pregnancy and horse!!!

noblesteed

noblesteed

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What do people do? I am just deciding my options. I have 1 super horse on DIY. He is 100% in traffic, hacks out beautifully, does a half decent dressage test and jumps well. He does need firm handling as he can be very opinionated, he gets bored easily and starts playing up so he is not suitable for a novice. I have had him 3 years and REALLY don't want to sell him if at all possible. OH is ok with me keeping him but no good at helping out. The question is what to DO with him?
He is 12, so I could only ever sell him to a forever home - how could I guarantee that was the case?
He would suit a teenager or adult so I could offer him on loan but couldn't bear the thought of him being taken where I couldn't visit him, so would have to stay local. BUT if he was taken away that would upset my friend that I share the field/stables with - there are 2 of us that rent them together off a farmer and it would mean she would be on her own with a single horse... And I would like to keep him there as we are so happy. However it is nearer my work than home. I would also worry about a loaner returning him in the winter/ if he went lame/ if he was naughty.
What other options are there? I thought about trying to find him grazing nearer to home and just turn him away for a year? He would be ok to live out with rugs and I know a few people who rent fields locally. But that seems a waste when he is fit and healthy.
I can't afford to have him on full livery and he hates being on a yard.
THEN what do you do when baby is born? So many questions.... :( and :) at the same time...
 
Turn him out three - six months and review it, I was certainly rding after 3 months. You actually have more time for horses on matenity leave than you do if working as long as you have family / an inlaw handy.

Consider keeping him turned out even when you start riding as it will be cheaper and he will be happier if turned out, if riding is intermittent.
 
I'm in the same boat, and I haven't considered getting rid of my horse. As far as I'm concerned I'll be carrying on as normal for as long as poss (although no jumping!!). I reckon there will be 3-4 months when I can't ride - when this happens she'll either be moved to fields close to home and turned away for that time, or there maybe a young loaner/ sharer on my current yard who can keep her in work.

Post-sprog I'm definitely going to have more time that I do now - working full time and having a horse on DIY is hard! My only problem is going to be money. I've worked out that I can't afford to keep her on my current yard while on maternity leave, unless aforementioned sharer can help out. So she may need to stay living out - shame as I like the social aspect of the yard, but not the end of the world, and means I can keep my girl!
 
I had it slightly easy because my horses are in the back garden, but because my boy is a bucker and had 4 weeks off early on due to bad weather he ended up having 12 months off.

IMHO the pregnant bit isn't too bad, mucking out really tires you out, and is not fun ontop of morning sickness (I sufered for 5 months), but its much easier than when you have to look after the baby at the same time.

To be honest unless you have a fantastic support system and a perfect baby you are going to find it difficult to find the energy alone to ride for the first 12 weeks. Even after then, unless you can tolerate large amounts of wailing, or have family who can take the baby for a couple of hours a day you are going to find it hard to fit in riding.

I don't want to put you off though, it can be done, just don't expect to have lots of spare time for riding while little sprog happily sits in the buggy, it just doesn;t work like that!

Mine is 1 now and I am sill restricted to riding at the weekends, or when he is in bed. I'm back at work now I leave the house at 6.20 for a 7am start, riding when I used to straight after work would be a bit mean as C only sees me for those couple of hours every day, and I'd be back to wailing in the buggy.

We have no family close by so he has to be with either myself or my OH 99% of the time. Its OK now, but come the dark nights I am going to find it difficult to ride much during the week, will have to invest in some real will power to go back out to the yard at 7.30pm.

I think that if I wanted to compete (transportless at the moment) I would have to find a sharer who could ride during the day to help me keep up the fitness otherwise it just wouldn't happen.
 
Hi

If you cant find anyone to ride him even just once or twice a week for free?? or to help with costs and you dont want to sell him turn him out. You could try to loan him for year locally(I just tried to loan a horse and the lady had queues of people, she went with someone very local and her friend was going to visit and check on him). But only do it if he stays in current yard etc. But i would start ball rolling now so you know its all ok.

I know I am going to upset people but I would not ride whilst pregnant, far too risky.

