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[RC] riding during and after pregnancy - Laura HayesAs Angie said, this is a really personal decision. She chose to NOT ride, I chose to continue. I rode all through my pregnancy (he will be 19 next month) as well as competing. I rode a 50 miler (Frantic in Ohio) at 7.5 months along. I was third, but really took it easy. Mind you, I was 24 years old, had ridden all my life, and was fit as a fiddle from a college distance swimming career. I rode the evening before my son was born (bareback, even) and did a 50 miler (Y Bar U in Penn) when he was 3 weeks old. I nursed him at the checks. So ok, I am extreme....I felt great, was careful who and where I rode. I know as well as anyone that any horse can be bad, but at 24 I thought I was invincible. My son is 6'4", never had so much as an earache all his life, and won $24,000 (yes, thousand) worth of scholarships to college. I don't believe I hurt him a bit dragging him to rides and nursing him after jogging into a check, though one woman told me I was ruining my milk being so sweaty!! I can still picture him sound asleep in a nip nap on a table during a live band and dance after a ride!! Some risks are real, and it is best to really think hard about them and speak to your doctor. My doctor was an athlete and is still a close friend and very supportive, so he understood my desire to keep riding. He said the biggest risk would be if I were hurt and needed x-rays. I had never been hurt at that point (and only twice since that needed x-rays, with nothing ever broken) so I didn't think it was a big risk. My husband understood, and as a rider, was ok with it. After having a baby, it was even more important to me to ride. I had a standing Wed night date with a friend to leave the baby with dad and go riding for several hours. I also traded horseshoeing for babysitting, or traded babysitting with a riding friend - taking turns watching each other's kids to be able to ride. I took a babysitter with me to rides (she is a vet now!) and traded her riding lessons and board for babysitting. Every few en durance rides I would sit out and let her ride my horse. She was very appreciative and loved my son. I would never in the world chose riding, endurance, or horses over being a mom, but I was able to have both and I am very grateful. Laura Hayes AERC#2741 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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