The age old question - when did you stop riding?

[buckingmad]

I'm sure this question is asked endlessly but when did you stop riding?

I'm very early days at 5 weeks. My plan is to continue as normal until my scan then when we tell people I'll stop jumping/galloping like mad. Then flat school until my body tells me otherwise.

Also more importantly, how long till you got back on?! I'm planning to keep doing long walks with the dog every day and go pilates/aqua aerobics (cover depending) so hoping I don't completely lose my core.

First child eight months, second ten weeks (same horse). Just followed how my body felt.

9 weeks but that was because I was sooooo sick. Then lockdown happened which stopped me getting back on had I wanted to. I went for a hack 3 weeks post partum but it was too soon (traumatic birth with problems afterwards). From 5 weeks I was back riding regularly.

Thanks both, I'm def going to keep going till my body says no. I have found already thought that my core seems to be disintegrating as we speak!

First child I rode until 36 weeks and only stopped because I cracked a rib (not horse related). A very sensible horse I’d been riding for about 6 years though.
Second child by about 20 weeks. Heart just wasn’t in it, but I was knackered and had the older child to look after by and this point my pony was elderly and we were just plodding about and it all felt pointless .
Just do what your mind and body says.

Immediately - pregnancy seemed to affect my balance/centre of gravity very early on!

I’ve been wondering the same - I’m 5 weeks but my balance seems to be horrendous already. In my head before I got pregnant I was determined to carry on all the way through pretty much but I feel motion sick while riding so I’m not sure. I might just turn him away - I spend the winter drag hunting and team chasing so not that pregnancy friendly especially when combined with a slightly unreliable thoroughbred!
I guess just listen to your body and do what you can!

Day before birth only bc water went 6am the next day, before I managed to get to the stable. Second pregnancy now, won't stop either (but I'm a jockey so probs not what everyone else is like). Do as you feel, do not worry about anyone else.

1st was about 16 weeks coz I couldn't get off without catching the growing tum. 2nd was about 14 weeks because my core was rubbish and I couldn't hold the connection I wanted and that was the whole point of the lesson - was only getting lessons though...

Got back on around 5 months once I'd lost the worst of the baby weight and had some core muscles again...

Thanks everyone. I already feel like my core has gone to pot! I’ve stopped jumping as I have a stubborn native mare that can do a cheeky run out! But I’ve given myself a few more weeks of flat and hacking. I’m going to miss it so much 😢

I stopped as soon as I got my positive test. My horse is fantastic on the ground (to the point id let my niece aged 2.5 lead her around the yard) and good when ridden about 85% of the time, but can nap and sometimes rears to the point it feels she’s completely upright, anymore and she’d be over backwards. Although it’s not that often I just couldn’t risk it. 24/7 turnout though so she’s happy. Have had a couple of friends ride her occasionally but don’t like to ask them to do it a lot plus I don’t really like other people riding her haha. Due in 4.5 weeks and I’m so desperate to get back on. Thinking of waiting a few weeks and then cracking on!

I'm 28 weeks and still riding but feel my days are probably numbered now. I've told myself when my horse loses a shoe I'll call it a day.

I did actually 'quit' at about 16 weeks because I fell off (not my main horse, but one who should be easier and safer - but I don't know him as well as I know my girl). After a month or so I unquit and have been really enjoying my quirky but safe mare. We're still galloping but not jumping. Getting off is horrible so I climb down a gate. She's a racehorse and can be a handful when fit but she's living out, eating nothing but hay, and has hit her mid-winter mellow phase so I'm wondering whether to try and carry on a bit longer. The weather is just so unappealing.

I rode until about 7 months in my first pregnancy, just slow hacking around the lanes. I used to leave my jods unzipped and wear a long sweatshirt. When I was struggling to get on I stopped. My Highland was very reliable when out with our other pony. He had the very bad habit of breathing out so that his saddle needed adjustment and then puffing himself up so that you couldn't get it on again. It was the fear of having to leave his saddle and ride him home bareback (he was as wobbly as a jelly) that put me off in the end, i just couldn't have clambered on. I was young and foolish then, I'd advise anyone I knew t give up a bit sooner than that..