Riding when pregnant... calling all women?

[Sunny08]

I posted the other day about what to do with my young horse as thinking of starting a family next year. In my mind this discounts me from riding for 9 months of pregnancy and about 3 mths after birth hence full year out of riding. however responses to my original post suggested many poeple didn't stop riding whilst pregnant? In all honesty it never crossed my mind to continue? I also mountain bike a lot and will stop that as I fall off once to often!

So women out there who have babies and horses did you keep riding - wasn't it uncomfortable and did it depend on your mount and did you curtail your activities? And if you haven't had children would you keep riding?

 

[majicmoment]

My friend is 20 weeks and has just stopped riding out as she works in racing and couldnt stand up in her stirrups...

 

[Baileyhoss]

I would probably want to continue (gently - lower the risks, no xc and the like) as long as i felt safe & comfortable. I know OH wouldn't want me to. We'll have to deal with that when it happens.

 

[Baileysno1]

I'm just over 17 weeks and riding everyday, Leonard doesn't jump due to an old injury, but we're still hacking and schooling and I was placed in the novice dressage at sheepgate yesterday, it depends on how you feel and how reliable your horse is, nothing is 100% but my horse is trustworthy. We have a yard full of girls who have rode while pregnant and all have happy healthy kids, I'm hoping to make it to 6+ months depending on how big I get.

Must add my Mum thinks I'm barmy.

 

[lochpearl]

A woman on my yard is due in June and she is stil riding both of her horses, neither are an easy ride and she still pops the odd small jump. She was out doing clinics about 5/6 weeks ago too.

She has said she will ride until she can't get on or it becomes uncomfortable.

Another of my friends had a kidney tumour at the same time as being pregnant and she rode up to 7 months in fact she sat on my youngster 2 days before she was taken in to hospital to have an emergency c-section at 7 months so they could get hte baby out and operate on her a week later. Also I might add that she was out riding within a month after the baby was born - staples and all!!

 

[sammylou]

I rode when pregnant with my first till I was 6months gone and the horse showed signs of getting tired and unbalanced carrying heffalump in my tummy LOL !!

I didn't get back into riding till after my 6 weeks check-up as I had c-sections both time

I have ridden since I was born and both my pregnancies were c/section (not elected by choice !!) I wonder how common this is in horse riders ? Are we too muscley and tight down there to open up and given birth LOL ??

 

[Annette4]

Didn't Mary King event while preggers?

I would think it depends on your horse and how you and your partner feel about it.

 

[quirky]

I gave up at 7 months when body protector would not go round bump and my hips began to feel stiff after I'd got off.
Horse was a loon, so I just ambled round on him. He was bad if you asked him to do something he didn't want to, so I didn't ask!!!

Was back on 4 weeks after giving birth.

 

[Cyberchick]

Dont feel guilty if you dont ride as it is completly up to you and how you feel but I rode my horse until 5 months gone but then he was quite strong and it started to pull me so I rode a well behaved horse until 7-8 months until every time I went on a hack I had to get off and pee half way round. By that time my bump made it difficult to get off. I could get on, just not get off.
I never jumped but schooled and hacked. I ended up with a c-section and rode as soon as I was allowed to drive up the yard at 6 weeks later.

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

Rode up to 6 months in both pregnancies and 2nd one was twins. Stopped jumping when I found out I was pregnant(ish), I went cross country schooling when about 8 weeks gone. Also stopped hacking 2nd time around as soon as I knew because was in a yard with some busy roads. Other liveries fussed a bit but you need to make people know that you are being sensible and careful and not reckless.

Your body tends to tell you when to stop - you get stitch and can't balance. I also trusted my horse. Mucked out and cared for said neddie until birth- day.

I had c-sections too - maybe it is more common for horse riders.

 

[hellspells]

My old YO rode until I had to practically pull her off one day. A friend is pregnant at the moment and still competing etc.

I would continue until I couldn't get on/off anymore, as the more gentle exercise you get whilst pregnant the better for you.

