HELP!!!! can a 3 1/2 month pregnant woman go on a (horse) trail ride?

Question

my wife is severly depressed we leave on a cruze sat. and she had her heart set on a trail ride in couzamel but they say she cant and if it is at all safe i need 2 know its 2 the point 2 where im about 2 cancel the trip

Answer 1

That is an answer best left to up to her and her doctor. Many women feel that riding at any point in a pregnancy is risky, but others are comfortable enough to ride until it's too uncomfortable. How much experience does your wife have with horses? I'd say if the answer is very little, she should wait until after her baby is born. Most of my friend's doctors told them if they have always ridden they could keep riding, but while pregnant is not the time to learn how to ride a horse for the first time. Again, have her call her doctor and discuss it with them.

Answer 2

I love horses too, and it would make me sad not being able to ride (especially if everyone else on the trip is doing it)... BUT: even if the trail is really nice and she rides very slowly,
and even if other people have done it without anything bad happening to the baby,
it is a FACT that there is the risk of the baby getting hurt from the shaking / bumping, and the even worse risk of her falling!

I never thought I could possibly fall from a horse (or with a horse), until I did (from AND with)... and one of the times I fell I wasn't even going fast, the horse just tripped. I was very lucky not to get hurt (I ride since I was a kid, can't even remember my first time).

Most of the places I've read and researched (pregnancy sites, books and articles) recommend for us to avoid certain sports / activities that might cause "impact", shaking or risk of accident, such as:
jogging, high-impact aerobics, contact sports, skiiing, water skiing, and, yes horseback riding!

I wouldn't risk my baby's health and well being even for a most beloved activity... no matter how small is the risk.

I hope you guys find something different to do where your wife can still enjoy... it's not the end of the world, she can do it again to her heart's desire once the baby is born!

Hope I was of any help.

Answer 3

I have been on horses near all my life (50 ) and the rule of thumb with pregnancy is this you really shouldn't start any major exercises you weren't doing BEFORE you got pregnant--so the question here is this Was she riding before?? I rode with three of my four kids and the reason for not the one was I hadn't been riding due to the fact that my horse was ill--so I didn't ride Its not so much as the ride as much as its IF you fall off or get bucked off or run away with--these horses you are going to ride on your trip you know nothing about and chances are they might not allow her to ride due to the insurance risk they would be taking

Answer 4

Pregnant women should not ride horses. You could put her on the soundest, quietest, most bomb-proof horse and the reality is that they are just unpredictable animals. Factors outside of your control could spook the animal and cause it to run off, rear, buck, etc. Just imagine if something did happen, would you and your wife ever be able to forgive yourselves? IT IS JUST NOT WORTH IT.

p.s. I am not trying to make out like horses are "crazed beasts",
but they are indeed an animal that is preyed upon in nature,
causing them to be a "fight or flight" animal when
frightened.

p.p.s. I wouldn't cancel your trip because of this. At 3 1/2 months there still is a lot of things she can do. Think of something else special you can do with her instead of riding.

Answer 5

In a word, yes. Unless she is a good rider, I'd not allow anything beyond a walk. I rode through most of my early pregnancy, and drove a buggy when I couldn't ride. The ordinary motion of riding is not harmful. Falling off could be, so don't take chances by trying faster gaits, and keep safety foremost in your mind. If in doubt, get off the horse and walk it around potentially dangerous situations such as a steep incline.

Answer 6

My daughter's OB told her it is safe for a pregnant woman to ride after the start of the second tri-mester as long as the horse is reasonably safe. Yes, horses can be unpredictable but there are not crazed beasts some seem to view them as. Horses that are used on commercial trail rides are typically as "safe" as any horse out there. If it were me, I would take the cruise and the horse ride.

Answer 7

i rode a horse, at a slow, walking speed until about the 8th month,
of course nearer to the end i got, i stood in the stirrups not sitting on the saddle so as not to hurt the baby, many companies do not want to let you do things that can cause any kind of harm, real or other wise, they are afraid of being sued, there are many other things to do in couzamel, i have been there 2 yrs ago, if you insist on riding, you could get legal help and a contract that states that you will not sue if something happens to the baby or your wife,, dont put off the cruise, it is a beautiful place

Answer 8

If it doesn't make you nauseous, it's not a real risk to you or your baby. A trail ride is not a rough thing. I wouldn't enter into any races, but a casual trail ride is far less dangerous than a car ride.

Answer 9

A freind of mine rode until she was 5 months pregnant but I don't think it's a good idea, it's very dangerous for her and the baby. Rather take her to visit the horses, give them a pat and carrot etc-it's much safer and she'll still get to spend time with horses.

Answer 10

I believe that is something for you to discuss with your doctor. I rode quads at 5 months and up. I had no issues during pregnancy. It all depends. My doctor asked me "Do you fall off?" I said no - and he just said, don't start now..... ha ha Just becareful - If you are unsure - then just pass on the ride.