Horse riding

[Littlemissimpatient]

Ive just started horse riding again (after a break of 5 years) with a friend.
We are booked to go for a hack on Sat but I am 5 weeks pg. 2 previous mc. I have read up a bit and some sites say its safe but most say to avoid (midwifes online) etc.
So how do I tell my friend I can't go without saying I'm preg? Is still early days and after 2 mc we're only telling my mum for now.
Thank you :-)

I went hacking until I was 6 months pg. After that I couldn't actually get on.
DD is 20 now and shows no ill effects

Horseriding at such an early gestation cannot cause a miscarriage. If you miscarry it has nothing to do with riding.

Fwiw, I was having jumping lessons during my last pregnancy at your gestation and he's lying next to be right now (12 weeks). During my first pregnancy I was galloping at 16 weeks on a beautiful frosty morning and then at 28 weeks sitting in the saddle as it was the only comfortable position - that pregnancy is doing my head in right now as he slams his pick-up truck on to the table (nearly 2 years old!).

Next question, how young can they start riding? Well my eldest was on at 6 weeks or so!

I asked my midwife when I first fell pregnant. She was happy for me to ride and was all in favour of plenty of exercise during a healthy pregnancy.

I quit at 5 or 6 months when I could no longer do up my jodhpurs and had trouble getting off the horse.

Thanks everyone maybe I'm worrying over nothing! Just terrified of a 3rd mc and dread to think what would happen if I fell off. DH isn't too keen on me going so just need to convince him!

I hate to go against everyone elses opinion but I would cry off citing any excuse you can think of. Having had 2 miscarriages this pregnancy is so precious. Although it is unlikely that riding would have an influence on whether you miscarried or not if it did happen it would be awful to think 'what if?'. Also, if you have not ridden in some time and are on a horse that you don't know there is a greater risk of something upredictable happening than if you were riding a horse that you knew well or owned.

Afraid I'm going to join Moth. I'm nearly 7 weeks pregnant and have my horse. While it is technically safe to ride during the first trimester (my GP has agreed to this), I've been advised to reduce the risk of falling as far as possible. I totally adore my horse but know that he is inclined to spokk when out hacking, so have already reduced to flat school only, and then only when risks are low. If you're riding somebody's else's horse, you don't necessarily know then that well so I'd say it's not worth the risk.

I don't mean to sound harsh, as I know plenty of people do ride, and continue hacking and even jumping, but even though I've riden all my life, I don't think nine months off is too awful. I mean, even the yard owner is relieved I've cut back and has suggested I only ride when somebody's about.

I would have thought a miscarriage this early would be nothing to do with horseriding.

However, I imagine that most internet opinions seem to be against because of the softer state of your ligaments & the greater risk of injury to yourself. I think you can put your hip/pelvis/back out of alignment quite easily during pg and it makes a bit difference to your comfort during & your labour at the end.

However, I would have thought that, if you take it easy, & its v early on, you would be fine on Saturday. I would be wary about taking up a new, very physical sport when pg for the injury reason, rather than the miscarriage reason. I think its ok to carry on doing something you already do regularly and know your limits for iyswim.

I think for the sake of your peace of mind, find an excuse not to ride on Saturday. I agree with the others when they say if you do not know the horse, it could be more unpredictable? I lost my beautiful horse 2 years ago and even if I still had him, I don't think I would risk it as at the end of the day, horses are animals with their own minds and if they spook you could fall off. For the sake of 9 months, if it were me, I would wait but agree that there are lots of people who ride whilst pregnant so I guess it is up to you. This is just my own opinion. Wish you well whatever you decide. x

My husband and I had "words" about this about a month ago.

My main argument was that as long as he "allowed" me to cycle he shouldn't worry about me going riding. To me the risks of injury are the similar, except that I have no control about what the idiot drivers around me are doing.

I also read on here somewhere that, especially in the first trimester, the baby is so small and protected by my tummy that it's pretty safe.

I have, however, agreed that playing polo this summer is a bad idea as I'm a lot more likely to fall off then. Also, when handling other horses I'm a lot more careful than usual to avoid being kicked.

Finally, the gentle exercise and fresh air has been one of the better things for my morning sickness!

I think that riding when pregnant is a very personal decision, but I didn't want to do it without my husband being reasonably agreeable. It did take quite a bit of effort to get him to be agreeable though!

I think that the risks to the baby are probably minimal, even if you did fall off.

But if you went riding and subsequently miscarried you would blame yourself.

But if you did any exercise/did no exercise/didn't eat your 5 a day/got too cold/got too hot/etc and subsequently miscarried you would also blame yourself.

My point is: mostly miscarriages can't be avoided. Accidents happen. I can't be perfect, but the gentle exercise and relaxation that I get from riding is, for me, healthy.

I agree with previous posters that if you hadn't had a 5 year break from riding I wouldn't see any problem as long as you know the horse. However, 5 years is a long time, anyone would be rusty after not riding for so long, and you won't know the horse you are riding and how it could react. I doubt if it would cause you to miscarry, but I had a fall during my pregnancy (nothing massive) and my hips didn't get back to normal until after I gave birth! There's a fairly high chance of you ending up with back/hip/pelvis pain during pregnancy without increasing your chances by falling off a horse!

