Riding whilst pregnant

A friend of mine rode right up the day before she went into labour!!! The baby, was at this time, two weeks overdue!!!! I really thought she'd have her out on exercise!!! It never did her or the baby any harm. If all is well and you and baby are healthy then there probably isn't any reason not to. It's your informed choice really.

What ticked my chum off was the fact that having gone into labour she then pushed and shoved with all her might so that she wouldn't miss Dallas on the TV only to find that the hospital wouldn't let her get up to watch the tv at all.!!!!
 
I rode til I was 4 1/2 months then sciatica stopped me, after that had subsided I had a ride and felt completely uncomfortable - my bump was so heavy and jiggly and my balance had altered. Then a few days later I had my 20 week scan and found out I was having a boy and it all seemed so very real - I didn't want to ride after that! I thought if anything had gone wrong it wouldn't have been fair on my husband. The sciatica turned into SPD and was sooo painful after that... tho it subsided after 7 months so I was mucking out and lunging up til giving birth.
What did surprise me was when I fell pregnant, before I knew I was pregnant I suddenly lost my nerve jumping. For no apparent reason. I haven't jumped since then, though I was quite happy to gallop on the beach!
I was amazed throughout pregnancy how my usually bolshy and quite sharp horse became so gentle and calm - it was as if he knew.
My baby is now 10 weeks old and my horse is conveniently lame - I had my first ride on a borrowed cob yesterday as I was desperate!!!! Hope to get back on my horse next week, all being well.
I think its up to you and your OH. I am glad I rode as long as I did as the SPD was crippling and I spent the winter on the sofa. Once you have your baby everything changes so it's important to enjoy yourself as much as you can beforehand. If you trust your horse and can accept that accidents happen then its fine. I fell over plenty of times when pregnant and have falllen downstairs since, it's just as likely as a fall from horse. I was more worried about driving actually, far scarier with a belt round your bump and an airbag in front of you.
 
I am 36 weeks pregnant and stopped riding about 4 /5 weeks ago because, although he is very well behaved, my horse is only 4 this year and I felt like I wasn't helping him at all when schooling - wasn't teaching him anything was more of a passenger and that wasn't what he needed. Also from about 30 weeks I had to consciously sit up in trot otherwise would automatically tip forward which then made him rush. Was getting frustrated with myself. I'd rather not ride at all than ride badly. I could have kept hacking slowly but doing so little work he was at risk of getting fresh and naughty and i couldn't risk myself/baby or him getting bad habits.
Cant wait till I can get back on :-)
 
was riding untill about 8 months with mine, a nice bumble round the field/woods on a sec c, oh and riding pillion on a 650 cc motorbike, mentioned to midwife and she was horrified, told me to stop both immediately !! :D
 
emmaln said:
Eek I'm 14 weeks and had planed to ride for as long as I could but have been soooo sick I've only managed a couple of schooling sessions and a hack :-( luckily my super bro has been keeping my youngster in work 6 days a week and I've been able to keep control of her training rather than having to get a sharer! It's getting me down a bit though as having major withdrawal symptoms and very fed up of feeling so sick! Keep telling myself it'll all be worth it in the end but am struggling a bit at the mo if I'm honest!
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I am in complete sympathy with you, i am 11weeks & have been so sick - but worse so tired, i cant even pick my boys feet out without feeling faint! Luckily i have lots of help around me... but its just pants, i live & work on myself & husbands yard- but between 6 & 9weeks, ive been like a recluse, stuck in the house!! I have lots of support & i think my lad is enjoying the break, but its definately challenging. Hopefully it will lift soon & ill be able to do a little with him. Im am back at work, so still surrounded by the horses & this has helped me alot- but my attitude just being around horses has even changed slightly- was like a lost puppy watching horses being turned out after 3 days in yesterday, which i suppose is just sensable. So i think generally, your body & your brain will let me know what i can & cant do. xx
 
Cob&onion I was soo excited YO hear your news, and peanut looks gorgeous :) x

I still stand by that I would not risk it, even though I rode my nutter, did not know, I was very skinny and muscly then, not now :(, my fault and working on it.

I just had the thought in my head that even on the most sensible horse, accidents happen , and I was not prepared to risk it ( unwanted pregnancy , bit love her soo much now )

And horses really do not mind doing nothing but eating :D

All I would say to everyone is , only you know what feels right, and I decided to say NO, under strange circumstances, but good luck to all and the little jockeys I can wait to see :) x
 
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