Fresh Ideas for Groundwork?

So I'm on maternity leave ( 8 months along and counting down the days!) I've got more time than ever to play with my own horses since I'm not working now (ever try trimming horses with a baby in you and it's 75% humidity? )

I have been slowing down in what I can do with my own horses, tapered off to just riding at a walk in the pen, but now it's uncomfortable to straddle a horse. I want to keep them fit and mentally sharp and not lose the WHOLE season, since I'm due in July, I know their training will be neglected to a point for the rest of this summer between baby and going back to work.

I've been longing (both free and on a line) hand walking down the road, line driving down the road and working on voice commands. I would like to work on obstacles, but don't want to risk them jumping over something and knocking me down since I'm getting slower and clumsier. Not that they are spooky-I have some of the mellowest horses you've seen, but they ARE horses.....

I've been grooming them within inches of their lives and letting them in the yard to eat grass while I sit in a lawn chair reading books.

So any ideas on what a fat pregnant woman can do with her horses to keep them sharp (and gives me an excuse to be with them while I can!) ? I'm really stumped for ideas right now.

Hubby has been working overtime to make up for my income loss, so he's too busy to ride his own horse.

Man... You about have it all covered! I had a couple ideas but the more I read your post you have been doing what I was thinking! When I have the horses in the yard, I sometimes put baby carrots where they like to graze. Kind of in their favorite spots so I don't waste the carrots. It is kind of fun to see the surprize when they find them... I don't know if it really surprizes them or if they are just like..mmm...carrot...lol...but I like watching them find 'em! I would think that it stimulates them somewhat.

Being that far along in the pregnancy I found that my "waddle" prevented me from doing a lot of things.

If I think of something better, I'll come back and post.

What about setting up mini-obstacle course..more like things you could lead them through/ around instead of jumping. Lawn chairs and the baby stroller may be a playpen... things they are not used to.

If you have that good of horses I wouldn't say they would lose much while you are tending to the little one.

But they're my "babies" too! They will suffer without my attention!!!! Just kidding, I'm just trying to get all the horse time I can, while I can. They know something is up..smelling my bump and nuzzling it.

If I had my "druthers" I'd be having the baby in winter so I wouldn't miss as much good "horsin' " weather.


Well, the carrot thing I'll probably try. It will entertain ME if nothing else.

Exactly... I get a kick out of hiding the carrots and watching them find it.... They are probably just thinking...cool..she's at it again! :roll: LOL

Well some thing that I tought my horse to do was to give kisses, all I have to do now is pat my chest just benith by throut and he streches his nose out and they kiss his nose lol, he gives kissing all day long to me, I feel its a great way to so just how much I love him lol,
When he has an apple or carrot he also says please, I hold the tip bit in frount of him and say to him, what do you say? And without fall he winnies to get his treat.
Some people say don't humanise them but I think its cute,
So you could teach you horse to give kisses and say please.

To keep muscles suttle I do bending work,
My horse stands freely in the yard and I have 4 carrots normally. I stand to his left flank and hold one carrot out so he streches round and reaches the carrot, I do the same on the right, then I stand infront of him and hold the carrot as high as I can so he strechs to get it, next I bend down next to him facing foward and hold the carrot inbetween his frount legs so then he strechs down and bows to get the carrot. That's just and easy way to keep him flexed when not doing a large amount of work!!

That's just a few thing I do with my horse that should hopfully be comfortable for you to do

Aww the kisses one is a good idea!!

Thanks for the ideas! :)

Why not teach some ground "tricks" -- saying please by picking up a front foot and touching his nose to his knee; dancing by alternating the please foot; bowing (though that might be a bit difficult for you right now); saying "yes" or "no" . You get lots of attention with that kind of stuff and it's fun to do!

Maybe trying the 7 Parelli games too! ;) They're always fun.

Sorry, I just thought of this and it might be completely dumb.......

I was thinking you could teach them a trick called "where's the baby" and when you say that they put their nose on your belly, I think it'd be really cute