Pregnancy - what to do with horses / riding??

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Leonie

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Just after some advice really. Found out I'm pregnant and due in December (not ideal for mucking out etc!)

This is baby no.1 so not sure what to expect. I have 3 horses so I'm thinking I may have to scale down or even get them all temp homes.

How did other mums manage with their neds? Obviously if I have a sun roof job I'll be out of action for 6 weeks so would you chance keeping the horses or not?

I don't really have anyone that could help out daily so what ever I decide I need to be able to cope on my own.

Also riding. At how many months preg did you stop? Immediately or when the bump gets in the way? Reading 'helpful' advice they all say advoid horseriding type activities - I imagine due to falling off?

Thanks in advance. xx
 
With regards to riding I would just carry on as normal until you feel that its time to slow down. Being active during pregnancy is the best thing for you however its important to remain snsible at the same time. Would it not be possible to get some sharers for your horses? That way you can remain being responsible for them whilts others help you out.
 
Get some sharers - I did and they were fab. All gone on to get their own......

Keep active, you are not ill. Pregnancy is not a reason to give up horses.

I am horsier now than before (when I was pretty bad anyway) as two of my children ride
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im 6 months pregnant, still riding and still work on a yard 2 days a week, mucking out between 8 and 12 horses both days, if your horses are quiet and you trust them then keeping riding will be fine until your bump is too big! i only ride riding school ponies and a friends semi retired horse, my own is a baby and a bit of a menace so i havent ridden him since i found out i was pregnant!

feel free to PM if you want to chat about things!
 
Hi

Congratulations!

I gave up riding (along with alcohol!!) immediately I found out I was pregnant. Horses are just too unpredictable and I just wouldn't have enjoyed it worrying if I came off. I kept very active in other ways, mucking out, walking dogs etc.

with regards to help I put my three at full livery and got a sharer for my mare. One of the horses was unbroken and the other just backed so I paid someone else to ride him. It did get pretty expensive though and frustrating that I didn't have any of the fun riding. I still lunged and did everything else from the ground though. I got back into the saddle about 4 weeks later.

You mustn't give up the horses, youwill be pleased to spend time with them once the little one is here!! I think a couple of sharers would be the way forward for you.

Good luck
 
hi.
like hallarider i stopped riding immediately when i found out i was pregnant but kept mucking out and walking the dog ( we switched from horse shows to dog shows) i didn't wont to take the risk you have to ask yourself if you did come off and hevens forbid anything happened to the baby could you forgive yourself ?!?!?!

i kept jack in livery for a friend to be able to compete on but it didn't work out so i roughed jack off hes come back into work so well he wants to please me and now loves even schooling !!

baby meg is 11 weeks today and despite lots of stiches i was back riding jack 4 weeks after she was born . and the break from riding has done wonders for my back !!
 
When I was pregnant, my midwife said to me to srop an egg into a container, fill it with water, pop a lid on it and try and break the egg by shaking. That is the analogy she drew for a baby in the sac. I didn't try it, but I did get the point she was making.
First pregnancy, I didn't ride due to horse being poorly but I was still mucking out in the early stages of labour. Second pregnancy, rode up to between 6 and 7 months and then had a sharer, I then stopped riding as he's a loon! Sharer gave up and he went on loan until baby was 4 weeks old and I started riding again.
All in all, it worked out ok but as the horse is a bit of a tricky so and so, it took me about a year to school him back to where he was when I stopped riding.
 
Congratulations, I'm 6mths pregnant and stopped riding when I was 2mths, I still muck out and do yard duties, and have fun with my three by lunging and free schooling. Good luck
 
Congratulations! I kept riding, just gently until 7 months & then only gave up when horsewent lame. Doctor & midwife both ok with it, it is very horsey round here & they are used to it. Obviously would not jump or ride anything young & unpredictable, but if the horses are sensible, then unless it is uncomforatble enjoy, until you feel it's no longer ok. Mine got quite used to me stopping & throwing up over her shoulder!! Morning sickness for 36 weeks was the pitts! I let my trainer take over the faster work & competeing after 4 months, jsut becasue of a lack of energy & an increasing bump. But a nice walk & some suplling work did me the power of good both mentally & physically. Plus OH was brilliant, helping with mucking out in later stages & after dreaded (& not planned) C section.
 
