Can you horse ride if pregnant

That advice - dispensed ad nauseam by parents and in-laws, friends, barn mates, random message board subscribers, health care providers, and everyone in between - is almost always well intentioned. That said, for my own sanity, I decided to track down some solicited advice from a few people who actually know a thing or two about riding through pregnancy: Dr. Here, they share their thoughts and first-hand experiences on five aspects of riding throughout pregnancy that every equestrian-mom-to-be will recognize.

The biggest problem with riding while pregnant is that you can fall off or get dumped. As we all know, this can happen to even the most experienced riders. As far as any exercise goes during pregnancy, we want it to become less-impact, lower-impact, and eventually, no impact. With my older daughter, Sophia, I rode through the first trimester, and I continued to compete.

I had a really wonderful mare, Madison, at the time that I had been riding for a long time. I felt really comfortable and was basically reassured by my doctor that it was perfectly safe as long as I felt that way. My 12th week of pregnancy was during the last week of Spruce Meadows, so I rode all the way through Spruce and showed, had a great tour, and then basically to the day once my first trimester was over, I stopped riding and sort of took it easy [from then on].

I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, Luciana, about six years later, and I had gone through a lot to get there. I stopped riding, really, even before I even got pregnant. I had friends that showed until they were months pregnant, and others that just trail rode, or stopped altogether.

You have to kind of find your own comfort zone. I got to a point where, toward the end of that first trimester [with Sophia], my clothes were kind of fitting differently, and I just sort of thought, Am I really going to buy a bigger pair of breeches? So that was sort of a turning point for me. During my first pregnancy, my horse Chatwin was at the Intermediate level and I wanted to move him up myself.

I did that and then stopped competing at five and a half months. Calendar Bidding platform Database Rules Documents. More FEI. Clean Sport. Media Hub. IT Services Hub. Our Partners HUB. Horse riding while pregnant. Exercise and pregnancy Women who exercise during pregnancy may benefit both physically and psychologically with reduction in fatigue, varicose veins and fluid retention.

Now we head towards the 2 nd trimester, where the body of pregnant women continually changes. We are going to elaborate on these situations in-depth in the following sub-headings:. In the 2nd trimester, the baby starts growing, and you need to change your lifestyle. However, at this time baby weighs around 2 pounds. As you approach the end of the second trimester, your baby bump is likely pretty substantial and, making it hard and uncomfortable for the riding.

It may be time to hang up the spurs. In the 2 nd trimester, your body releases high doses of hormones that help pelvic, hip joints, and muscles. As a result, it is easier for the body to stabilize the baby bump. But it works on all the joints and muscles of the body, and it affects the balance that makes horse riding difficult and uncomfortable. Seasonal and environmental risk is also essential, and you have to consider them while making the decision.

By the word seasonal risks we mean, mud, snow, or other challenging situations. Rough terrain and severe weather may give you more challenges than usual. So, your decision to ride or not should take into consideration these factors. For instance, if there are snow and slippery conditions, you need to cancel your ride or make necessary adjustments. If you begin to find riding difficult, you may end up with complications such as:.

There are risks associated with horse riding in the second trimester beyond just falling from the horse.

The third trimester is the crucial period, and you need to take proper care of yourself. Thus, most of the women stop riding during this period, and physicians recommend women avoid horse riding. During the third trimester, the risk of falling and damage increases. As a result of severe injuries, you may lose your child.

However, professional riders spend most of their time with other trainers to improve their skills. It is the best time to observe, learn, and later you can practice all those skills. Moreover, you can remain in touch with your horse; it may improve your relationship with your favorite animal.

Above all, spending time with your horse doing groundwork and relaxing has a calm and soothing effect. Now, you need to remember that you are making decisions for two. Is bowling during pregnancy safe?

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