Pregnant or been pregnant horse owners

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woody2211

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Hi guys

Just out of interest what have those of you who have been pregnant whilst owning your own horse or are pregnant ( like me) and don't know what to do when the little bean inside you arrives done with your 4 legged friend.
Selling is not an option for me.
But it was wondering how people have managed their time?
I'm a first time mum and know it's going to be hard work. So want to be prepared.
I'm coming up to 20weeks and still riding ob only going for little walks and in the school but as I'm a small build you wouldnt even know I'm pregnant Yet :) ( think people are still thinking I have eaten too many pies at lunch )
I would really like to hear people thoughts :)

Natalie
 
My 'little bean' was enormous and I was out of action for ages- luckily my OH was brilliant and looked after all 3 of mine until I was up to it. Only 1 of them was a ridden pony but she had time off until I was back into it again. If it happened again I would sort out a loan/sharer to keep pony working, would that be something you would consider?
 
Your OH is very good cab I borrow him lol. To be fair mine is very good too and know he would help me out. I have a sharer ATM who is fabulous but she is off to uni when I'm due so was yes either looking for a local loan or another sharer but I don't really know where to find a good reliable sharer any ideas for websites or anything? My sharer was a stroke of luck another girl on my yard used her when she was pregnant lol. :)
 
Except for stopping jumping & competing apart from the odd dressage test early on I just carried on as usual really, tho did only hack for last few months. Had an arrangement with close friend to do horse whilst giving birth & for first few days, then back to normal really. But, & its a big but, I had a very easy pregnancy & birth, a pony I'd had ages & could trust, i've naturally never needed much sleep & I had a very good baby so I didn't have the exhaustion most people do. I also had close friend on stand by to do pony for however long needed if I'd had a section, unwell baby etc. Key to having a newborn & horses is just being organised & not having high expectations of an immaculate house, just like someone with a toddler & a newborn really. Best advice is to do what is best for you, I had ideal circumstances to carry on, doesn't mean its possible for everyone. Good luck x
 
You could put an advert in your local feed shop/ tack shop or is there a Facebook horsey group in your area? An advert in one of the free newspapers or Gumtree might work too.
 
Firstly - congratulations!

Whereabouts in the country are you? If you're anywhere near a university it might be worth contacting their riding club to see if they know of a student that would be interested? Possibly they could even do term time and your current sharer holidays when she's back from uni?
 
I am due to pop at any moment! I rode up til 20 weeks schooling and hacking, then my back and pelvis couldn't cope any more. My OH wasn't keen on doing the horse as he works quite late, though he has helped when needed. I found a sharer locally and so when I stopped riding I carried on 'training her' - she is 14 and it's her first horse loan... Thankfully my horse has been a superstar with her, if he hadn't have been it would have been a problem. My friend who owns the other horse at the farm supervises when I am not there. So between us all we are sorting my horse out til I can ride again. I go up and muck out a few times a week and have been lunging some days which I have enjoyed. I am hoping sharer will stay on and we can do 3 days a weeks each as I am really missing riding.
I advertised locally for an adult sharer initially - I wasn't prepared to let horse go out on full loan or sell - but didn't find anyone. However it seems to be working out well even though I was dubious about leaving a teenager in charge, I suppose as long as there is someone there to supervise that you trust you should be ok.
When baby comes the horses will be out 24/7 so I should be able to fit my riding round baby with the help of OH and mum, but I am just going to see what happens, I won't be competing this summer though!
 
Echo exactly the same as littlelegs! You'll be fine! Just carried on with the chores right the way through, got my friend to just hack the boy out a few times a week in the last few months then I was back in the saddle a week later! Congratulations!
 
Congratulations!

There's no straightforward way, but you'll find a way if you're determined to keep going with your horse. A supportive OH, or family and friends, is definitely helpful.

Being efficient with your time also helps - my horse sadly doesn't get groomed thoroughly as much as he used to, and I pay for services now so that I can spend my time at the yard with the horse rather than mucking out.

Perhaps find a teenager or similar at the yard who would push your baby in the pushchair for a while so you can ride?

When my baby was really little I used to get him to sleep in the pushchair which gave me enough time to lunge or ride. You have to be tolerant of it sometimes going wrong, and the baby just not wanting to play that game... but mostly it worked. Sadly he's now 2, and would shout the house down if I tried to tie him down like that!

Depends on your view of it, and finances, but some nurseries or creches will take babies from very young for a short time, which might give you a little time with your horse, and get baby used to nursery as well if you intend to use one later on. Although I didn't do this, my nursery will take babies from any age (youngest so far is 72 hours!) and charge £5/hour, which means that for £10 you can have some horse time. I put my son in at 4 months for a couple of hours, a couple of times a week, and wished if anything I had done it a little sooner.

Good luck!

Now, does anyone know how to cope with 2 children and still keep a horse going? - I'm expecting the next one in May...
 
Abacus said:
Depends on your view of it, and finances, but some nurseries or creches will take babies from very young for a short time, which might give you a little time with your horse, and get baby used to nursery as well if you intend to use one later on. Although I didn't do this, my nursery will take babies from any age (youngest so far is 72 hours!) and charge £5/hour, which means that for £10 you can have some horse time. I put my son in at 4 months for a couple of hours, a couple of times a week, and wished if anything I had done it a little sooner.
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Yep agree - and childminders will take them for an hour or two if they have space from as young as a couple of weeks if you get stuck! Or you could guarantee a place and book a regular slot (I'm a childminder!)
 
Im 29 weeks and intend to get riding again ASAP after having the sprog (I'm planning 1 week off if all goes well!). I keep my horses at my mums place so Im hoping she'll be able to babysit for me for an hour or so while I go ride. I may be living in a dream world though, will have to wait and see!
 
Agree with everyone else that the hardest thing is the childcare while you ride.

If your family is local and willing that you will have an easier life, otherwise you need to find a schedule that allows you to ride.

I also did the schooling in arena while baby 'slept' in pram, typically he would always wake up 10mins in, so I had to choose between riding to wailing, or stopping!

Now days I am back at work (baby is now nearly 2) so I can fit in 30mins max in the saddle between work and nursery pick up (although in the winter I had to muck out in this 'slot'), and my OH has him in the mornings at the weekend so I can hack out. Once the clocks change I can start to ride at 7pm once he's in bed too.

Good luck though!
 
congratulations!!

my daughter is 3 months old tomorrow :D

i was lucky to have a very understanding hubby and brilliant YM who helped out whilst i was pregnant and things became too much - i wanted to have a sharer but got fed up with the number of numpties applying! (someone rung up about my 16.1hh ISH, said their daughter was very experienced and confident, she was only 11, and they basically wanted to drop her off and leave her with me on 'her' days! erm....no?)

best thing i've found is to get into a routine really early, my daughter was up the yard within 24hrs of being born, she has a feed before i leave in the mornings about 7, and then she sleeps in the car while i do all the horsey stuff and we come home about 10.30 for next feed.

now just got to figure out what 2 do when she starts crawling etc, and doesn't want to sleep in the car while i muck out!!
 
Thanks guys nice to know it is easily do able and like u all say there are so many people who are willing to help!! :)
So excited :)
 
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