|
|
Regular
Posts: 57
| I know it's a "to each their own" type thing, but what are your opinions?
I'm currently 9 weeks along, and my last barrel race will be next month. I was planning on riding until November getting her as ready as possible to be competitive next year. Then I can ride in the indoor until December/January just keeping her in shape, but not running her. After that I'll just do ground work.
The Dr says he doesn't think it will hurt the baby, but if something did happen with all the jarring around he would hate to have told me it will be ok. He would rather me just trail ride.
Personal opinions on this? Has any of you kept running in shows? |
|
| |
|
 "Hottie"
Posts: 1373
 
Location: Okemah,OK | I rode / legged up / exercised my two older geldings at home until I was about 5 months. Planned on going until 6 but we had lots of rain and mud. My doctor wasn't too keen on it period but her main concern was a horse falling. I agreed with her on that and even my best, safest ones have fallen during a run. I also had a friend that was about one month further along than me. She had a horse do a hard stop at a closed gate, she hit the horn with her stomach, spent three days in the hospital because she started leading amniotic fluid. So I opted not to run barrels once I found out I was pregnant. I had a finals at about the 5 month mark and I had a couple of friends run my boys. Still got to go, watch, wrap legs, etc but no runs for me. Also, that is about the time I started to feel uncomfortable, jeans didn't fit so good, would get tired easily, etc so my brain kind of told me it was time to get off. I don't begrudge anyone that wants to keep going though. I know a lot of girls that do and have zero problems. |
|
| |
|
The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | I didn't at all. That little life was worth more to me than time in the saddle. I ended having two very high-risk pregnancies, and IF I HAD been riding - nobody would have ever been able to convince me that riding didn't cause our complications.
There are so many variables involved with horses, even with the most trusted and honest ones, it just wasn't worth the risk. |
|
| |
|
 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I rode til I was 6 mos pregnant. My Dr told me it was ok to do because I always rode. I stopped when it became uncomfortable.
I only trail rode then, tho. I hadn't taken up barrel racing yet lol |
|
| |
|
Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | When you choose to become pregnant you become 100% responsible for a life that cannot protect itself, so ask yourself if you can live with the results if the worst were to happen. Riding is no big deal, but chit happens and the gentlest of horses can come unglued, the most sure footed horse can stumble and fall. I personally don't think a few months of not riding is much of a sacrifice to insure the health and well being of a precious life. |
|
| |
|
Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | It's a personal decision. It's not the act of riding that's a problem...it's the risk of some incident causing the problem. The only time in my life I had a wreck on my 19 yr. old steady eddy was when I was 8 weeks pregnant. It wasn't even bad, mostly a hard twisty step-off. I started bleeding a few hours later and ended up in the hospital for a week. The placenta had torn away in one area. They got it stopped and a few weeks later I bled again, back in the hospital for another week, placenta still tearing away. I was put on full time bedrest not even permission to stand to cook from 17 weeks until delivery. Given shots to mature her lungs at 25 weeks and prepared for delivery at any time. In the end she was staying put and I had a c-section at 42 weeks.  I chose not to ride at all with my 2nd.
Some people ride every day and are never put out. One of my jumper trainers was schooling some, of mine over 5'6" fences a few times a week clear to when she was deep into her last month. More power to her. The stress of what really, in our everyday horse-riding was such a minor dismount, caused more problems than we would have expected and wasn't worth risking that again and by that time the next year I had younger hotter minded prospects. Nah, I let hubby keep them worked, I was ok taking a break for the 2nd one. I've been chasing Irish Twins and riding goofy OTTB's since. I barely remember the time off. 
Edited by Tilt The Kilt 2015-09-15 7:54 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 365
| I stopped running at 13 weeks, and riding above a walk at 4 months. I stopped running because I didn't want to risk something happening. I stopped really riding because my body just couldn't take it, pregnancy really killed my hips and back. I didn't mind the break, neither did my horse. My opinion I just don't think it's worth risking. |
|
| |
|
  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | I didn't. I knew that if for some reason I got into an accident and something happened to my unborn child I would never forgive myself. It just wasn't worth the risk. |
|
| |
|
 Works Hard For The Money
Posts: 4469
Location: Memphis, TN | My first I was hell bent to ride no matter what. Fell off at 11 weeks in a freak deal and didn't get back on again. My second I competed until about 10 weeks but the fatigue and nausea killed any chances of me being competitive. I stopped running and tried to continue riding but I would start cramping every time I rode so I quit all together. I'm on my third and I haven't rode since I took the test. I'm 26 weeks now and lose my balance just walking. It's just not worth it to me. The horses love the break and they deserve it. They'll be there when I'm ready again. I was riding 3 weeks after my second. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | I chose to stop competing as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Called a friend and asked if she wanted to borrow my horse that weekend. Competing just wasn't worth the risk to me personally. I trust my horse but like someone else said, chit happens, you can't control the ground and falls and spills do happen.
I rode lightly (walk and trot only) til about 18 weeks I think. Then my balance changed. I just felt off and I could tell it was time to stop.
Like someone else mentioned, I hardly noticed the time off. Heck, my baby is almost 11 months old and I've yet to go to a barrel race. Life just keeps happening.... |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 495
Location: Washington | Rode with both of mine. With my 1st up to 2 weeks before I had her, she was two weeks early. I stopped competing by 4 months but kept riding in the arena or down the trail.
