Horse riding and pregnancy

[CountryGirl36]

Hi all, i am 7 weeks preg with 1st pregnancy and am a keen horse rider. My horse is very old (27) so we just plod but can’t find much to say its safe and am concerned as am a bit of a risk (36 with long gyne Hx). Not seeing midwife for another 3 weeks to ask - anyone ridden all thro their pregnancies? I also shoot clays but have stopped that as everything i read says to stop 😩

You'd have to ask them @Nowisthemonthofmaying . It's possible they won't have insurance for pregnant women. Do the vouchers expire? The may give a refund if it's against their policy to allow you.

it seems odd that so many posters are blithely ignoring medical advice.

Can you point to any medical advice that says you should not ride during pregnancy?. Midwife may well not recommend but that's likely based on her individual opinion as a non rider than any medical teaching.

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/exercising-in-pregnancy/

"Also, activities that could lead to a fall or being thrown off-balance are best avoided, such as horse riding, skiing or gymnastics."

That said, thinking that you should ignore your midwife's advice during pregnancy because she's just giving her opinion rather than medical advice is a very odd (and frankly dangerous) view. Midwives are medical professionals.

But the problem is you get very conflicting advice depending which doctor or midwife you speak to. Most of mine were all for it, one was horrified. Obviously that NHS advice is relevant but it depends on the horse. I wouldn't ride one that I was liable to be thrown from but some horses you'd be more likely to be struck by lightning than thrown off. Comes down to knowing your animal.

I didn't ride for most of my pregnancy after being so sick and dizzy in the first trimester that I wouldn't have been safe onboard, plus my parents and DH were massively against it. Midwives varied in advice. The one that was actually a rider herself was most happy for me to ride so long as I didn't cause myself any pain, but warned of the risks on the ground (which tbf were greater with my scatty old mare - early November was scary with all the fireworks!). One midwife wanted me to give up any interaction with horses, as if I was able to dump a 28yr old at the drop of a hat.

Did have a massive craving for a ride at 33 weeks though - getting up there was fine but after 2 laps of the school at walk my pelvis was screaming and then I realised I couldn't get off ... DH had to help me parallel park the pony against the mounting block and the resulting scramble was anything but dignified! My mare is very forgiving!

Of course only the OP can make the decision, by weighing up the risk for herself. Like so many things in pregnancy the risk is tiny but the possible consequences devastating.

I just think posts suggesting that midwives are just giving their own opinion rather than professional medical advice, or that lying to your midwife about riding is a option, isn't particularly safe or sensible advice.

But the point is it depends entirely on the midwife which advice you get - which one do you listen to? There's a risk getting in a car while pregnant, not even that low a risk - accidents are common. Horse riding accident statistics may seem high but it's far more dependant on the individual horse and what you are doing on it. Ambling along a bridle path on a bombproof animal you've had for years and has never put a foot wrong is incredibly low risk. Eventing on a fit sports horse higher.

I rode for the first 4/5 months I think, but only horses I knew and trusted and no jumping. I was working with horses at the time. I stopped when my bump became more obvious and uncomfortable

I rode up until I was 7m with ds. All good. After 5 months my instructor banned me from jumping. But I carried on for as long as I could.

With dd I pulled a muscle in my leg At the gym so had to stop after 4 months.

My midwife said that riding was fine because I’d been doing it for ages. If I’d only just started riding or wanted to start then itd be a bit reckless.

Listen to your body. If you feel safe and comfortable I’d go for it. For me the benefits massively outweighed the risks.

Incidentally why can’t you shoot while pregnant?

My midwife said that riding was fine because I’d been doing it for ages. If I’d only just started riding or wanted to start then itd be a bit reckless.

I think that's a blanket suggestion for any sport or exercise- keep doing what you already do seems sensible:

Re shooting I imagine the kick back and also it's VERY loud at close proximity so not sure if that's a consideration too. Babies do react to sound

Yes they said the kick back (mine doesnt have much kick tbh) and the sound. Babies hearing develops at 15 weeks so they said may cause hearing problems 😩

NHS advice is based on a global presumption about risk of falling. Whereas most riders know how to manage that risk and greatly lessen it by choice of horse, activity and location of ride. Just like risk of car accident can be altered by choice of speed, weather conditions etc.

Ah I forgot about the kick back. That makes sense.

Thanks happycamper, makes sense. I might give them a call and see if I can get a refund on the riding vouchers or extend the date for another year, if they can't let me ride.