Horseback Riding in Pregnancy

[outdoors1234]

I know this is a controversial topic, so please no mean comments! My doctor has said it is absolutely fine for me to ride as long as I am careful. As an national level competitor and trainer I have continued, as it is my livelihood. I am of course very selective in what horses I get on. So if you disagree with riding in pregnancy, please keep this opinion to yourself

Currently, I'm 25 weeks pregnant, have gained 3 pds, and have not felt any balance shift - nor am I showing in the least (all my pre-pregnancy clothes fit basically the same too). I have been able to keep up with all the farm work - feeding, cleaning stalls, and all other general maintenance - as well as ride 4 sometimes 5 horses a day. But, I am so exhausted, and I keep getting sick all the time. I have also started having painful Braxton Hicks contractions every time I sit on a horse for the first few minutes. I asked the dr. about them and when they happen and she said no big deal, just take a break and keep going. I have no help, and while there is a plan in place for taking care of the farm and horses for 2 weeks after the baby comes, no one is available to help now, nor can I financially afford it. Well now I'm sitting on the couch, full blown flu, feeling awful, and feeling even more awful about all the work sitting outside. I feel like if I scale back any further (I was riding 10 horses a day) I will be lazy, most people I know don't take maternity leave until right before the baby comes, and neither should I.

Anyways, I'm mostly just feeling sorry for myself, but also has anyone else ridden horses or been extremely active through a pregnancy? If so, How?

 

[RaspberryK]

I don't think it's the horse riding itself that's the issue it's carrying on as normal with everything else. You really need to look after yourself and get some help fast, I was determined to carry on as normal through this pregnancy and whilst I carry on gardening, walking the dogs with MIL, plan on decorating the house when I go on leave in 2 weeks, I realise that I need to take more frequent breaks and if I am tired I stop and put my feet up.
You are growing another person, it takes a lot out of you.

x

 

[Jellybean0k]

I think if you feel ok about it, and your doctor's ok with it then fine, go ahead carry on. But, you can't come onto a forum and ask people to keep their opinions to themselves that's just plain rude

 

[aliss]

Not a horse rider, but I am a weight lifter (not national level!) but I continued until the day of my induction (not planned!). Yes, I frequently faced several comments insulting me for doing so but I felt that staying active in that manner was important to me At my fitness level (and yours too), just walking or swimming is not enough, our bodies are much more adapted.

Looking back, I wish I had taken more breaks though - it is really the only time in your life where you can lay back, alone, and relax (because that is never possible again when you have a child). Your life is go-go-go for at least the first year after (the first few months, I couldn't even take a shower or go to the bathroom when alone) so it's okay to be "lazy" once in a while when your body needs the recoup it's energy

 

[lindsayscoob]

I think if you feel ok about it, and your doctor's ok with it then fine, go ahead carry on. But, you can't come onto a forum and ask people to keep their opinions to themselves that's just plain rude

I think the OP was trying to say she doesn't want opinions on whether she should ride or not, which is where the controversy comes in, I think she just wants to know whether she should be slowing down a bit. Correct me if I'm wrong as I'm not 100% sure.

If you're starting to feel rough doing it, then you need to back down a bit. If you're body is telling you to slow a little then do so, its not being lazy. I had to finally admit defeat 2 weeks ago and stop cutting the hedge as it knocked the stuffing out of me. It wasn't easy admitting that I need to slow down, but I'm now very pleased I have.

 

[MoonLove]

Don't really know what kind of answers you want here. You're obviously not convinced that its completely safe to carry on riding horses, but you don't want people to tell you not to?

People do take risks in pregnancy - some are affected by them and some aren't so its hard to answer with 'sure i rode horses and i was fine' because what happens if you then fell off a horse tomorrow? Its all about whether you're that confident that it wont cause any harm.

In my opinion, i think its too much of a big risk to carry on horse riding.


If something is answered with a 'Its probably okay' then thats just not enough reassurance.

 

[lynnikins]

hun if you need to keep doing it for your own sanity and for the sake of your farm and animals then by all means keep doing it, dont wear yourself into the ground though take breaks and leave the housework and other jobs that others can do for you to other people, it might be worth asking the local riding school if they have any more advanced students who want to spend time around horses who could help do some of the chores for a chance to ride ?

