What did you do with your horse when you were pregnant?

S

Scheherezade

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 September 2009
Messages
1,353
Visit site
If/when I have baby, it's led to some confusion over what to do with my young, fit & energetic sportshorse type, who is prone ot injury so requires a gentle rider!

I would be due September/October, he's currently kept on full livery for £55pw, which I couldn't afford on Statutory Maternity Pay.

Is it worth putting him on loan? When abouts can you start riding again after giving birth? Or maybe a part loan? I doubt I could cope with DIY.

Thanks :)
 
I have a 15 month old baby. I also own a full TB who was in full work when I found out I was pregnant.

I stopped jumping as soon as I knew but carried on schooling/gentle hacks until I was about 6 months. Different people have different feelings about riding whilst pregnant but my GP and midwife both had no concerns as they said my body was already used to and capable of handling the efforts of riding. I was lucky to have a good friend on the yard who is a very quiet rider. I'd spent a long time re-schooling him off the track and didn't want anyone too forceful messing it up!!! ;)

I put him on grass livery which he actually thrived on - and it saved me lots of money. I was still looking after him fully until two days before I gave birth and although I ended up with a good few stitches giving birth I was back in the saddle after 6 weeks. We were competing when my babay was about 11/12 weeks old.

I turned my lad away for about a month before I gave birth and until he was brought back into work, took his shoes off and let him mooch about eating lots. I don't think he was complaining.

If you can find a loaner/sharer who you are happy with this could be an option. If not think about putting your horse on grass livery to cut costs. Do you have someone to help you with childcare once the baby is born? If so then DIY could be an option, couldn't it?

It is do-able on SMP if you have some other income coming into the house. If you plan ahead you can stock up on nappies, wipes, household cleaning products etc whilst you are still working too - its amazing how much they bump up your shopping bill. This would then save you money whilst on maternity leave.

Good luck with whatever you decide :D
 
It would be impossible to do DIY IMO.

My friend had a baby 8.5 mnths ago and thought innocently that it wouldn't be a problem and that the new baby would just slip seamlessly into her life, not hers into his.

Fat chance of that! She has gone all supermum. The house, car, her 3 dogs and her work /social life revolve around the little fella now and as for horses? Well she rides and plays with mine while I'm left holding the baby, which I adore and is a very good swap.

She gets her horsey fix that way which should tick her over for a bit and my mare gets some serious schooling.
 
I sold mine and then ended up buying him back again! I had a lot going on in my pregnancy so he had to be sold or loaned out, but glad I got him back again! I'd turn away at grass or loan out. I had one before I had my son (now 1 year old) and now have 3 horses, so it is possible, but hard work and I wouldn't be able to do it without my sharer
 
I loaned mine out for 18 months as I couldn't ride at all due to pregnancy complications. She was competing at a high level in dressage but she's very sensitive and I didn't want all my hard work ruined by someone who couldn't handle her. So she went to my friend as a hack which was the best thing ever! She went to the beach, on riding holidays, all sorts and also lived out 24/7 where previously she'd been in the majority of the time. It meant I didn't have to worry about her, saved money and when I got her back, she went better than ever! The break did us both good. x
 
Sorry to say that I sold my boy - I couldn't cope with the financial and time restrictions. He went to a wonderful home and is still there.

11 years later and 2 kids later - I am well and truly back in the saddle. It was actually quite nice to have a break from it all - makes you appreciate horsey life more.

Good luck.
 
There are so many factors to consider, such as how easy your pregnancy is, how much support you have from partner, temperament of the horse, what time of year you are due, where the horse is kept, and what your finances allow etc.

I was very lucky to have a straight forward pregnancy so rode up to about 8mnths, with just very gentle hacking for the last few. I advertised for a short term sharer and as I was due in July had a good response. The sharer hacked him out from May to Sept so helped tick him over for me and although I was back in the saddle by August, there was no pressure to ride as I knew my sharer would still keep the horse excercised.

Also we had the horse at home so once I had the baby just carried him in a sling whilst doing horsey jobs! I would then ride and catch up on bigger jobs when hubby came home.

In your situation I think a sharer or loan would be ideal - they can help share the costs and physical work.

Good luck!
 
I've just had a baby (8weeks old) this is my second. Both times ive given my horse the whole 9 months off. He sounds similar to urs and he's always come back into work a dream. I don't think riding when pregnant is worth the risk, I wud have never forgiven myself if I'd fallen etc. I must say this time round I'm really struggling to find time to ride especially as she's a winter baby and it's too cold to have her down the yard, my first was born in apr which was much easier.

I wud give him the time off (grass livery) he'll love it. U cud always put a bit away to send him for a few weeks schooling before u get back on board.

