Why I Chose to Stop Riding During My Pregnancy
Even writing that phrase “stop riding” is a bit painful, now that it’s been a full six weeks since I’ve been on the back of the horse. After the cursory “How are you feeling?” (fine) and “Are you going to find out what it is?” (yes, if baby cooperates for us to see), the third question I’m usually asked is “Are you still riding?” And STILL every time I say no and explain why, I get a little choked up.
I’ve read articles for years about riding while pregnant, which all pretty much boil down to doctors saying not to ride at all, and horse women saying to keep it up if you feel comfortable and are careful. I wasn’t sure which way I would lean until the day I found out that I was indeed expecting.
And I knew there was absolutely no way I could give up riding right then cold turkey. I felt fine, I didn’t look or feel pregnant, and the baby was smaller than an ant.
I did however scale back immediately. I quit jumping, and didn’t head out on the trails where we could meet unexpected deer and small critters to eat my big pansy thoroughbred. We stuck to light rides in the arena on the soft sand where Ace was comfortable.
Doctors Say No Horseback Riding During Pregnancy
I researched some more during those early weeks to decide how safe it was to ride and for how long. At my early prenatal appointments, I sat mute when the nurse practitioner asked if I had any questions, because I didn’t want her opinion on if it was OK to ride knowing I probably wouldn’t like what she had to say. On every list of high-risk sports to avoid while pregnant, horseback riding was near the top. They talked about the risk of falling off and the damage it could do. They talked about potential problems caused by the jostling. Across the board, non-horsey medical professionals said no riding under circumstances.
Horse Women (Some Also Doctors) Say To Ride, Carefully
Then there are the horseback riding women themselves, and doctors who are also riders who tend to be more understanding of the deep-seated NEED to ride. Many of them say that if your body is accustomed to riding at a certain level, the physical effects of riding aren’t going to cause problems (same goes for many other types of heavier exercise like running or weight lifting). Many agree that as long as you feel comfortable in the saddle and your balance isn’t compromised, keep riding!
They do all, of course, caution about the risk of falling off. Most say to avoid jumping, hot/spooky horses, and situations that could stress your horse. Stick to trust worthy horses you know well who are unlikely to have an issue.
Make Your Own Choice On Riding While Pregnant
I was feeling encouraged by the doctors who are also horse women and their advocacy of riding with some basic precautions. Then I came across an interesting tidbit in an article by one of these doctors. It explained that up until 12 weeks, the developing baby is very very small and is well protected by the pelvic bone. Even at that point, a fall is less likely to do any significant damage to the baby because of that protection.
However, at 12 weeks, the baby is bigger and moves forward and up to where it is no longer protected by the pelvic bone. At this point, falling off a horse is very likely to do considerable damage.
I set my stop riding date for the Saturday in October when I hit 12 weeks.
For me, the risk of falling off and hurting my baby is too great to ignore. As badly as I want to get on every single horse I see right now, there’s nothing that would make me get back up in that saddle.
After my second to last ride with Ace during my 11th week, I went home and cried because I was so upset about giving it up. I raged at my husband ant told him it was no fair that I had to give up my riding, and my figure, and my energy, and then push this baby out, and he didn’t have to give up anything (pregnancy hormones at their finest!).
Two days later I climbed aboard Ace for what was to be my last ride. I wanted it to be amazing, and a ride to remember.
It wasn’t. Ace was stiff, unenthusiastic, and neither of us felt our best. The whole time, all I could think about was the fact that if I fell off, my husband would never forgive me – and neither would I forgive myself. I got off after 20 minutes mentally at peace with my decision.
I know that come April when I have both a beautiful healthy baby in my arms and a horse to ride, it will all be worth it.
Your Turn!
Whether or not to keep riding while pregnant is a personal choice. I know that this was the exact right decision for me. However, for someone with a higher-risk pregnancy it may be prudent to stop immediately. Or for a trainer who makes her living riding horses, there’s also great risk to stopping too soon.