Congratulations!!!

I've had 3 babies, the last one in November 07, and rode during all three pregnancies - first time until about 5 months, second time until about 7 months, third time only until 3 months due to also having a car crash! I did only go for gentle hacks, though. I tended to stop when I got uncomfortable, usually when trying to get off. I carried on with mucking out etc until the day before I gave birth. I did fall off during the second pregnancy and was fine, but I guess it could have gone the other way.

I'd say do as much as you feel comfortable doing, don't take unnecessary risks and accept all offers of help!!
 
My baby is due in just over 6 weeks- I carried on riding my ( very sensible) horse until I was 28 weeks, at which point it was getting a bit uncomfortable so I stopped. I'm still managing to take care of my horse day to day without any problems whatsoever.

I have had a very smooth pregnancy so far and apart from the big bump I don't even feel pregnant half the time- I do think a lot of that is due to staying active without over doing it.

Everyone is different, you just have to go with your instincts and do what is right for you. I wish you a happy healthy pregnancy x
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i carried on riding until about 8 months nothing hard just hacking with both my kids it kept me fit and boy do you need to be fit for labour my doctor oked it saying how well protrected babys are inside i only gave up as it got uncomfortable and bump got in the way so carry on and enjoy
 
Congrats! My little boy is 10 months now. I stopped immediaately as well. As pp said horses are very unpredictable and you would never forgive yourself if something happened.
I loaned one of mine out to a forum member and she is due herself in a few weeks
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. My boy got a year off, I still mucked out etc but luckily I had mine in May so did not have to muck out when I was due. I was totally enormous so wold have really struggled. I got back on 5 weeks after, rode for a few weeks, then had a few weeks off as it was making me sore. I went back to it at about 12 weeks. For me it was a matter of getting baby in a routine and then I could work round that, I found that the best way as then you can plan ahead.
HTH
Let me know if you have any other q's
A
x
 
Hi,

I have have two children, with the first I was too ill whilst pregnant to contemplate riding, and it took me a long time to get back to normal afterwards.
With the second one, I felt completely different, and rode until I was 5 months pregnant. (on a very relaible horse that I knew well) I stopped because I was having some pelvic joint problems (which gave me a lovely deep seat, but made getting off really painful) , and then had a bleed (which was nothing to do with riding) so just mucked out and groomed etc. I was back on board 3 months after, and haven't looked back since.

Don't give up your horses, just find someone to share/help/loan. I have found that I am more determinded than ever to ride now, and although I don't have my own horse, I make the most of every ride I have.
 
Hi, congratulaions,

I rode until the day before I had my daughter, but she was 3 weeks early, and I had planned that to be my last ride anyway!! but i only rode a horse I trusted and knew, my mum still owns the horse, a mare called Sherry, who has just turned 28! (mum has owned her now for 25 years) also did a 20 mile sponsered ride at 5 months, but its not for everyone, I found it very comfortable to ride as daughter used to get right under my ribs.

I did do a little mucking out but the horse was in full livery, and picking out feet used to make the heartburn REALLY bad.

Daughter is 15 this year, and loves horses,

I think you have to do what you think is right for you, but good luck
 
i turned my horsers out 24/7 and i was poo picking up to a week from due date as long as you take it easy
try and put them out on a short loan if you dont what to risk it
or be still free rides in return for mucking out and help around the yard
to riding i was riding till the day i delivered
andwas back on the horse 2 days after and having stiches
i did this on both pregnancys
congrates by the way
 
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