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.

@peachgreen

Do the medical team need to give specific advice to her or can it be based on sensible conduct, common sense and best practice?

@bemusedSpectator not entirely sure what your angle is here (other than you'd like everyone to stop horse riding), but I'll bite.

Yes, guidance on exercising during pregnancy should be personalised. It's fine for someone who has run every day of their lives to continue doing so, but not a good idea for someone who has previously been very sedentary to suddenly attempt a marathon. But if you want advice based on 'common sense', the generic NHS line is that horse riding in pregnancy should be done 'with caution'. It's not on the list of restricted exercises like diving and contact sports.

I know it isn't "my call" and obviously plenty of people do ride in pregnancy but that doesn't necessarily make it safe?

I'm not trying to be judgey and certainly wouldn't go on at her about it or anything but after a mc and a preterm birth myself it just worries me watching her put herself and the baby at atleast "some" risk. And the risk of a fall obviously isn't very small given she is only just out of the first trimester and has already been thrown off.

I can see what Pps are saying about trusting/knowing their horse but equally they are animals and may have a moment at some point, the horses she is riding are a few of her employers, and a couple that have liveries at the yard. They are "regular" horses that she knows and has looked after for some time but in the time shes worked there she has fallen/been thrown atleast half a dozen times and been kicked once.

Her midwife did tell her that mucking out can be risky and particularly carries the risk of infections that may come from mice/rat droppings etc. she said to wear gloves and wash hands and risk would be minimal.

I rode during both of my pregnancies until dismounting became a problem. Midwife and consultant said that you shouldn't take up riding when pregnant but if you were a regular rider it shouldn't be a problem. As long as she is sensible, she should be ok.

Not a problem if you are sensible I rode quite a way into my second pregnancy ( was too ill with the first one ) , I wouldn’t have gone to a riding school for lessons but they were our own horses so hacking / schooling was ok .

OP, lots of things aren't safe or recommended in pregnancy and people do them anyway. I've had a miscarriage too and during my pregnancy I lived and breathed the vast majority of the NHS guidelines. I definitely wouldn't have gone horse riding. But that doesn't give me - or you - the right to police what another woman does. It's her body, her pregnancy, her life.

"She's not at work."

I got the impression she was. Either way, yes, 'ur sun ur rulz, k hun' is technically correct but this is AIBU where opinion seems to be the order of the day.

I lost a child (very early, not upsetting) due to a condition quite common in Primary Teachers. The bending, crouching, kneeling etc. I pass on that knowledge to others.

Whilst not exactly likening them, I don't think pregnant mothers can do exactly what they want. Smoke crack, get pissed etc. Surely this thread is discussing whether horse riding is needlessly endangering the unborn child.

bemusedSpectator got a lot of experience with horses, have you?

It seems not... do not profess to tell me what my own horse does and does not enjoy.

Most riders are very far from being “fat lumps” - on account of being quite active in general.

Tempi23

Grew up with 8 of the fuckers.

peachgreen

I think that horse riding is cruel on the whole. I think the OPs sister should stop riding as it seems to put the baby at needless risk. "with caution" sounds vague to the point of worthless. What does it mean? There are no guarantees and the best horse in the world can startle at a crisp packet, throw you off and leave you with a broken femur (my personal story).

I stopped horse riding at about 15 weeks when I could feel my uterus. I would still muck them and clean them till I was about 32 weeks though.

@bemusedSpectator You're free to think that but again, you don't get a say. Nor does OP.

Unfortunately you're right.

I guess an interesting rhetorical question is 'should the OP feel guilty if they kept quiet and the mother lost the baby in a horse riding accident'?

That’s a nice way to refer to these animals that you claim to be so worried about...

Anyway, to return to the topic, it has to be about risk assessment: mucking out will present no more risk of infection than doing housework; being around horses, well depends on whether they’re boisterous youngsters, superfit competition animals, or leisure horses/retirees; riding will be similar - hacking out on quiet oldie or doing some flatwork in the school on something quiet is at the opposite end of the risk spectrum from going team chasing or cross country (riding over big, solid fences at speed).

