What is the difference.....

[EgerdenFarmStud]

Following on from the pregnancy and riding thread yesterday.

Why is it ok to risk your unborn babys life when riding whilst pregnant, but riding without a hat and risking your own life is totally out of the question?????

I have often wondered that on here, h and h prints a picture of someone hatless and the online community go nuts, everyone shouts about how even the safest horse inthe world is a flight animal and could dump you at the drop of a hat... But someone posts about being pregnant and is wondering about continuing to ride and everybody says ' yes go for it, it's not an illness, etc etc etc '

So question is really... Why is it ok to risk your babys life but not ok to risk yours hatless??

Xx

 

[china]

*gets the popcorn out *

 

[Kaylum]

Personal choice as always. Its not ok from my personal choice. Even the most bombproof horse can flip, as mine did one day.

 

[Jesstickle]

Hmm that's an interesting one isn't it. I personally don't care if people wear hats and will ride whilst I'm pregnant if I ever have children but I had never thought of it this way.

I suppose the way I view it is that perhaps if putting your whole life completely on hold is going to make you resentful towards the child it might be best to take the chance I know that I couldn't not do my own horses for the best part of a year without going stir crazy so I would think it would be the lesser of two evils. I always thought babies are reasonably well protected whilst they're still inside you anyway. Much more than your head ever is. Could be wrong though!

 

[Apercrumbie]

Very tricky one. IMO it is ok to keep riding whilst pregnant but perhaps to be a bit more careful. eg. Stop eventing, hunting, possibly jumping and other more dangerous aspects of riding. You would be very unlucky to lose a baby from falling, as jesstickle said, they are reasonably well protected. You could also apply this situation to any sport such as surfing or white water kayaking. There is always a risk but does that mean you should stop?

 

[Gingersmum]

I would never ride without a hat (or body protector) but did ride up until about 5 months pregnant.

Humm . . . why ?

Well,

If I fell off there is more likely chance of hitting my head than landing directly on baby bump.

I believe baby is pretty well cushioned in fluid.

Sitting on a horse and having a clip clop round the lanes (which is all I did) really doesn't hurt the baby at all, in fact you are probably keeping yourself fit and supple for the birth.

If you have been riding before your pregnancy you are not putting yourself through any new physical stress.