Pregnancy and horses.... I'm bored!

[BlackIrishBeauty]

Hi all,

I'm currently 18 weeks pregnant and as such, I'm no longer riding my horse. 1- for personal preference and 2- I was borderline getting too heavy and was actively trying to lose weight before I conceived (which I was succeeding weirdly! ).

I've got an amazing part loaner who is riding her 3 x a week during my pregnancy and early months of having a new born... My question is, I'm desperately missing riding and doing things other than grooming (she's never looked so shiny!).

What did you guys do in this situation?

 

[pistolpete]

Not been in your situation but can you walk your horse in hand? Would you like to clicker train her? Podcasts? If you like listening to horsey stuff there are dozens of horsey podcasts.

 

[QueenBella]

Congrats on your pregnancy! I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant but I was out of the saddle for most of last year due to various reasons and was hoping to get back into the swing of things this year and joined the local riding club but life had other plans!

I was very upset at first seeing all my friends going off to shows and clinics but I soon got over it as I kept myself busy with other jobs around the yard. I have a yearling who is as quiet as a lamb so enjoying just doing basic groundwork with her and I've also been busy trying to get 2 mares into foal. I was defiant at first and didn't want the pregnancy to stop me from doing what I love but I have found myself being more cautious as I'm getting further along and not being as brave around them incase I ever got a kick or anything (they've never as much as put their ears back to me but better to be safe than sorry!) I've also been going to shows with people from my old livery yard and acting as a groom or attending the riding club lessons just to watch and learn so at least I'm not missing out on days out and bits like that! Also going to local agricultural shows while I still can and watching the horse classes has helped. I've also starting physio for injuries that stopped me riding last year and I think I'll take up either yoga or pilates to try and keep myself fit and hope I'll bounce back quick and get back into riding next year!

 

[Timelyattraction]

Funny enough i rode up to i was 36 weeks (only gentle hacking by that point, i was struggling a bit ) but now my babies are a bit older , what was my only rideable horse is out of work due to lameness and doesnt look like she will ever come right and i am also missing riding like mad! Im getting my fix by lunging and doing ground work with my kids 12hh pony, and taking them out doing lead rein shows and pony club with them, but its still not the same.

 

[Patterdale]

Just chill out until your baby arrives, you’ll soon be wishing you could pop it back in for an hour so you could just have a lovely uninterrupted snooze

 

[BlackIrishBeauty]

Just chill out until your baby arrives, you’ll soon be wishing you could pop it back in for an hour so you could just have a lovely uninterrupted snooze

I'm not the kind of person who can relax unfortunately! I wish I was but when I do nothing, I struggle with my mental health.

 

[Polos Mum]

I was so bored on my maternity leave (post baby - I rode until a couple of weeks before) that i bought a bankrupt saddlery stock and sold it all one by one on ebay - made a bit of cash too.

Some people loved pregnancy / tiny babies - others don't - no judgement, we're all different.

Can you learn a new hobby that's more suited - painting (ponies of course), sewing (make loads of lovely bespoke numnahs for when your back onboard), do loads of reading
Walking to keep fit.

I personally have seen more injuries to people handling horses than falling from them, so if you're feeling protective (as many many do) then in hand stuff can be as tricky. Later on when your balance is off and you can't move as quickly as usual I think avoid that maybe.

 

[BlackIrishBeauty]

I was so bored on my maternity leave (post baby - I rode until a couple of weeks before) that i bought a bankrupt saddlery stock and sold it all one by one on ebay - made a bit of cash too.

Some people loved pregnancy / tiny babies - others don't - no judgement, we're all different.

Can you learn a new hobby that's more suited - painting (ponies of course), sewing (make loads of lovely bespoke numnahs for when your back onboard), do loads of reading
Walking to keep fit.

I personally have seen more injuries to people handling horses than falling from them, so if you're feeling protective (as many many do) then in hand stuff can be as tricky. Later on when your balance is off and you can't move as quickly as usual I think avoid that maybe.

I already cross stitch etc.. I absolutely love being outside and being with them... When I broke my foot and couldn't ride, I really struggled with my mental health... I feel back in that head space.

I absolutely love being pregnant, I'm grateful and I can't wait for my little bubba to arrive... but I would have liked to have lost some more weight before so I could carry on riding during pregnancy...

For reference, she's a 15h welsh x fresian, weighing around 500Kg. She's fit and I'm currently weighing 15 stone at 18 weeks

 

[Polos Mum]

Sounds like lots of in hand work then. I get my 3/4 y/os out walking on our hacking routes just as if they were dogs.
They love it, I get fit and they learn loads while not weight bearing

You can still be pretty active in pregnancy.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

A lady I know at the yard next door to me is pregnant and she has been doing loads if groundwork with poles and long reining her horses, I spoke to her today and she said she has really enjoyed it and the horses seem to as well and it is keeping them a bit fit for when she can start riding again.

 

[HopOnTrot]

First child I didn’t ride but I did lots of inhand stuff, loose schooling, Le Trec style obstacles and walked her round the XC course.

Second child I rode until my bump was too big to get off, around 30 weeks I think.

 

[GinaGeo]

Only you’ll know how you’re feeling.

I had pretty early pelvic girdle pain that just got progressively worse. I could ride without pain. But I couldn’t walk. So in hand work was out of the question for me.

I did tootle about walk hacking on sensible horses. But only once a week or so.

But you might be able to do some in hand work, lunging or long lining?

I did take the horses on lots of hedgerow foraging walks. Because I could mostly stand still.

I also collected hawthorn berries, rose hips and other bits for the horses and then dried them for winter.

The tack room and all my tack got a really good clean. The house did not