I think you have given yourself the options so perhaps try to see if1. someone will come to you to ride and use your horse, I see plenty of ads. I am looking to buy but if I had the opportunity locally to contribute to costs and look after a horse/ride that would suit me very well ie loan it for a set amount of time.2. possible loan very locally?3. turn away for a year.

As to post baby, if your OH will look after the baby for a 2-3 hours at a time you could easily fit in riding again and what a good way to get some exercise, but I agree you will be tired post baby for quite a few weeks until you get yourself and baby sorted out. Depends how helpful OH will be with baby?

If you cant afford to keep the horse and feel it will be wasted perhaps sell (but try the above first). Good luck
 
Congratulations!

Don't think it's the end of horses when you get pregnant/have a baby, lots of people combine the two, it depends how badly you want both.

I have a 3 week old baby and 2 horses on DIY within walking distance, one is only 3 so she is "turned away" and my main mare is in full work (she had a week off for the birth)

I rode until 35 weeks pregnant and ticked over lunging from then until 40 weeks, I am lucky in that my husband rides so he is hacking her out as well but if he didn't I would have just managed with lunging and loose schooling. I did the horses the morning I went into labour (albeit slowly and steadily) and was back 48 hours after a 40 hour labour doing them again with the off road buggy in tow! My son has been to the yard twice daily since. Newborn babies sleep a fair bit and you soon learn to time it during naps, I will resume riding at 6 weeks while OH babysits probably getting up very early while baby asleep. Its early days and I suspect there will be some fun ahead but I am prepared to dig very deep for the next few years especially when I go back to work to juggle the lot! Turnout is the answer, I pay the yard to poo pick now so only have to allow for "quality time" exercising, grooming, feeding etc. A sharer may be an answer. You will be glad of the fresh air afterwards, I am... especially if its what you are used to.

Do a search for pregnancy related posts on here, there are some super women and it gives you the confidence to think it is all possible...:)
 
http://www.rcog.org.uk/search/node/...,statement,womens_health_article?section=rcog


Have a look at the link............I really would not ride whilst pregant you run the risk of a fall.For the sake of a few months you can go back to it afterwards.

There are people who manage it and are very lucky to have got away with it.They are not superwomen.

But seek advice from your healthcare professional who is looking after you. They will be the best to advise you.

(If the link does not open just google Royal College Obstetricians etc an horse riding/womens health etc)
 
I rode untill 5 months im now 8months and i only stopped because i was getting too heavy for my 2 very dainty tb's poor things :).
I have a 25yo whom i have had for a number of years so of corse could never sell him
and my little 6yo i have owned for 3years. Fortuntley they are extremly well behaved so the management of them i have kept up, by myself!
I do have a great bf who poo picks for me tho :)
I contemplated loaning my youngster out thinking that he needs to be ridden, and that if i didnt loan him he would waste away ect. But the truth is, he's a horse he loves to be out in his feild eating his beloved grass and frankly does not care weather he gets ridden daily or yearly lol.
I have recently found a loverly older, lady who hacks him out 2/3 times a week for me untill iv shifted the weight and can get back in the saddle.
All i know is my boys were here way before my baby,
So stay they shall yes its going to be tough but like someone has said if you really want both you make time and it will make me more organised hhehe. Yes Ive have made a few alterations this year as ive moved to a smaller yard thats alot cheaper but alot quieter for my boys so better, im also going to try and have them out all winter and see how that goes with feild shelter. good luck and im sure youll be fine :)
 
Firstly congrats on bump!

secondly i dont know if you plan to but riding while pregnant my motto is this - accidents are accidents there not meant to happen but they do, you will never forgive yourself - iv been there :(

I tried to loan my mare while pregnant to be kept as present yard it was bloody awful! she didnt look after her never rode didnt get her shod the list goes on. I ended up just keeping her and giving her time off! If you think pregnancy with horses is hard waiting til the little un is born lol! if your lucky enough to have a good support network friends family etc then great otherwise restricted time can be an issue. If i were you id turn him away for a year, all the best xxxx
 
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