Pregnancy - gestation you stopped riding

[AuntieDee]

Firstly hello!

I have just found out I am pregnant and all of a sudden my riding plans have changed :( I am delighted I am pregnant but didn't expect it to happen so quickly (Mirena coil out and pregnant before first period). I have youngsters and my plans were to get my 6yo out competing this year, reback my 5yo sec D (stallion and a late developer so late backed) and back my 3 1/2 yo cob.

I have found a 'helper' already - she's a lovely girl and is capable to ride my 6yo but too novicy to do anything with the others. A friend has offered to ride on my 5yo for me if she is allowed to show him and she has also said she will help back and sell the 3yo for a percentage of the sale as I cannot keep and ride 4 horses (I also have a 2yo meat colt who will be a lead rein pony eventually) and have a baby too!

So I will be going down to only one ridden - my mare who I trust implicitly. She has taught my friend's 5 and 7yo to ride, she is that steady. So I was thinking I would hack her once a week with my friend who will be riding my Sec D and school her once a week to keep her flatwork up to scratch, leaving my 'helper to do the fun stuff with her - longer hacks and jumping with occasional flat work lessons.

So the big question is - at what gestation did you stop riding? I am currently 7 weeks :)

My friend was hacking out until 2 weeks before giving birth and then was back on two weeks after baby. She has two horse so only rode the smaller one (shorter to fall from! but also a bit older and so trustworthy) You know your horse.

Nice to see that people managed to keep riding for so long. I've recently found out I'm pregnant and have been wondering how long I'm likely to be able to ride for. How did people get on with the yard work nearer the end and after the birth?

Congratulations bluebird. At 40 weeks I was still poo picking... Not particularly quickly admittedly but still physically able so long as I did it at my own pace. This was July last year so not a huge amount of yard duties to do. You just need to listen to your body. (DD was born the following morning from that poo picking session!)

Thanks for the reply Chilli. I hate poo picking at the best of times let alone at 40 weeks pregnant! I'll be due in January so unfortunately horses will be in which means 5 to turn out and 3 to muck out so I'm not too sure how thats gonna work! I guess as you say just got to take it as it comes and listen to my body.

I rode up to 37 weeks pregnant, would've ridden for longer but had my baby at 38 weeks! Felt the most comfy in the saddle and my old boy was a saint.

I'm still riding and being sensible with what I sit on. Plan to go for as long as is comfortable and possible. Keeps me sane and best bit of my job lol.

My boss's sister rode the day she have birth! Lol

11+5 ATM btw