|
|
Member
Posts: 33
| I am expecting twins in April. Any advice how to manage newborns and horses. I see so many horror stories of how women give up their horses because they cannot find the time with having babies. I am a strong believer that you can do it all.
But I'd appreciate some tips from people who have been there done that.
We have three horses on our own property and keeping my fingers crossed that several family members available to help out. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 528
Location: Its Freaking Freezing Up Here... | I have a 4 month old right now, so I can only speak for my time on maternity leave (not at work full time) but its do able. We don't have family close by so I have a girl come a couple days a week and watch him while I ride. Come spring I'll bump it up to 3 or 4 days (and then have my husband on weekends) to get them legged up. I ride my young horse and then ride one and pony one of my finished horses. Don't be afraid to ask for the help though. In the summer when he was first born and I didnt have anyone, I would sit him in the shade in the stroller and trot around him. Or have him sleeping in the house and with the monitor on me I'd long trot circles around the house. My monitor also reaches to my arena. Where there's a will, there's a way. I have a great husband who supports my horse habit so he helps me make it work! |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 222
Location: Texas | Play pen with toys in shade next to the round pen. Or hang a Johnny jumper from the tree. It can be done. I started colts with both of mine. We didn't have family close and my husband was on the road a lot. It can be done. There will be days when you have to get off and on 100 times and days where you only ride for 1/2 hr. I tried to schedule it for when their nap time was so I could lay them down in the play pen and ride. Important. I always let someone know I was getting on a colt and if I hadn't called them back in X amount of time to call my neighbor to check on me if they couldn't get ahold of me. A client recommended the help I've fallen and I can't get up thing. That way you clip it on your belt and if your really hurt just push the button. Thought it was a good idea but both of my kids can use the phone now. It can be done! |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 33
| Thank you very much! Very good ideas to put in motion! |
|
| |
|
 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
 
Location: Kansas | I never once thought about having issues with my daughter and the horses......infact I bought 4 more when I had her LOL. I still rode, her dad would watch her or my mother would when I would ride or go barrel race. It's manageable |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 18
| Congratulations! There are so many variables to your question. IMO if you are not using all three horses sell a couple. Down the road you will never regret spending more time with your children. You will regret it if you have kids who end up not being interested in horses and they accuse you of spending more time at the barn than with them. (I do NOT believe in play pens, especially outside, way to many things can happen in a play pen) My son's are both in college now. With my second child I was down to one horse and sent her away for boarding for 4 months, 2 months before delivery. Because with the first child I ended up in the hospital at 7 months, looking back I was lucky one of my horses died and I was then only left with one. I remember a friend of my saying she had paid $55.00 an hour to ride and I said "you got a deal" after my first child I think I rode 3 times the first year so that was a cost of what about $250.00 an hour :) Lucky for me that one horse was one who could sit in the pasture for a year and was good to go. Unless your husband is into the horses and you have tons of money my suggestion is keep one good horse until the kids are like 5 then if they are interested purchase something specific to your needs. The money you save feeding two horses for 5 years will help with the diaper $. Advise, take them to the chiropractor soon after delivery and especially if they are not totally potty trained by two years old. |
|
| |
|
 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | IMO, giving up horses to care for your babies is not a "horror story". FAR from it.
I hope you find time (and energy) to do it all.
I have three kids and I am happy to sacrifice my riding time for them. I have one finished horse right now, along with a few for them to ride. I do not have help, so riding comes after everyone else, but I am so glad when I can find time for it. I also know that this won't last forever, so I try to treasure the moments, even the crazy ones.
Congratulations 
Edited by just4fun 2013-12-08 2:42 PM
|
|
| |
|
I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | I am the mother that had to give up horses after having children. I have three children and after 14 years of not riding I have just purchased a horse this past summer and I am working on starting again. my husband is not a horse person and was never willing to watch the children, now that they are older I can leave them home and go ride. My oldest is nearly 14 so I finally have a baby sitter. Trust me don't give up your dream unless you just have to. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Northern CO | Don't give up, I do think it is possible... at least that is what I keep reminding myself. I just had my first a month ago! I trained and day worked until I was about 5 months (Sent the colts back home at the end of the month we found out I was expecting) and ran my good horse until I felt like my timing was off at about 30 weeks. I got to where I felt like I couldn't sit down like I needed to. LOL.
