Riding in pregnancy?

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Scheherezade

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I've just discovered I am 4 weeks pregnant. I've just started getting my life back on track after the disaster of my last birth, including riding again after 18 months. I feel like I'm grieving for what I might lose again. The pregnancy was planned, we just thought it would take longer than this.

Can I continue to ride? It's a 17hh Zangersheide I've been given to ride, but I suppose as long as I avoided fast work I'll be ok.


(Yes, my life is like a bad soap).
 
Hi sorry to bump this but I'm also interested in people's replies. Hubby is hinting at baby number two - but I've recently started riding again after many years and am wondering about riding while pregnant...
 
Only you can decide if you want to continue riding. At the end of the day you can fall off from a stand still and hurt yourself. its just "luck" how you land.

Personally, I kept riding until 7 months. But I only rode 2 of my horses that I trusted and knew very well. I wouldn't have got on anything else. My other half wanted me to stop riding, so we negotiated and I stopped jumping (I would have carried on - until I knew at 3 months, I had done 2 BE novices during that time), so I purely did flatwork. Did my last dressage comp at 7 months. I was lucky though as I didn't start to really show until late on so it wasn't that uncomfortable (did feel weird though) and it was actually only the getting on and off that was getting to be a problem (had to slide off with my back to the saddle), I had a 16hh and a 17.1hh WB at the time.

Some people choose not to ride when pregnant, they feel its too risky but I figured that you can have an accident driving the car or walking down the street. My doctor and my midwife both rode in their pregnancies, they said its good to stay active and flexible. It has to be up to you though, discuss it with your other half too :)
 
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I think if you feel ok and you are ok with the risk you need to do what feels right for you. Riding isn't a risk, falling off is ! I rode until 6 months with my first although no jumping but stopped after 6 weeks with my second pregnancy partly because my sickness was so awful and partly I just didn't feel comfortable with it, if I had felt ok about it I would have. I also as skiied in my first and wouldn't have done so with my second, I think I just felt more vulnerable second time round.
 
Me and hubby currently trying for me it's a massive no no to ride if and when it happens.

Horses are too unpredictable , even the safest could trip and fall

If you fall off and lost your baby how would you feel..? For me it's a situation I'd never risk putting a unborn child in.
 
I know loads of people that rode all the way through and where fine just got a little uncomfy toward the end and I think the general rule is if you know and trust the horse and your body is well used to riding then go for it. I personally wouldnt be allowed anywhere near my horse and a saddle, my other half is far to stressy about it and tbh if I did fall off and anything happened I'd never forgive myself. I think its a very personal decision but good luck with it anyway :)
 
I think it's totally up to the individual. I am 30 weeks pregnant now, and I carried on playing polo up to 12 weeks, only giving up as I was feeling so grotty with morning/afternoon/every hour of the day sickness - although when I was actually playing I felt fine! Ironically I felt fabulous from week 15 onwards, but by that point my ponies were all turned out and roughed off, but had I had something suitable to ride at home I'd have loved to have kept riding.

My OH was totally supportive - and left the decision to stop to me, and is being very supportive of me wanting to be back in the saddle next summer.

I hope to be riding again within 3 months ( famous last words!) - the ponies come back into work in April, our baby (hopefully!) arrives mid-March, hoping to start riding myself again by mid June...whether that'll actually happen who knows!
 
I rode my very safe cob till I was 38 weeks pregnant with number 3....I must have looked a real sight, but I felt fine and the chances of me falling off were pretty slim....I was just hacking, but I was still cantering at the end!

With baby number 4 I felt as sick as a pig riding before I even did a pregnancy test, and couldn't face getting back on until after the birth!!

I think its a calculated risk, and has to be your decision (obviously assuming there is no medical reason meaning riding could put you/your baby at an increased risk ie low placenta etc)
 
Thanks for the varied opinions. I think I need to continue riding, for the first 3 months at least. I rode until 5 months last time. For the sake of my mental health.

Urgh. I'm obviously not sad to be having a baby, I just wish I could skip the pregnancy bit. I want to cry. This was planned, I just thought it would take longer.
 
Each to their own personally I wouldn't, I was riding my horse that I had for 15 years, she spooked at a dog that jumped out of hedge, I hit the deck, I lost the baby...
 