With the second I got sciatica really bad, to the point I couldn't pick my own feet up to put shoes on and doc was talking PT. Well I had a horse for sale and had to show him. Surprisingly enough it helped the sciatica! I was put on bed rest with her at 33 weeks for preterm labor, I had her at 37 weeks. Second pregnancy was horrible, to the point I get panic attacks thinking about being preggo again lol
Doc with first daughter said I couldn't even ride a bike so a sure didn't tell him I was riding. Used a different Doc with the second and when he asked what I was doing to help the sciatica, he just shook his head and said, you know what I'm going to tell you. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 210
| I didn't ride at all. I tried to walk around a few times and it was uncomfortable for whatever reason at about two months so I figured my body was trying to tell me something. I was pregnant all winter so riding in the winter wasn't really that big of a deal anyway BC its so dang cold and windy here.
The life of my baby far outweighed my selfish need to ride horses. I couldn't have lived with my self if something bad would have happened. It wasn't worth it. My horse got plenty of brushing, bathing and lunging though  |
|
| |
|
 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | SC Wrangler - 2015-09-15 7:29 PM When you choose to become pregnant you become 100% responsible for a life that cannot protect itself, so ask yourself if you can live with the results if the worst were to happen. Riding is no big deal, but chit happens and the gentlest of horses can come unglued, the most sure footed horse can stumble and fall. I personally don't think a few months of not riding is much of a sacrifice to insure the health and well being of a precious life.
It's not worth the risk.
If I had ridden with the twins there's no telling what might have happened. My pregnancy was super easy with them, no morning sickness, just cruising along until I was 19 weeks and then all hell broke loose. The first bleeding episode put me in the hospital for four days...if I had been out on a horse when it happened, it could have been devastating. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 214
| You will hear all kinds of opinions on this, just the tip of the ice berg as far as babies/kids go so I guess its good practice :)
Personally I quit running/riding, I knew that if something happened and my horse fell I would never forgive myself and not sure I could bring myself to continue riding. I did go on the occasional lap around our arena at a walk on my old babysitter horse. In the grand scheme of things its a very short time to take a little vacation. My horses enjoyed it, I enjoyed it and I think I came back with more drive than I had before. Our perfect little girl is 10 months now and the center of our world! I kept busy doing other things while pregnant, you know those house projects you always put off because you need to get your horses rode? I got those done, and spent a lot of time prepping for our baby! Congrats and enjoy, it really does fly by! |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I rode almost every day with my first until 3 weeks before I had him. Keeping the rope horses in shape and working cows. I stayed very active (working out and running as long as I could) and didn't gain much weight, which I think made a big difference, because even with the weight I did put on it made a big change in my balance. I had a c-section and was back riding 2 weeks later. I think a lot of that was because I had stayed in shape during the whole pregnancy.
If I was to get pregnant again, I wouldn't ride near as long as I did with my first, if even at all. With my first, I honestly didn't know what I was risking, but now that I do, and to say if something was to happen, it would be VERY hard to deal with. There will be PLENTY of time to ride after the baby is here (ok just kidding, more like once they get to college ) But all joking aside, I would take the time to focus on yourself, staying healthy & active as possible, and getting REST |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 57
| With my first I didn't ride at all. Hardly any morning sickness and didn't gain much weight. I was very active and felt great! This time I have a horse that I can compete on and would love to keep riding, even if it's only in the small indoor to keep her in shape. So far nothing has changed with my balance, not as exhausted as I was a few weeks ago, and I feel great.
But at the same time while I'm working her I do feel a little nervous that all the jarring could hurt something.. I don't have anyone else to work my horse, but it wouldn't be worth it if something were to happen. I guess I have a decision to make! |
|
| |
|
Location: Wherever the Army sends my husband | I sold my 3 year old filly immediately after finding out I was pregnant. I stopped running my good mare on barrels at 10 weeks but continued walk/trotting the pattern at home until I got big. I still walked the pattern and around the pasture till 38 weeks. I didn't have a high risk pregnancy and I have a VERY broke horse that I felt comfortable with. |
|
| |
|
 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Any activity that carries a significant risk of blunt trauma during pregnancy, including first trimester, also places the baby and mother at risk. You have to decide if it's worth it. Moderate exercise is fine, but things like barrel racing, moto cross, and downhill skiing are stupid, in my opinion. The idea that you can safely engage in any sport during the first trimester is false. |
|
| |
|
 Thread Killer
Posts: 7545
| Bear - 2015-09-16 3:24 PM Any activity that carries a significant risk of blunt trauma during pregnancy, including first trimester, also places the baby and mother at risk. You have to decide if it's worth it. Moderate exercise is fine, but things like barrel racing, moto cross, and downhill skiing are stupid, in my opinion. The idea that you can safely engage in any sport during the first trimester is false.
I know you're a doctor, so let me ask you this: Why do so many doctors "OK" riding? That comes up in these discussions often. Is it because they don't "know" horses and what they are sometimes capable of? Is it because they don't know the extent to which the patient is involved with horses?
I don't really have room to have an opinion...never plan on getting pregnant, but I am curious. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | My gelding got the year off. I worked him from the ground to keep him in shape.
Besides, your priorities will change once you hold that sweet baby in your arms. What you do will center around that sweet baby whether you planned for it to or not.
On a side note: It's easy to go to races with my SO's two children since they are older, but a newborn at a race is downright tough! |
|
| |
Folks on-line