Riding while prego

[SilverLexi]

Ok I have a chance to breed my APHA mare to a very nice APHA stud. Now what I want to know is I know this will be a late baby but what about riding her this year. I don't have an intentions of running around hell bent but wish to continue her training.

Information would be greatly appreciated.

[Goldun Acres]

As long as you are not intending to increase the amount or strenuosity(did I make that word up? ) of your/her riding - riding actually makes the foaling easier on the mare because it helps keep her muscle toned. I rode my mare till about 3 months before she foaled(except for a little bareback). Plenty of people ride to a month before they foal(I've even heard stories of mares laying down on the trail, foaling, and the rider getting right back on and finishing the ride with the foal at side ).

[Faceman]

Lots of different opinions on this. Personally, I did not ride my broodmares when they were pregnant. Lots of people do without problems, but I never could see where it was worth taking the chance. The extra weight they carry when they are pregnant is not evenly distributed - it is weighting down their back. When you add a rider and tack, it just is a lot of weight and stress on their back.

They can also get cranky if/when their hormones get wacked out.

LIke I say, a lot of people do and have no problems at all. I just never liked taking chances - my broodmares were too important to me. To me it's sort of like backing too young - you can probably do it and get away with it, but why?

[paso_lover]

My mare was incredibibly obese (to the point I wasn't sure if pregnant or just fat). She looks awsome now and is very much infoal, due end of august-sept. She rides fine, lost the necessary weight needed and after her last ride with me on her the other day, my daughter will take over that job now since she's 10. I try to keep it at a walk but her being peruvian she wants to go at her own pace so we do her slowest gait and she still wants to go faster .