16 stone, to heavy to ride or not???

[fitzaud2]

She's not too heavy to ride, but as was said before alot of riding schools dont have a horse to carry that weight. It's not very fair on your friend, I can just imagine how horrible it must have been. I worked in a riding school along time ago, and at the time, she had a few horses that would carry weight, but at the moment, she has nothing that would carry weight, because not every horse that will carry weight is suitable for a riding school, so it's quite difficult to find that type of horse. Hope it works out for your friend, she deserves to learn how to ride!!

 

[Donkeymad]

Regardless of being a novice or experienced rider, a 16 stone person can easily be accomodated by a arge number of horses.
Riding schools ten to have a weight limit of approx 12 stone, not because anything over is too heavy, but because of the hours and number of riders a horse has to carry.

 

[PeterNatt]

What about the knights in armour who weighed anything up to 20 stones as dead weight? Any of the traditional native breeds of horses should be easily capable of carrying 16 stones.

 

[jensheff26]

very interesting thread im 5ft 5 no skinny minnie and about 14st i have a ish at 16hh and a 14.2hh cob whom i ride both regularly, i can go out for hours hacking and they both enjoy it and carry me easily, i think most horses would carry a decent amount of weight (unless your 30st trying to ride a 15hh tb) i would say whatever your weight there is a horse for you somewhere so get out there and enjoy your passion for riding its worth it.

 

[YorksG]

My ex OH was a novice rider at approx 16 stones. We bought a ShirexClyde from a riding school, he learnt on her. I do not think his gender made any difference to the mare at all. She was quite capable of carrying him, as was the Appy mare we had then, who was 15.3 and built like a tank! My friend at 5'2" and approx the same weight also rode them both with no problem.

 

[MontyandZoom]

I think people totally underestimate how much horses can carry! I am 12 stone (prob more like 12.5 at the moment ) and I have a 14.3hh tb. Anyone who has met Zoom knows she is a skinny mini!!!!

HOWEVER, she is ex-polo and has happily carried grown-men as tall and heavy as me in high-goal matches. We hack/hunt/jump for hours and she is absolutely fine......her legs are a bit bowed from carrying my fatarse but never mind Seriously though, she is fit and well and looking great.

I think riding schools are difference since the horses are often ridden several hours a day by novices, however my local place has a whole bunch of fatty cobs who could easily carry 16stone all day!

 

[jendie]

Riding schools near me wouldnt taake anyone above 12 stone so I bought my own horse. I have a chunky gypsy cob and an even chunkier Breton.

both seem happy to carry my 15 stones.

 

[Shysmum]

the trekking centre I worked at had a limit of 13 stones

 

[benson21]

One of our local hunts has a huntsman who I would guess has got to be 19-20 stone. He goes out hunting all day on his id, and is at the races riding all day, on a horse that looks happy and comfortable. Fair enough, like I have said, I feel more comfortable if I can loose a stone before I ride again, that would take me down to 16 stone, and on certain horses, I feel I would be fine.

 

[galaxy]

I'd have to raise an eye to people who have put that men who hunt all day are good riders so their weight doesn't matter so much! Really? I'd have to disagree! I've seen plenty blobbing about, not being able to ride as much as just not fall off! Yes, the majority probably do ride well, there are also plenty that if you put in a school would fall off riding around a corner I'm quite sure!!!


To me 16 stone doesn't seem a lot. Some people are just heavy without being obese! When I tell people I am 10.5 stone people don't believe me. I am 5ft 6 and a size 10 trouser and size 8 top. I'm just heavy! I used to be super super fit (I rowed) and was a size 8 top and bottom and the lightest I ever was was 9.5 stone!

So to me 16 stone isn't a lot more than me (seeing as they could be taller), and I might not be as tones as I used to be, but noone would call me big! They don't believe because everyone says I'm really skinny.

 

[benson21]

I must admit, when I first saw this huntsman, I raised my eyebrows at his size! I am not saying its perfect, but his horse, as far as I can see shows no sign of discomfort.
But I maybe wrong, he may not weigh anywhere near that, looks can be deceptive. I weigh 17 stone and am a size 22. But the way I dress, people dont believeme, and think I am no more than a size 16.

 

[emmaln]

Helloo, i have been reading this thread but haven't posted yet but couldn't resist adding my two pence in! I constantly worry about being too big for my girls i am 5'4 and normally weigh about 12st i have a 16.1 ex racer and a 14.3 sec d x gypsy cob, i work very hard to ensure that both girls are back healthy and feel i am a light rider, the welshy is rising 4 so i have to be careful to ensure she is strong enough through her back to take me, although all my friends say i'm nuts and that she could carry much more i still worry. I think its sad to say people of a certain weight can't ride, and totally disagree with some of the comments on here you just need the right horse! I'm often asked to back horses for people but refuse unless they could easily carry alot more than me as i don't feel its fair to ask a youngster to carry me! I do take offence to people who automatically assume that larger people are unfit some yes but i walk the dog for 2 hours a day, work and care for 2 horses everyday and work a physical job so can't be that unfit! Anyways ramble over!

 

[Kat]

There are plenty of GOOD riding schools out there who will accept larger riders and will have suitable horses.

I ride at a BHS approved riding school that is also a where to train centre.

