‘Ideal’ rider weight for my horse?

[PinkRoses]

Hello hope everyone is well

Hopefully some of you remember my previous post - we still haven’t made it out to inhand showing as I’ve recently started a new job and I’m pretty snowed under at the min but hopefully soon!

My weightloss is going well atm. I started at 111kg and I’m currently sitting at 103kg so I’m feeling quite motivated at the minute

I need to get under 100kg for a surgery so I have that as my short term goal but I was wondering what I should be aiming for for my long term goal. I obviously I don’t want to get on her whilst I am still too heavy!

I know the topic can be fiercely debated (E.g. the 20% rule) so I would welcome opinions as I really want to do the best for her.

I haven’t had a weigh tape on her for a while but I’m aware they aren’t the most accurate. She’s a 16.1 KWPN and on the finer side but she’s not incredibly fine

 

[Zoeypxo]

A picture of the horses build and her weight would help

 

[PinkRoses]

Not the best picture but hopefully it helps

 

[ihatework]

85kg for an occasional sit/light hack
Aspirations of frequent and slightly more competitive riding then <80kg

 

[ycbm]

Not the best picture but hopefully it helps
View attachment 127024

She is absolutely lovely and this is NOT a criticism of her. But you will need to take account of the fact that she is long through the loins, which is not unusual in a mare. This gives her, relative to a shorter backed horse, a weaker back . I only mention it to explain why my suggestion of what she should carry may seem very low.

I think you, clothed and booted, and your tack together shouldn't be more than 15% of the weight of her in that photo. I would guess she might be 550kg at her height, which would give you 77.5kg. If she was mine I would want her to carry less, around 12.5% Don't underestimate how much clothes and boots weigh.

I must stress I do think she is a lovely horse.

And huge congratulations on the weight loss!

 

[Wishfilly]

Well done with your weight loss so far!

For me, for regular riding would be aiming for 15% of her weight with the caveat that if she became overweight, it wouldn't help her carry more weight. The 15% should include your clothes and tack as well. Obviously you should choose the best tack for her, but if you could find a lighter (synthetic?) saddle etc, that would give you a little more weight to play with for yourself. For jumping/fast work, I would probably want to be under that 15% total.

I don't know how old she is, but if she is fully mature, then I do think you could get on her for a quick sit/walk hack before the 15%.

She looks very nice, but IMO not really build to be a weight carrying horse.

 

[PinkRoses]

Thankyou everyone! It gives me something to aim for so I’ll continue working hard

I bought her when I was 65kg so I’ve got my work cut out but I’ll make it!

 

[webble]

@PinkRoses well done with what you have achieved so far and for being so sensible

 

[kinnygirl1]

Well done on your weight loss. Your mare is beautiful!

 

[Jellymoon]

What a beautiful mare! Agree with the 12.4-15% the others have said, but also want to add that a very well-balanced saddle would help you both. One that puts you in a good position and is comfortable for her. With a good fitter helping of course.

 

[ycbm]

What a beautiful mare! Agree with the 12.4-15% the others have said, but also want to add that a very well-balanced saddle would help you both. One that puts you in a good position and is comfortable for her. With a good fitter helping of course.

Surely nobody should be riding anything without that? My advice presumed that there would be a well fitted saddle.
.

 

[Frano]

Great for your weight loss. You could ask your vet what he/she thinks is a suitable weight for her to carry.

 

[PinkRoses]

Hi everyone,

Sorry to drag up a very old thread!

just an update: my weightloss has been coming along, I’ve lost a total of 18kg so far, I can’t say I feel any different but colleagues/friends/family have noticed a difference. My dietician has really helped me with my meal plans and I finally found a pt that made the gym fun. Unfortunately it’s been a bit slow since March as I had a knee injury and have been on crutches since whilst I wait for the surgery but I’ve finally got a date in July.

I made the weight goal for my surgery I mentioned in my first post. I now have another surgery for my long term condition planned and have a new weight goal of 80kg to reach but I’m feeling quite confident about it.

