[shesinthebarn]

Hey! Just wondering what the general concensus is on this...
I'm 21 weeks preggo and have started prepping for showmanship at a few local shows in the early summer before baby arrives. I've told a few people that I want to show pregnant, and they all think I'm nuts! A few people said the judges woluld not like it. They said something about not wanting to see a pregnant lady running with a horse in an arena....
And the whole clothing thing is a delemma too. I am still searching for a good outfit. I just don't want to waste my time and what little energy I have prepping for this if I have like NO shot, KWIM?
I need some honest opinions here.

 

[Crimsonhorse01]

That ticks me off...
I say go for it. You should stay as active as you were before the pregnancy. I would say you would probably have to get cloths tailored. I just bought a size up on western shirts and the stretchy Aurora pants during mine. Good luck!

 

[ivorygold1195]

I think you should defiantly do it!! My riding instructor has done it multiple time! She has even showed riding when she was pregnant!

 

[My Beau]

I also say go for it, it's much safer than riding while pregnant. And it's not like you're sprinting across the arena...
Have fun!

 

[SmoothTrails]

I'd say go for it and tell them to kiss it if they have anything to say. It's your decision, and if you are active before your pregnancy then you should be just fine now. I know at least one rider in my area that rode and showed her horses within weeks of her due date!!! (not saying its good or bad, but it is possible for some people...personally I would be too scared)

 

[Honeysuga]

Show preggers show!! lol Who cares if they like it, I think it says something about your love of what you do if you keep doing it while pregnant. Have you tried anything on the idea we came up with in the other thread?

One bit of advice I will give, if if you are going to have to be doing any trotting, wear something supportive over your belly under your clothes, they have special belly supporters for runners and such when they are pregnant, you could look into them. They will save you a lot of back pain and bouncing baby belly lol.

Anyone gives you crap, just tell em " I'm pregnant, not dead!"

 

[shesinthebarn]

Well, this is my opinion - I'm pregnant, not sick or crippled. I Do 15 stalls every day, haul hay and feed, so why can't I do showmanship? I have just gotten a lot of negative comments about it, mostly from men. I think that many people still have it in their minds that when you are pregnant, you are a shy violet, a wilting lily...
HS, yes I have looked into what we were talking about in the other thread(show clothes). My problem is still the jacket. I'm pretty tall, and the jackets are not fitting right so far. I'm still searching.

 

[Peetz]

There is nothing wrong with you doing showmanship. They should have no issues with it either. Heck, I look 20 weeks pregnant on a bad day, so if they are guessing they would be guessing half of us pregnant. LOL. sorry, but it's true, me included. ( or maybe just me. hahahah) As you well know a healthy pregnancy can not stop you from doing what you have been doing prior to pregnancy, so if you must explain that to a concerned judge [ as I am sure they are just concerned for your safety, right] then do so, they may welcome the education.
Just be sure to post some pregger pics of you showing! Nothing like getting yer kiddos an early start in the horse biz. :-}

 

[PaintsPwn]

Ha, If I lived near you, I'd strap on a faux belly in a heart beat and trot right in behind you XD

 

[AppyLover615]

Go for it, as long as it is safe (you seem just as active around horses as if you weren't pregnant too, so obviously, your body can handle it).

I knew one lady who was an aerobics instructor throughout her whole pregnancy, it definitely didn't hurt her or the baby in any way and people were amazed

~AL615

 

[Curly_Horse_CMT]

Go for it You know your body. No one else does. Good luck, and have fun!

 

[my2geldings]

I've told a few people that I want to show pregnant, and they all think I'm nuts! A few people said the judges woluld not like it. They said something about not wanting to see a pregnant lady running with a horse in an arena....

I don't think you're nuts at all! why not do it! You have had a healthy pregnancy right, and you considered a high risk pregnancy right?

I think it would be great for you and the baby, just be careful the horse you take doesn't bully you around(kick you, shove you etc). What you will be doing is really not any different than what you would be doing at home or around your home. There might a little bit of running, but I really wouldn't consider that of any significance.

Have fun!

 

[shesinthebarn]

Thanks! I'm gonna keep at it and try a local show in a month or so. I found a jacket at Hobby Horse that I think will work. I'll just have to move the button up and get a super long slinky for underneath. It's kinda pricey, but if I can move the button back and use it next season than maybe I can justify it. I'll take some belly pics for you!

 

[my2geldings]

Thanks! I'm gonna keep at it and try a local show in a month or so. I found a jacket at Hobby Horse that I think will work. I'll just have to move the button up and get a super long slinky for underneath. It's kinda pricey, but if I can move the button back and use it next season than maybe I can justify it. I'll take some belly pics for you!

Good for you! Please do post pictures

 

[AppyLover615]

Good for you! Please do post pictures

Ditto

~AL615

 

[snoggle]

Physical activity is great during pregnancy - whatever you do when you're not pregnant, is fine to do when you are pregnant, as long as you're comfy, etc. I HATE the "you're pregnant so you should be a couch potato" mentality. Unfortunately, some women buy into it. I do some prenatal care and nothing bugs me more than a perfectly healthy, but whiney, pregnant girl who acts like she's dying the whole time. Pregnancy may be uncomfortable, but it is not an illness or a crisis.

I know I posted this on another thread about pregnancy a while back, but here is my take on pregnancy. Pregnancy usually ends with something we call "Labor". Labor means work - and it is hard, physical work to deliver a baby. How are you supposed to do nothing for 9 months and then finish up with hours and hours of hard physical labor? It makes sense for you to stay as active as possible, doing what you love! Would you run a marathon after not running at all for 9 months?

If it is men that give you crap about showing while pregnant, remember, most men are wusses - they'd never survive pregnancy, let alone labor!

 

[nirvana]

GO FOR IT! It seems times havent changed that much, people still have the mentality of women doing things while being pregnant unacceptable. In the 50's/60's women were forced to give up their job if they got pregnant!

The way I see it is that by having a baby your already giving up alot of things, why should you have to give up your one true passion?

If the judges have a problem with it then its too bad they cant look at the big picture.