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Regular
Posts: 85
  
| I know I made a post about having kids and rodeo'ing and many have said it is possible, (thank you.)
I also know that unless I ask questions, I'll really never learn. I know people are different and I don't really have many people to ask around me because those who did ride and became pregnant, quit so it really doesn't help answer my question.
Those of you who did ride while pregnant, how long did you ride till. Did you just walk or keep the same exercise routine up with your horses. I thought sometime last year I had hear of someone who trained up until they were 8 months pregnant, I think?
I have about 4 horses going now, so I'm curious to when and for how long I'll need to throw them out to pasture unless I can find someone to jockey them..
I have asked my mom, and she did ride with me up until she was told that she no longer should, but she didn't ride every day, and she stepped out of the rodeo world while she was pregnant with me.
Again, I'm sorry for those of you who will get mad over this post, I'm just trying to learn with a first time pregnancy and trying to keep myself from going insane. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1525
  
| I rode /competed til I was 4 months preggo, but I was a whale, I wanted to ride longer but my bladder wouldnt allow it haha, I was so uncomfortable. It's really up to you. I had a horse fall with me about 4 months along...and after that he wouldnt really run for me anyway, he kinda babysat me while I was preggo anyway and wouldnt fire at all. I can say that the baby was fine, I was fine, crap happens but those kiddos have good cushion in there. God knew what he was doing when he made us "houses" for 10 months haha....it was just a freak deal. Women fall all the time a lot further along than me, get into car accidents etc...and everything be fine....I have more of a chance of tripping over my own feet and hurting something than having a horse fall on me bad enough to hurt me I promise you that.
Right after I had K and came home I the hospital I think I gave it two days and started lunging my horse, who had been turned out from time to time throughout those six months...not to mention I would round pen him for "horse time" here and there and he was fairly young. I had a 15 stich episiodamy...I was sore...but 12 days later I was on my horse loping circles and 2 days after I got on him I was at a big 2 day barrel race in Lovington...all 86lbs over weight haha....the next weekend I won the 4d saddle average at the D&G in Hamilton :) I was on the same horse that fell with me originally and quit running...he is just solid as all get out and all I had to do was sit in the middle and he took really good care of me. He is a 1d 2d horse normally...but if you have one that you really trust I say ride until you get uncomfortable...and then spend time with them in the roundpen or running them around the arena or pasture. Ride as soon as the bleeding slows down and you feel comfortbale. Your horses will be in reasonable shape...You on the other hand will think that you can just get on and be just as athletic..and you arent lol..but your mind tells you that you are. So when you get back on make sure you do on something nice and solid and safe and have fun. Like I said....I came home from the hospital...two days later started lunging for two weeks. Stiches healed, I rode and tuned him up for two days and then I entered :)
Congrats by the way!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
      Location: The best kept secret in TX | I think it's all personal preferance really. Your body will let you know when it's time to stop riding and when it's time to start again. Talk to your doctor or midwife and let them help you make the best decision for the both of you.
I did lots of ground work with my boy. My Midwife highly discouraged me from riding but did encourage me to spend time outside with the horses because it made me happy and gave me a good work out. Even tho I was in shape, everything hurt and I was so tired all the time that I had just enough energy to work my gelding on the lunge line and then go to bed after work. Eventually my Midwife suggested that I have my SO feed for me because of the weight of the buckets and because I am so short I have to lift them over my head to pour them over into the feed pails.
Keep in mind that even after you deliver you will still need to take it easy for at least 6 weeks due to risk of post partum hemmorage. I know I personally was up and walking around my house an hour after I delivered at home. But the next three days all I wanted to do was sleep. By weeke two I was outside feeding and doing chores with my baby swaddled next to me in a wrap. The horses loved seeing her and smelling her.
Again, it's all personal preferance. Some women feel comfortable riding until 8 months and some women don't feel it's safe to ride at all. Some women have energy to ride until 8 months and some dread the thought of riding LOL Just know that no one knows what's best for you, your body, and your baby except you. |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
     
