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Original poster

Horseriding with a screaming 9months old

133 replies

Pumkins · 22/10/2018 12:51

Hi there -
Title says it all. I have a very active, busy 9months old DD. She is happy to be independent in the house, at clubs, goes to nursery no probs, will explore her surroundings and so on. She spends lots of time with dad and family as well as quality time with me when I am off (working flexi hours).
She goes in the pram as well as the sling (soft back and woven wrap) and loves the yard, animals the horses etc...
I can lunge and do loose work with my horse no probs she goes in the sling and loves it but I can't get 20min to ride. Literally. I cannot have her in the pram she goes mad, so I set up a little travel cot with toys and comforters on the side of the arena. Ideal, I can see her, she can play, she has slept, eaten and is clean, she is happy and giggling about.
Then I put her in the cot - cue screaming... non stop. She wants picking up and she will scream the place down until I stop my ride and give in.
I tried leaving her -non stop crying for 35 min that was rough.
I tried moving the cot IN the arena. Great training for the horse but still no better.
Tried regular comforting (5min ride, quick cuddle, 5 min, quick cuddle)... she just wants holding.
Any idea what I can do? I have no help available and not riding is not an option for me. Especially on a beautiful, windless crisp sunny day!

OP posts:
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anitagreen · 22/10/2018 15:10

Your more a less saying you'll continue to risk your babies precious life over a poxy horse because you don't want to sort your life out and make other arrangements 

SuperstarDJ · 22/10/2018 15:12

Your attitude is utterly appalling OP. Have you always been like this?

Ollivander84 · 22/10/2018 15:16

I don't think there's any need to call the OP a cunt. Plenty of people are around a stables with a baby, often in a sling so they're away from hooves. The horse can't not be ridden so either she sells a massive part of her life or figures out a way to make it work
Horses and children do mix, and it's great for them being outside but of course it needs to be done safely
Some people use a clean stable and set it up with foam mats etc as a play pen type

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NotTired · 22/10/2018 15:17

In a few months your baby will be a toddler who will find danger in the safest of places. This cannot continue unless you find childcare. Imagine worst case scenario happened. Now pretend this is you going back in time and doing the things you regret differently before worst case scenario happens.

Fromage · 22/10/2018 15:18

The OP is gone now and my only answer would be "get some childcare" - but why was not riding not an option, did the OP address that anywhere? I've read the thread but I can' t find where she's explained that.

TallulahBetty · 22/10/2018 15:20

Reverse, surely? Are you the baby or the horse?

MisstoMrs · 22/10/2018 15:22

But since 90% of people here think a baby can't have a shred of independence

This made me remember its half term.

If this isn’t a wind up it’s tradgic.

Ollivander84 · 22/10/2018 15:22

Well she can't do ground work forever, the horse needs work (as most do) unless she wants to wait until the child is at school and then horse would probably need rebacking

merrymouse · 22/10/2018 15:24

The cost of childcare for a couple of hours must be a fraction of the cost of keeping a horse that is being exercised in an arena.

Cagliostro · 22/10/2018 15:27

Wow.

How about finding a horse loving teen who would like to ride for free in exchange for some babysitting while you ride?

AllViewsMyOwn · 22/10/2018 15:28

 I'm almost speechless but not quite

This is so so dangerous! How wound you forgive yourself if the horse bolted/kicked/knocked you over and something happened to your baby?!

'I know my horse' 'it won't bolt' etc etc - I'm sorry but a horse has a mind of its own and no human is EVER fully in control of an animal.

FlamingJuno · 22/10/2018 15:28

This thread is already on Mumsnet Madness on Twitter.

flumpybear · 22/10/2018 15:29

@Pumkins
Get proper care for your kid, or your horse ... this is not about you, it's about THEM

You're a fool and you're putting a baby's life In Danger for your own needs. I'm surprised the yard doesn't have more to say about this!

Riding around a kid in a cot near and in an arena - neglectful at best

SubtitlesOn · 22/10/2018 15:33

Why not get the 9 month old to learn to sit on the horse?

CottonSock · 22/10/2018 15:37

An independent 9 month old, now that's something in only the ops imagination

littlemisscomper · 22/10/2018 15:51

I'm horsey myself but you have my heart pounding. I've seen and experienced too many nasty horse situations to think on any level that what you've been doing is acceptable. I guess you don't need to be told though.

Anyway, you came on here for solutions. Here are some:

Leave her in the care of someone else at the yard who's not currently dealing with their horse. Babies tend to be pretty magnetic so I shouldn't think you'd get refused.

If you have a spare room, hire an au pair. £100 a week is a small price to pay to keep your baby safe.

Ask at the local college if there are any childcare students interested in helping out. I would have literally bitten someone's hand off if I'd been offered this as a student myself. £10 for them, and the opportunity to build their baby experience and improve their CV, a couple of hours of riding for you.

Just don't ride when you're in sole charge of your daughter. Surely it can wait until your OH gets home?

See if there are any other mums locally who would have your daughter for a while in exchange for you having theirs sometime.

Please, please think twice before risking her around the horses. Maybe look on youtube for videos of children with brain injuries to give yourself a realisation jolt.

Notmorewashing · 22/10/2018 15:59

Disgusting

MiggledyHiggins · 22/10/2018 16:11

Can anyone suggest a sling I can wear while bungee jumping with my baby?

HoustonBess Mothercare do a good one. You'll find it in the Activities and Sports with Babies section. I got a great one for scuba diving, and it's just as good for big game hunting and snowboarding. Smile

CountessVonBoobs · 22/10/2018 16:12

But since 90% of people here think a baby can't have a shred of independence and hence all adult life ceases to exist I will seek advice elsewhere and shut down this madness

Yeah! Babies could totally raise themselves if those needy parents didn't fucking hover.

Reverse, surely? Are you the baby or the horse?

Grin Reader, I LOLed.

hellloooo · 22/10/2018 16:20

You sound like an absolute dick OP. I can't believe you put your baby at risk like you do. Disgusting selfish behaviour!

Pumkins · 22/10/2018 16:30

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TatterdemalionAspie · 22/10/2018 16:31

Couple of months and you can just get the baby up on its own horse, OP. Wink

Horseriding with a screaming 9months old
XJerseyGirlX · 22/10/2018 16:31

OP, sounds like the baby is an inconvenience that gets in the way of you and your horses. OP, if you can afford to ride then you can afford to keep your child safe while you ride (get a babysitter like the rest of us)/ You seem very lost in your priorities and very aggressive with the majority here who are just rightly concerned about your child.

Spudlet · 22/10/2018 16:32

Ok, here's a solution then - get another mum as a sharer. Then take it in turns to babysit while the other rides. I'd be up for an arrangement like that if I saw one offered locally.

PositivelyPERF · 22/10/2018 16:35

TallulahBetty

Reverse, surely? Are you the baby or the horse?

Sounds more like the horse’s ass.