Horseriding in pregnancy?

[namechange565555]

My sister is expecting her first child and is about 4 months pregnant. She is very into horses and works with them, her employer still doesn't know she is expecting.

She announced the pregnancy a few weeks ago, and I have been worrying since. She fell off a horse (not seriously) about a month ago (we didn't know about the pregnancy then), she intends on riding until she "can't fit on the horse".

Surely this is quite dangerous? Given the high risk of a fall/being kicked plus the chances of infections when cleaning out the stables? She thinks I am being dramatic but I can't see why you'd wwant to take the gamble vs a few months off the riding atleast.

Not just that but the constant rigorous bouncing up and down wouldn’t be good for the baby surely?
It’s definitely not a good idea

I wouldn't continue riding but mucking out and tending to the horse would be fine.

I am very much of the 'carry on as you were during pregnancy' school of thought. But horse riding? No. Way too many risks.

You're not being dramatic op , as much as your sister loves horses she does need to be careful.

It's up to her. I rode all the way through both of my pregnancies until week 37 with my first and 35 with my second. I don't work with horses but I know my boy well. It was always at my own risk but I chose to take that risk.

Depends on the horse and jockey and what the mother wants to do.

Absolutely no ones business but hers and maybe her employers when they are aware of the pregnancy.

In early pregnancy the baby is pretty well protected.

I'd maybe mention perineal massage though as riders often have perineums of steel. It can be a bit of an issue.

Essentially it's her choice. I met a lady yesterday who'd been riding until 38 weeks. Horsewomen tend to be quite no-nonsense ime

Poor horse. They weren't designed to be ridden let alone by '2' people.

Are there really high risks of infections cleaning stables?

I was advised that horse-riding and scuba diving were the only activities to be avoided in pregnancy, but ultimately its her body and her baby.

It's up to her. I rode (weekly) until getting off became a problem (approx 14 weeks), my instructor rode much later as she could get off easily by swinging her leg over the front of the saddle.

Mucking out isn't a real risk of infection although basic hand hygiene is a good idea.

Loads of people ride when they are pregnant. It's fine.
My friend rode up until the week before she gave birth.

I wouldn't ride my horse, he's way too bouncy being a warmblood plus he's a bit stupid and spooky, also blaming the wb there.

But a safe horse I trusted I would for leisurely stuff like hacks, with other people of course just incase. Wouldnt do jumping or competing, but a hack now and again won't do any harm.

It sounds like though she's a yard rider and exercises different horses each day. That I probably wouldn't do as most likely they are either problem or competition horses, both of which can have their moments.

Last thing I'd want is a saddle banging against my foof

I wouldn’t ride my horses as they are unpredictable but I did still muck out etc.

If I got pregnant again I probably wouldn’t be going into the field with them too much as the risk of getting kicked or squashed is high with two youngsters!

It's her body and her decision.

I rode all six on mine (eventers and hunters) until 20weeks and competed a BE novice at 14 weeks, you do what feels right for you. She needs to tell her employer from an insurance POV.

I rode with my first baby til I was 24 weeks - gentle hacks out and schooling in an outdoor arena - and only stopped because I had a big bump and it kept hitting the front of the saddle. I was used to riding 5 or 6 mornings a week at that point.

I know other people who stopped riding as soon as they got the positive test, others who rode (but with admittedly nice, neat, tidy and small bumps!) rode until 3-4 weeks before birth. All had been riding 5-6 days a week up until then

My midwife was very much a carry on as you were about riding whilst other mums-to-be were horrified with me, as was the midwife at the hospital when we went to look round!

its really up to your sister - her body, her horse, her baby, her decision.

In the first trimester the baby is well down in the pelvis and protected by the pelvic bones.

Beyond that it's up to your sister to assess the risk.

@peachgreen

Shame you don't extend the same courtesy to the horse.

Lots of people ride until late in pregnancy, as evidenced by this thread. She will be fine.

Depending on what she's riding there's a pretty low risk of a fall. There's probably a very low risk of a kick (I've been properly kicked once in over 20 years of variously riding/owning/working with horses). I've also never heard of anyone getting an infection from mucking out... She won't be "bouncing around" and the saddle definitely won't be "banging against her foof", promise!

bemusedSpectator horses are domesticated animals, they have been bred selectively over thousands of years to be suitable for riding. And mine thoroughly enjoys being ridden, thank you very much.

Yep, I rode both a horse and my motorbike throughout both my pregnancies. I am a bit about some of these responses.

Did everyone who lived in London move out during pregnancy because of the - statistically far, far higher - risk of being hit by a car during pregnancy?

They haven't. They don't. Saddles try to compensate for having a fat lump bouncing up and down on their spines but they can't completely negate the damage but hey, tell yourself whatever gives you peace. They're only animals.

I kid myself when eating cheap sausages or Finders pies or selectively breeding dogs so that they can't breathe correctly or pop ahip every time they fart enegetically.

@bemusedSpectator I'm afraid you're spoiling for a fight with the wrong person - I've never ridden a horse in my life and don't intend to, so you'll not get an impassioned defence of horse riding out of me. Just don't think anyone other than a pregnant woman and her medical team have any say in what she can and can't do in pregnancy.