| I rode up until I was about 4 months along. The weather made me stop before my body did. I will say though, that I quit competing after my mare tripped really hard during a run and thank goodness she saved me because it could have been bad. So I quit competing and just rode her after that - until the weather made me quit. Congrats! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
     Location: Northwest Florida | I've never had a child, but I have a friend who is currently 5 months and still riding! Not racing, but pleasure/trail riding and light arena work, and says she will continue to ride until she physically can't get up there anymore:) |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
        Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I competed (barrel raced) until 22 weeks, I didn't even start showing until after that. I dinked around at home on my solid open horse when I got the urge but otherwise I didn't really ride after that. Would I ride that long again, I'm not sure, probably not. It's all a personal decision and as long as you are safe.
Good luck! |
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Regular
Posts: 85
  
| I'm going to message you!
I believe you commented on my last post and you were so sweet and helpful and encouraging about having a little one and rodeo'ing. |
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Regular
Posts: 85
  
| Thank you, and thank you to those who commented with such wonderful advice.
I think Jackie J also said she trained/competed up until a certain time, (I believe I saw it on FB last year before her little one.)
I ride 3-4-5 head, a day and I'm so used to that I'm not sure what to think if i feel like I don't "want" too! LOL
Was just curious to how many of those actually competed while pregnant, as I plan to on my old faithful, until I feel uncomfortable and showing to the point that I'm not comfortable and then I will have someone jockey them from there out.
Like I said, those that I know have little ones that used to rodeo, no longer do.
I didn't really wanna feel like the odd ball out at rodeos who has a baby.
I have a very good support group and husband who has spoken that we will do whatever it takes for the baby and to get back out on the road. Which I'm very thankful for.
I have friends and family who are willing to come with me to barrel races and help watch my baby (when he/she) arrives which is also a relief and my parents and family want to keep her on the weekends for 2-3 day barrel races.
So again, THANK YOU for your advice.
I hope none of you guys think Im weird for asking questions like these on here!
Just trying to learn. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
        Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Grandma has been a big help with me, my husband and I each have hobbies so sometimes we are going different directions on the weekends so I'll drag my mom with me to watch my son. I'm very lucky to have that option! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
    Location: White Mountains of AZ | How far along are you? I'm almost 8 weeks and have been wondering all this as well lol. I know my mom said I need to quit riding immediately, but that would kill my back and I'd get sad. But I have been feeling so crappy lately that I hardly have the "motivation" to do anything but get sick and sleep :( |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
       Location: Missouri | IRunOnFaith - 2015-10-15 1:08 PM
I think it's all personal preferance really. Your body will let you know when it's time to stop riding and when it's time to start again. Talk to your doctor or midwife and let them help you make the best decision for the both of you.
I did lots of ground work with my boy. My Midwife highly discouraged me from riding but did encourage me to spend time outside with the horses because it made me happy and gave me a good work out. Even tho I was in shape, everything hurt and I was so tired all the time that I had just enough energy to work my gelding on the lunge line and then go to bed after work. Eventually my Midwife suggested that I have my SO feed for me because of the weight of the buckets and because I am so short I have to lift them over my head to pour them over into the feed pails.
Keep in mind that even after you deliver you will still need to take it easy for at least 6 weeks due to risk of post partum hemmorage. I know I personally was up and walking around my house an hour after I delivered at home. But the next three days all I wanted to do was sleep. By weeke two I was outside feeding and doing chores with my baby swaddled next to me in a wrap. The horses loved seeing her and smelling her.
Again, it's all personal preferance. Some women feel comfortable riding until 8 months and some women don't feel it's safe to ride at all. Some women have energy to ride until 8 months and some dread the thought of riding LOL Just know that no one knows what's best for you, your body, and your baby except you.
This. One day at about 18 weeks, I climbed on and I just felt super off. Decided then that I was time to quit. Your body will tell you. I did a lot of ground work after that.
Granted, I stopped competing when I found out I was pregnant, but hopefully that helps answer your question about riding in general :) |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
       
| My doctor said to do whatever I was doing until I became uncomfortable doing it. But she did also tell me if I ended up taking an extended break, more than a week, then I should probably consider quitting until the baby was born.
I ran until I was 6 months. |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
     
