I am currently 15 weeks pregnant. Exciting, right? Well, I can say that I am not one of those people that 'loves' being pregnant, but I'm sure I'll love my little bugger once he/she gets here. It's just getting there.. blah lol 

But anyway, I am still riding my mare but I have opted out of doing any speed events anymore and we are just doing walking/trotting and moseying around. I will not trail ride, even though she does pretty good I would not classify her as the best trail horse.  I am planning to ride her as long as my body allows. But she definitely is the "I want to a job," kind of mare. When you get on her she's ready to work. She is very safe and controllable.. but before I got pregnant I had an agenda for her which is staying legged up to run on the weekends, and now.. now.. that has come to a complete halt and I don't know what to do. I enjoy having something to work towards. I have looked into liberty training as I think she will be a good candidate and I could safely do it on the ground. 

But my question is, for those who have been pregnant and still wanted to do things with their horse.. what do you do? I'd hate to watch her sit for the remaining 5ish months and not do anything with her, and I would like to be able to be in riding shape after the baby comes so I can have my few moments of peace in between the sleepless months that are to come. 

Ground work, trick training, learn about positive reinforcement training. Or just hang out with her, groom her, go for walks. And congratulations! 

LB lost her barrel mare last year, so she doesn't have one to be competing on right now anyway.  But she's so sick that she wouldn't be able to ride if she had a horse. She's around 11 weeks and is NOT having a fun pregnancy so far!  

Congratulations!

Congratulations!!

I agree with a previous post. Ground work, reinforcement, lunging (keeps horses in shape), and liberty.

I know some people lease their horses, or send them out to a trainer for 30-60 days. That can also be an option.

Thanks all, I am really looking into doing Liberty training with my girl. I have realized though when I do ride or work with her, I get SO wiped out! Pregnancy is a blessing in its own right, but it is exhausting. 

Sorry to hear about LB! I was fortunate, while I was nauseous often I was ever rarely sick during my first trimester. I slept a lot though, my energy level has gone up a bit since moving into the 2nd, but I notice after a day or two of being very active, I have a take a day to recover. 

Leasing is not really an option and I don't want to send her off to a trainer. She is a finished horse and I like her the way she is :) 

My husband team roped on my horse while I was pregnant.

Let them gain sympathy weight. :)

Mine sat... and I have a lot of them! lol I did let some handy kids come and rope on a few sometimes and I enjoyed watching that so much! If you can afford to keep her throughout then don't feel guilty about letting one sit. It doesn't hurt them and you are in a new phase of life - embrace it. I did not enjoy pregnancy what so ever but I did take the opportuity to focus on doing things other than riding (which is my entire life). I read books, did manes and tails, got caught up on cleaning, got all the paperwork for the horses in order. My biggest thing was not feeling guilty for letting the horses sit, and that took some time. I still struggle with it and my little man is 9 months old now. I am back to working horses full time but there are days and times I tell myself to not feel guilty and go enjoy my son instead of stressing over getting another one rode - because I know soon enough that he will be old enough to run around and ride with me.

First of all, congratulations!! I'm not pregnant and never have been but when that time comes, I will most likely see if my best friend would like to haul my mare and enter her in some barrel races. That being said, if she doesnt want to or doesnt have the time I wont have any problem letting the horses sit and get fat(ter). I'm a big beleiver in breaks and periodically giving them time off. As far as doing things at home while you are not able to ride....I would just say lunging a few times a week to keep her in shape. 

I rode and raced until I was 7 months, but only my two steady-eddies, no youngsters etc. I stayed pretty small up until the end of my pregnancy though. After that, I free lunged in the arena to keep them in shape, but they did end up sitting (nothing more than turn out) for about 2 months total. Had my baby 5/11, raced again at the end of July. Letting them sit isnt the worst thing in the world. 

Congratulations!!