When should you stop riding the pregnant mare?

[PaintedPNH]

I'm wondering, up until when, can you ride a bred mare?
Mel is in her 7th month and there are a few shows this month and in April I would like to take her to but don't need to take her to. She is a WP/HUS horse for those of you who don't know, so it's not like she'd be tearing around a barrel or anything like that.

So, when do YOU stop riding preggo mares?

[charming]

I stopped riding mine when she was 8 months, mostly because I'm home infrequently and she's getting out of shape and beginning to become uncomfortable doing more then a walk bareback. lol.

[Kicks]

Depends on the horse, what it is normally used for and what you are calling 'riding'. Some I've stopped working soon after pregnant, some were 'ridden' daily up til the foal and ridden within a week of foaling. Their 'riding' was basically just to ensure mild exercise. I knew a guy who was still gymkhanaing his mare when she did dropped her foal at a gymkhana. Fool didn't even realize she was bred.

[Rumonek]

I rode my mare up to about 7 months heavily... I didn't know she was bred
After that the vet told me that I could continue working her but not to increase her work at all. The last month of her pregnancy I rode her around the pasture bareback at just a walk and trot. A lot of mares will TELL you when they don't want to be ridden anymore- pinned ears, cranky attitudes, etc... Rumor was a sweet heart and there were only a few days she didn't feel like going out for a ride. Since I didn't know her exact due date I actually rode her walking around bareback the day she foaled (that night). Rumor never bagged up or waxed before foaling.

[ACCphotography]

I've always been told it's better to keep them FIT, makes foaling easier apparently.I've known people who didn't ride them at all after they were bred and people who rode them virtually every day. I've also known mares (and fillies, foaling out at 2) that RACED their entire pregnancy and had no trouble whatsoever.

ACC

[Kicks]

I've always been told it's better to keep them FIT, makes foaling easier apparently.

ACC

That's what 'they' tell us 'humans'. (If there are no medical reasons to contra-indicate)

[Canadian Sage]

I know a mare that was rode up until WEEKS before she was due to foal, owner didnt know she was bred....DUH that would explain why she was getting fat haha! And when I say rode, I mean rode HARD, obviously like she wasn't in foal since the owner didnt know.

mare and foal were just fine!

[MellisaRiley]

On the ranch, I have ridden them hard (gathering cattle), and had them foal just fine days after a hard ride. If your horse is fit, it should be just fine. And good for them too. Enjoy!

[horsegirl777]

I ride horses till about a month before foaling. I think it definatly depends on the horse. Some can handle it better than others and they will let you know! One mare was so huge that I could hardly get my legs around her! So I stopped riding her about a month and a half before she foaled. She was a bit older too.

[farmchickisr]

I usually ride gentley a day before cause I don't know when they're to give birth, then they surprise me with a baby.