Good luck x
 
last time i rode fred untill i was about 6 months pregnant, just hacking about ect then when it got uncomfortable i just turned him away to grass, he was a tb/ sports pony type and he coped fine. was back in the saddle about 8/9 weeks after :D.
riding was my personal choice though, it doesnt suit every one. if you dont want to ride im sure it wont hurt him to live out at grass and have a break. most horses love it and it involves minimal effort on your part.
 
I doubt Lottie will still be here but she will potter about if she is. I got a horse on loan for Sharer which I doubt she will still have if and when I decide to reproduce. If she doesn't have this she will have Ice on loan (to continue as a part loan once I am done with the breeding) and help look after Beau. I am hoping to find a capable child to compete Beau while I am large (I have a couple in mind!) but fully intend to ride her as long as I can physically get on and off. If Sharer can't have Ice she will have to go out on loan for 12 months or possibly be sold. Really don't want to sell her but will depend on other circs I guess.
 
I got a sharer to ride mine towards the end of the pregnacy, but still did all my jobs and lunged and stuff, he was on part livery at that point, moved him to DIY when baby was 2 months and had him back to myself, it was easy on DIY while baby was little because he just came along, I advertised for another sharer but had no response, once my maternity pay money ran out I got a PT job locally which I hated things got tough and I left and put my boy on full loan to a friend for the year until I get myself sorted. Have now returned part time to the job I had before I was pregant and love it but it is a commute, have 2 rides on the go one very nice TB whose owner is pregnant and something that a friend has in to sell, so ride most days.

Competing went out the window but for me wasn't a huge priority although am getting out a bit this year as little one is nearly 18months. For me it can be done, with a supportive OH but my pennies ran out, I have a group of horsey friends who now all have under 5's and each one dealt with it differently some carried on like there was never a bay others stopped riding completely.

Congratulations, its an exciting journey and I'm sure things will work out whatever you do x
 
Lots of different answers and everyone is different, every horse is different, every pregnancy and birth is different... I carried on riding my sensitive but mostly level headed TB mare in both my pregnancies until just days before the birth BUT the last 6 weeks only in the school and I did not jump or hack out with any horse where I know my girl would have got a bit silly. So we just pottered about in our own way, nearer the birth I also included a lot more lungeing in her exercise regime.

I was lucky enough to be able to get back on after about 10 days after birth. that was my choice, but you never know what your pregnancy may be like or how you feel with it, some people feel they should not ride at all, I just avoided potentially tricky situations.

Both my boys have come up to the stables ever since they were born every day (except weekends) and therefore get to know the life at the yard, help me with the chores and get to be outdoors a lot. They knew the difference between hay and straw from an early age and enjoy making up the feeds in particular. They have learnt to wait for me as well when I want to ride - which I do on weekdays in the arena while the boys wait around in the car in the winter or next to the arena in a buggy/ or playing in the dirt (firstborn who is nearly 4 now). I don't have family around here or the money to pay for someone to look after them but it has worked out ok for me. Ok, I am not competitive so don't mind if that side of things is not really happening. At the weekend my hubby takes them so I can ride out.

Go with your gut feeling, I think sharers or a loan can work for some people, or give him time off, or carry on yourself. Either way, your body will tell you and your horse will be happy whatever...
 
Last edited:
Like some other posters, I stopped jumping but still hacked out up until about 7-8 months on both my WB and cob. I stopped riding the day I tried to get on from a ladder (!), horse moved away slightly before I could get my bump over the saddle as I was just too heavy and slow and I slipped and ended up underneath my horse!

I got on to my cob (the other steadier one), rode round the block then hung up my hat for about three months. I had a C section and really couldnt ride til then so I actually ended up hiring somone to ride my WB and turning away the cob. Both live out tho so my husband had to do a lot of checking as I couldnt even get about in the field in the first few weeks.

However, I look at my son now, and, with any future pregnancies, given my story above - I think I'd stop riding much earlier, if I rode at all.

I distinctly remember lying on the floor watching my fantastic horse carefully step over me. I was so lucky and would never take that risk again. My horse didn't really even move very much, maybe just a step but I just wasnt agile enough and things could have been very different.

I would say, if you are committed you can def do pregnancy and horses but think carefully about the riding. My mare behaved beautifully out hacking when I was pregnant and I never once felt unsafe. My husband was hapy for me to ride and I always said I would stop if I felt unsafe. BUT, even with the most sensible sort, accidents happen and I cant even imagine what I would feel if our story had had a different ending.
 
I kept my horse and I rode till I was 6 months pregnant and only stopped then because I broke my foot. I am at a private yard so was lucky enough to have a bit of help which was good as had very bad morning sickness throughout the whole pregnancy! But having said that was down everyday and was back day after my son was born and back riding in 3 weeks. Yes it is very hard work and doesn't get loads easier when you have a child (again I am very lucky my boys are very laid back and go with the flow!)

I am not saying I am wonderwoman, I am just saying it can be done but each persons different and I am very lucky that my horse is very easy to do and a very easy ride! Would be a different story if he wasn't!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top