When did you stop horse riding?

[Bessienol]

Just that really. I’m 6.3 weeks but want to ride for as long as I can. My consultant said it was fine to carry on but I’m just wondering what would be a sensible time to stop? As in would you recommend stopping when you develop a bump?

For context this isn’t hacking or jumps but arena stuff which should be safer.

thank you x

I hacked until 13 weeks when my horse went on loan. I'd been having bleeds, though, so was extra cautious, my midwife was v anti me continuing to ride and lectured me at my appointments, and I also found riding made crampy stretchy type pains in my hips and lower abdomen flare up so, combined with the bleeding, I just wasn't enjoying it any more and it was making me stress. If you'd asked me before I fell pregnant I'd have said I'd continue until the bump got in the way/I physically couldn't do it any more. Obviously, there is an element of risk, but you know the horse and what you're comfortable with.

Now starting to think about DC2 and would like to continue riding if and when it happens. I won't if I get the bleeding again, though, and horse this time is young and big, so I will be playing it very safe if it happens. Some friends literally rode on their due dates and never had an issue, just took it steadier and adapted their dismounting technique. Some stopped when their bumps got big enough that they felt out of balance. I think it can depend how you carry and is very individual, there's no right or wrong, though.

I can't comment properly as my mare was basically retired during my pregnancy (she was approaching 30 and I was pushing it weight-wise prior to pregnancy). I did insist on getting on around the 8 month mark, and after a couple of strides (at walk!) of smugness, my hips felt like they'd dislocated and I then released I had no idea how to get off due to the bump. I'm sure if I'd kept going it would have been easier. One thing to note is if you test rhesus negative, you might want to consider if the risk of knocks might to be too great when riding (i.e. if spooky). Though having said that, you're probably going to get plenty of knocks when on the ground too, unless you have a particularly well behaved equine.

I stopped as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I was just scared that, as horses can be unpredictable, I'd be thrown off.

That was 34 years ago and I've never restarted 😓

I rode first time until I was about 20 weeks. Second time 12 weeks.

Carried on as normal until 12 weeks, then walk and trot hacking until 16 weeks at which point my bump started to pop and I felt completely off balance so I stopped.
Back on 6 weeks pp after sign off from the doc building myself and the horse back up slowly

Thanks everyone! I have terrible morning sickness and my bladder is on fire so the thought of trotting or cantering is making me feel sick 🤢 🤣
Im riding on Wednesday so I think I’ll take it week by week but it’s good to know your experiences. I probably won’t be able to do it for much longer purely because of my morning sickness

I chose to stop at 6 weeks.