Too fat to ride

Is it a good idea?

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zoon

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Ok, not literally fat, but almost 6 months pregnant. I have been finding it difficult to dismount, but mounting and actual riding were fine. Dismounting just involves a rather ungraceful slide off via my bum as the bump gets in the way! Horse isn't struggling at all as I'm not an overly big person anyway (5'3 and fairly petite before the bump started to appear) and he is a big WB, and we are not doing anything too strenuous - just light schooling. But yesterday I had a bit of an ache in my belly after. Maybe it was a 1 off, but it got me thinking - what am I going to do when I do actually get too big to ride? And when is really the right time to stop?
 
Personally I would be too paranoid to ride when that far pregnant, but that is just me (and never been pregnant so don't know how it would feel that far in). I think your best option would be to find someone to share/ride your horse a few times a week from now - at least then when baby is born, you still have someone to help you out until you feel ready and have the time to get on with things again
 
Agree with Zoeshiloh. I don't have experience with riding when pregnant but we are possibly starting a family soon and wouldn't want to sell my horse. I'd like to keep her ticking over as she's old but would most likely be a bit paranoid about riding in later pregnancy do would ask someone esle to ride or lunge occassionally until I was ready to get back into riding
 
I rode till 7 months pregnant, when I started to get an aching pelvis after riding, rather than because I got to big to get on/off - although a mounting block was essential!
I then gave my mare a holiday because she'd not had any time off for a couple of years, and it was what my RI recommended. She ended up with 4 months off in total, and came back into work a lot better for it. Of course finding time to ride now is the tricky bit
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You'll know when the right time for you to stop riding is, and that fact that you're now asking the question might well indicate the your riding time is limited
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i stopped riding when i found it hard to mount/dismount... also whilst out hacking my horse tripped quite badly and i am sure it was because my weight was uneven.

i was about 6, nearly 7 months pregnant. and with hindsight i should have stopped a week or so earlier.

i turned raff out, and he's had a nice holiday with no shoes and a bit too much food.... my baby is now 7 weeks old and i'm about to start riding him again (i had c section with complications so took me longer to get back on board).

i'd either turn him out so you can both get back into riding/fitten up together, or get someone to keep him ticking over. i certainly wouldn't continue riding if you're getting uncomfortable. xx
 
Your obviously not phyically capable of riding anymore if your finding it hard to dismount, I think that is clear sign to say for yours and your unborn baby that it is time to hang up those riding boots until your baby arives. I would find a nice experianced and reliable person to come and ride your horse, you could still enjoy a bit of exercise and go with them, jump on a bike, that way you can enjoy your horse, their company and make sure they are riding/caring for your horse correctly, every is a winner.
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I wouldn't worry about it in terms of the horse. I'm still riding at 7.5 months pregnant - lucky with a small bump and a very kind horse. I do sometimes feel a slight ache - a little like a cramp - usually just when I start and for the first 5 mins in walk - it goes away soon enough. My midwife and doctor are happy for me to ride as long as I feel able - I know a few others who have gone as long as this. I do have a sharer now though, who I am hoping will keep him a bit fitter while I can't ride, and then carry on afterwards as I guess I'll have less time in the future, with one of thos baby things to look after!

Trust your own feelings though. One day my hips really hurt (after a long walk with the dog followed by mucking out and poo picking) and I just got off and didn't bother, but it was fine the next day. If you feel in pain or worried in case you did come off then don't put yourself through the worry of it - your horse won't mind some time out.

Good luck!! x
 
I would stop riding as soon as it felt the slightest bit uncomfortable, so now, then I would just put the horse on holiday for a few months till you are able to get back in the saddle
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You haven't got an option for 'stop when YOU feel it's the right time'

Everybody and every pregnancy is different. As is every horse!!

I rode til a week before I was due with my first and about 6 weeks before with the second. I stopped earlier with the second because it was uncomfortable - bump was hitting pommel and I felt unbalanced.

If you feel uncomfortable - stop. If it hurts - stop. If you get any odd symptoms - stop. But other than that I think you'll know when you - or your body - or even your horse! - have had enough.

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One other thing - I have developed a new way of dismounting - keeping my left foot in the stirrup while I swing my right leg over the back, and the main thing is to stay facing forwards all the time! then kick your foot out and lower down, still facing the front! it works fine for me but I do get laughed at a bit...
 