Hello - I took up riding again after a 8yr break before my 1st. I went out on a couple of hacks, then went straight in and got a nice 17.2 irish stupido (I had decided prob not to have kids). I repeatedly got chucked off, quite often at a canter. After very irregular periods I discovered I was P. I carried on until 3.5 months, stupidly fell off 3 more times then got shot of stupido. No harm done - my doc said as long as my body was used to it, I would be fine and any exercise is better than none. My 2nd pregnancy I was horseless/rideless and 'took it easy' - everything that could go wrong, did go wrong and I lost it. My current pregnancy I carried on riding until I was 6m, and although risk of falling off was low, I did still get a nice fast ride - call me selfish, but whatever will be will be. I live next door to a race yard and the well known trainers daughter rode up till 34weeks, skinny fit madam! I would say a hack on a saturday will do you the world of good - a riding school horse is normally pretty safe and you can decline a canter saying your nerves are not what they were (a good excuse). I found riding was the only thing that stopped m morning sickness. Enjoy your ride, fingers crossed for weather - very jealous!

This is interesting as I have a lot of horses including young TB's - I haven't ridden for a couple of weeks due to the weather but kind of need to get cracking again and now have slightly more trepidation - though lots of my friends rode a lot when pregnant - one top eventer was still doing dressage until a few weeks before she had her daughter - though that's a bit hardcore!

I rode nearly every day until I physically couldn't get on anymore, which was about 6 months pregnant. And I fell off whilst jumping at a a canter at an event although to be fair I didn't know I was pregnant then, was prob about 5 weeks at that stage. No harm done. Had dd 5 weeks ago! I'd say do whatever your comfortable doing but I am used to exercising my horse daily so it was the norm for me. Go enjoy your hack!

Don't forget Mary King took the european championship when she was 5.5 months pregnant.

Badminton was cancelled this year so unless you've got Burghley in your sights you should be OK.

I rode up til about 18 weeks and then stopped because I was too exhausted to go up to her in the evenings after work, not because of safety. I loved riding whilst pg and felt really good. My horse is definitely not a novice ride, but I know her so well so always felt confident. However, all that said, if I hadn't been riding for five years and was getting on a horse I didn't know, J think I would think twice about doing it whilst pg. not because I think it would cause mc, but because I just don't think I'd feel very happy doing it. At the end of the day only yon now how you're likely to feel however! Could you claim to have back pain or similar?!

I'm not trying to put a dampner on this, and if you feel comfortable riding, by all means do. One thing to consider, though, (and I hate to say this, because it sounds like I want people to sue riding schools, and I don't!), but just be aware that your are unlikey to be covered by the riding school's insrance. If you're riding on your own policy, you probably need to check that, if this a concern to (which I realise it may not be - I am still schooling depsite my insurance not covering me).

Have fun if you do go

Personally if you haven't ridden for years I wouldn't go riding. Your more at risk of your muscles aching and of falling off and if your worried about it then you won't enjoy it. Its very unlikely anything bad would happen but you never know.
If you had been riding regularly then I would say go for it. I'm 31 weeks pregnant and rode until yesterday when I felt like a useless sack of potatoes so have finally admitted defeat. I've had no health problems and felt really healthy. Just getting a bit tired and struggling to pick out feet etc and also felt that after about 28 weeks my centre of balance had changed and had to make a conscious effort to sit up straight.

Hi littlemiss I have had a similar dilemma, I started a thread recently in the tack room and got lots of helpful replies. Mine was about going on a riding holiday when 9 weeks preg.

After giving it a lot of thought I have decided to go on the holiday (next week) and to ride. Since I found out I was preg I've been for a short lesson and a three hour hack and it was fine. I found the lesson quite strenuous but the hack was wonderful and it was the first time I've felt like my normal self since being preg. The fresh air, gentle exercise and horsey company did me the world of good.

However, you shouldn't force yourself to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

I thi8nk the general rule of thumb with exercise is if you're already doing it - it's safe to carry on (sensibly of course)

I.e - don't decide to take up horse-riding or pole-dancing after you've fallen pregnant

FWIW - I rode up to 37wks with DS1. I stopped because I could get on but couldn't get off and my mare was close to collapse-

With DS2 I stopped at 28wks because every time I got on I got a terrible stitch.

also - I knew and trusted my mare implicitly. I wouldn't have ridden strange/young horses (am a Riding Instructor BTW)

Thanks everyone I'm going to give it a miss this week buy me more time to think.
I really want to keep it up as exercise, fresh air etc but I'm just not sure it's worth the risk. Esp as I'm just getting back into it. Thanks for all your replies and thanks for letting me know about the tack room.

I did a 32 km endurance ride Sunday at 14 weeks!! I'm only riding my horses and will continue to do so until I don't feel comfortable. I'm having dressage lessons but not jumping. Though I would jump my pony if necessary, it's not!! My horse no way, she's too much of a baby. My midwife said fine just be careful. I am being!!