If you’ve been pregnant, did you keep riding and why or why not? If you might be pregnant someday, what do you think you will do? And if, like me, you did stop riding for most of your pregnancy, please share some tips on how you survived!
(PS – I DID ask my doctor if it was ok to lift hay bales and grain bags – no worries if I had to give that up! Of course, she said as long as I was used to doing it and my body felt fine, it was no problem.)
I rode throughout all 3 of my pregnancies. The doctors I had said that as long as I didn’t do anything I hadn’t done before (one mentioned riding broncs) I could keep riding until I decided it was too uncomfortable. I stopped riding when I could no longer mount my horse easily (she was 15.3). I quit between 7 and 8 months. I was always ground working them when I couldn’t ride. Interestingly enough, the labor with all of my children was short.
Now this was back during the 70′s and 80′s, although I’m reminded of the woman who recently gave birth shortly after completing a marathon. Her doctors told her the same thing that mine told me.
I rode throughout both my pregnancies. I quit jumping at about 6 months with each one. I quit riding altogether with my first one at about 6 1/2 months because it became too uncomfortable to dismount. For some reason it was easier with the second and I kept riding till about 8 months. Both my labors were short and relatively easy, both daughters very healthy. Oh, I am a trainer that makes my living by riding.
I think you are wise not to ride while you’re pregnant. Anything could happen no matter how good a rider you are. Four weeks ago I was riding the safest horse in the barn when he spooked and he never spooks. I wound up in the hospital. So I always say better safe than sorry. You can still work him from the ground and play with him etc.
I know some people who rode while they were pregnant and nothing bad happened to them. Still I say why take a chance, you just never know. Don’t forget to let us know if baby cooperates as to the gender.
I have a friend who stopped riding when she found out she was having twins, but still continued to work at the barn. In fact, she went into labor (full term) while walking her colicking horse and waiting for the vet to get there!
I had twins(single sack) at 40 and was considered high risk for several reasons. My normal doctor told me to STOP riding and avoid chemicals/fly spray – NOW (7 wks). Then referred me to a high risk doc. it took a few weeks to get in to see him and he said ride but don’t do anything that risks bleeding injuries until things felt uncomfortable. No jumping, polo (haha) or trailrides on my spooky ex race horse. So, at 10 weeks, I got on my goofball bareback to let him graze while I enjoyed the spring weather. That went fine. But dismounting seemed to put to much pressure and then to big a landing, so I quit anyway. Took until my girls were over 2 to manage to get back in the saddle, but…. that’s the way things go. Good luck. c
byhttp://yayariders.blogspot.com/
PS check out my blog to see my darlings – equine and twins (now 12).
My husband and I adopted twins when I was 32. After that I was told by 3 doctors that I was not going to get pregnant without IVF (I only have one ovary and supposedly had no viable eggs). I very unexpectedly got pregnant at 35. Because of my age and my history I was immediately considered high-risk. Despite that, my doctor’s advice was to ride until 24 weeks. Her reasoning – before that time the fetus is inviable outside the womb, so regardless of how s/he is injured, there’s very little that could be done to save it. After 24 weeks there is more they can do to save them, so why take the chance of causing pre-term labor or injuring it? I believe I rode until 23 months, at which point it was too uncomfortable. I did fall off a 14hh pony at 20 weeks, though. It caused no complications. My 16-year old OTTB is also a little flighty, but if I’d had the 7-year old laid back OTTB I have now, I probably could not have resisted continuing to ride. I still have both and enjoy both tremendously. My son is now a happy, healthy, much-loved and spoiled (by his sisters!) 3-year old.
Well I guess, safety first. You can always ride a horse again after pregnancy..It’s nice to have something being missed and to be excited for doing it again for a long time.
My sister is an equine vet and has a 5 week old daughter. She stopped riding when the preoccupation of hurting her baby caused her riding to suffer- the horse knew she was being cautious. Depending on the horse I have when/ if I am pregnant, I think I’ll be very similar.