 

[LizScott]

I'm 8months pregnant and only stopped riding a couple of weeks ago

tbh I wish I hadn't stopped as I am now permanently grumpy lol! I was competing, schooling and jumping quite happily - it did get a lot harder towards 7 months, as you find you have no breath in canter due to baby taking up all the space but I just did what I felt I could!

I gave up riding my younger one at 6months simply because he realised I was scared of falling off and damaging the baby and he started playing on this and we were going nowhere.

Personally I found riding to be one of the most comfortable times of the day ...but that might just be me! I'd get back on now, but have just moved our gang to a field so there's no one around if I suddenly went into labour on board the 18hander

Just do what you feel happy with - everyone is very different!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

i'm 20weeks (ish) and still riding. in fact, i bought a new horse a few weeks ago. BUT, i only ride him because he's trustworthy and literally bombproof. he's a jumper, but i won't jump whilst pregnant (i have a tendency to jump before the horse, so any refusal usually ends up with me on the other side of the jump). so, we school and hack quietly. short, controlled canters, and no galloping. my friends on the yard all help out and jump him for me, as he loves it so much.

interestingly, this is my third pregnancy and the only one i've ridden during - i also didn't ride for the first few weeks of this one, as i was 'spotting' and thought it was best if i didn't.

i have to say, i find riding whilst pregnant fairly difficult. i find it hard to find my 'seat' - partly because my weight balance has changed, but also my hips don't seem to sit the same. i also have to be fairly careful of dismounting, as i pulled a muscle the other day whilst getting off. but, i intend to ride for as long as i can.

i think it's up to you what you do, because you'll feel what's right when you fall pregnant. my hormones make me very protective over my bump. and i think i'll know when to stop. if my horse bucked/shied/reared/spun/etc i'd jump straight off and not ride until after the baby was born.

good luck!

 

[Sunny08]

I think my OH would flip if I rode whilst pregnant - he thinks it is dangerous enough when I'm not and panics about me all the time!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
I think my OH would flip if I rode whilst pregnant - he thinks it is dangerous enough when I'm not and panics about me all the time!

[/ QUOTE ]

mine actively encourages me to ride. it's bizarre. i think he lives in a dream world... where la la la la everything is fine and rosy... and riding isn't dangerous (even though he's witnessed me in a horrible riding accident).

x

 

[Three]

I rode until two weeks before my first was due - but stayed on the school for the final month as YO was having a nervous breakdown every time I left the yard!

I stopped about six weeks or so before the second because my bump was bigger and I was less comfortable.

With both I started again after my six week check - but only because I'd promised YO I wouldn't start earlier!

However, the best advice I can give is only do what feels right for you! (I know you won't know that yet - but you will when the time comes!

)

Some of my friends gave up as soon as they knew they were pregnant - that was right for them. Others, like me, carried on but stopped at different times; some sooner, some later.

 

[imafluffybunny]

I rode until I was 7 months pregnant, I had to stop because I gave myself a groin strain teaching a horse flying changes and it was too painful to carry on!
If you do ride remember your ligaments soften so dont over do it and give yourself an injury like i did.

 

[ribena73]

I hadn't got back into horses when I was pregnant so can't comment although I think it would have depended upon the horse. I certainly wouldn't ride my current horse while preggers but the cob I used to ride I probably would have. But not sure how long I would have stayed on as I lost my centre of gravity very quickly and quite often fell face first of a woggle in aquanatal classes!

As for getting back in the saddle- after my first there's no way I could have sat on a saddle for a good few months- a chair was difficult enough! Had section second time and would have been on board as soon as I was allowed then though!

 

[foolsedition]

I rode until 7 months preggas with number 1 - i did pop over a few XC jumps but i carried a very small baby so wasn't uncomfy. I only rode for the first 3 months with number2 as the horse then had a winter holiday! Was back in the saddle 2 weeks after birth doing light hacking cos i was bored! - (don't tell the midwife) i had c-sec both times.

 

[MardyMare]

Its probably like you say - up to you and your horse. I have a friend who is just pregnant (not sure how far) and she has a quiet horse but has decided not to ride as baby is very precious to her and the daddy (for lots of personal reasons) and doesnt want to put it any risk.