So whilst I’m still not at a weight to ride I really really want to get out to some in hand shows and use that as my motivator for all my knee rehab and build up to running again!

In preparation for that I’ve been looking at some schedules but I’m having a bit of a tough time working out what ‘type’ she would be. She’s a 15.3 / 16h KWPN but on the finer side. I thought it would be easier to post a comment on this thread since there’s a picture of her already)

There’s a show I would like to aim for and they have in hand novice which I’m assuming I would be able to enter as neither of us have done showing before. The other in hand classes are:

- in hand best condition
- in hand ROR (which is a no)
- in hand riding horse (I really can’t decide if she falls into this ‘type’ so any help is greatly appreciated)
- in hand foreign breed (I don’t think this is her)
- in hand cob (no)
- in hand driving type (no?)
- in hand M&m (no)
- in hand coloured (no)

Is anyone able to help me figure out her ‘type’. I’ve never done showing before so I am hopeless!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Hi everyone,

Sorry to drag up a very old thread!

just an update: my weightloss has been coming along, I’ve lost a total of 18kg so far, I can’t say I feel any different but colleagues/friends/family have noticed a difference. My dietician has really helped me with my meal plans and I finally found a pt that made the gym fun. Unfortunately it’s been a bit slow since March as I had a knee injury and have been on crutches since whilst I wait for the surgery but I’ve finally got a date in March.

I now have another surgery for my long term condition planned and have a new weight goal to reach but I’m feeling quite confident about it.

So whilst I’m still not at a weight to ride I really really want to get out to some in hand shows and use that as my motivator for all my knee rehab and build up to running again!

In preparation for that I’ve been looking at some schedules but I’m having a bit of a tough time working out what ‘type’ she would be. She’s a 15.3 / 16h KWPN but on the finer side. I thought it would be easier to post a comment on this thread since there’s a picture of her already)

There’s a show I would like to aim for and they have in hand novice which I’m assuming I would be able to enter as neither of us have done showing before. The other in hand classes are:

- in hand best condition
- in hand ROR (which is a no)
- in hand riding horse (I really can’t decide if she falls into this ‘type’ so any help is greatly appreciated)
- in hand foreign breed (I don’t think this is her)
- in hand cob (no)
- in hand driving type (no?)
- in hand M&m (no)
- in hand coloured (no)

Is anyone able to help me figure out her ‘type’. I’ve never done showing before so I am hopeless!

I’m not a showing expert but I wanted to applaud your commitment to weight loss before riding, and for putting your lovely horse first. She’s absolutely gorgeous, and lucky to have an owner who recognises her welfare needs above their desire to ride.

I own a little horse who is too small to carry me regularly so I do know the sacrifice that it is not to be the one in the saddle.

 

[ihatework]

Congrats on the weightloss

Her type would likely be sporthorse if that class is available. If not you could get away with riding horse and/or lightweight hunter, I’d probably do RH as you would probably need to put too much weight on her for hunter

 

[I'm Dun]

Riding horse. Shes pretty and a striking dapple colour which will help for local shows. I'd be focusing on tons of in hand work to build her up as well. Get a decent instructor or physio out to give you a proper plan of things to do and crack on. It will all help when it comes time to ride her.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Riding horse and/or sport horse classes

 

[ycbm]

Congratulations on the weight loss, nearly 3 stone!
.

 

[Fjord]

No idea on the classes (pretty grey mare not being a category I presume ) but well done on the weight loss!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Riding horse

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Not just the weight loss but well done on keeping going despite the setback, and keeping a positive mindset to enjoy your horse and set some non-riding goals while you keep working towards your longer term goal. Very inspiring! I hope you can find the right class to enter and that you have a fab time having a go at the in-hand showing.

 

[Birker2020]

Well done, that's a great weight loss!

 

[pistolpete]

She is a foreign breed so you could do that class. May be up against Fresians and Fjords though!