So, I'm 17 weeks pregant, rode someone elses horse and....

I came off my horse when I was pregnant and all was ok, but you'll feel loads better once you've been checked over. I am 20 weeks pregnant now, but have had to stop riding because I got whiplash in a car accident, otherwise I would have kept going as long as possible. I know people say you shouldn't, but I have ridden during all 3 of my pregnancies with my doctors ok. His opinion was that you can get hurt doing all sorts of things (like driving your car -grrrr!) and if you accept there is a risk and are willing to take it, then there's no reason not to. I hope you're not too bruised and that baby is fine - sure he/she will be!
 
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When I get pregnant, I will not ride mainly for peice of mind.

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When you get pregnant I will ride a team of wild stallions bareback over a cliff

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LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Inreally cannot fathom why anyone would risk the life of their baby by riding any horse, let alone a strange horse, whilst pregnant.

ANY horse can spook, you cannot guarantee if you fell off that you wouldnt fall on you stomach. What if you fell and got trampled on? It happens to the best of riders.

A gentle hack maybe, but not riding a strange horse and getting bucked off... THEN getting back on.
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I'm sorry, but to say that being pregnant is 'incovenient' when riding is just pure selfish. You aren't thinking of the baby, you're thinking of your own self satisfaction.
You wouldnt puff 40 fags a day whilst you were pregnant would you? So why put baby's life in danger by doing something like that?
 
Look, you can, and most likely will, hurt yourself doing all manner of things while you're pregnant. I agree that you should weigh up the risks very carefully before you ride, but it's a decision only the mum to be can take. Those who choose to ride shouldn't be made to feel guilty or like a bad person for doing so. Mary King competed at Badminton (she might have won, I can't remember) when she was 5 months pregnant.
 
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Inreally cannot fathom why anyone would risk the life of their baby by riding any horse, let alone a strange horse, whilst pregnant.

ANY horse can spook, you cannot guarantee if you fell off that you wouldnt fall on you stomach. What if you fell and got trampled on? It happens to the best of riders.

A gentle hack maybe, but not riding a strange horse and getting bucked off... THEN getting back on.
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I'm sorry, but to say that being pregnant is 'incovenient' when riding is just pure selfish. You aren't thinking of the baby, you're thinking of your own self satisfaction.
You wouldnt puff 40 fags a day whilst you were pregnant would you? So why put baby's life in danger by doing something like that?

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What a strange attitude you have - the pregnancy is much more important to the expectant mother than it is to anyone else - it certainly isnt more important to you.

Being pregnancy isnt inconvenient so why make it so by suggesting expectant mothers give up an activity which is advised by many GPs to be a healthy thing to do. Mothers are much more likley to run a risk of pre-eclampsia if they dont keep fit an active and the risks there are much more common.

With attitudes like yours I understand where the word 'confinement' came from - thank god for a more enlightened world now.
 
I would keep riding your own horse as you trust him. When I was pregnant with my daughter I kept very fit and actually handled my dog in an agility competition (and won) 2 weeks before she was born (but she was 3 weeks early), I also was swimming 12 hours before she was born! The next time I was pregnant I got involved splitting up a rather nasty dog fight and miscarried shortly afterwards. Blamed myself and when I became pregnant again wrapped myself in cotton wool - and miscarried again. With the next pregnancy I was cautious but not paranoid. My son was born healthy but I had a very long labour (daughter came in 6 hours!). I put this down to the fact I wasn't so fit. What I am trying to say within this rambling is that as others have said, pregnancy is not an illness and you should carry on as normal without taking obvious risks and try and keep fit. And if riding is part of your routine then carry on with it.
 
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When I rode and carried on as normal all was fine and had perfect baby girl! Rode until a week before I gave birth on very bouncy horse lol!!

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I had to re read this bit 3 times as I thought you had given birth riding a very bouncy horse....... oops

I rode thoughout my pregnancy which unfortunatly came to an end at 3 months when we found it was ectopic...... even falling off while jumping didn't have any affect ...

hope all is fine any way and perhaps stick to your boy, who will look after you
 
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Inreally cannot fathom why anyone would risk the life of their baby by riding any horse, let alone a strange horse, whilst pregnant.

