Pregnancy and horses!!

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WiltshireMare

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I know this must have been asked hundreds of times but what is everyones thoughts??
I have just find out i am maybe 8 weeks pregnant and i feel a bit worried to ride. Many websites say do but NHS etc say don't.... Thoughts please!!!!
I am thinking should I part loan my mare? Or find her a rider? She is as good as gold but very fit and i'd hate for her to lose fitness over the next 7 months or so!
Long post sorry!!!
 
I know lots of people do ride whilst pregnant - but personally I didn't and wouldn't. It's too great risk IMO. However, good and steady your horse it - it can never be 100% safe and how would you feel if you fell and lost the baby. Just not worth the risk.

A lady I know hunted twice a week right up til the week before her baby was born and was back out again the week after! Mad!
 
I have friends who have ridden upto the date of birth and were riding again 2 weeks after! This is my hope for next year, when we are hoping to have a baby... If it is not uncomfortable for you and you trust the horse, I would just go for it. Exercise must be good! Good luck!
 
Oops, also Congrats!
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Agree with boxers - i know most people do but i personally wouldnt - its no way worth the risk. Get someone else to keep your horse fit if you can.
 
Most people I have spoken to continue to ride for a large part of their pregnancy. It is personal choice. I'm not getting an awful lot of riding in (read none) because I am so tired, but I have a horsey husband who's riding George still, and my other one is on box rest anyway.
 
Unless you have an actual medical problem of course you can ride and care for your horse too.

Whether you choose to, or not, of course depends on you. Some women just feel very precious as soon as they are pregnant and cannot bear to take any risks at all. I know friends who became quite ridiculous about every day life risks, what they ate etc. You may well change your current views, it's called bonkers pregnancy hormones...

Good Luck and I hope you have a lovely baby.
 
Congratulations!!!

The best advice at the moment is... don't listen to too much advice! See how you feel.

I am 22 weeks pregnant and still riding, if it is any consolation. In fact I am still riding my 5 year old, although I am going to stop in the next few weeks. I am quite lucky that the bump is still small and so balance is unaffected and I feel fine (no one at work noticed until yesterday). Two of my friends rode until they were 32 weeks pregnant but by the end they could only walk and canter - trot was too bouncy!

I did take advice from my doctor and midwife in the early weeks, who said that if I am an experienced rider with a horse I trust then it is fine to continue as long as I feel confident. They recommend not taking up a new dangerous sport but say that if you are experienced etc then they don't tell you to stop.

I am going to give both of mine time off - the young one will go out next month until about March (I'm due in mid-Jan) and the older one I will plod about on as long as I can haul myself on board! Then he can go in the field as well and I will start again with them both in the spring.

Your best guidance is how you are feeling. If you are scared and nervous then maybe it's best not to ride, as you are so much more likely to have an accident. But don't stop yourself if you're feeling fine, and the exercise (particularly for your pelvic floor) will do you good.

Best of luck and don't hesitate to PM if you want a chat!
 
Ditto Angela_l_b. I have not had any children but its entirely what you feel comfortable with.

All of my friends have ridden until either they couldn't get on or one worse - couldn't get off!
 
I'm 23 weeks pregnant and I stopped riding at 8 weeks. I've had a previous miscarriage so didn't want to take any risks of falling off but I'm still doing my horse myself. My husband and brother are helping with any heavy lifting and a friend is riding my boy twice a week. Its a personal thing - I didn't want to risk it but didn't want to stop doing all things with my horse, some people are happy to ride, some people don't want to do anything round the horse. You have to ask yourself, if something happened, would I blame my activities (applies to more than just horse riding)? Congratulations and enjoy being pregnant - I love it!!
 
I am currently 19 weeks and still riding I also have a 4 yo son. I rode all the way through my pregnancy until I reached 30 weeks and then my bump got too big to get on and off and I had put on too much weight for my TB. I got back on 10 days after his birth.
At the beginning of this year I lost a little boy at 20 weeks
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I am currently under consultant care with this pregnancy and when I asked her if I could continue to ride (and run as when not pregnant I love running marathons
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) she had absolutely no problem with me riding.

Its about what is right for you though and not what a load of strangers on t'internet do
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I am currently 18 weeks - but usually too tired to ride! That said I did take part in BHS Trec at 14 weeks- just gave the jumping a miss.
Go with what your body tells you - I have finally started to feel better now that I am in the 2nd trimester - and have a week off next week so hope to make the most of it then. That said I do have a safe, reliable, trustworthy ned.
Incedently my midwife was perfectly happy for me to continue riding.
 
Congrats! I rode up to the birth with my first but pelvic problems with my second meant I had to give up riding at at five months. As others have said, its a personal thing. My doctor was very supportive, simply said don't hack on the road and don't jump. She also pointed out at the time that I could stay in bed and not move for nine months and I could still lose the baby. She told me to do whatever felt comfortable and enjoy my pregnancy, not be ruled by the fear of what could happen. Whatever you decide, to ride or not, don't do it under pressure from others and try not to listen to the horror stories that some people just seem to love telling pregnant women! Seriously, do these people lie in wait looking for women with a bump?
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just a quicky...

i'm 38wks pregnant (HUGE) and rode until i was um, about 30weeks, because i was soooo enormous i was causing Raff to trip, and also i couldn't get off one day (very embarrassing). up til then, i did everything, sponsered rides, hacks etc... only i didn't jump (as i have a tendencay to jump over the jump without the horse)

i didn't ride with my other two pregnancies as i didn't feel safe. but this one i did. saying that, i didn't ride for first 12/14 weeks as i was bleeding and apparently that's the riskiest time to fall.

p.s. my midwife has a horse... and said it was fine for me to ride.
 
Congratulations!!

I'm 28 weeks at the moment and gave it up as a bad job about 4 weeks ago as was getting a bit unbalanced and really tired. Up to that point I'd done everything except jump on my TB. Midwife had no problem with me riding as prior to finding out I'd been riding at least 5 times a week and I trusted my horse (as much as you can anyway!). The best advice she gave me was to listen to my body which is what I did.

Have got someone riding him 3/4 times a week and I'm lunging too and she's competing him at the moment so its worked out nicely. I can't wait to get back on though!!

Someone else on my yard is pregnant and hasn't really been near her horse since she found out but its a completely personal choice - do what feels right for you!
xx
 
Thanks everyone!! I almost feel normal now knowing that so many horsey people on here are pregnant too!!!
And Angela is still riding at 22 weeks, wow!!
I think I will try and find her a nice rider and keep her ticking over myself in the school and on the lunge.
It's great to talk to you all and great advice thanks all!!! x x x
 
I'm now 25 weeks pregnant and stopped riding a couple of weeks back although didnt ride hardly at all during the first 3 mths thanks to MS.

I was finding it getting more uncomfortable and unbalanced so didnt want to risk anything, i am really struggling now with mucking out etc now too.
 
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