Pregnant

[ejk6@msn.com]

Hi
Any views on riding while pregnant, all advice and opinions welcome!
Thanks

[Joyscarer]

There's been a few threads on this lately but I will state my view on it again :D

To me there was nothing more important than the life of my unborn child when I was pregnant and I'm sure this would be the case with all pregnant mums.

At the time I wasn't riding horses but I was riding a motorbike which is we all know is a less risky prospect than riding a horse.

The moment I found out I was pregnant I didn't ride my motorbike again and if I had been riding horses at that point in my life then I would have given that up too.

Whilst we can do all we can to limit risk in life there is always going to be the unknown with any aspect in life (i'm sure someone will use the crossing the road example here!) and riding was one that I would have reluctantly had to forego for the protection of my unborn child. :)

It's a question of where you draw the line. Giving that riding is one of the riskiest sports the line would have been drawn there for me.

[baileyboy]

I agree with the above. You are told that is your own choice but after 3mths your pelvis softens so if anything they say not to ride after this time. I rode for a few months with a pregnancy but lost the baby (not through riding) so when I got pregnant again I decided not too, I went out for my last ride with my husband and that was it til I had my 6wk check after the birth. I was lucky to have older children who could just keep the horses ticking over for that short time. The choice is yours but if anything did happen due to riding you need to think how that would make you feel. I doesn't harm the horses to have a break but helps if someone else could ride for you. I used this time to do ground work and lunging so your still envoled with them it makes a change. Well done and good luck on your pregnancy.

[ejk6@msn.com]

Thanks for the advice. I guess I already knew this but lots of people do continue to ride and I know how much I will miss it.

My own horse will be for sale soon because as a result as he is very exciteable in the Winter and I would not get on him pregnant!!!! I know that I would not ride him again for at least 18 months and so I decided that I could not afford such a luxury.
I am having a half hour lesson on a school master at a very reputable yard (every two weeks) and it is this that I was hoping to continue until my third month.

How come horses and riding gets in your blood to the point that a sensible woman like myself would be asking such a question?

[laceyfreckle]

Thanks for the advice. I guess I already knew this but lots of people do continue to ride and I know how much I will miss it.

My own horse will be for sale soon because as a result as he is very exciteable in the Winter and I would not get on him pregnant!!!! I know that I would not ride him again for at least 18 months and so I decided that I could not afford such a luxury.
I am having a half hour lesson on a school master at a very reputable yard (every two weeks) and it is this that I was hoping to continue until my third month.

How come horses and riding gets in your blood to the point that a sensible woman like myself would be asking such a question?


lol i am expecting my fifth baby. I am 16 weeks at the moment and feel a bit too clumsy to ride now plus i am now too heavy for my little mare but i am still enjoying long reining her and have a sharer who can ride her.

There is life with horses after babies.....i promise x

good luck with baby bump:)

[Bobbin]

Most people ride a reliable horse all through their pregnancy and have no problems, I was riding up untill I fell off at a canter at 8-9 weeks and subsequently lost the baby 3 weeks later at the beginning of December, probably not as a result of but we don't know.

I said I wouldn't ride at all when I fall pregnant again but I have since re-thought this. I have just changed my dicipline to dressage and will only do sensible hacking. Then Bryony will probably get turned away again as I think I may find it to stressful to find a sharer for her.

[zippytys]

I personally wouldn't as I'd be so scared of having an accident that I just wouln't enjoy the ride. However most of my friends rode when they were pregnant, one of them right up until the day before she gave birth!!:eek::)

[gunner5125]

please don't ride if you are pregnant!! you would never forgive yourself if something happened to your unborn child because you couldn't give up your hobby. if i was you, i would start natural horsemanship with your horse (or a friend's, you do not say if you have your own horse). it is so rewarding seeing the bond between you and your horse strengthen and teaching them new things from the ground. by the time you've had your baby and get back in the saddle, you and your horse will be closer than ever!

[xloopylozzax]

my mum rode the very day i was born (i was born just after teatime). i was 8 weeks premature though so she wasnt expecting me :rolleyes:

she never had any problems and the reason i was premature was more likely down to the fact that she smoked rather than movements from riding.

if you feel confident enough to ride and safe enough then do it- all excercise is good while pregnant and riding will keep you supple and have strong pelvic floor muscles.

she never regretted it and rode while pregnant with my sister aswell, but had to stop a few weeks before she was born because she was a fat baby :D

[DITZ]

I am 8 months pregnant and stopped riding when I was 7 months pregnant. Here is a pic of me on my last ride...
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/walker1234/IMGP0179.jpg

I stopped competing at XC at 3 months and BSJA at 4 months.

I cantered all the way up to that last ride and frankly I feel I could ride now if I just wanted to plod round the bridlepaths at a walk

You will know when you are ready to call it a day, by the end it was an effort but at no time did I ever either feel unsafe or in danger but then you know your own horse don't you. If you speak to your midwife she will tell you to carry on as long as you feel you are able. No professional will tell you not if you are used to riding already. Yes if you are someone who has just started or only rides 1hr a week they may do but actually they say it helps keep you fit.

Mary King competed in the Olympics at 5 months pregnant and lets face it, the Virgin Mary rode all the way up to the night before...;)

For the record I've just done the sport relief mile today too:D

[Chiicken]

I still fully intended to ride when I found out I was pregnant, but just to take it a little easier.
But I didn't, I still jumped and galloped and silly things that I shouldn't have been doing when nobody was looking. Luckily for me the horse I rode was a complete and utter angel so was sensible even when I wasn't.
Even more luckily for me I was struck down with severe morning sickness (which was actually all day sickness, why they call it morning sickness I'll never know) so I physically couldn't go and ride anymore. It seems like it was someone's way of saying "you shouldn't be doing this."

[ejk6@msn.com]

Thanks to everyone for their replies!!

All I can say is where do you find these horses that are calm enough to ride while you are pregnant?!:D

I own a pony and as I said there is no chance I am getting on him while pregnant particularly in the winter.
Will stick with the RS school master I think, anyway when I tell them they may say no more riding there anyway (insurance and all that)

[coverblown]

I would do it. Exercise is good for you, well done Ditz and best wishes for the baby.