16 stone rider

[Luke1990]

Good morning all,
My name is Luke, 29 been riding over 5 years at a school every week sometimes twice a week.
Been on a South African safari ride and a Montana western cowboy ride holidays.

I’m 6ft4 and weigh 16st

Recently my school where i rode every week to keep experience levels up has shut. In the quest to find a new school I have come across a lot of 14st weight limits.

Am feeling very deflated atm, my dad has always been into horses which is why i started to learn and when i go up to visit him in the dales i ride his 17hh TB x Irish sport while he borrows a friends ex racers.

Been reading up a lot on weight limits for horses and deciding whether its fair for me to carry on riding i love riding am purely muscle and there is no way i can lose any more weight.

Would eventually get my own horse when i have more time.

Any advice would be great.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I think you're being very honest with yourself and are very obviously concerned for any horse that you might ride.

I would suggest that because of your sheer size, and also your weight, then why not look at the "heavier" horses which might suit you, such as Shires, Clydesdales, etc., or perhaps a nicer option if you wanted to compete would be say a crossbreed with one of these types which I think would suit you very well AND be up to weight.

I remember going on a trekking trip over Exmoor and there was a very nice Shire X TB on the ride who was well up to weight for the heavier/taller riders yet when we had a good gallop she was well able to keep up!

I don't know whereabouts in the country you are but here in Devon there is a place on Dartmoor which uses Clydesdales for trekking over the moors; if you're ever in the area it would be good to try out the breed and see how you find them! I had a friend that went up there to ride and they're deffo not the plods everyone might conceive them to be!

 

[Archangel]

There are lots of horses capable of carrying you so I don't think you should give up at all. It might be worth visiting a couple of riding schools in person to ask as they might have a suitable horse but keep to a lower limit as the horses work several times a day with all sorts of rider.

Good luck!

 

[Red-1]

I really don't feel that your weight combined with your height will be an issue for riding.

It may be tricky for riding school horses, that is true.

My OH was a bit heavier than you, and we still found a few riding schools to take him. We did find, however, that he was happier with one at home, as some of the teaching was suspect!

As you sound so reasonable and competent, why not put a card in the tack shops and see if there is a share? If we had been looking for a sharer for OH's horse we would have snapped you up.

OH had an ID X TB, 17hh, and was fine. The horse also evented and BD to Novice, SJ to Newcomers and hunted/team chased, so was no slouch.

 

[Keith_Beef]

It's a question that has come up on the forum a few times. A riding school can only have a certain number of horses, and if most of the clients are small, it will mostly have ponies and smaller horses.

There are places with bigger horses, but I think that the only thing you can do is phone or email all those that you're prepared to travel to regularly.

 

[hobo]

I would try and visit some places in person as they may be happy to have you ride. Failing that you will just have to go and live in Montana that picture is fantastic.

 

[Luke1990]

I would try and visit some places in person as they may be happy to have you ride. Failing that you will just have to go and live in Montana that picture is fantastic.

Haha would live there in a heartbeat was phenomenal, really recommend bonanza creek ranch ran by David & June.
Thanks for the advice will pop by some places and see if they’ve got any bigger horses.

 

[Luke1990]

I think you're being very honest with yourself and are very obviously concerned for any horse that you might ride.

I would suggest that because of your sheer size, and also your weight, then why not look at the "heavier" horses which might suit you, such as Shires, Clydesdales, etc., or perhaps a nicer option if you wanted to compete would be say a crossbreed with one of these types which I think would suit you very well AND be up to weight.

I remember going on a trekking trip over Exmoor and there was a very nice Shire X TB on the ride who was well up to weight for the heavier/taller riders yet when we had a good gallop she was well able to keep up!

I don't know whereabouts in the country you are but here in Devon there is a place on Dartmoor which uses Clydesdales for trekking over the moors; if you're ever in the area it would be good to try out the breed and see how you find them! I had a friend that went up there to ride and they're deffo not the plods everyone might conceive them to be!

Based in Essex London M25 border live in Thurrock work in Romford.
Never thought of shires crossed with a thoroughbred thats a really good idea. Would need a nutty one as i prefer a scary horse. Just read up on them though if i get the right balance might be just what I’m looking for. Able to take the weight but still good fun and possibly competitive.
Would definately visit dartmoor to ride went there once not for riding and was surprised at how beautiful the scenery was will look up a few places.

