Any equestrian mums here? Horse riding during pregnancy...

[Willagorilla]

So I'm currently 4 weeks, I work at a pony trekking centre, I've been working two days a week for the last several months, riding anywhere from 1-8 hours a week, walk trot canter. We are now in the quiet season and down to a skeleton staff which means that I am the one who now leads 99% of the experienced-faster treks. We ride mostly on beaches. We close 7th November. I am very much needed at work for these last few weeks, and the money is very much needed 😅. However obviously I'm concerned about the risks. I had two losses before I had my son 7 years ago, so I'm a bit extra nervous. The ponies at work are usually pretty good,but they are animals and have their moments, and riding on the beach means that sometimes weather conditions are a little wild, and there can be uncontrollable circumstances ie dogs, tripping hazards, or horses becoming a little over excited. I have my first doctor's appointment on Wednesday so I will ask her then. I know that ultimately it's a decision I have to make, but just looking for opinions/input.

Might be worth raising on the Horse & Hound forum as you’ll have a more captive audience. I’m unfortunately far too much of a novice to assist with your question other than the unhelpful ‘it’s probably down to your risk tolerance’ I'm afraid!

No matter where you ask, it will ultimately come down to what you feel comfortable doing.

I felt comfortable riding but I can also see that it was a valid argument about whether the risk was worth it although almost everything has a risk to some extent to it.

It hasn’t stopped Ros Canter! Great win today at Burghley for her. But yes, just take advice from your GP and good luck with your preganancy.

I rode until I was 19 weeks, which was when I started feeling my stomach muscles changing and a bump appearing. I was worried it would be changing my centre of gravity and balance, making me less able to deal with the unexpected. I was still able to ride fine though.

My midwife just shrugged and said she couldn't recommend I ride, but knew from experience that most equestrians didn't listen to advice to stop anyway!

I continued to ride until I couldn’t safety get on/off any longer. As did most women I know. I wouldn’t have even considered not riding so early in my pregnancies - except for the fact I couldn’t stop vomiting

I rode until 7 months with first pregnancy and a week before birth with the second. In both cases I stopped competing at 12 weeks and scaled down to steadier horses, borrowed from kind friends, rather than my own silly two, once I had a bump actually in the way. I reckon it helped me enormously, in lots of ways, to keep riding.

I know two women who had horses and both rode for as long as the could physically get on and off the horse.

Rode with all three pregnancies until couldn’t get on and off. Doctors / midwives all advised against it as they won’t want it coming back on them if you do fall off. I’m a firm believer your body will tell you when it’s done. I started getting tightening towards the end and I took it as I was doing too much so just stopped. Best of luck with your pregnancy ❤️

Rode through all mine on my older mare, wouldn’t have risked it on the nutter

Ask your midwife and also have a chat to your employers. If you DID have an accident, would their insurance be valid if you were pregnant? I think there could be quite big issues for them and you if you didn't tell them and something happened.

Ros Canter has just won Burleigh whilst pregnant. I know loads of people who rode while pregnant, including my Aunt, but it's a very personal choice obviously.

It’s a personal choice. I know people who have ridden until the day before they gave birth, others who never got back on after finding out they was pregnant. You have to do what you feel right.
seen lots of posts like this on Facebook groups in the past if you search, with lots of opinions.

I rode until I was 5 months pregnant with no problems.

I rode my older girl until I was 30 weeks - stopped competing at 4 months. I trust my girl implicitly and know her moves. I did decide to postpone backing my youngster though 😂

it is personal choice to a degree BUT it may impact insurance so worth checking with your employer and also if you have a personal insurance policy

It's a personal choice but most of us rode when pregnant on our own horses. I would ensure you are insured to work whilst pregnant.

You should be fine physically as you will be fit from riding and it's only 7 weeks until the centre closes so you won't be very far along.

Thanks so much everyone for the replies. It's made me feel better about it. I will think about speaking to work about it although I am hesitant to as it's still so early. I know that we can't avoid risk in life, and my previous miscarriages were not caused by riding, and I do believe that what will be will be, although obviously I don't want to take stupid risks. I'll just take it a day at a time for now and see how I feel and how the ponies are going as their workload continues to reduce/they become fresher. (I'm in Ireland - Connemara ponies, not wee little ponies).

It depends so much on how often you ride and what sort of riding it is! If you’re used to riding every day at a decent level then carry on- as PP have said top riders keep going until as late on as possible! I stopped riding every day at 20weeks when my bump got too big to miss hitting the saddle 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️- I had a big baby-

during an ante natal classes including the midwives were horrified I had done such a terrible thing and told me I should have stopped as soon as I knew I was pregnant which in those days wasn’t until 12 weeks!

I’m 16 weeks and still riding although just hacking. My boy is worth his weight in gold though and I feel so safe on him.
My midwife said it was a good way for me to keep fit, I get worried about lifting certain but just try and get on with it. I have also had to order new breeches as my smaller ones are now a bit tight lol.
I wondered if it had any effect on the birth of baby? Would it be easier with a stronger pelvic floor?

I rode til I put my horse on loan at about 21 weeks. The riding was fine but I struggled to get my saddle up and down the steep and narrow tack room stairs. The consultant I saw was said it was fine as long as it felt good to me.