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

[Pladii]

In my early 20s I found horse riding. The routine, being out in nature, forming a bond with animals does my mental health absolute wonders.

I am newly pregnant. Just beginning to show and have decided I will continue riding my boy who is an absolute gentleman. We adore one another and I trust him.

We went to stay with my husband’s side for Christmas. And it got brought up over the actual main meal! I was mortified! Granny begged me not to. And my sister in law said “it’s just not worth the risk”. She doesn’t understand why I’m chancing it. MIL kept quiet (not like her).

I am only accepting a level of risk that I am comfortable with. I wouldn’t dare a ride a horse I didn’t know.

It’s my body. I think it’s a bit rubbish for my decision to be questioned so publicly. Made me feel like I am doing something wrong.

Dh and I are doctors. I’ve made a decision as an adult woman. That should be it.

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).

@vincettenoir

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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?

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.

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

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

'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.

Do what you’re comfortable with 🤷🏼‍♀️
You're an adult presumably with some level of common sense.

I ate cured meats and rare steaks in my pregnancies.. because how often does store brought chorizo give you an illness? The risk was so minimal I wasn’t going to take away something I enjoy for such minimal risk.

…Do you not as standard look both ways before you cross the street?

I rode until the very end. I had a big safe mare I trusted. After I’d had my daughter I was actually horrified I’d taken even the slightest risk to her when it wasn’t necessary. We all know how very easy it is for things to go wrong riding even on a trusted horse and I wouldn’t do it again.

Accidents happen even with horses you know well. I wouldn’t be risking my unborn baby’s life and I’d be worried sick if anyone I loved chose to do so.

I rode when pregnant with my youngest up to about 20 weeks, when my centre of gravity shifted too far and I began to feel unstable, so I stopped.

The risk isn't of the OP dying, it's of a fall causing her to miscarry.

Yanbu. I rode until about 22 weeks. I planned to go longer and I would have but my back/pelvis couldn't take it.

I’m a lifelong equestrian and know lots of people who rode while pregnant- some even up to the last weeks.
It’s your choice. Tell people to keep their beaks out.

I have seen my daughter come off horses multiple times but its always been on horses that she doesn't know very well or when she is attempting something new or the horse has a reputionation for something say for example - people falling off it when it's jumping or very easily spooked etc....

I wouldn't recommend that in pregnancy but if you know your horse which it sounds like you do I think I would carry on.

The risk is reduced hugely given she is an experienced rider and she has had years of experience with her current horse. She's not pregnant and decided to buy a new horse she doesn't know or decided she needs to do three day eventing at 30wks. There is a huge variation in horses and in how your ride them.

@justpassmethemouse

yes of course I take precautions to minimise the risk when I cross the road. Just as I’m sure OP takes precautions to reduce her risk of falling when riding horse. It’s all we can do in life really. We cannot eliminate risk and life would be pretty miserable and dull with any activities that have zero risk.

@Gloriia

FFS, a woman is NEVER just a ‘vessel’, pregnant or not!!
OP feels that riding is good for her physical fitness and her mental health and therefore she should keep doing it for as long as she feels able to. Becuase she is still a person pregnant or not, and her and her wellbeing matter!