ANY horse can spook, you cannot guarantee if you fell off that you wouldnt fall on you stomach. What if you fell and got trampled on? It happens to the best of riders.

A gentle hack maybe, but not riding a strange horse and getting bucked off... THEN getting back on.
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I'm sorry, but to say that being pregnant is 'incovenient' when riding is just pure selfish. You aren't thinking of the baby, you're thinking of your own self satisfaction.
You wouldnt puff 40 fags a day whilst you were pregnant would you? So why put baby's life in danger by doing something like that?

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What a strange attitude you have - the pregnancy is much more important to the expectant mother than it is to anyone else - it certainly isnt more important to you.

Being pregnancy isnt inconvenient so why make it so by suggesting expectant mothers give up an activity which is advised by many GPs to be a healthy thing to do. Mothers are much more likley to run a risk of pre-eclampsia if they dont keep fit an active and the risks there are much more common.

With attitudes like yours I understand where the word 'confinement' came from - thank god for a more enlightened world now.

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sorry, but if you post a post saying you've been bucked off whilst pregnant, then got back on, you can't expect everyone to laugh or say "oh, that's okay". Because it's NOT okay.

It just makes me wonder sometimes, what is more important to the mother... riding or their baby's wellbeing.

You may find that many have the same view. I wouldnt have dreamt of riding a stange horse whilst I was pregnant, and I just wonder what on earth drives expectant mothers to do so?
 
Ahh but you've changed the goalposts now - in your original post your comments referred to riding ANY horse, and now you are focussing on this specific horse.

From what I have gathered so far the OP does not believe she did the right thing - hence her post and she has stated she will only ride her own horse from now on.

Judging from what other posters have stated most agree that riding a horse you know to be safe is a healthy thing to do while pregnant......and watch out for that bus BTW. Life is risky.
 
sorry you feel so strongly for OP, or any mother who feels it safe to ride an unknown horse. I DO feel it's too risky to ride ANY horse when you're pregnant, but an unknown horse is 10 times more risky.

That's my opinion, and I am entitled to it.
 
I dont feel strongly for the OP or any mother who feels it is safe to ride an unknown horse
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I was responding to your comment that riding (full stop) is a selfish thing to do while pregnant. Yes you are entitled to your own opinion, however if expressing it is critical of someone else then others are entitled to defend their position.

In simple terms each of us makes our own decision about what to do when pregnant, yours is not to ride which is fine, however if someone else choses to ride a horse they know well then that is also fine. They are both sound decisions for that particular individual and selfishness does not come into it.
 
Agree with you Sparklet. I rode whilst pregnant, but only a known safe horse and I avoided jumping. All sorts of things can happen when you are pregnant and the expectant mother has to weigh up the pros and cons for herself. A friend lost a baby in a car crash - does that mean all expectant mothers should not drive cars?
 
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Inreally cannot fathom why anyone would risk the life of their baby by riding any horse, let alone a strange horse, whilst pregnant.

ANY horse can spook, you cannot guarantee if you fell off that you wouldn't fall on you stomach. What if you fell and got trampled on? It happens to the best of riders.

A gentle hack maybe, but not riding a strange horse and getting bucked off... THEN getting back on.
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I'm sorry, but to say that being pregnant is 'incovenient' when riding is just pure selfish. You aren't thinking of the baby, you're thinking of your own self satisfaction.
You wouldnt puff 40 fags a day whilst you were pregnant would you? So why put baby's life in danger by doing something like that?

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How can you make such sweeping comments like that? yes it is your opinion and you are entitled to it.

However, You can not really compare smoking cigarettes to riding.

If you are a smoker and you smoke whilst pregnant, you are well aware and are actively putting something damaging in to your body and possibly damaging your baby.

When you ride you are doing something that keeps you fit and healthy. Yes there are risks but life is full of them.

I also think a pregnant woman is in more danger on the floor around horses as you are perfect line to get kicked etc. Much safer aboard me thinks.

