pregnant, riding and people (aka Family)...

I think this thread is really interesting. I agree wholeheartedly with what one of the posters said about the seeming public ownership of women's bodies once pregnant. I kicked back, hard, against this when I was pregnant myself. It annoyed the hell out of me; how pregnancy somehow grants license to suffer the kinds of comments that would otherwise be considered rude or much too personal. And I applaud anyone's instincts to defend women's choices to the hilt. It is absolutely her choice. Yet her partner also must have a say. I think this is a good thread for outlining both pro and anti views and from within a horsey community. We lack any concrete evidence (if there is any please point me to it, I never found any -- someone horsey, medical and mathematical and in need of a dissertation topic should investigate the relative risk, that'd be a start) to really assess the risks. For example, hard statistics of pregnancies prematurely terminated directly due to horse riding (handling, even) comparable to other sports/hobbies/everyday activities. I the light of this, an open question on a forum seems as good a way as any to try and gauge opinion, other than the opinion of non-horsey family, as to whether riding while pregnant is unreasonable or not. I can't tell the original poster what to do, I would not try to, I just aimed to share my own experience and subsequent feelings about my decision and suggest some things I think it important to consider. Ultimately, we all have our own way of assessing risk and our own ideas about what risk is appropriate. When you lob an unborn child into the equation it all gets a bit murky and complicated. And emotive. I suppose it always will?
 
Nudibranch said:
Ok, I'm going to make one more post, just because some of the supporting information on here could be misleading. Firstly, being overweight is not the only risk factor for pre-eclampsia; plenty of people get it without being overweight. Secondly, the idea that a baby is particularly protected from impact is a nonsense and to make a decision based on that belief could be dangerous. My husband has, over the years, had to deal with a number of victims of car crashes and the like, and sadly many babies do not survive despite the mothers doing so. Last year we had some friends over to talk to OH with their daughter, who had been in a crash and lost the baby. She had only very minor injuries but suffered an undiagnosed placental abruption. Impact is a risk, full stop.

I am not saying this is an automatic outcome obviously. However being married to someone who deals with problems in pregnancy for a living, and having experienced the darker side of pregnancy myself, and knowing how protective one becomes with a new baby, I would rather share a few facts. Better the OP has both sides of the argument than some misleading anecdotes about how it's no risk at all....
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Nothing to add as I haven't had a baby and don't feel equipped to give an opinion worth anything. However, I just wanted to commend you on the calm and factual way in which you have responded to such an emotive subject. I would previously have said I would ride during pregnancy but you have certainly made me think twice.
 
I rode until 7 months then fell getting on my horse. I recall her stepping over my bump as I lay on the floor. She could have stepped on me. I hung up my boots that day. Risks are everywhere but I think a mother has a duty of care to an unborn child to minimise those where possible.

I stopped jumping when pregnant and only rode accompanied on my trusted mare. I still had an accident and maybe it was our bond that made her take that very deliberate step over me - who knows. It was terrifying however and I feel very lucky to have a healthy child. To me as a parent now, no horse or hobby or job is worth the life of my son.

Having said that I would ride when pregnant again but only in early months and would stop much earlier as it was my balance change and bump that made me fall. My husband put no pressure on me to stop and neither did my family.

Just my input.
 
Well everyone is saying that the pregnancy lasts 9 months. Well, it does, but it is several weeks in before you even realise you are expecting, so it is only a matter of a few weeks - and really, in a lifetime does it matter to give up riding for a bit?
A few weeks? So I am in the camp who says gentle riding only, not team chasing. You have a good excuse to pull out!

There was an eventer who got bucked off her horse and lost the baby, so it does happen, sadly.

I rode up to about 5 months+ with my first and my horse wasn't exactly the quietest animal, but I didn't do anything too energetic and it was when it was uncomfortable to ride and I was loosing my balance when I gave up. For the second I can remember realising that I was pregnant, but didn't tell anyone, including OH as I wanted to do a one day event! I can remember hoping that the horse would not pull across country as I would have been sick down her shoulder. I did the show jumping OK but the dressage wasn't good. I don't think I rode much after that as I wasn't feeling too well. With the third I didn't ride as I didn't have anything suitable.

I think it is OK to carry on riding sensibly, but honestly, do you really want to put the baby at risk, all that effort, visits to doctors, telling relatives, etc. etc. just because you want to ride a horse? You are only out of action for a few weeks, not months.
 
I rode up to 32 weeks with my first and re-backed a youngster I had already started. With my 2nd I went up to 27 weeks but I got uncomfortable so stopped.

Yes, riding is a risk but only you personally can make that call. I decided that I wouldn't gallop or jump, nor ride anything else but my pony. All the best for a happy and healthy pregnancy.
 
Thanks all for your replies some are very interesting and it has been good / interesting reading.
Last night I had the farrier (coming anyway) and I asked him to remove the back shoes on both horses (have two in full work) and just shoe the fronts. By doing this I felt it a good compromise to my dad and rest of direct family as I’ve told him that without shoes I can longer go on the XC course or hoon round the countryside. My dad was very happy with this. I told hubby and he was happy too although was more concerned that I was happy with this decision as well. I told him following 20wk scan in fortnight I will be slowing down anyway. I’m sorry if I offend/upset some of you but won’t be hanging up my boots just yet. I shall continue steadily riding until I feel unable or it starts get uncomfortable, once the nights draw in I can no longer ride in the week anyway as no school. When the dark nights are here and I’m restricted to only weekends should I wish to ride I will have fronts taken off so horses will be barefoot for their break over winter.
 
Tory27 said:
Thanks all for your replies some are very interesting and it has been good / interesting reading.
Last night I had the farrier (coming anyway) and I asked him to remove the back shoes on both horses (have two in full work) and just shoe the fronts. By doing this I felt it a good compromise to my dad and rest of direct family as I’ve told him that without shoes I can longer go on the XC course or hoon round the countryside. My dad was very happy with this. I told hubby and he was happy too although was more concerned that I was happy with this decision as well. I told him following 20wk scan in fortnight I will be slowing down anyway. I’m sorry if I offend/upset some of you but won’t be hanging up my boots just yet. I shall continue steadily riding until I feel unable or it starts get uncomfortable, once the nights draw in I can no longer ride in the week anyway as no school. When the dark nights are here and I’m restricted to only weekends should I wish to ride I will have fronts taken off so horses will be barefoot for their break over winter.
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I'm in agreement with your husband on this one (he sounds like an absolute star) if you are happy with this decision and feel it is right for you then I think you have made the right choice.

As long as it is your choice and not one you feel that you have been emotionally blackmailed into.
 
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This was me (daughter now 10mths & bf!) I had my parents refusing to let me near my horse in case I even got a knock as I have a rare blood group & if he threw his head that would have been enough to abort the pregnancy. I remember crying as I just wanted to cuddle him.
After she was born as I breastfed and main caregiver, I wasn't allowed to ride as she rely ed so heavily on me. Tbh I now don't have time and when you have you wee one, you realise you will give up anything for them.
 
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