First of all congratulations. l think it depends on how you feel as every pregnancy is different l rode up 6/7 months with my first two children & was showjumping & my last child l rode the day before (hacking). My midwife was supportive but they do advise not to ride especially in the early stages as you're most at risk. But to me l think theres a risk at any stage whether you're riding or handling from the ground. I stopped riding with the fiest two at 6/7 months due to the pommel of the saddle knocking into my bumb whilst riding so it was uncomfortable. I also found that riding helped me with the births & the second & third births were really straightfoward without pain relief but again everyone is different. Anyhow good luck with whatever you decide
 
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I'm 7 months just now. I'm still riding albeit not as much, usually once in the arena and one hack per week. I would only ever ride my own boy though as I know we cannot predict everything, I know he is 99% of the time safe and he's not daft enough to put himself into any deliberate 'dangerous' situations! In fact I think he's actually been a gentleman and is looking after me. The only thing I would say is its starting to get a bit sore. It's fine on board, but after I get off I feel I'm really sore in the hip area/lower back , so if anything stops me that will be it.

I am under strict rules from OH though , that I'm not allowed to go faster than a trot out hacking and I'm not allowed to jump at all which is fair enough.
 
Scheherezade said:
Urgh. I'm obviously not sad to be having a baby, I just wish I could skip the pregnancy bit. I want to cry. This was planned, I just thought it would take longer.
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You have my sympathies. I hated being pregnant, you can stuff all that feeling fulfilled guff, I just felt weak and ill. I was delighted with the end results both times though!

I rode up to 5 months during my first pregnancy upon the safe horse, but only had the chesnut git left by the second time, so gave riding a miss.
 
You sound just like me OP. I'm 11 weeks now. Pleased obviously, and the baby was planned but my last baby is 18 months now and I'm just getting my independence back! I broke my young horse in this year and he's going really well.

I rode up to 4 months with last one (still riding work with the racers at 3 months and keeping it a secret! Naughty!) and then my horse got roughed off so I stopped.

I had very bad SPD with the last one though and I think that will stop me this time. I rode last week for an hour and was v sore :(
 
I plan to if/ when I get pregnant because for me riding is my life and I don't think I can spend too much time away from it. It is my escape- I don't have other hobbies and it's the one thing I know keeps my blood pressure down after stressful work. I understand it's a risk but so is everything you do in life. I wouldn't do it late into the pregnancy but I plan (depending on comfort) to keep going until 4 months in. My husband will then be on lunging duties untill I can get back in the saddle ASAP!!
 
I did, to 34 weeks and was back on 3 weeks after. I really feel for you OP, if you havent already please please ask your GP or midwife to get you a counsellor to talk to, otherwise you may be in for a horrid pregnancy with the way you are feeling. Talking over how you feel now and what happened with your first birth will really help you and can make a big difference. X
 
I don't remember any posts of what happened before, but just do what feels right for you mentally and physically. I had my last ride at 32 weeks, but this was only in walk. My horse spent most of my pregnancy either in box rest or being rehabbed, doing long reining is not pleasant while pregnant and slowly filling up with fluid :D

Congratulations by the way :)

Now that I have a lovely ball of squidge I'm not sure I'd ride for that long again though!
 
I stopped riding as soon as I found out with my first. I had planned to continue but once I became pregnant I felt that having 9 months off was far better than the possibility of a fall and losing my baby. I ended up having a year off due to a c-section and massive "new mum" confidence issues after the birth. It seemed like an eternity at the time and I really missed riding.

We are trying for our second and I have decided that I will continue to ride in the school only and doing only flatwork. I have already arranged a few friends to help me with him and hack him out at least once a week, although I may feel different when I am actually pregnant again.

I know plenty of people that just continued on as normal and had no problems but it's a very personal choice and you should listen to what your instincts are telling you not what anybody else says, if you feel any apprehension just remember that the horse will pick up on that too.

Good luck with it all x
 
Just to add, I don't know what happened during your first birth, which sounds rather traumatic. I had a completely unexpected emergency Caesarian first time round (baby got distressed) and they only just got son no 1 out in time.

2nd time round, I asked for an elective c/s, as I couldn't face that rigmarole again, and I was granted my request without a fuss, despite the pregnancy being normal.
 
Can't comment as never been pregnant! But just wanted to say congratulations to all the pregnant lades out there, and good luck with everything.
 
Children eh! Who'd have em?!