I wanted to ride whilst pregnant but suffered with hideous morning sickness. By the time I felt well enough to get back on board I was night on 4 months pregnant. I only hacked out the once. I didn't feel safe and I had lost a lot of riding muscle. I then chose to turn my horse away.

You do have to assume that most riders do have common sense and a brain.

The OP made a mistake and luckily highlighted it. Perhaps by highlighting it another reader who is pregnant will think twice about getting on an unknown horse.

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A friend lost a baby in a car crash - does that mean all expectant mothers should not drive cars?

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I was going to mention the risks of going on the roads.
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So do you also think that a pregnant woman shouldn't drive or even walk any where near a road, or maybe they shouldn't go in a plane on a train or maybe jut not step foot outside a padded cell till the baby comes along!!!
 
I would have ridden through pregnancy, but I suffered from such bad PSD that I could hardly walk, let alone get on a horse.

I smoked all the way through my 2nd childs pregnancy, I have many reasons why I did that, but I knew the risks and am an intelligent person USUALLY, but during that time I was not (long story).... same can be said of the OP getting back on the horse after it bucking her off - HINDSIGHT is a powerful thing and taught her a lesson.

I fell over when I was preg with son 2, a crashing fall onto a hard surface, and caused by a damp floor. I HATE when people say pregnant women should not ride/drive/LIVE - pregnancy is NOT a disease.
 
I also rode when I was pregnant, and I smoked and there is nothing wrong with my two! In fact, one is a good rider and the other is an excellent groom!

Each to their own, but Martha has obviously had a little wake up call from this experience.......
 
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So do you also think that a pregnant woman shouldn't drive or even walk any where near a road, or maybe they shouldn't go in a plane on a train or maybe jut not step foot outside a padded cell till the baby comes along!!!

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Only just come back on.... woah!!!
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I didnt expect to see about 60 more posts on the topic.

Anyway, no Halfpass I'm NOT saying that.

When you cross the road you are taking a necessary risk. It would be necessary to cross the road, theoretically, to get to the doctors or whatever. So that is an everyday risk anyone takes. Day to day life is full of necessary risks, risks which if you didnt take would limit your quality of life to a great extent.

Horse riding is seen as a dangerous sport. maybe not hacking on an old plod, no, but it is still a sport by which if you had a fall you are falling 16 hands or so, backed up by the possibility of 1/2 a tonne of animal trampling you.
Some could argue there are greater risks in driving a car. Difference is, in my eyes, a car is controlled by YOU. An accident would be just that, something beyod your control. Whereas a horse is asked by you, and controlled by it's own mind. You are trusting that animal, which in reality IS 1/2 a tonne of primarily wild creature. Sure, it's been domesticated, and trained, but it still has wild animal instincts, of the fight or flight variety. Hence my comment about any horse being capable of shying and bolting.

When you become a mother you are responsible for that child. And responsibilty starts from the day you know you are expecting that wonderful gift. Back to my comment about not smoking 40 a day... it's all down to responsibility. If you KNEW something may risk your child's life, and you didnt NEED to do it (ie you need to cross the road, you need to drive a car to work... so not really the same), you just wouldnt do it. We, as mothers are told not to eat blue cheese and Pate when pregnant, and we don't.

You wouldnt go riding a huge motorbike when you're pregnant... you wouldnt ski on an unknown mountain when you're 38 weeks, so again, I cannot understand why it's fine to ride? I'm not on about plodding around in the menage or field, I mainly mean hunting, jumping, going for long hacks and competing, and riding strange horses.

Re children riding. Mine didnt start till the age of 5. He CHOSE to do that, but never ever rides without me by his side, and with al the safety gear. We spent months scouring for the right pony, and even then, I DO worry. I'm a paranoid mother! He wants to compete, and wants to hunt, but the sheer thought of him cantering off on this little pony fills me with horror.
I guess we all have our own views, and it's up to a mother to decide what is right for her body and her unborn child.

But I just hope that by putting another view fowards to the (what has now become a) debate it may just make someone think deeply before they choose to ride when pregnant.
I too found some of the jokes re jumping etc quite shocking, and thought they may mislead expectant mothers into the false sense of security that it's somehow the 'done thing' to do this. It isnt, it's a mother's personal choice, and one I trust isnt made on a spur of a moment, but a choice made with fact and deep thought for her unborn child.



