Comments at Christmas cause I choose to carry on riding whilst pregnant

'No, the woman is not a vessel to be restricted at the whim of statistically illiterate others (including the father).'

The 'woman' is indeed a vessel carrying a child and it not rocket science that you avoid sports with a very high risk of injury whilst carrying said child. It's only a few months no one is suggesting one has to be horribly restricted for the rest of their lives or anything. Common sense hun. Reduce risk.

The OP says she started horse riding in her early 20s not that she is in her early 20s .

So you are in your early 20s and are a doctor? Did you go to medical school at 14?

I had a horse during my second pregnancy and rode until I was seven months. Just quite hacking in the last couple of months. I only stopped because dismounting was getting harder and we were struggling to keep shoes on his crappie thoroughbred feet. I did keep going to the gym until 36 weeks and was doing aquanatel in early labour. I also had my second drug free and pain free water birth.

No, the woman is not a vessel to be restricted at the whim of statistically illiterate others (including the father).

So what is the statistical risk being run by the OP, allowing for the fact that she is an experienced rider, quiet non road routes and a well known placid animal?

I’m assuming you are basing your horror at her riding on actual data and not the clicktastic TV show you watch?

Unsure of the point in this thread? Do you want reassurance? It’s your body and your child to risk. I didn’t ride while I was pregnant, I actually agree with the 1% risk post everyone is commenting on and it’s not the same as driving/eating/going to work/ living in general as these things are practically unavoidable. And if you are worried about lack of exercise affecting your mental health theres always pregnancy yoga or aqua natal, these are also great for meeting other mums to be. But you have agency over your own life and can do as you please, if other opinions are causing you to question it perhaps this decision doesn’t sit as well with you as you thought

So probably best not to get in a car either then. 1,600 people died in 2024 in car crashes.

Annually 4-6 people in the UK are killed by cows. While 10 people were killed by dogs in 2024.

Guess how many fatalities from horse riding in 2024? NONE!!

Good grief OP do what you think is best for you, your health and your baby! You know your own horse and body best!

Op’s horse sounds calm and sensible.
why would it ‘want her off’. Only time I’ve ever experienced this is with backing young horse with trauma or those with undiagnosed pain

I’ve been riding for 40+ years. Worked in an environment where we’d ride 5 per day in a group. I’ve never had an accident or seen one where a horse has simply stumbled and fallen. It’s really not common

Any horse can stumble and fall which i think ups the risk factor imo.

I was under the impression that you are encouraged to keep up your usual activities when pregnant and use your own judgment about stopping when you can no longer manage to do these activities. Am really surprised that so many people think you're being unreasonable!

@vincettenoir

because their views have no bearing on Op. she can do what she wants. Free will is great 😊

Smoking and drinking are toxic to a foetus and offer no health benefits. Exercising has tons of benefits for both the mum and baby. Exercising reduces the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature birth and emergency c-section. Exercising during pregnancy also reduces many of these pregnancy symptoms like back pain, constipation, poor sleep, and reduces the long term risk of diastasis, not to mention the mental health benefits. You can't compare smoking and drinking (important risks and no health benefits) to exercising (little risk and enormous benefits).

Great post! 😀 🐴

If a horse wants you off you'll be off, it doesn't matter one fucking bit how experienced you are 🤣

So long as you are not on roads and you trust your horse I can’t see it’s that bad. The risk is falling is it? I worked with violent kids when I was pregnant and got punched in the stomach a few times- no one told me to stop work even when I asked as was desperate to be signed off!! It’s apples and oranges in my opinion.

how does your horse cope with yappy uncontrolled dogs? I believe this is a problem for riders around me.

good mental health is important. Stressed out mum means high cortisol which impacts too. You make the decision that’s best for you and baby and start your journey of being criticised constantly for all your choices in motherhood

It's not up to anyone else.
You have to decide if this is something you'd still be kind to yourself about if the worst happened and then have faith in your reasoning no matter what.

YABU for not posting photos of your boy! Everyone I know who’s had babies has ridden until they physically couldn’t. If your horse is steady, then crack on. Mine was a dream, the occasional spooks were manageable.

My daughter is an experienced rider, only riding in a controlled environment. She got thrown off by a spooked horse and broke her pelvis in five places.

'The common theme is that it’s THEIR choice to make and THEIR risk to take and no one’s place to judge.'

Surely it's not just 'THEIR' choice but the other parent's too? Plenty of ways to keep fit and healthy in pregnancy without sports that come with a high risk of falls and injury.

It's your choice entirely, because if you were thrown and you lost your baby you would have to live with it. All you can do is eliminate as many risks as possible.

Well yes but accidents are sadly part of life and we reduce risk by looking before we cross roads etc. Getting on a massive animal who can easily chuck their riders off is a tad more risky than crossing the road.

You could trip over your own threshold and do yourself and baby a mischief… it’s your risk to take.

I ride. If I was ever pregnant, I’d make a call based on my health, and the horses I had at the time. I probably wouldn’t jump, and I’d probably give up hacking as soon as I couldn’t get on and off quickly. The likes of my mare I would trust as much as you can trust a 650kg flight animal, my gelding however was 650kg of pure flight and I probably would have stopped riding - even on the flat in the school- sharpish with him, and he was SHARP and could whip round and leave you sitting on fresh air.

Horses and riding as so intrinsically linked to our happiness and wellbeing, it’s downright detrimental to expect someone to can it - even temporarily. I dare say even physically it must help keep the body fit and supple which can only help a birth time / with recovery. There’s inevitably a period of time after the birth where you physically won’t be able to ride, as well as spare the time, so why rob yourself of any time that you can?

I’ve had multiple horsey friends be pregnant, and no one’s journey / choices has been quite the same. The common theme is that it’s THEIR choice to make and THEIR risk to take and no one’s place to judge.

However, I have benefitted from my pregnant / new mum pals taking time off as they often chuck me their horses to keep fit / compete so each to their own 😝

Yes of course it’s OP’s body and the final choice is hers. But why would it then follow that family members cat share a view on horse riding in pregnancy?

It's usually recommended to continue with exercise as you would have done pre pregnancy, but not to increase or take on anything new. So go for it!
I rode until 26 weeks pregnant in both pregnancies. After that I just felt uncomfortable. Other sports I continued longer.
Baby is so well protected in you pelvis pre 12 weeks that I wouldn't worry in the slightest.