Horseriding while pregnant

[BAN84]

Hi guys im just curious about everyones views on this?  Oh and im not pregnant - this is for future reference:)

[aammyy]

I did my last eventing comp 2 weeks prior to having Alice.

I was already 7 and a half months along when I found out that I was having her and the doctors advised as long as I was careful there wouldn't be an issue as I had competed every weekend up until then anyway.

The doctors and nurses said that I had an "easy" birth (if there is such a thing, and 27 hours is easy??), because of horse riding and keeping fit.
They said horse riders naturally open their pelvis because they use that area when riding.

I put on 6kgs by the time I was full term, and was a size 10 at full term. I started competing again 2 weeks after I had Alice and am now smaller than what I was pre-pregnancy.

I am sorry, and I do not intend to insult or offend anyone, but I cannot stand woman who, as soon a they find out they are pregnant, stop doing EVERYTHING (cannot lift anything, cannot eat this, cannot eat that). There is a massive difference with being careful and being dramatic.

[Montana Rose]

How the heck do you only find out you're preggers at 7 1/2 months??    (Just curious, LOL)

I'd keep riding but only horses that are usually quiet, and I trust.  I wouldn't hop on anything that plays up.

[Calamity Jane]

With my first child I rode the whole way through - I started having contractions while out on a trail ride.

With the twins I gave up at 7 months because I couldnt get up anymore!

[Kylie]

I rode until 2 days before my son's birth. The doctors said that if your body is used to riding and you stay on the quieter horses you are fine. I could only walk and canter though in the last couple of months - trotting just about killed me - I only rode my old horse - I have terribly embarrassing photos of me being 9 months pregnant and riding my Buckskin. I ended up having to have a Caesarean though but was back on a treasure hunt trail ride 6 days later........

Oh and when I was 6 months pregnant - I also had 2 broken ribs but had committed to go on an organised ride at Allora so I still went - really hard to mount the horse like that - but had a wonderful (albeit painful) day!!!

[Breidi Mac]

No. I have a higher risk of miscarriage so wasn't allowed to ride.

[Calamity Jane]

How the heck do you only find out you're preggers at 7 1/2 months??    (Just curious, LOL)

I'd keep riding but only horses that are usually quiet, and I trust.  I wouldn't hop on anything that plays up.

I was told I would never have kids due to a negative blood type, polycystic ovaries, fibroids and endodamitraosis (sp??).  I got the full wammy!

I found out I was 4 1/2 months pregnant going for my 6 monthly scan to see how the fibroids were going. Doctor said to my mother and I "well theres the feet" my response was did you go to uni to learn how many feet I have??

I still got my periods up till 7 months and didnt gain any weight with the first (the twins was a different matter).   

[Clandella]

I was still team penning & doing cutting practice until 5 months. Light riding until 6 months...then I found it too hard to get on & stopped! LOL My OB had no probs with me riding or competing & told me to keep doing it as long as I felt comfortable.

Came off a breaker at almost 5 months. But then again...had a bad car accident at 27weeks...so we've nick named our baby Tonka. (As in built Tonka Tough  and NO that won't be his real name! LOL).
Have just under 3 weeks til I'm due.

[Koolgirl]

I was still competing and doing picnic races up to 7 1/2 months into my pregnancies. I was not big with either child so it wasn't a problem getting up there. My main horse wasn't exactly quiet but she hasn't got any vices.
I still rode up till the day and I handled and halter broke all the young ones all the way as well.
I was back on horses the week after having my children and competing a week after that.

[Heineken]

well.. i probably would have kept riding all through my pregnancies but unfortunately my bombproof horse died whislt i was in a wheelchair recovering from a car accident..

and i fell pregnant whilst in the wheelchair for my first so i didnt buy a replacement horse until i was ready to get back into riding so maybe 1 and half years after car accident.. then 6 months after my new horse was broken in i fell pregnant again.. i rode for at least a month then started to get nervous as my new horse was green and i was loosing my confidence (mind you it took me a lot to get back into riding after car accident and 2 years away from it.. i was a complete nervous reck.. )
that is why i decided not to continue riding whilst pregnant with this baby..

[Clandella]

That's the thing. It really is a personal choice & only doing what you feel confortable with.

I felt fine riding & competing on the stallion. I miss riding him & can't wait to get back to it.
I decided to break the gelding in when I was about 4 months pregnant I think....Only came off once, but got straight back on, he was fantastic to break in. My OB wasn't worried. He said he's had alot of horseriding clients & you'd be surprised how much padding is in the for the baby.

Geez KG! A week & a half after and you were back to it. That's awesome! I am dying to start riding again!

It's amazing how many non-horsey people freak out when you mention riding when pregnant! And even those that have given me lectures about even handling the horses while heavily pregnant! It's insane.

[Sharray Lodge]

Luke and I have discussed this as we will be starting to try for a baby within 6 months after the wedding so it was something we talked about so i'm prepared and no I won't be riding.
He asked that I not and as it will be his baby to I respect that however I can't bring myself to ride either,  I also ride youngster's who although I very much trust they are also prone to being baby's on occasion so don't want that risk.
secondly we have a chance that it will take quite awhile to actually get pregnant (could take a 1 week could take 10 yrs we won't know till it happens) so won't be wanting to have something happen.

This mind you is totally our choice and I have nothing against people who do ride,  friend rode through all 4 of her girls pregnancy's and on not so quiet horses either.   I actually got made to feel horrible by another friend recently because I said I won't be riding.

I will however still go to shows and help my family and most likely lead the quieter horses in halter for as long as I can run lol.

[Heineken]

there is alot of pressure from friends to keep riding whilst pregnant.. i know alot of horsey people who are against having kids.. and low and behold when i stoped riding they stoped being friends.. which is a shame.

i also agree with SL.. my husband has asked me not to ride as he has a very severe medical condition at the moment that needs to be operated on .. but his doctors are holding off until i have this baby and everything is ok.. as after his operation there will be NO MORE KIDS... so i couldnt risk anything going wrong..

[BAN84]

Thanks everyone for your stories!!  Im still torn as to what i will do.. i really don't want to stop if the time comes as ive been having so much fun with my new horse and he really is very quiet although on the other hand they are still unpredictable and things can still happen - im not sure i would forgive myself if something did.  Alot of horsey friends ive talked to have said they did until it just didn't reel right...   When i talked to my doctor last year about it when we were in planning stages she said the actual horseriding is totally fine just don't fall off:)

[DAIQUIRISTUD]

My daughter was still riding for our Reining trainer up until she was almost 8 months pregnant.