Pregnant Mares

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Cobland

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How far into pregnancy can you ride a horse? She is due in May and the last few days that ive been riding she has been playing up and ive found it hard to get her going.

The vet says i can ride her til the end of next month, but im wondering if this is signs of her saying enough is enough!

Even when i walk her out to the paddock she is slow but once out she trots about happily.

I was going to give her the weekend off and see what shes like on Monday.

Advise appreciated.
 
Ours are ridden until they no longer want to be ridden. Generally they have had light gentle riding right up till birthing.

We have a foal due at the beginning of April and the mare is still going out for gentle rides 3 or 4 times per week.....and she wants to go out, so she will be allowed to for as long as she wishes.

Your horse does sound like she has had enough though - all of them are different and what works for one may not be right for another.
 
Thank you, she has only been walked in the arena, no trotting etc, as i just dont want to push her.

She is due on the 15th May, she was always a lazy horse, but the last few days she has been hard to get going forward.

My friend thinks that maybe im riding her too much, i admit that ive rode her the last 4-5 days in a row, thats why i said that i was going to give her the weekend off.

However she hates just standing in the stable, and gets annoyed when the others get out. The girls at the yard suggested that I get a turn out rug and put her out for a few hours during the day while the weather is good and then try riding her again in a few days as she may just be bored.

Im just confused if she is testing me as i havent had her long or if it is her saying enough is enough.
 
Oh she isn't getting any turnout? Well if she isn't going out in the field through the day then she definitely needs to be going out for walks every single day, even if they are only in-hand.

Mine are all out 24/7 so are still very fit even with their temporary round bellies. Generally speaking, the fitter they are, (within reason of course) the easier the birthing.
 
She isnt getting any turnout as some fields are closed and the ones that are open have horses in them and she is getting hormonal and attacking other horses!

The yard owner was very nice and said that he will open the field infront of his house so he can keep an eye on her for me.

When im riding her in the arena she always picks up pace coming up towards the stables, i rode her on the long lane today and when coming back she tried to trot the whole way!
 
Ah well if I was you I would jump at the chance of having her out in the field opposite his house. She needs to be moving around and getting some sort of gentle exercise, not only for her physical well-being but also for her mental state.

Good luck and nice to hear that the YO is trying to accommodate your horse.
smile.gif
 
The YO is amazing, weve got a walker, paddock for when the horses are being cleaned out, a large arena and im getting livery for only £35 for her being stabled! Field livery is only £5!

He even built me a mounting block cause i damaged my back and cant mount from the ground. The stables are huge and have the mirrors in them. He keeps the place spotless!

He was the one that sold me the mare, ive also bought a young yearling from him lol
 
He sounds lovely. It's so nice to hear about the nice YO's when there is so much putting them down that goes on.....of course some of them really do deserve it though.

Your place sounds terrific. Hope all goes well with the foaling and that your mare chills and becomes happier in her final stage of pregnancy.
cool.gif
 
Thanks, she is a lovely horse, she is building my confidence loads. She doesnt get amused if i work with other horses.
 
gentle walking and trotting is ok but most mares are fed up by the time they are in the last trimester.
she needs regualr gentle exercise-best taken at grass so she keeps her circulattion good and muscles toned a little for foaling.if you can get her out in the day i would definately go for it
 
I would try and get her turned out and like said earlier maybe try walking out in hand just for a change in scenery.
I had a mare that was about 5 months in foal and one day when doing her girth up she virtually hit the deck. Scared the living daylights out of me but when the saddle was taken off she got up and carried on munching the hay! I took it as her way of telling me she wanted to just chill out so thats what we did. She had a stunning healthy little foal a few months later.
And some people think horses are dumb!
 
I let her out for a few hours in the field today, she went mental, took off at a mad gallop before settling to eat grass, when i went to bring her in she cantered right up to me and stop dead just right infront of me! Frightened the life out of me lol. My boot was stuck in the mud!!

She is going out tomorrow and then im going to try riding her on Monday, if she is still funny then I will not be riding her again until after the foal is born.
 
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