I hope all is well with OP and her baby.

Katy
 
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I'm not on about plodding around in the menage or field, I mainly mean hunting, jumping, going for long hacks and competing, and riding strange horses.

[/ QUOTE ] So are you modifying your original opinion about it being too risky to ride ANY horse. Are you saying that plodding around in the menage or field on a known, safe horse is not horrendously risky to the baby? Because that is all I did when I was pregnant. I made a definite decision NOT to continue jumping, because I felt that in my own personal situation it was too big a risk to take.

As to driving a car or crossing the road being 'necessary', not every trip a pregnant mother makes is necessary. She might cross the road to buy a magazine, or drive the car to a friend's house or a party. Neither of these activities are strictly 'necessary', but contribute to part of the woman's normal, everyday existence. If you want to exclude all risk then women shouldn't venture out at all unless the journey is strictly necessary. The lady I knew who lost her baby in a car crash wasn't taking a 'necessary' journey - what that too much of a risk for her to take?

No, I wouldn't go ski-ing or motorbike riding because these are things I would not normally do - and I wouldn't suggest a women who hasn't ridden before suddenly took up riding when she was pregnant. We are talking about women who ride regularly carrying on with a form of exercise that is healthy and gets them outdoors. My doctor and midwife saw absolutely no problem in that whatsoever and I must say I trust their opinion more than those of random people on the internet!

Your comment about your children riding shows that you seek to minimize the risks - just as I did when I rode when I was pregnant. It is not strictly necessary for your children to ride, but there are many benefits which outweigh the risks. Just like, for me, there were benefits from riding whilst pregnant which far outweighed the risks of having a very unlikely fall.

I do agree that it is up to the individual woman to weigh up the pros and cons in their own individual case. I don't think you can lay down one concrete rule though as everyone's health, horses, skill and facilities are different.

I must say, though, that I admire the rational way you have put forward your arguments - I think there are one or two people on this forum who could learn from your example
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ok its early on a Wednesday morning so im not going to get into an argument - this post just reminded me of something my mother told me. that she fell out of a tree when i was inside her! apprently she was getting a ball out of a tree for my brothers.

point is life doesn't stop because you're pregnant. hope OP's baby is ok, as im sure it is! good luck with everything OP xxx
 
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I must say, though, that I admire the rational way you have put forward your arguments - I think there are one or two people on this forum who could learn from your example
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I havent agreed with you xkatyX but I echo this comment by TGM
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Blimey - after a not being able to get on here yesterday - I was ill - but no nothing to do with the fall, and I won't bore you with all the graphic details - I cannot believe the responses to this post! It has just taken me about 40 mins to read through from beginning to end!

OK, so some people agree riding is good, keeps you fit, and if SENSIBLE then no harm done. Others believe it's not a good idea, and avoid at all costs!

In response to a couple of questions, Yes I've learnt my lesson massively - will not be riding any other horses whilst pregant apart from my own - and yes maybe I was irresponsible getting back on after I've been bucked off, but come on don't tell me that some (or possibly all of you) don't like to be defeated, and please don't let me start another big debate - I got back on cause I didn't want the little *hit to think he had got the better of me, but I now know that that was completely the wrong thing to do, but me being me, never likes to loose!

Being pregnant is not an inconvenience, and when I said that in my post, it was said 'tongue in cheek' so please don't think that this baby is not wanted - cause it is - and whether it's a boy or a girl, if it's interested in horses - then Daddy already know's that he has to buy it a pony!

Anyway, I guess seeing as I've spent the last near on an hour on here I'd better do some work today!

Thanks for all of your posts - positive or not - I have enjoyed reading them, and I never imagined I work spark such a debate!

I am gonna continue to ride, but just my boy. Midwife cancelled her appointment yesterday, but have got one next week - so will update you all!!!

Catch up later all!!
MX
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I suspect Admin deleted the bit where someone threatened to smack me! And the posts relating to that.

I would like to make it clear that it was not due to me notifying Admin - I'm quite capable of standing up for myself
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