I have had other friends ride all through

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
Its probably like you say - up to you and your horse. I have a friend who is just pregnant (not sure how far) and she has a quiet horse but has decided not to ride as baby is very precious to her and the daddy (for lots of personal reasons) and doesnt want to put it any risk.

I have had other friends ride all through

[/ QUOTE ]

i don't think it is a question of the baby being more precious to people that don't ride whilst pregnant. my baby is extremely precious to me, but i have assessed the risks, and chosen to ride BECAUSE i feel it is safe.

i don't think anyone who rides does it because their baby isn't precious!

it's a matter of choice. even a fall whilst pregnant isn't necessarily the worst thing in the world. like a previous poster said, one of the issues is ligament softening, which means you can injure yourself more easily. but that doesn't damage the baby, just yourself. and you can take a tumble in any area of life - walking the dog, ante-natal yoga class, climbing up the stairs.... etc.

i do think it is entirely up to the pregnant woman what they want to do, but i don't think people should generalise and say it is anything to do with the preciousness of the baby.

 

[MardyMare]

I didnt mean to generalise - sorry

I didnt want to list her reasons - she has struggled and had problems falling pregnant thats all. Sorry again to everyone who is pregnant - I just meant that there are some who choose not to ride.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
I didnt mean to generalise - sorry

I didnt want to list her reasons - she has struggled and had problems falling pregnant thats all. Sorry again to everyone who is pregnant - I just meant that there are some who choose not to ride.

[/ QUOTE ]

s'ok!

 

[Alimac19]

I stopped the moment I knew. I would never be able to forgive myself if anything had happened. As it all workeed out my horse was young (just turned 4 when I found out) so I just turned him out for the summer and he went from a buck you off stress head to a lovely chilled out willing to learn horse!! I think that the rest was the best thing that happened. I sent mine away 2 weeks before I was due to a competition yard for schooling as I thought it would be too much to handle after just having a baby an he was there for 3 months. I was back in the saddle within a few weeks and jumping on my second ride!!

 

[devilinajar]

My friend rode right up untill about 5 weeks before she gave birth!! If i was pregnant i would still ride untill it was too uncomfortable to do so!!

 

[Nosey]

Just do what you feel comfortable with which will be influenced by type of horse you have too. As all the other posters have said everyones decision is individual. I know someone who had a nasty fall while preggers and wouldn't ride again whilst pregnant (although everything was fine). I rode till quite late on with no.1 but also managed to fall down the stairs badly and probably did more harm than my friend who came off her horse! I also had a miscarriage a week after some tw*t crashed into the back of my car..may or may not have been related I don't know. Basically risk is everywhere and can't be totally avoided..just need to get a healthy balance!

 

[dotty1]

I rode until I was 32 weeks, baby was born at 36 weeks, can't remember how long I waited after,, wasn't long but it was winter so it would have only been an occasional hack.

 

[SnowandSunshine]

I am 5 months pregnant and still riding now. In the past I always thought I'd stop as soon as I found out but I just kind of carried on!

I stopped jumping straight away and am now only riding my old mare who is bombproof. I will ride as long as I'm comfortable but over the last couple of weeks trot and canter has become more uncomfortable. So I'm just enjoying quiet walks now! My gelding has gone out for the summer, I only rode him for the first couple of months as he's a bit sharper.

I have friends who have continued up to 8 months and others who have found it too uncomfortable at 3 months so its very individual.

 

[siennamiller]

QR
I stopped straight away, I also think that is too much of a risk, and really is it worth it? I gave my horse a year off and then got back on about 5 weeks after.
I have not regretted my decision at all, my horse was a bit of a sharp spooky type but even with the quietest horse you never know-what if they trip and come down on you?
JMHO.
A XX

 

[GT_02]

I'm pregnant and still riding and will do so until dismounting involves the use of heavy lifting machinary. I've already given up wine and goats cheese, there's no way I'm giving up any more of life's luxuries