Riding while pregnant, safe?

I am eight weeks pregnant I own a mustang mare is it safe to ride while I am pregnant? If not how soon can I start back up?
Thanks,
Amber

I don't think there's anyone who will tell you that it's 'safe' to ride while you're pregnant. Horses are animals with minds of their own, all horses are dangerous to a degree... and even the calmest horse can spook and dump their rider and yes, a fall can hurt your baby. It's a very personal decision that you need to make with the input of your doctor and decide if that is a risk you are willing to take.
As for starting back up, my coach was riding less than a week after she had her baby.

I want to know about this too-- it does seem kind of selfish to put the baby at such a high risk, but I don't think I could go 9 months with out having at least a few rides.

A friend of mine said you could do almost anything like riding horses, quads, dirtbikes, and some other things up untill 6 months.

I would definitely have a talk with the doctor.. and if my horse is calm enough-- maybe invest in an endurance saddle, and have the baby daddy pony you around? :)

^im not suggesting you do this.

It's dangerous to ride in a car, it's dangerous to live period! If you ride a quiet, well broke horse, it's a calculated risk. No, I didn't ride green horses when I was pregnant but I did ride an old mare from time to time, I also went downhill skiing. It's your decision.

My mom rode while she was pregnant with both me and my brother, she rode an older, well broke horse and was very careful.
Her doctor told her that since she was riding every day already and it was an exercise her body was used to it wouldn't put too much stress on her. If you have never ridden before and decide to hop up on a horse for the first time while you are pregnant it is a different story. It depends on what your body is used to and the risk you are willing to take.

My doctor told me the same thing. I rode while pregnant with both my kids. I also rode a horse who is as bomb proof as they come (parade horse who always got stuck next to the fire truck who's lights and sirens were blaring). I also rode my quad. But these were done in moderation and I kept everything very slow paced. As soon as my belly started to throw off my balance I quit riding. I started back up the first week of my first and the second was a c-section so I couldn't start back up for well over a month. Use your best judgement and never ride alone, just in case.
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That seems like a question to ask your doctor. Also, it depends on your horse's temperament. I would not be riding a high strung horse that likes to buck/rear in any stage of my pregnancy, but I would most definitely get on the 'been there done that' trail horse.

A friend of my mom's went to two doctors when she was pregnant- she was big into both skiing and horseback riding. One said she could ski and not horseback ride, the other said she could horseback ride and not ski. Needless to say, she did both! Be careful, and use good judgement.

I couldn't go 9 months without riding, I would ride until the baby weight was throwing me off/if there were complications.
But if you are really worried about it, but want to keep riding. The next best thing would be to look into driving. Take up lessons or find a friend who drives. (:

As said before, it's a personal choice. For me, I decided it was too risky. Parenthood is all about sacrifice, and I decided that I could not possibly go into parenthood starting off in a way that I considered selfish - knowingly risking the life of my unborn child. But, as I said, that is just how I felt.