Is horseback riding safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about horseback riding during pregnancy?

1. Horseback riding is named among the fall-risk activities to avoid during pregnancy, alongside gymnastics, skiing and surfing. 1
2. Riding animals, bicycles or motorcycles presents risks for falls, accidents and abdominal trauma, which is why federal travel health guidance flags all three for pregnant travelers. 2
3. Injury rates are especially high among event riders, with frequent falls, injuries and even deaths recorded at equestrian competitions. 3
4. Falls are reported in roughly 13 to 27 percent of pregnancies and cluster in the third trimester, as ligament laxity and a shifted center of mass reduce postural control. 4
5. Blunt abdominal trauma accounts for about two thirds of injuries during pregnancy, and placental abruption is reported after about 5 percent of minor injuries. 5

Is horseback riding safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Riders often keep going in the early weeks because the uterus is still shielded by the pelvis. What does not change is the chance of being thrown, which is a serious injury for you at any gestation.
• Second trimester. Joints loosen and your seat changes as the bump grows, so the automatic corrections that keep you on board get slower. Most riders move to groundwork, lunging or driving around here.
• Third trimester. Abdominal exposure and fall risk are both at their peak. Mounting and dismounting also get awkward, which is its own hazard around a large animal.