Great post, thanks!
Corinna
Great equestrian blog! Why not come over to hay-net.co.uk an Equine Social Blogging Network for more to follow!
I stopped at about 3 months because I would feel a lot of tightening or Braxton Hicks when I rode. It seemed to be worse when I rode so I figured it was my body’s way of saying it wasn’t a good idea. I was disappointed at the time, but in the end it worked out for me and my son. He’s 16 now!
My midwife gave me the green light, and I did ride up until 18 weeks when I found out that I had the RH factor. After my silly thoroughbred gave me a tiny scare on a trail and I ended up walking him back down the mountain I hung up my riding boots until baby arrives. It is tough, as I love riding, been riding my whole life yet a trauma situation could end up causing issues for baby, in the case of my blood mixing with hers I could create antibodies that actually attack babies red blood cells. So in a couple of weeks to help avoid that whole mess I will get a Rhogam shot. Just because I am not riding doesn’t mean I haven’t really enjoyed time on the ground with our horses. Both are woolly mammoths right now anyways so brushing them is quite the task!
I am currently 16 weeks and still jumping and training. Taking a lot of flack from many people who have either never ridden, or have always been afraid of these “big animals”. I’ve been keeping it low, nothing over 2’6″, and always taking a short spot. Although my weight has shifted, I haven’t gained any weight to throw me off balance as of yet. My horse definitely knows that I’m pregnant and takes very good care of me. He nuzzles my belly as he pokes his head out of the stall every time.
I have done much research in the effects of “bouncing” and exertion…. and they all say the same thing, that the baby really doesn’t “feel” bouncing in their amniotic fluid filled hammock. The fluid takes movements to a minimum, compounded by the uterus which also moves with you.
My doctor, in an effort to “scare” me out of the saddle, made preposterous comments about shaken baby syndrome. Which in utero, is simply impossible.
I will stop jumping soon (probably 20 weeks) but will continue to ride based on facts and statistical data, rather than faulty assumptions and medical opinion based upon rubbish.
I am well aware that you can ABSOLUTELY have a tragic accident. Your horse can spook, trip, or you can simply be off your game and fall. The rational side of me also says that I can have a car accident, trip and fall down the stairs, or some other “accident” that could have just as tragic results. Short of sitting on the sofa in bubble wrap, you have no guarantees as to when something may or may not happen. I will continue to live my life, train and keep my muscles strong; and from what I’m researching have a much easier delivery for it.
I refuse to have others opinions (medical or non) pushed upon me. so, I suppose you just have to do what feels right to you. You know, better than anyone else, your body and your limits.
Stay safe, and ride on.
I’m currently four and half months pregnant and I ride every day – two horses if there’s time. I’m a dressage rider, so the risks aren’t as great as for showjumping, but I’m well aware that accidents can happen any time in any discipline. However, I’m a bit superstitious – this is my sixth pregnancy and every time I’ve stopped riding, I’ve miscarried. I know there was no real connection between the two events, but this time I’m determined to follow the same ‘recipe’ I used when I had my son successfully four years ago: I stayed fit and active doing the thing I love most, which is riding and spending time with my horses. My husband has drawn the line at mucking out stables and carrying heavy bags (no argument from me there!), and I take every possible precaution on horseback – but I plan to keep going until my body tells me to stop. Previously that was when I simply couldn’t mount or dismount without heavy lifting equipment! I’ve also continued my competitive riding – last weekend we were at a show. I may have to give these up soon though because my jods are straining over my belly and I refuse to invest in another pair of ‘whites’ just for a couple of months. What I’m mainly interested in now is finding out how to get back into shape after baby arrives. I have no option for natural birth, so I’m hoping to find a way to rebuild core strength after a C-section. The last time it took me months to find my muscles again.
Patience is important for any learning process. When individuals are being taught how to stay on top of an animal, they should not be in a hurry and wait till they have enough skills. Lack of patience may expose one to careless mistakes that could cause accidents.