Thanks for taking the time out to reply really appreciate it.

 

[Luke1990]

I really don't feel that your weight combined with your height will be an issue for riding.

It may be tricky for riding school horses, that is true.

My OH was a bit heavier than you, and we still found a few riding schools to take him. We did find, however, that he was happier with one at home, as some of the teaching was suspect!

As you sound so reasonable and competent, why not put a card in the tack shops and see if there is a share? If we had been looking for a sharer for OH's horse we would have snapped you up.

OH had an ID X TB, 17hh, and was fine. The horse also evented and BD to Novice, SJ to Newcomers and hunted/team chased, so was no slouch.

Thats a really good idea. Sharing would be ideal so i could gradually ween myself into full ownership as would like to learn more around the care side of horsemanship etc

Thanks for the reply. Making me feel a lot more positive was feeling a bit dead end-ish.

 

[Luke1990]

There are lots of horses capable of carrying you so I don't think you should give up at all. It might be worth visiting a couple of riding schools in person to ask as they might have a suitable horse but keep to a lower limit as the horses work several times a day with all sorts of rider.

Good luck!

Will pop to a couple of schools in person and have a chat see what they say.
Thanks for the responses.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It's a good idea to visit RS in person. Do stress your experience when you visit, as they may well be prepared to waive their weight limit for a capable rider who is only going to ride once a week, or so. We had a Clydesdale for a novice OH to ride he was a 6'2" rugby player and she carried him with no problem at all. I have also had a IDx and a Westphalian Kaltblut who had no problem with the weight, although the WK was not particularly athletic, as she had short legs and did not jump.

 

[Tiddlypom]

don't know whereabouts in the country you are but here in Devon there is a place on Dartmoor which uses Clydesdales for trekking over the moors; if you're ever in the area it would be good to try out the breed and see how you find them! I had a friend that went up there to ride and they're deffo not the plods everyone might conceive them to be!

That is Adventure Clydesdales, which looks awesome and I must get around to going out with them.

http://www.adventureclydesdale.com/

That said, their limit for their 2 hour rides is 16 stone fully kitted out for riding, and 14 stone fully kitted out for the longer rides. I find that my riding clothes inc crash hat, half chaps, boots etc add one stone to my nekked weight.

 

[PapaverFollis]

They may advertise a 14st weight limit but if you pop in in person you will probably find some can be more flexible. I was working doing bookings at a trekking centre for a while. It had a 14st weight limit but we'd have found you a horse to ride because you're not a beginner and the weight is muscle and height. Definitely worth calling in in person so they can see you!

 

[Tiddlypom]

The personal approach may well be worth it at some riding centres, but is unlikely to work at Adventure Clydesdales judging by their blurb. There will be other places to try, though, OP.

WE DON'T TAKE BEGINNERS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE A WEIGHT LIMIT OF 16 STONE FOR THE 2 HOUR RIDE AND 14.5 STONE FOR THE 3 HOUR AND FULL DAY RIDES, THIS IS FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR HARD WORKING HORSES AND WILL BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO. THESE WEIGHTS ARE FULLY KITTED OUT FOR RIDING, NOT ON THE BATHROOM SCALES.

WE DO HAVE SCALES AT THE FARM AND WILL ASK PEOPLE TO WEIGH IF WE ARE IN DOUBT.

 

[Starzaan]

As the person who has been in charge of setting weight limits in a riding school, I would definitely recommend visiting in person and discussing with them.
Weight is a much bigger factor when looking at very novicey riders who aren't balance and can't hold themselves properly, so although our horses could take more weight with an experienced and well balanced rider, we set lower limits just in case they had someone flumping about on their backs.
I would suggest popping in and having a chat with a good local riding school. Whereabouts are you in the country? I'm sure we could point you in the right direction

 

[Kat]

Definitely pop in and see them, often places can accommodate someone who can actually ride that is over their weight limit especially if it is muscle and height rather than fat. My tall DH has never been challenged on his weight at riding schools or trekking centres, he looks thin but weighs over many places limit just due to height. The fact that he is well balanced and a capable rider helps.