| Not trying to scare you but I was competing on old faithful when she took the hard trip - she literally saved me and I shudder to think what could have happened. I know the same could have happened just riding too but I made the decision to quit competing after that. But I know ladies who have competed up through 7 months or so with no problems! |
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Posts: 1718
    Location: Southeast Louisiana | I stopped riding when I was about three months along. But, it was more the weather that kept me from riding, it rained a lot here, and then I was too big when the weather was better. When the little one was newborn, I literally could not bear to be away from him for more than a few minutes. My husband watched him while he slept, I went out to the barn, but I was SO distracted. I fed and finished as fast as I could so I could get back to lurking over my sleeping baby, lol. That went on til he was about eight or nine months. It's much better now (he's only 14 mo's). I never thought I would be like that, but so much about having a baby has surprised me, or I surprised myself I should say. It's amazing how much instinct kicked in and took over. Now, I could put in the riding time with ONE horse maybe and get back to it, but quite honestly I don't have that good of a support system in place. I will have to wait til he is a little bigger before I can start competing again. ...and now I really, really *NEED* a LQ trailer, lol. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 876
       Location: Wisconsin | I competed until I was about 6 months. I quit riding when I was too big to fit in my saddle. My butt fit but my belly started to touch the horn. I had a few stitches but was back on about a week after I had my son and was competeing again 4 weeks after I had him. I had a solid horse at the time and I work a VERY physical job. I worked until I had him and was back to work 11 days later. My doctor was amazing and told me if it was something I did before I was prenant I could continue and after I had him she told me as long as it didn't hurt I could do it. I was actually unloading hay 3 days after I had him. People didn't like it and they all had something to say about it. I think if you know your body, your body will tell you what is right. Also everyone is different! There is nothing wrong with just enjoying being pregnant. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
  
| I competed until about 5 months, rode at home for another few weeks after that. I quit because it was August in Louisiana and the heat was making me naucious. I was hardly showing. I took it upon myself to decide when to stop, my doctor was not a horse person and people from the outside looking in usually think because you ride horses you must ride broncs or something lol. My little girl is healthy as they come. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 234
   Location: Oklahoma | I rodeo 6-8 head a day and competed till I was about 5 months along. I would of rode longer but a close friend of ours got in a freak accident well we were at a barrel race, and it freaked the husband out so I was cut off after that. But he just wanted us to be safe so I couldnt get to upset even tho I just wanted to keep em rode. Winter was coming so I wasnt to sad about turning em out. I started riding exactly 2 weeks after I had her also, took it slow the first week but got right back into the swing of things pretty quick. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 396
      Location: Iowa | WranglersCinch - 2015-10-15 12:52 PM I know I made a post about having kids and rodeo'ing and many have said it is possible, (thank you.) I also know that unless I ask questions, I'll really never learn. I know people are different and I don't really have many people to ask around me because those who did ride and became pregnant, quit so it really doesn't help answer my question. Those of you who did ride while pregnant, how long did you ride till. Did you just walk or keep the same exercise routine up with your horses. I thought sometime last year I had hear of someone who trained up until they were 8 months pregnant, I think? I have about 4 horses going now, so I'm curious to when and for how long I'll need to throw them out to pasture unless I can find someone to jockey them.. I have asked my mom, and she did ride with me up until she was told that she no longer should, but she didn't ride every day, and she stepped out of the rodeo world while she was pregnant with me. Again, I'm sorry for those of you who will get mad over this post, I'm just trying to learn with a first time pregnancy and trying to keep myself from going insane.
My best friend became pregnant last year...she rode and competed until November, she was due end of February. Lucky for her, she is very fit and had a very healthy pregancy so she was able to run until six month pregnant. Since it was winter here, she was able to put her horse away for the off season and leg her back up in time to compete in May.
Hauling with her baby was the funnest thing this summer. She got a very good stroller so with two of us, it was a breeze to have both of us hauling and competing while babysitting. I think it is going to be based on the health of you and your baby on how long you can ride and when you can start up again. And if you are due right in the middle of the season or off season can determine if you want to give your some off time or keep them legged up or not. |
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