Riding when pregnant???

[sasamaxx]

Just had a BFP - supposed to be riding tonight. I think I've decided against it - does anyone have any thoughts on this???

[galonthefarm]

oucch 77 stitches - managed one stitch but dd wasn't v big at 6lb 11 oz!!

AlpinePony - agree with you. my old man was exactly the same, he was pretty protective and way more sane than he was before I got pg. Is also now lovely with dd when I put her in the sling to say hello to him. But when rode after 6 week check the bugger tried to run off with me!!

they know I reckon! clever hosses

[MrFibble]

Congratulations on your baby - I've posted before about riding when pregnant and I would urge anyone who is pregnant to think very carefully about it.

I rode up to the 7 month mark during my first pregnancy as I judged that the risks to my unborn child were minimal. I had my own horses and I had no problems until the last ride I'd planned to do before hanging up my saddle and turning my mare out for the summer. My mare shied at something and since my balance was not quite as it should have been due to the bump (which was pretty small) I wrenched my right hip badly. It took me a while to be able to lift my leg to be able to get off the horse when we got back from the hack.

I recovered from that although I did have problems walking up stairs for sometime.

Roll on 4 years, I fell pregnant again. From 4 weeks in I suffered badly from pain in my right hip, I developed pretty severe PGP and I am still having problems with the SI joint and a generally twisted pelvis. This is over 7 years later.

So my advice, think really carefully and remember that your ligaments are getting looser and looser. I weighed up the risks and thought that if I was sensible the risks to my unborn child were minimal but I did not appreciate how pregnancy hormones can relax your ligaments etc and so you can damage yourself as a result of something that would have otherwise been innocuous.

Sorry for the ranty ramble. I feel quite passionate about this one and I wish someone had told me when I was up the duff the first time as I don't think I'd be in the mess I am in now. Mind you, I probably wouldn't have listened as I was riding 6 times a week before I got pregnant and no-one was going to come between me and my mares!.

Wishing you all the best for you and your baby.

[CluckyKate]

Have you had your hip looked at by an Osteo MrFibble???

I only ask as I locked my SI on a 3 hr ride when I was 12 weeks, suffered the pain for 2 months and got it checked out when I knelt on the floor & couldn't get back up - Osteo unlocked it and was fixed in just one session .
Funny thing is that if it was the horse that wasn't quite right the back-man would've been called in an instant

Lovely Osteo was also v. encouraging about continuing to ride for as long as I like provided I stick to shorter hacks (as she rubbed her hands in glee - must've seen the £-signs ) but, frankly, I don't really fancy it right now (jiggles my bladder too much) so am going with my gut.

I also needed foreceps with no. 1 (they wouldn't tell me how many stitches) & my pelvic floor was decidedly weak afterwards.

[MrFibble]

Yep, I've seen an osteo. I've also seen a chiropractor (never too sure what the difference is) and numerous physios.

The most recent physio I've seen has really helped me - direct, supportive and has taught me loads of exercises to strengthen core muscles. I'm also doing yoga twice a week. Still suffering in the SI joint but I'm back riding 3 times a week and that can't be bad!

Osteos are not cheap are they? The one I saw cost me 110 euros for 40 minutes!!!!! And not a penny reimbursed by medical insurance. Ouch!

BTW I too was told that horse riders have perineums like concrete and that they rarely have long term pelvic floor problems. Hope yours got sorted Cluckykate.

[CluckyKate]

Oh poo - sorry to hear that MrFibble. Good to hear it's not keeping you out of the saddle though.

Yep - pelvic floors back in order now....must've been the riding as I'm rubbish at kegel exercises.
Not liking the talk of perineums - am resigning myself to massage of that area to get this baby out. Oh the glamour!!!

[SilverSky]

I knew I shouldn't have read this thread!!

I am with Alpine Pony in that if you have been riding before you get diffed you are ok to continue. It's any new activity that you start before 12 wks that is not advised.

I rode my horse til about 4 mths. I stopped cos of the nausea and I was experiencing a pulling sensation on my tummy when in the saddle. I could have ridden my horse for much longer as horse is rock steady and sensible tho course you can't always control other elements. Every preggo rider has to make educated decisions on what's right for them.

[Principle]

I rode my older horse up until 6 months, didnt ride my younger one, i weighed up the options and decided i would continue with the older one, its up to each individual tbh

[Principle]

Also want to add, I have six horses and I only handled 4 horses which I decided I knew them enough in their good and bad moments that they wouldnt be a huge risk to me, I didnt handle the other two as i knew they were much quicker on their feet and much more likely to lift a leg if something spooked them. x

[notasausage]

I fell off a few days after BFP and miscarried the following week. Doubt it was related but there's always that what if in the back of your mind. Hadn't fallen off for ages before that too and it was going to be my last ride.

I don't think it's worth the risk.

[00Helen00]

Im no doctor but I would trust your instincts.
I rode till I was 7 1/2 months and it wasn't the riding that stopped me it was the getting on and off !!! you no your self and you know your horse :0)

[ilovecorey]

i fell off today and darlin horse landed on me :/