Pregnancy and Riding...

[TheOneRach]

Can i have any thoughts please on this subject...?

I'm a keen horse rider, my horses are not slow dobbins though

This is my first baby, I'm 4+4 weeks currently. hubby and my parents want me to stop riding for the duration of my pregnancy. I'm finding this really hard to accept because i live for my riding and my horses. I totally respect my hubby and his wishes for me to not ride. I just wanted to broach The subject with others who have been in this situation before xx

I rode up to about 7 months both times. At this point I could get on but I couldn't get off

Didn't jump much or hunt. Stuck to hacking and schooling.

A couple of ladies on my yard rode during pregnancy and one rode until she was 7 months. You know your horses and your body will tell you when it's time to stop 😊

I rode till 5 months with DC1 but then gave up because it was pointless. I was too big to school effectively and the horse was a git out on hacks so there wasn’t much enjoyment in arguing with him in the middle of the road while pregnant. I rode very little with DC2 because I was too sick with HG. I also found things like lunging and handling to be difficult in the later stages because I was unstable and ot as quick on my feet as before.

Having said that, it is an individual experience and you should do what keeps you happy. As far as I understand it riding as such is not dangerous, it’s the falling off that can cause problems.

Forgot to say. I wheelbarrowed some water when I was 5 months and day my back in. It hurt for the rest of the pregnancy and no one did anything about it because I was pregnant. That I regret more than anything, so be careful what you lift/push!

I had awful sickness with ds3. I gave up at about 6 weeks, tried again at 16 weeks, just a little hack around the block and threw up down his neck . He looked suitably revolted.

I tried again at about 20 weeks and pottered for a bit but then spd hit and knocked that on the head.

I managed to do all yard duties tho, he was just coming in for a few hours during the day to get out of the weather and get some haylage in him. Ds was due in June so he went out 24/7 in the spring. He is a v good boy to handle tho so I was fine on the ground, if a little slow (and had the turning circle of a tanker!) Luckily ds1 was riding him too so I didn’t feel under pressure to keep riding when I wasn’t well enough.

I’ve known people who have stopped as soon as they get a positive and those that continued until they were due. It’s very personal and hugely dependent on how sensible your horse is.

As far as I’m aware, your pregnancy is protected inside your pelvis until 12w tho so less of a risk early on.

I rode my steady cob till 5 1/2 months when a freak accident caused my to fall off. Thankfully all was fine but I was banned from future riding and if I did have another I'd have to really think about the risks involved even with a very safe horse.

I ride till the day I went in to labour. My consultant wrote in my notes I could still ride but no galloping at 35 weeks as DH was trying to get me to stop 😂 you know your horse, I wouldn't ride an unpredictable horse or a youngster. FYI get off with your back to the saddle when your bump gets big 😂