someone to ride him during this time (even though had bad experience of having help before). I don't want to move him as at the moment he is just next door so i can walk up and see how he is doing.

Also should i buy a companion for him so that he has someone to be with at all times - there are other horses on the yard but they are always in and out and he doesn't like being on his own.
 
Ok, I can't speak from experience, but I have to say, why is it that people have such an issue with riding? Im sure a horse isnt going to feel like hes missing out on something if he isnt ridden! Just make sure you still spend time with him, and if anything he will probably prefer it in my opinion!

Only problem with buying a companion is, that i imagine your going to be extremely short of time when youve had the baby, so is another horse something you want? If so, go for it, if not, try it out and see how he goes first. He may well adjust to hvaing horses coming and going and spells on his own within this.
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Hi there I am in exactly the same boat! Congratulations on the pregnancy by the way!!!
I am three months gone and have a thoroughbred gelding. He has been really troubled with bad health for the last four or five years, as a result, even though he is 10 he has hardly done anything! I also stopped riding as i would never forgive myself if i came off and lost the baby - you never know do you? Still mucking out though!
I wanted to find someone to ride him for me, just light hacking to keep him ticking over really but have not had much luck as yet. I am so worried about finding someone who fits the bill that i am now thinking that he would be best off just having the time off. I wouldnt want to trust just anyone with him so i think that is the main decision you need to make. If he gets really fat then i may have to rethink as the yard i am at doesnt even have a school that i can lunge him in.
If he can cope with the time off (he may well enjoy it!) then go for it , i think much better than finding the wrong person! A companion is a good idea - Jupiter has friends in the field and has a good play with them that keeps him happy! Maybe advertise for a companion, there may be someone out there needing a home for free?
Good luck PM me if you want more of a chat and let me know how you get on!
 
I'm pregnant and I've stopped riding as my boy is a little too unpredictable and I just wouldn't risk it. He'll be fine 3, 4, 5 even 6 days in a row, then bam, throw wobblies over nothing. There seems to be no trigger to his behaviour, he's just always been like it. I've kept his routine, bringing in, turning out, grooming etc, but he hasn't been ridden since January. It really isn't the be all and end all, he thinks it's marvellous! I've been asking around for a rider, but to be honest I don't think I'll find one, as no one seems to be experienced enough to want a happy hack, everyone suitable wants to do more with him and I'm not comfortable with other people jumping/competing my horse, it's just the way I am. When the baby's born and I'm feeling ready enough to ride again we'll be coming back into it together, which suits me fine.

If you really want a companion, why not see if you can find someone looking for grazing, then you're not under as much pressure when baby comes. Maybe organise some sort of agreement re; set days to check them etc, it'd really help ease the pressure when baby is born.

When are you due by the way? I'm 16 weeks today and due 22nd September.
 
Thanks for that, makes me feel better that you all think he will be fine without being ridden and i'm sure he does prefer it!. I am due on the 7th August, so just 4 months to go. I rode up to the middle of february then had a bit of a scare and decided it just wasn't worth it. I am still mucking out but that is becoming abit too much now so hoping to get him turned out soon.

Will have to see on the companion front - was thinking of getting a pony so they could live out together and then could be used when the child is old enough but that might be planning abit far in advance!
 
i speak from experience if he has no reactions from not being ridden etc weight gain or excitement then you be ok when i had my two boys on both times i put them out to grass to refresh shall i put it
it done them good
is it only for a short time? as long as you still give attention etc grooming and love
 
Congrats on your pregnancy, I'm also up the duff (16+2)

I'm still riding my two horses and will keep going until I feel unsafe/uncomfortable, whenever that happens. I've considered a few possibilities about what to do with the horses when the time comes for me to stop riding, but it kind of depends how long I manage to keep going for. I have a very good friend who rode up until the day before she gave birth, and was on again a week after! (But, she is a mad farmer's wife, different breed from the rest of us.)

I'm not averse to giving them a long holiday, but it does depend how long, the type of horse, and what you do with him. If they're competition horses, then a very long break would probably set them back, and then you've got to do all that walking and fittening afterwards, which will be a real pain if not virtually impossible with a baby. Therefore, I think 8-12 wks off would be the maximum for me, and I would lunge them during that time to keep them ticking over. If I was going to be out of action for any longer than that, then I would either get someone else to ride them or send them away to full livery.

Also, you have to think what your horse is likely to be like after a long break - will he be one of those that lets himself down completely and comes back into work 'ploddy', or will he be really fresh when you come to ride him again?! I wouldn't want to be getting on a very fresh horse that hasn't been ridden for a year when I'm also soft and unfit!

But, it sounds like yours is a nice sensible horse that just does light hacking, and has been fine after a long lay-off before, so I think he'd probably be absolutely fine.

As for a companion, I have one for mine, and he's a godsend. He's on loan from an animal shelter, lives out all year round, and hardly takes up any of my time, but relieves a lot of human and equine stress!

I expect you'll get lots of 'advice' from others at the yard about what you should be doing with your horse, but you've got to decide what's best for you and the baby.

Good luck with everything!
 
Nice to hear that there are other people out there going through the same! My horse is certainly enjoying his break at the moment that is for sure...just got to keep an eye on his weight! Finding someone to ride him is so hard that i think that i have given up - all the people with the experience that i would want and he would need are after horses that they can have on loan and compete and i dont want that.
Guess that there are lots of horses out there having a maternity break!
I love the idea of a little pony that the little one can ride...sounds like a plan to me!!!!
 
i got a sharer in while i was pregnant - had a baby girl 7/1/08 - really helped only having to do half the work which took twice as long at a waddle! i have kept my sharer going as its great. i was still mucking out etc on my due date
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but stopped riding at about 7months
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i also have a friend who rides so when i went into labour i handed pony over to my sharer and friend to look after for a few days. unfortunatly had c-section so cldnt ride as soon as i liked and it was great to have a sharer to exercise and keep condition on pony. so i'd say find a sharer as they are brill for while you are pregnant and also after!
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ps having an understanding and willing to help husband makes a great difference especially for those extra waddley days!!
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I am 8 weeks pregnant and now starting to think about the longer term plan! I plan to carry on riding and competing for as long as I can. I have a very good friend who rides for me once a week, and friends at the yard have said when I can no longer ride they will hack/school him for me. If push comes to shove I will turn him away for the winter and let him be big shaggy pony, rather than the preaned Dressage horse he is at the moment!
 
another pregnant one here lol im 6 months gone! still working on yard and riding quiet horses, in the process of getting my boy put on short term loan until the end of the summer, if that doesnt work out then he's getting turned out for 6 months and coming back into work when im safe riding daft horses again! easy decision for me though as i work on the yard where pony is stabled and my boss/yard owner is there 24/7 to keep an eye on both my pony and loaner, if i do turn my pony away for the summer then i know he'l be quite happy doing nothing in the field and shouldnt be too much hassle to bring back into work (she says lol).

you know your horse better than anyone else so im sure you'l make the right decision!
 
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