It was about 6/7 months when I stopped, for me it was aching pelvis, inability to dismount and the constant feeling of needing a wee that put me off. I got enough excercise/horsey fix doing the jobs. I think you need to listen to your own body about deciding when to stop.

I was lucky as my daughter rode my mare once a week for me, though I am sure she would have been fine having a holiday. You know your own horse best as to what he/she would p[refer. I was due at the end of Feb, had Evie in the middle of March! which I presume you will when you are due too. I think this is actualy a good time because if your horse is having a rest it will be through the worst of winter. When the nice weather comes you will be ready to start again. Good luck
 
I really want to avoid him having time off if poss as he is 14 and thrives with work - any time off and he drops weight and gets a bit stiff.

Other than local tack shops, where can I advertise for a sharer? I don't know anyone who doesn't have their own horse who would be capable of riding him. I wouldn't necessarily expect a contribution to his keep and he is on full livery so there are no stable chores (hence I've been able to ride for longer as I have no back breaking mucking out to do!). I don't want loads of unsutiable people ringing just because they think they can get a free ride!
 
Hi when I got to where you are at now I switched to just hacking out, doing that I didn't get the bump twinges you speak off although as you say dismouting was still novel ( very glad to hear I'm not the only one who took the slither down on your bum approach).
When hackign started to cause the same twinges I stopped riding but it gave me a few extra weeks in the saddle.
Then I got my then livery owner to keep my mare ticking over for me until I could ride again.
 
I've done a bit of everything whilst pregnant! I rode until I was about 5 months and started feeling uncomfortable, then I asked a friend to ride him for me and he's been out and about competing a bit to keep him occupied. He's now had his shoes off and is out 24/7 roughing it this winter for a couple of reasons: 1. he's actually had quite a busy year and I thought he'd enjoy some time out, and 2. I don't normally compete lots myself in the winter so it seemed like a lot of work for not a lot of output to keep him stabled etc.

In terms of your situation, is there not anyone on the yard that has some spare time and you would trust to ride to keep him ticking over?

If you do advertise for a sharer maybe you could ask for a contribution to shoeing or something else just so it would deter joy riders?
 
Try a good local riding school or BHS where to train centre. They may be able to put you in touch with some competant clients/students without a horse of their own.

There are always people looking for shares/loans on our yard. You could also ask around for someone whose own horse is out of action for a few months who would be willing to ride yours as a mutual favour.
 
I've never been pregnant but just wanted to post a reply re. your horse.

With what you have said I wouldn't want to give him a holiday - I gave my mare a break last winter and had difficulties bringing her back into work due to her stiffness, its taken all this time to get her working correctly again. She also went downhill very fast and looked poor and became depressed while off work.

I'd put ads in local tack shops, websites such as horse hunter and http://www.equineadverts.co.uk/home.php (found several from this website). Then perhaps just try to keep him ticking over yourself until you can find someone to exercise him.
 
Hi Zoon, I just wanted to offer a few words of encouragement as most people seem to be advising you to stop riding. I had my 2nd child 18 months ago and I rode 4 or 5 times a week right up until the day my son was born. (He was 2 weeks late so I was riding at 9.5 months pregnant!) I continued with my horses dressage training until I was about 6 months pregnant, when my bump was big enough to make me feel a little unbalanced, but I decided not to jump, so got a local professional rider to jump my boy for me and do a few competitions (I couldn't afford for him to do too much, but I didn't want him to have months without jumping at all). This worked out brilliantly as I was able to keep him fit and I was back on board 10 days after giving birth with a horse who was ready to compete straight away. In fact the competitions he did with the professional rider really helped him to grow up and we have gone from strength to strength ever since - I actually did 2 BE events with him last year, something I never thought I'd be brave enough to do!
My advice is to do what feels right for you. I found it kept me fit and healthy and that's got to help when you're giving birth! I did kept achey, cramp like pains in my tummy sometimes, usually at the beginning of a ride but nothing terrible and my little boy is happy and full of life and obviously has suffered no ill effects. Obviously it is a risk, but if you did fall off, your baby is remarkably cushioned inside you. I have to say, I haven't met many people who have ridden throughout their pregnancies and most people seem to think I'm mad, but it worked really well for me. It helps to have an understanding hubby too!
I found dismounting the most awkward thing, but if your horse is obliging, try lining him up to a large mounting block and then dismounting onto that so there is less distance between you and the ground if you see what I mean?
Anyway, just wanted to offer my support and to prove that it can be done if you want it badly enough!
Good luck whatever you decide
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