Sometimes there will be provisos, for example I went somewhere with a pretty low limit, which in full kit including body protector I exceeded, but they allowed me to ride just explained that there would only be one or two suitable horses and not a range. In fact once they assessed my riding they managed to find a great selection of horses for me to ride but had I been less capable it would have been more problematic.

 

[The Trooper]

I weight more than you and ride just fine. I have 2 mares, one is a 16ish hand proper weight carrying draft and the other is a Shire 17.2ish Hands.

They both carry me no problem, don't get disheartened Luke, I did and did not ride for 15 years as a result!

I know you said you want something fun, but a shire could be just what you are looking for, they are available for the sub £3000 range, albeit unbroken but old enough to start being backed.

I bought Bonnie when she was 6 and unbroken, very well handled and shown previously inhand, I swear I got her riding away in a week or two, I wasn't even training her intensely, she just got it.

 

[ester]

School riding definitely gets more complicated with increased weight, I had 3 different responses last year when looking for good/fast hacking at 14stish. teeth sucking, that's no problem, and you can ride well though yes, in which case that's no issue. I'm more than that now and TBH I've not had the appetite to do much investigation locally. I'm not tall but generally fit, weight lift etc so have a decent muscle mass and shitty medication requirements.

I will say with the heavies it depends a bit which one, they weren't developed to carry back weight, compared to pulling.

 

[Auslander]

Move to Berkshire! Currently failing miserably to find a sharer for a slightly bonkers Clydesdale/Irish Draft cross mare who'd suit you down to the ground!

 

[tallyho!]

When I was in Spain checking out some horse fair not that long ago, there were some very fancy (read: phwoarr!) men riding some lovely toned and fit (albeit tassled to the max) horses with ladies in spotty dresses sitting on it's bottom.

 

[tallyho!]

In a few cases I think the said horse was carrying the whole family.

 

[Luke1990]

As the person who has been in charge of setting weight limits in a riding school, I would definitely recommend visiting in person and discussing with them.
Weight is a much bigger factor when looking at very novicey riders who aren't balance and can't hold themselves properly, so although our horses could take more weight with an experienced and well balanced rider, we set lower limits just in case they had someone flumping about on their backs.
I would suggest popping in and having a chat with a good local riding school. Whereabouts are you in the country? I'm sure we could point you in the right direction

Thankyou I will pop in to some and see what’s available.
I’m in Essex/East London border. Live in Thurrock and work in Romford.

 

[Luke1990]

The personal approach may well be worth it at some riding centres, but is unlikely to work at Adventure Clydesdales judging by their blurb. There will be other places to try, though, OP.

WE DON'T TAKE BEGINNERS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE A WEIGHT LIMIT OF 16 STONE FOR THE 2 HOUR RIDE AND 14.5 STONE FOR THE 3 HOUR AND FULL DAY RIDES, THIS IS FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR HARD WORKING HORSES AND WILL BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO. THESE WEIGHTS ARE FULLY KITTED OUT FOR RIDING, NOT ON THE BATHROOM SCALES.

WE DO HAVE SCALES AT THE FARM AND WILL ASK PEOPLE TO WEIGH IF WE ARE IN DOUBT.

Thats a shame but prefer a place to be fair on their horses and have good welfare practices and they know more than anyone what their horses can take comfortably etc.

 

[Luke1990]

I weight more than you and ride just fine. I have 2 mares, one is a 16ish hand proper weight carrying draft and the other is a Shire 17.2ish Hands.

They both carry me no problem, don't get disheartened Luke, I did and did not ride for 15 years as a result!

I know you said you want something fun, but a shire could be just what you are looking for, they are available for the sub £3000 range, albeit unbroken but old enough to start being backed.

I bought Bonnie when she was 6 and unbroken, very well handled and shown previously inhand, I swear I got her riding away in a week or two, I wasn't even training her intensely, she just got it.

Will make sure I persist then, would love to break in a horse but wouldn’t know where to start.

I like the sounds of having a little TB in there as my Dads is a dream to ride answers everything and is so responsive. I’m going to do some more research a lot more in fact prior to getting my own. Glad my weight isn’t the end of the road though.

My Dad is 6ft7 but weighs a lot less as he is a lot skinnier and smaller boned.