The answer to that would also be no. Again, her body, her choice. That includes facing the consequences of her own decisions. The information is all out there. Plus OP has made it clear that she's spoken to her midwife about it so her decision is an informed one.

Of course its her body, her choice. It would be the same if she were a smoker, or was going to drink a glass of wine every night in her pregnancy. No one would be able to tell her not to, and there will be thousands of women who have done so and their babies will be fine. But this is my sister and her baby, I care too much about the situation to just think "none of my buisness" like I would if it were an aquaintance or a school mum etc.

Question for those who have/would ride in pregnancy - in terms of the actual riding are you saying you would hack up the road, wander round the yard etc. or ride as normal? Since being pregnant she has taken part in two local "shows" that included jumps, and a mock hunt, would you also do that?

Not trying to be goady but if I do broach the subject I get the "you aren't horsey so don't understand" chat.

I rode until I was 7 months with ds. I’d ridden for 4 years prior to pregnancy. I was told not to take up riding skiing etc while pregnant but if o already did it carry on for as long as I felt safe/ comfortable and also for however long my instructor felt safe/comfortable.

I did schooling lessons in walk trot canter beach rides hacks and jumped (although only jumped on a one to one lesson).

I was fine ds was/is fine. It strengthens core muscles and i think had a huge part to play in his relatively easy birth.

I understNd your concern. But ultimately just be there to support her.

I think the amount you do during pregnancy needs to reflect your own level of fitness and ability riding. We have a number of top british equestrians who are known for having continued to compete during pregnancy - this includes jumping huge (think as tall as a person) fences in competition, and galloping at speed.

It's really hard for any of us to say what our opinions are of her situation, as we don't know her or the horses she is around.

Personally I rode until I was around six months - mainly stopped as I could no longer get off, not even jumping down with leg over neck. But I did scale back what I did before that, and which horses I rode. So I rode my sensible anybodys ride cob, pretty much as usual. I rode my slightly sparkier mare in the arena only, and didn't jump. And I stopped riding my pony who bucked for fun entirely - although she'd never got me off, I didn't think now was the time to find out she could.

On the whole, the rule of thumb is that if you've always done something, you should be fine to continue, as long as you feel fit, healthy & comfortable.

I continued to muck out & poo pick paddocks right up until I gave birth, pretty much. The day before I went into labour, I was at a horse show (just on foot). And three days after I had my daughter, we all three went to a horse show - again, just on foot. Five weeks after having my daughter, I was back in the show ring with a pony. But then, this is my life, it's what I do. So this was right for me.

I've known people give up as soon as they found out, and also known people continue right up until they gave birth. Neither are wrong.

My personal risk assessment was to continue riding and go skiing in the 1st trimester because in my view the probability of severe injury to me affecting the foetus was very low - but I was very cautious on the food/medications and exposure to chemicals side of things because those risks were harder for me to quantify.

Life has risks, we just have to choose which are acceptable to us. Perhaps the boredom of not riding/not getting paid would make her stressed which is also a risk..

No. I know of someone who kept riding her horse, fell and had a miscarriage. After that she could not get pregnant again. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I would not do it.

I have a horse, if I conceive (currently ttc) I'll be riding for as long as I feel safe and comfortable to. Most of my friends at the yard have ridden until around 7 months pregnant (the only one that didn't had that issue with pelvic ligaments that I can't remember the name of. She couldn't walk let along ride!).

I'd not hunt or event or do very risky activities like back a youngster, but normal hacking and riding is absolutely fine.

Non riders shouldn't take it up when pregnant, but if you are used to it then it is ok. You are more at risk on the ground handling horses tbh, I certainly wouldn't want to lead multiple horses at once or lug very heavy things. But a bit of common sense is all that is needed.