Bailey was born on the 5th of November and I was able to ride a few times before the cold spell we are having here in Northern Colorado. I was a bit weak feeling, got tired pretty fast and saddling made me feel like a wimp. My balance felt a bit off and I made sure I rode my old steady guy who I plan to stick with until I feel stronger and more comfortable. (During labor we ended up having an emergency C-Section.) As far as Bailey goes, I am breast feeding so I would feed her and when she would go back to sleep I would hurry out to ride. At this point she seems to go about two hours between feedings during the day so I have about one hour to ride. My sister watched her for me these first few times and I was only able to ride one horse. I was planning on using the monitor when I have no one to watch her and I don't think I will be able to keep as many horses rode as I did before but she is so worth it!
Also, chores seem to be my biggest challenge. With no one to watch Bailey for me I am just not comfortable leaving her for very long even with the monitor in my pocket. We have ten head right now so I have went to very basic care for them to try and make it easier for me to care for them. They are able to go to pasture and the round bale all the time and I did not blanket anything this year. I feed a bit of alfalfa and grain once a day so I can get a really good look at everyone. Right now this seems to be anytime between 8am and 10am although I was a bit later than that yesterday since Bailey was wide awake and a little fussy. Normally I like to keep a rather tight schedule for my 4 legged babies so this has been really hard for me to adjust to. My husband is a farrier and starts colts so we have always had the agreement that I do the livestock chores since I am usually at home. Although, he would happily do chores for me it would be in the dark by the time he got home to do them and I am rather protective of my barrel horses too. LOL.
Anyhow, good luck and stay positive. The ideas the other girls mentioned are great and everyone will have their own way of doing things. I just thought I would share my experience so far in hopes it might be helpful. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 168
Location: Wyoming | I have a 2 and 3 year old boys and never slowed down. I have a barnful of horses and colts coming up. I live 30 miles from my parents so I got a 7 horse trailer to haul down there in the winter and mom watches the boys while I work horses when its cold. In better weather I have shut the gate on the roping box and the boys play with toys. I have a tarp that I hang over the top so they are out of the sun. After I work my horses I let them ride. I usually can get all them rode in the afternoons sometimes I alternate days on horses. I am a stay at home mom so my boys are with me all the time and mornings are all theirs.
My mom barrel races so we haul together. Usually the producers of the barrel races here are good about drawing us up far enough apart. Even if there is just a rake between us we get it done. ORGANIZATION. My kids love being outside and they have been traveling since they were born so they travel like champs. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| I had to sell mine to care for my oldest two. I now have three, and decided it's now or never. (I rode up until due date with the oldest, and it was so hard to take him to rodeos that I sold my horses when he was two. I lacked the support needed. Now I got rid of the unsupportive problem and life is better LOL!)
If I were to have another, I'd ride through pregnancy again, and send my colt to a trainer I trust when the baby is born to tune him up. After about three to six months, I'd be ready to go. |
|
| |
|
I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| glideriders - 2013-12-08 1:26 PM
Congratulations! There are so many variables to your question. IMO if you are not using all three horses sell a couple. Down the road you will never regret spending more time with your children. You will regret it if you have kids who end up not being interested in horses and they accuse you of spending more time at the barn than with them. (I do NOT believe in play pens, especially outside, way to many things can happen in a play pen) My son's are both in college now. With my second child I was down to one horse and sent her away for boarding for 4 months, 2 months before delivery. Because with the first child I ended up in the hospital at 7 months, looking back I was lucky one of my horses died and I was then only left with one. I remember a friend of my saying she had paid $55.00 an hour to ride and I said "you got a deal" after my first child I think I rode 3 times the first year so that was a cost of what about $250.00 an hour :) Lucky for me that one horse was one who could sit in the pasture for a year and was good to go. Unless your husband is into the horses and you have tons of money my suggestion is keep one good horse until the kids are like 5 then if they are interested purchase something specific to your needs. The money you save feeding two horses for 5 years will help with the diaper $. Advise, take them to the chiropractor soon after delivery and especially if they are not totally potty trained by two years old.