Just kidding...please do not y'all eat me ;-)

Congrats. The decision to ride is very personal and totally up to the individual. Don't let other women make you feel bad about any responsible parenting decision.
 
shadowboy said:
I plan to if/ when I get pregnant because for me riding is my life and I don't think I can spend too much time away from it. It is my escape- I don't have other hobbies and it's the one thing I know keeps my blood pressure down after stressful work. I understand it's a risk but so is everything you do in life. I wouldn't do it late into the pregnancy but I plan (depending on comfort) to keep going until 4 months in. My husband will then be on lunging duties untill I can get back in the saddle ASAP!!
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This is exactly how I felt....then I got pregnant! I rode up to 6 weeks, then the constant sickness hit and I couldn't bear the smell of horse! I still had to look after my mare as I'm in DIY but every day I was gagging the whole time - it was awful! By the time I felt better at 15 weeks horse had been out of work for 9 weeks and I thought she may as well continue her long winter hol as the weather and ground is never pleasant in winter. I'm 25 weeks now and don't think I could physically get on or stay on a horse now! Can't even duck under the fence with my wheel barrow my bump is so big :( really missing riding now and keep dreaming about going SJ and XC! Fingers crossed I can be back on board ASAP after baby arrives, for the sake of my sanity!
 
Firstly congratulations :). Baby's never get there timing right lol.

I am currently 33 weeks pregnant. I rode up to 12 weeks as the midwife said to me that the baby was well protected in the pelvis although if I had any major falls I was to contact them.

My hubby did not want me to ride after this and to be honest with having young horses I agreed with him as they are not the most reliable (my horses that is). If I was still riding my old girl I would have ridden her for longer.

The thing that surprised me when I rode close to the 12 weeks is that it felt weird riding as if all my stomach muscles had gone like mush so if i was riding after that I probably would have only hacked.

As darrenmi said it is down to personal choice and weighing up the different risk factors. For me the factors being the type of horses I had and the probability of falling off. I fell of the baby horse at 11 weeks which helped with my decision.

I plan to be back in the saddle as soon as I can after the birth. One horse will need brought back to fitness and the other one (just broken) is being kept ticking over for me as she was just broken (timing ;) ).
 
My yard owner continued til one week before she had all 3 of her children! She stopped BSJA but hunted throughout, but by her own admission she was very small!
 
Jazzy B said:
Each to their own personally I wouldn't, I was riding my horse that I had for 15 years, she spooked at a dog that jumped out of hedge, I hit the deck, I lost the baby...
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THIS THIS this....

So sorry you lost baby Btw ;-(. Heartbreaking for you.

Sorry guys it's just not worth the risk, you have a duty to keep your child protected and safe until there born

No way you can fulfil that sat on the back of a horse.

TBH you are riding to fullfill your own enjoyment, with disregard to the child

I find it a bit selfish, people that keep riding. You cannot predict what could happen, horses are not 100% no matter how well you think you know them.

Don't do it OP you have the rest of your life to ride horses, it's only 9 months.
 
I was hacking 2 weeks before birth & back hacking 3 months after, this was only hacking, also found riding eased my hips though getting on/off I had to have my now husband lift me up/down. Thank god back then my old boy was 14hh ( newforest).
 
Daytona said:
THIS THIS this....
Sorry guys it's just not worth the risk, you have a duty to keep your child protected and safe until there born

I find it a bit selfish, people that keep riding. You cannot predict what could happen, horses are not 100% no matter how well you think you know them.
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But I can't predict what will happen crossing the street...commuting to work by bike...walking up/down stairs! I don't think any of us who have ridden in pregnancy are selfish, I think it's a very personal decision. My only moment of concern (so far) came when I was knocked over by someone accidentally on the tube and landed on a hard plastic armrest. Nothing in life is 100% safe, riding in pregnancy is a decision that only the parents to be can decide on.
 
I am 13 weeks pregnant and still riding my cob. Had a lovely canter this morning, am still grinning now. If the time comes when I feel uncomfortable or decide I no longer want to ride, then I will make my decision. But at the moment I am comfy in the saddle and enjoying my horse. I trust him. My OH is perfectly happy for me to ride. Life is full of risk, but it is also meant to be lived.
 
I don't think it's selfish at all. You give over your body and the rest of your life for that child. I think a few months at the start of pregnancy enjoying yourself is a good thing. Every woman is not just a mother! I was told by the ruse that untill about 5 months the baby is well protected within the pelvis.
 
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