Any mums to be with horses on here?

[BentleyBelly]

Hi, I was wondering if there was anyone else on here that has horses? I have a horse that I haven't ridden since I found out I was pregnant and am itching to get back in the saddle! I plan to breastfeed and then hand baby over to my DH, nip out to field and go for a quick ride as soon as I can comfortably sit!

Those of you who have babies, how are you finding juggling horse and baby? Is it as impossible as some of friends keep telling me or can I keep my 'can do' attitude and make it work? I have a very low maintenance horse that is field kept so on days when things are hectic I can just do a drive by with baby and check pony and then leave riding to days when I have help or a sitter.

I don't have a horse but I do ride and am missing not being able to ride while pregnant! Fortunately had an amazing riding holiday at Christmas and got a couple of good gallops before falling pregnant a couple of weeks later!

Am interested to hear from people about how long it takes to get back in the saddle afterwards!

Hopefully someone will come with a more useful answer soon for you!

Am in a similat situation to you OP - my pony is v low maintainance and grass kept ( fat furry beast ) but I have found having a sharer has bern invaluable while I was pregnant/in hospital/recovering from C section.
Not for everyone I know but works for me and dopeypony!

Hi, I also have a 'low maintenance' gypsy cob. Dcs are now 8 and 11 but I've had her since before they were born. Best thing with a chilled horse is on/ off riding when you have a baby is not a problem :) do you know mn has a 'tack room' topic for us horsey mums? :)

I have 2 ponies for my dd. Had just agreed to buy a Highland foal when I got my bfp lol. Postponed that for now though until baby in nursery.

It's difficult with very little children to do what you want WWithout support. Like any hobby really. But having said that we managed to show at quite a high level when dd was a baby. And that was mares and foals and young stock too. Was just a case of being organised.

I would only personally ride while pregnant on something I trusted 1000%. And even then just gentle off road hacking and light schooling. Your centre of balance changes so much what you could quite easily have sat before could have you on the floor. Im also more careful what I do at the yard. Won't handle anything silly or sharp. And I've been banned from the show ring by dp for this season lol.

The good thing is he has taken over despite being non horsey and is actually enjoying it rather than whinging about the time and money I spend lol.

Just be sensible. Consider having help towards the end and straight after the birth and know when you have to call it a day.

If you plan on riding afterwards then be realistic about stuff and make the most of light nights but be prepared to turn away over winter. Works for us then I'm not making dd ride in cold weather after school in the pitch black.

hi.
i have a young horse. have had horses all my life. that isn't going to change.
my dd is 15m and i am currently pg with dc2.
i found the early days a doddle. rode 6 weeks after emcs and i bf on demand and still do!
what i would say as i found it much harder when i went back to work as i work full time.... can't afford the horse otherwise lol!
i managed to do a few be events before i went back to work then when it got hard over winter i gave the horse 8m off. takes pressure of us all then. he lived out all winter (shock horror!!!!)
i then brought him back into work this spring and will do a bit with him until i am too big to ride then he will have a reduced work load till after the birth then i will be taking a year maternity again so will crack back on with him. hope to do a bit of bsja.
what i would say is my family are ace. they would happily push dd in pram when i rode or i used to let dd nap in car and park car by school and school for half hour.
secondly i found bf much easier than bottle feeding as could feed baby time or anywhere in yard/events.
slings are your friend, as is car seat in your wheel barrow.
your mucking our will suffer!
also whilst my lad is a young competition horse he is v easy going, easy to keep fit and generally v safe. i think this makes a big difference. i couldn't imagine trying to keep a loon fit and seen too.
lastly, my dd is obsessed with horses, yards, poo and being in field.s. i think its lovely for them!!!

Thank you ladies, I'm sure I can make this work! My pony is of the fat, hairy, laid back variety but does have a quirky side that comes to the fore every now and again which puts me off getting a sharer. He can be a bit of a bargy git without firm consistent handling. He lives out 24/7 all year and doesnt need rugs if he is roughed off in the winter so proper low maintenance. I really hope my daughter learns to love being around the horses and will help with poo picking in a few years time!

My husband has been brilliant taking over the heavy lifting and poo picking recently and even took my pony out for a walk the other day as I was worried about him becoming field bound and bored. Truth is that pony doesn't give a monkeys about being out of work, he loves being a lazy so and so and just stuffing his face although he did look like a yak until I took the scissors and shedding blade to him a few weeks ago. Fingers crossed for an easy delivery and I'll be back in the saddle in October (baby due 28th Aug).

Will have a nosy in the 'tack room' too, thanks.

I had a competition thoroughbred when I got pregnant with DC1. I had to sell her because it just wasn't fair or feasible to keep her when I couldn't ride her.

Had I had a low-maintenance, furry pony, I'd have been happy to give it a while off and not worry.

Another horsy pregnant person here!

I'm 20 weeks and gave up riding about 9 weeks ago as I wasn't sure about it. I have a 16.3 ISH mare who's a sensitive soul with tendencies towards laminitis and ulcers so throwing her out to grass isn't an option for me! Trying to find somewhere to move to with stables but it's proving v difficult to find anything. My friend had a section in march and has been hacking about on her horse for a few weeks now but not doing anything major so I think just get back on when you feel able to!

Livery costs are my biggest worry when I'm on SMP