 

[Red-1]

Thats a really good idea. Sharing would be ideal so i could gradually ween myself into full ownership as would like to learn more around the care side of horsemanship etc

Thanks for the reply. Making me feel a lot more positive was feeling a bit dead end-ish.

You are welcome, we got fed up trying to get OH something to ride, had a loan horse initially before he then bought mine off me and I got another to compete.

Strangely, the loan horse was in its 20s, had been retired for a year and was only 16.1. Despite this, he was brought back to work with no issues, was happy and forward and looked like a sprightly youngster. Once we had done the job of bringing him back to work, the loan ended and he was found another (less experienced - as the loan was to me, for my OH) loaner.

Despite the new loaner being 8st wet through, the tack being the same, the stabling etc staying the same, very soon the horse started to have problems and in fact got a large sore at the back of the saddle. We were pretty disappointed as he has been fine with OH, who was more then double the weight, and also a novice.

What OH has, though, is good bearing and balance. He had just quit rugby and was looking for a new hobby, and was keen to master the technicalities of riding. The other rider sort of lounged at the back of the saddle, hence the sore back despite her lighter weight.

OH did all sorts, including flat out galloping and jogging sideways (well, the horse did that one, but you know what I mean). He even carried OH round a clear round jumping at a busy charity show, looking after him all the way. They were very happy. Sadly, it was the wrong time to have one through winter, and the arrangement had always been for 6 months.

Would need a nutty one as i prefer a scary horse.

See, this would make me less likely to take someone on as a sharer. I love doing exciting things with my horse, but it is more that the horse and I do exciting things together. Confidently.

A 'scary horse' is generally an unhappy/ unconfident horse. Not what I want for my own.

 

[Luke1990]

You are welcome, we got fed up trying to get OH something to ride, had a loan horse initially before he then bought mine off me and I got another to compete.

Strangely, the loan horse was in its 20s, had been retired for a year and was only 16.1. Despite this, he was brought back to work with no issues, was happy and forward and looked like a sprightly youngster. Once we had done the job of bringing him back to work, the loan ended and he was found another (less experienced - as the loan was to me, for my OH) loaner.

Despite the new loaner being 8st wet through, the tack being the same, the stabling etc staying the same, very soon the horse started to have problems and in fact got a large sore at the back of the saddle. We were pretty disappointed as he has been fine with OH, who was more then double the weight, and also a novice.

What OH has, though, is good bearing and balance. He had just quit rugby and was looking for a new hobby, and was keen to master the technicalities of riding. The other rider sort of lounged at the back of the saddle, hence the sore back despite her lighter weight.

OH did all sorts, including flat out galloping and jogging sideways (well, the horse did that one, but you know what I mean). He even carried OH round a clear round jumping at a busy charity show, looking after him all the way. They were very happy. Sadly, it was the wrong time to have one through winter, and the arrangement had always been for 6 months.



See, this would make me less likely to take someone on as a sharer. I love doing exciting things with my horse, but it is more that the horse and I do exciting things together. Confidently.

A 'scary horse' is generally an unhappy/ unconfident horse. Not what I want for my own.

Yea looking back scary wasn’t the word i was looking for maybe scary for other people but when i ride the horses that people don’t want to ride at schools i really enjoy them compared to the safe bet. I like the challenge of working out whats going through the horses head and keeping control etc if that makes sense. What spooks it has. Trying to overcome its spooks etc. Learning its attitude and watching its behaviour with other horses.

I think when you’re riding you never have complete control as at the end of the day the horse has its own mind so riding the non safe bets I’d hope would make me a better rider in expecting the unexpected.

And adrenaline filled activities on a horse i enjoy but if i was ever sharing I wouldn’t ever do anything when I wasn’t in full control on a horse thats not mine would only do what exercise/riding the owner wanted. That’d be disrespectful otherwise and I’m definately not like that.

When i was on SA safari there were ridiculous sharp hairpins at full gallop with massive thorn bushes (imagine giant needles) both sides of a horse width track. You had to trust the horses capabilities in that situation i knew i would stay on and that the horse was capable but you still have adrenaline pumping. Especially when you gallop into a herd of water buffalo never turned around so quick in my life. I enjoyed that.