 

[midori1999]

I rode and looked after my two horse and my children's pony all through pregnancy until I went into labour with my third child. Literally. I did all the yard work myself, which included having to walk up a steep, knee deep in mud track to turn out/bring in and one of my horses was pretty difficult/required pretty firm/competant handling.

I was absolutely fine and back in the saddle when baby was 3 days old, it would have been sooner if they'd have let me out of the blasted hospital, but baby was unexpectedly born with Downs Syndrome, so they insisted I stay in.

As for the riding, it's obviously up to you. I know myself I carrid on riding as I felt the risk was minimal. My doctor and midwife, who both had horses agreed with me and I knew several friend's who had fallen off and been fine. Plus, although I knew if I fell there was a risk, in real terms I have rarely fallen off at all in my life, so for me I likened it to if I had a car crash there might be serious harm, but should I stop going in cars, because realistically, how likely was I to have a crash?

 

[countryrider]

I'm a rider as well, and although I have stopped riding as I got further along in my pregnancy...it's up to your comfort level, how confident you are in the horses you ride, and what your Dr/MW has to say.

The suggestion I will give is listen to your body. No matter how good of shape you are in before pregnancy...everyone is different and your body may be telling you to slow down. I know in the world of chores and exercising horses alone it's not as easy...but try to take more short breaks in between things...rather than run yourself ragged.

 

[anjajna]

I'm a rider too, but not as active as you. I used to take a one hour lesson every week. So nothing compared to you.
My doctor also told me it's fine to carry on with riding as long as I feel ok. When I was 20 weeks pregnant I decided to stop riding. When I had my last lesson I was so tired after only 30 minutes, I had to stop.
What I want to say with that is, an hour was always fine for me. But during pregnancy your body is working hard to grow a baby and you can't carry on with doing everything the same way like you used to do.
It looks like all the hard work is too much for you now too. Your body is telling you, you are doing too much, that's why you got sick. Because now you are resting, right?
If you feel like it is too much for you, I would really try to get help. And that doesn't mean you are lazy! You are doing hard work, you are not just sitting in an office chair all day long. And even that, some women can't do until the end.

Just think about what's best for you and your baby.

 

[Blah11]

Just be very, very careful. A lady on here lost her little boy after being kicked by a horse IDK, I don't think it's worth the risk.

 

[tikaani]

I sold my horse before i found out i was pregnant and finished working with horses (racehorses) because the risk of bing kicked or falling off was too great. I think even if you know your horse and say he is 100% bombproof they still have moments of play, spook in the stable a plastic bag can fly out etc. I love working with horses and wil continue to do so once i have my baby. But for now my baby comes first nd its not a risk im willing to take. xx

 

[xdxxtx]

My mom went horseback riding at 6 months and had a stillbirth in result. It isn't something she normally did, so I don't know if there's a difference there, but please be careful.

 

[AmyR]

I worked out, cardio and weights my entire last pregnancy, I think I was at the gym at 6am the morning I went into labor (she was 4 days late)

I am working out again this pregnancy (took a while cause I was SOOOOO tired the first 12 weeks), I walk, run, hike, weight lift, etc.

I grew up riding, showing, training horses my whole life...I did eventing, I broke and trained horses, got TB's off the track and got them going in eventing and sold them etc etc....but I stopped riding about 2 months into my first pregnancy cause I was too nervous to take the risk of falling. Being a rider for over 25 years I knew that accidents happen...so I didnt want to take the chance.

Same with this pregnancy. Id LOVE to be riding again but I cant take the chance myself.

 

[tikaani]

totally agree with above, horses have blood running through their veins, they have a mind of their own and even the safest of safest has a switch point . Whats 9 months off riding. you can make up for it once baby is here. i know im planning on lol.

 

[Parkep]

hey hun, i wont say one way or another.

I think your body is telling you to slow down a little bit. Can you put an ad up some where for help for the barn and in return you will let them ride or teach them a lesson? (if you have a horse for that not sure of your situation) I really dont think you are being lazy you are growing another human in there hun! And stable work is hard enough!!!
I would suggest slowing down before your completely out of commission hun!

 

[Marini_Mare]

I was wondering that too.. I train horses & have two of my own my husband mentioned that when I do get preg he didn't want me on a horse the only horse I would probably feel most comfortable on is my 18yr old mare, but since we moved halfway across the country & I havent moved her yet , I probably won't be riding for most of the 9mo.. esp since the horses I train are usually green broke & I don't know them as well as my own horses.