They have a full ID gelding who takes most of the large adult novices when they are just starting out. He used to be a masters horse so is used to carrying significant weight for much longer than he has to at a riding school and in more challenging conditions. He is getting on a bit now and has COPD so he doesn't do fast work or jumping but is hugely popular with beginners. He is quite useful though and is ridden even by larger children and teenagers so he earns his keep, it is more a question of them limiting his work for his health than his work being limited due to his size.

After him they have three good chunky maxi cobs that can carry plenty of weight and are suitable for varying levels of rider right up to stage three. There are then three other who are only suitable for more competent riders, one an IDx is 16.3hh and a good hunter type, I've never seen her looking remotely troubled by anyone's weight and she would go x-c with well over 16stone and not even break a sweat. Then there is another ex hunt horse and a clydesdale cross.

My husband weighs over 14 stone on a fat day and has plenty of choice of suitable horses with all of the above and a few of the less serious weight carriers at his disposal. In fact he's ridden a 14.2hh cob there and it has been his height rather than his weight that was the problem (for him, the horse wasn't bothered).

The horses all get their backs checked very regularly by a physio and get whatever work is recommended done as often as required. There is no stinting on polypads and so on either, the proprietor knows that her horses are what pay her bills and she needs to keep them fit and comfortable.

If I were your friend I would turn up to one of the larger equestrian centres in the area and ask them whether they can accomodate her. Tell her not to give her weight unless asked. Most places go on how you look much more than actual weight and will feel better being able to assess height and weight together. A short heavy person can easily be put on a gypsy cob type, or highland they are really efficient weight carriers, whereas a tall heavy person might be more of an issue as lots of tall horses are not good weight carriers.

I'm sure she will find somewhere that will accomodate her.

 

[ischa]

shame your not in kent area
i sold my shire to a rs about a year ago . he is happily taking big heavy men and woman around the school . but they are one rs that believes in big people riding so there are ones out there
if there isnt any has she every thought about finding a heavy weight carryer for loan then hiring a riding instructor to give her lessons

 

[Orangehorse]

I think a limit of 12/13 stone is too light because a well covered woman of around 5' 6" could easily be that without looking too fat and most horses around 15 hh+ should be able to cope with that. I get the point about riding school horses working hard, but they aren't going to be carrying the very heavy riders all day. The trouble is if you are tiny and weigh about 8 stone than anything over 10 stones sounds vast.

What are the weight divisions for hunters/cobs, etc? Think about TB point to points carrying 13 stone for 3 miles galloping and jumping, week in week out for the season.

 

[JenHunt]

I don't think she'd be too heavy at all... as you say it depends on the horse and the rider. How else do you think so many 'larger' men hunt all day everyday?!!

Yes, there is an arguement about a fit, experienced rider versus a novice (and less riding fit) rider. BUT, at the end of the day 16 stone is 16 stone... no amount of fitness or experience takes that weight away!! same as standing in your stirrups doesn't make you lighter... it just changes where the weight is on the horse's back.

and as for whether 16 stone is a 'healthy' or 'unhealthy' weight for anybody... I am 5'8" and weight about 14 stone and for me that isn't a healthy weight (and is something i'm working on), but a friend of mine is a 6'6" Royal Marine Commando, he weighs about 18 stone. Whilst his BMI classes him as OBESE!! there is no doubt that he's fit and healthy. Washboard stomach and all. He is taking part in a military challenge to "walk" the length of hadrians wall in under 24 hours carrying a full bergen (about 30kg). that's not something someone who is unfit could do IMO.

grrr. makes me so angry. *goes off to get popcorn*

 

[Divasmum]

It is worth going on the BHS website and looking at Riding Centres in your area. Then check with each one individually. A friend in the same situation did that last year and found somewhere really good. Where are you based?

 

[_MizElz_]

I always find these weight threads so interesting! Everyone has their own views, but often it seems impossible to come up with a definitive answer...

Just out of interest, how much do you think I weigh from looking at this photo? And would you say I am too big for the horse? I am 5'2, and Ellie is 15.2 TB-type (although not a TB!)

Dont worry, you wont offend me - I have developed a thick skin over the years

 

[pixiebee]

also visually wise, which I know isnt important, I went to an event yesterday where this little dot of a woman, no more than a size 8, about 5ft 5 tall was riding a beautiful 16.2hh irish draught, and she looked like a pea on a drum!!!

so? im size 8-10 and 5 ft and my horse is a 16.3hh tb!!!

 

[CeeBee]

One of our local riding schools also has a weight limit of 13 stone, but they say it is for insurance purposes.

 

[JessPickle]

As the owner of a horse that is on working livery, I think people need to understand that they can do up to 2hrs a day, which is already more than many. I obviously will then sometimes ride him as well. Its just not realistic for him to have to carry around huge weights when he is used for the times he is. A privately owned horse carrying more is very different as they would probably be more likely to do an hour a day at the most!

 

[nutty mare!!]

Hi divasmum, were based in staffordshire close to the south cheshire boarder xxx

 

[wench]

I think there is a large difference between an unfit person of sixteen stones slumped in the saddle and a fit person sat in the saddle.

I would quite happily let someone heavier thats a good rider take henry (16.3 chunky tb) hunting all day. However, no-one that heavy thats a beginner would be going anywhere near him.