I could write my own reply but glideriders said everything I was going to say. The only thing I will add is that the only people I know who can make small kids and horses work are the ones who have grandma next door who loves to keep the kids or a husband who is home a lot. I had neither so I gave up horses for several years. My kids will soon start school so I am looking forward to being able to ride again soon.  |
|
| |
|
  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I don't have kids yet. We were supposed to be things didn't work out.
You will get varied replies. There is no shame in giving up everything for your kids, but there is also no shame in working your tail off to still do both. That's all I can say. I have many many friends who slowed down when the time was right, will do anything for their children, and yet still compete just as hard if not harder then I do. Look how many gals have made the NFR and been moms.
If we had carried to term, I had planned on hiring a nanny to come to the house a few hours a day for me to ride when hubby couldn't watch him/her. But I also have a beyond amazingly supportive husband. |
|
| |
|
 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | It's all about your support system and how bad you want it to work. I'm currently carrying twins and my husband just asked me tonight when he could expect me to be back on my gelding. We do everything as a team and it's everyone's task to make sure that the horses get worked and the children get taken care of. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | Hi sweety! congrats kids are a Blessing and the best thing that will ever happen to you! My daughter was born when I was 26 and SINGLE. having my daughter was still the greatest thing that ever happened to me. at the time i had 6 horses and 2 rodeo horses and it was hard, but DO-ABLE! even as a single mommy! on warm days I would bring her out with me and leave her in her play pen in the barn while i fed, watered etc until she cried and when i couldnt put her in her playpen i would hold her in one of those baby slings across my chest while I fed, watered, turned out horses and i was able to ride when my sister came over (about 4 days a week) at the time and took care of her. If you have a husband, I see it being much more do-able. Things get easier by age 3 i found and i was able to get back into the swing of things..keep in mind this was as a single parent with only my sister helping me out a few days a week. God bless you!! |
|
| |
|
 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | Great thread!!  |
|
| |
|
 Sweet Tea
Posts: 3496
Location: Home of the World Famous "Silver Bullet" | Used2B - 2013-12-08 7:44 PM glideriders - 2013-12-08 1:26 PM Congratulations! There are so many variables to your question. IMO if you are not using all three horses sell a couple. Down the road you will never regret spending more time with your children. You will regret it if you have kids who end up not being interested in horses and they accuse you of spending more time at the barn than with them. (I do NOT believe in play pens, especially outside, way to many things can happen in a play pen) My son's are both in college now. With my second child I was down to one horse and sent her away for boarding for 4 months, 2 months before delivery. Because with the first child I ended up in the hospital at 7 months, looking back I was lucky one of my horses died and I was then only left with one. I remember a friend of my saying she had paid $55.00 an hour to ride and I said "you got a deal" after my first child I think I rode 3 times the first year so that was a cost of what about $250.00 an hour :) Lucky for me that one horse was one who could sit in the pasture for a year and was good to go. Unless your husband is into the horses and you have tons of money my suggestion is keep one good horse until the kids are like 5 then if they are interested purchase something specific to your needs. The money you save feeding two horses for 5 years will help with the diaper $. Advise, take them to the chiropractor soon after delivery and especially if they are not totally potty trained by two years old. I could write my own reply but glideriders said everything I was going to say. The only thing I will add is that the only people I know who can make small kids and horses work are the ones who have grandma next door who loves to keep the kids or a husband who is home a lot. I had neither so I gave up horses for several years. My kids will soon start school so I am looking forward to being able to ride again soon.
your life will change. in 18-20 yrs. the kids will be gone. if you put the barn first and blow the mom deal responsibilities your kids pay for the rest of their life. there will always be horses. as they kiddos get older it will get better. (pee wee and jr. rodeos). you can plan on the next few yrs. being wall to wall kids. i hope you have a blast and make many many memories !!! your camera will become your friend. |
|
| |
Folks on-line