In the News: ‘Zara Phillips puts equestrian career on pause while pregnant’

The three-months-pregnant British eventer was out competing as recently as this past weekend–but now seems to have had a change of heart.

Top photo: Eventing Nation

According to a story in Huffington Post:

Though Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter’s spokesman told the Telegraph earlier this month that “she will carry on competing for a while longer” despite her newly revealed pregnancy, Hello Magazine reports that Zara will be hopping off that horse.

This time, her spokesman insists Zara will be taking a break because the season is through: “The fact is that all of Zara’s horses have now qualified for the events she wishes to enter them for next year. She has done so well already this season, she does not actually need to compete any more.”

As Zara enters her third month, the spokesman describes the princess’ pregnancy as progressing “happily and healthily,” and agrees that Zara’s decision to pause all equestrian activities is “sensible.”

Zara rode two horses at Brightling Horse Trials over the weekend, finishing 29th and 35th.  [Getty Images] She was also entered in this weekend’s Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials and the Carlton trials on July 27. [Telegraph]

The question of whether it is OK to continue riding while pregnant is a controversial and rather personal one. Some horsewomen have ridden and even competed throughout their pregnancy–Mary King won gold at the 1995 Europeans when five-and-a-half months pregnant. [H&H] Others choose to discontinue the activity the moment they learn they’re pregnant.

To ride or not to ride while pregnant: What are your thoughts, Horse Nation?

Zara at Brightling International Horse Trials last weekend. Photo: express.co.uk