23% weight

Not ok. The extra 3% will break your horses back and make him buckle at the knees. This is a severe welfare case if you do this.

Seriously? I think most people know if they genuinely are too heavy to ride, even when considering tack.
 
Littlelegs said:
No, I think its plain wrong. And I don't actually think 20% is acceptable either in the majority of cases.
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This.

Why is anyone even questioning this? Frankly, this is what is going to create aggro with the animal rights folks.

There are horses able to carry substantial weight. Why stress the joints, ligments, etc of an inappropriate horse.

Rant over!
 
Littlelegs said:
No, I think its plain wrong. And I don't actually think 20% is acceptable either in the majority of cases.
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Maybe you should tell that to my 13.2hh (around 325-350kgs on a weightape) at 26yrs of age and enjoying retirement has been ridden by me since he was 5.

I am 5'1 ish at my lightest i may have been around 8stone, and my heaviest 10stone possibly 10.5 stone, he is perfectly healthy now and has not suffered any consequences of being constantly over the 20% rule, he has never been sick sorry or lame and we have turned our hand to most things over the years.
 
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Do you think he looks old and worn out? hes the cremello in the forefront
 
flump said:
What are your views on being 23% with tack and equipment etc?

Do you think that is ok?
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Lots of things. Age of horse, fittness of horse, conformation of horse and what its work load is.At two extremes, if it 20 years old with poor conformation, a badly fitting saddle and the rider wishes to hunt for 3 full days a week then yes it probably is too much.If its younger, fit with good tack fit and she wishes to hack round the block for 20 minutes then no it could probably carry more.
Most people do have a good idea of what their horses can carry I thinkMy v experienced instructor says its not weight thats the big taboo its the fact that they have overhorsed themselves that is the big taboo.
I once went to try what was described to me as a 14hh proper cob.It was a 14 hh cobby pony and I refused to try it because I considered myself too heavy and told the dealer that.
 
It depends on the horse. Their are plenty of native ponies that have spent their lives carrying more than that without taking any harm. Saddle fit is very important, a lot of saddles concentrate the rider's weight over too small an area causing problems more than the weight itself.
 
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I actually think that smaller ponies can carry more as a percentage of their ideal weight than big horses. If you look through the animal kingdom, the smaller the animal, the more it can carry proportionately.

Re the lovely cremello in the pic. He looks around 50 kg overweight to me. He does not look as though his legs are built to carry his body size. So if you are calculating as a percentage of his actual weight, then this would be wrong. You need to calculate as a percentage of his IDEAL weight, and then subtract the amount extra he is carrying of his own. Then take into account his age.

In answer to the OP. No, 23% is way too heavy.
 
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Wagtail said:
Re the lovely cremello in the pic. He looks around 50 kg overweight to me. He does not look as though his legs are built to carry his body size. So if you are calculating as a percentage of his actual weight, then this would be wrong. You need to calculate as a percentage of his IDEAL weight.

In answer to the OP. No, 23% is way too heavy.
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Wagtail - yes he probably is around 50kg overweight in that pic - that was November just coming into winter and he lives out 24/7 but my point i was trying to make, was that even at his IDEAL weight, with me as his jockey for the last 20 years it has done him no harm, we have jumped tracks upt 3'3", XC, dressage, schooled and hacked - so OP i don't think 23% should be any cause for concern
 
eahotson said:
Yes of course you can answer BUT it IS only your view.Other people may have other ideas and that should be made plain.
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:confused: I really don't see your point. If others have other views then they CAN answer you know. People don't need a running commentry stating the obvious.
 
eahotson said:
23% is too heavy in YOUR opinion Wagtail, other people may have different views.
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Everyone looks for the anomalies and the exceptions to the rule, and of course everyone will have an opinion.

I work closer to the 15% theory, and I think you can be allowed a couple % over that, but no more.

As research has been developed, it seems to be the most sensible percentage to work on IMO. I understand that people like to poo poo this and come out with the "that's all well and good but I've ridden my horse for x amount of years at x% and it has never had problems" but we have more knowledge and understanding of what horses should carry fairly. I think it is unreasonable for someone who is overweight to expect their horse to carry much more than 15%.
 
I wouldn't put 23% of their bodyweight on either of mine, but then I'm not qualified to decide what the max % should be either so its just my opinion. Thinking about it I wondered how much we should account for other characteristics rather than just weight, if at all?

My 17hh ISH (half holsteiner) could carry 122kg at the 20% rule on her fit weight. I'm never going to be quite under 10% of her weight as a recent article suggests is appropriate (not because I'm fat or lazy but because I'm 6ft & would be rather underweight to be less than 10% of her body weight) and dont feel or look too heavy for her, I weigh no more than 10.6% of her weight at my heaviest + tack (lightweight monoflap so probably another 10kg for tack making total weight a max of 12.3% of her bodyweight). I think she could carry 15% comfortably long term. However a really chunky shorter cob could easily weigh less than her, but I would query whether he was as well suited to carrying approx 91kg (15% of her bodyweight but more % of his) as she was. She is tall at 17hh, but has a fairly long back, isn't particularly chunky through the body and has moderately fine legs. Could a shorter (lighter) cob with a lot of bone, shorter back and generally chunkier be as capable of carrying that weight? What does everyone think?
 
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RunToEarth said:
Everyone looks for the anomalies and the exceptions to the rule, and of course everyone will have an opinion.

I work closer to the 15% theory, and I think you can be allowed a couple % over that, but no more.

As research has been developed, it seems to be the most sensible percentage to work on IMO. I understand that people like to poo poo this and come out with the "that's all well and good but I've ridden my horse for x amount of years at x% and it has never had problems" but we have more knowledge and understanding of what horses should carry fairly. I think it is unreasonable for someone who is overweight to expect their horse to carry much more than 15%.
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I also think 15% is about right.
 
People are so obsessed with this at the moment! If your horse constantly requires the chiropractor or vet, is lame, dropping weight, can't move forward freely, resents mounting etc then possibly your weight is an issue. If your horse is working well, is relaxed, healthy and confident to carry you then that should be indication enough that there is not a problem. People seem to be getting far too carried away with numbers. I'm no good at math anyway, my horses will tell me if im too heavy and I need to drop a few pounds!

Don't forget what horses have had to cope with throughout history - pulling farm machinery, carrying soldiers to war and moving artillery, acting as taxis, carrying deer home from a hunt .... As long as you have chosen a horse which is suitable for the purpose you had in mind and he is bright and willing stop worrying and get on and ride! Besides, the more you ride, the fitter you'll both get!

I know I'll probably get ripped to shreds for this opinion but I honestly don't have enough hours in my day to be worrying about a non-existent problem!
 
Orls said:
People are so obsessed with this at the moment! If your horse constantly requires the chiropractor or vet, is lame, dropping weight, can't move forward freely, resents mounting etc then possibly your weight is an issue. If your horse is working well, is relaxed, healthy and confident to carry you then that should be indication enough that there is not a problem. People seem to be getting far too carried away with numbers. I'm no good at math anyway, my horses will tell me if im too heavy and I need to drop a few pounds!

Don't forget what horses have had to cope with throughout history - pulling farm machinery, carrying soldiers to war and moving artillery, acting as taxis, carrying deer home from a hunt .... As long as you have chosen a horse which is suitable for the purpose you had in mind and he is bright and willing stop worrying and get on and ride! Besides, the more you ride, the fitter you'll both get!

I know I'll probably get ripped to shreds for this opinion but I honestly don't have enough hours in my day to be worrying about a non-existent problem!
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Very well said :D
 
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