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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Horse Riding

10 replies

jaynebear · 02/10/2013 18:17

Hey, I found out last week that I am pregnant
I own two horses and was looking for advice from other equestrian mums or mums to be.

Did you/are you continue to ride and do all the labour that comes with owning and looking after horses?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Smerlin · 02/10/2013 18:21

Hope someone more helpful will be along soon as I ride but don't own my own horses. I stopped riding as soon as I found out I was pregnant as had a lot of bleeding in 1st trimester so didn't want to risk it.

Cannot wait to get back in the saddle again though!!!

Piffyonarockbun · 02/10/2013 18:29

I ride and volunteer doing yard work for a riding for the disabled yard. Iv had previous losses so i havent ridden since finding out but iv been doing yard work with no problem. I just take it easy and listen to what my body tells me. Iv been plagued by dreadful tiredness though so havent done as much as i probably could!!

Original poster

jaynebear · 02/10/2013 18:30

Yeah i bet you are getting huge withdrawal symptoms! I havent ridden since i have found out as the NHS website strongly frowns upon it...
But obviously i wont be out doing horse trials or hunting but I would have thought gentle hacking on a trusted, well known horse would be okay?

Zara phillips was in the paper competing when she was fit to burst!

OP posts:

velocette · 02/10/2013 20:58

Hey I am 29 weeks now, I kept riding until about 25 weeks and only stopped because my horse spooked at something and the bump in the saddle was quite sore, and that's only because of an SIJ injury falling off a horse years ago. The professional 'advice' says you shouldn't ride horses because of the risk of falling off or getting kicked! That entirely depends on your horse!! my mare is great would never kick me and has never tried to throw me off. So we stopped jumping, I kept up TREC and even did an endurance ride with no problems. I have a friend riding her now but am still feeding and doing groundwork with her. Got my husband to lift the feed bags! She is not stabled so I don't have to do any mucking out. There are loads of threads on horse and hound forums about this. I stopped when I felt ready and luckily didn't have anyone pressing me to stop before then.

kchapper5 · 02/10/2013 21:04

I'm 27 weeks and still riding my 6yr old very stroppy warmblood mare, I have put her on part loan 3 days a week so I'm pretty much only riding once or twice a week. I'm still jumping, but way below her usual capability and to be honest shes safer jumping than anything else. We've stopped hacking as shes very nappy for the first 5 minutes and is liable to rear. I've also stopped riding other peoples horses, better the devil to you know :)

feekerry · 02/10/2013 21:06

i stopped about 5/6 weeks both pg as had hg. once hg eased and i could function again (15-18 weeks ish) i was back to full yard duties but didn't ride.
was still poo picking and full muck out at 41 weeks!!
rode 5weeks after c section first time round with no issues and plan to do the same when dc2 is here in 18 weeks time x

ithaka · 02/10/2013 21:07

I kept riding all the way through - just stopped jumping when pregnancy confirmed. Probably stopped around 8 months when it got uncomfortable - but I lunged the day I went into (an easy, 2 hour) labour.

It is a personal choice _ I have an incredible bond with my mare & knew she would look after me. Depends on the rider, depends on the horse.

Yorkieaddict · 02/10/2013 21:32

Obviously there is a risk, but there are risks in crossing the road. I think hacking a horse you trust is fine, if you feel comfprtable doing it. I carried on riding until I got to about 5 months, and I started to feel concerned I would bash the bump.

Carried on with looking after the horse until DS arrived, and was back down the yard 3 days after he was born because my damned mother decided that was a good time to book a holiday and leave me with 2 horses to look after

Original poster

jaynebear · 02/10/2013 21:34

Thank you all for your advice :)
I have had my boy since i was 14 and although he has his faults... I know him inside and out and feel safe as houses on him so i think i will continue to ride him throughout but just take it easy and do hacking. As for my "12 volt battery in a 6 volt mare" I think i will just lead her from my boy and get friends to ride her as she is much loved by every one.... She is lovely and has never bucked, reared etc but shes insanely bouncy!! And a bit more unpredictable.. a few gentle hacks out should be fine though im sure!

Thanks again! :) x

OP posts:

Blondie276 · 03/10/2013 07:23

I have ridden all my life and personally wouldn't carry on while pregnant. I know there are risks doing everything but my thoughts throughout this pregnant have been 'if something happened when I knew the risks could I forgive myself?' . If the answer is no, then for me that's a decision made. Each to their own though, we all have different opinions but that's been mine ( eve to Brie which I am craving so badly!! ) :)

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