Am I really that big?

I am a larger rider and was very lucky to find a 16.2hh MW Warmblood? Think she has ID in her. I was hoping for a smaller horse but she just ticked every box apart from height but when I'm riding her i don't feel she is too big for me in height, I feel secure and happy on her and she carries me easily.

I have asthma and have been on off steroids for 20 yrs so its difficult to diet. They don't make me eat more but just gain weight through them, before i went on them i was a size 10. Also have degenrative wear and tear in my lower back and bordering under active thyroid but not on medication for it.

I would love to lose weight and have a puppy, so we're getting out walking as well as riding and mucking out 2 every. day. Half my problem is that i don't eat enough, 1 meal a day and nothing in between.

Keep trying with looking at horses, I was very lucky and had a fantastic owner who was selling my mare. There are nice sellers out there. I have to admit that i emailed the owner before i went about my weight, so I didn't get embarassed or the seller.

Good Luck, there is the right horse out there for you.

Happy Hunting x
 
We have a 15.3 shire x dutch wrmblood and i would be happy to let you ride her, perhaps a similar type would be ok. She carried a 16 stone friend like he wasnt there and he is a total novice, I agree its not the height but the breed/bone/conformation. I wouldnt go for a pony or TB cross though unless its something like a highland or dales.
 
Most horses will muscle up to the weight they have to carry daily anyway particularly cob types.

As a reverse example, I have a 15hh Welsh D x who theoretically on paper, should be perfectly capable of carrying up to weight however, over the last 4/5 years she has only been ridden by my stick insect daughter or occasionally by her real owner who is only about 9st - therefore there is no way I would put a larger rider on her to take her for a days hunting - conversely should she be used to carrying a more normal weight (such as myself!) she would then have muscled up and be perfectly capable of carrying that weight that would be generally expected of a horse her size and build.

I am sure that you will find a horse perfectly capable of carrying your weight (quite normal for a man by the way!!) even if you have to give it time to build up its fitness
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I would just like to say thank you all so much for your words of encouragement. I must admit I put this post up last night with hesitation, as I have read some other posts on here and some can be quite nasty. I was expecting people to tell me to just go and loose the weight, and as I am sure people know its just not that easy. So i will be continuing my search for a good chunky horse but bigger than I was origianlly looking at. Thank you all again. xx
 
I am 5ft 11 and not a lightweight - I have two heavy horses - a 17.3 and a 17hh. They could easily take your weight and have fab temperaments as well.
BTW if you look at the horses on Trooping of the Colour - they all carry about 20 stone!
Don't give up and don't beat yourself up over your weight.
 
I'm glad the topic is being discussed too.. I'm a similar weight, although loosing it well now, which is great for me - BUT I have a friesian x shire, he's 16hh and Im very much over horsed - Im 5ft 2 and cannot get my leg round him - luckily for me he's a very good, responsive ride - it's just on the ground I have little say in the matter! Having said that, he could carry several of me and not really notice... but my 11yo tiny daughter rides him beautifully!
 
there are cobs , shire out there .
i use to own a 16.2 shire and use to be 17 stone he carried me fine also my friend has a 14.3 clysdalex cob and also he use to carry me fine
i live in kent so i keep my ears open for you
 
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I agree that a 15.3hh is far too small. My horse is 16hh conn x TB and (I don't want to seem rude) but I wouldn't let someone over say 12 stone on him.


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In P2P it is often twelve stone, and that is with full thoroughbreds.
 
My un horsey partner on his chunky monkey and he(my partner is heavy).

Jae is only 14h but asked vets advice and he says jea has no problem in carrying him just used for light hacking and i do some jumping on him and schooling just to keep him busy.
sorry dont know how to re size.

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This is me at my fattest around 4 years ago I think. I was probably just over 16 stone. Jazzy doesn't exactly look like he's struggling to me. He is a Clydesdale x TB, he's 16.3hh.

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I think often 'larger' riders make the mistake of buying really tall horses when actually smaller ones with more bone would be much better!
I def also think some people hugely underestimate what horses can carry - my 14st 6' OH can ride my 14.2hh arab - wouldn't do it often or for long but believe, me, J certainly doesn't seem to struggle!
At 5'8 OP is lucky that you are tall enough to go for a bigger horse, and I'd reckon on something 16.2hh maybe ID or Shire/Clydie X might do nicely but def something cobby rather than just tall!
 
Years ago, one of the grand national favourites was ridden by a 16 stone lad - pure TB and a racehorse to boot - and the lad worked him all the time except when he actually raced.
 
I'm 6'1'' and 14 st. I feel guilty riding at that weight on my 16'2 boy. (Odd breeding, bit of Llama , part guinee pig, part Ikea sofa). I think riding is a sport, if a leisurely one at times. It must surley be appropriate to keep your fitness up and weight down if you ride, out of respect for the horse if nothing else. Poor fitness will effect your core strength and balance.
If you feel your able to give the commitment it takes to own a horse , then you must be able to commit to losing a stone before you get one?

I have had a horse with spavin, his reaction to my extra weight was quite violent - those few extra stone will find the weakness.
 
Fear not!!!
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I own a 14.3hh heavyweight traditional cob with 10.5" of bone and have worried about my weight for years! I'm the same height as you, although a bit lighter (no size zero though!).

Every time I put my foot in the stirrup I thought I might be too heavy for her and I drove myself and everyone around me mad, but have a look at these pics! I doubt she ever struggled...............
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Kinzzy the tank!
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Saying that, I now have a CB/ID/TB 2 yr old filly currently standing 15.1hh to bring on, show and eventually back. I suppose I still feel consious and have taken the opportunity to try out a bigger model. I just hope I've chosen the right breed to still be a weight carrier. She's already got 9" of bone. Here is a pic of her............
Meet Luna!!!!
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Good luck with your search - You'll be enjoying horse ownership before you know it!
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I agree that a 15.3hh is far too small. My horse is 16hh conn x TB and (I don't want to seem rude) but I wouldn't let someone over say 12 stone on him.

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That's me crushing PF then. She's a 15.2 LW TB and I'm 5'8", and not a skinny minny. With tack she certainly carries more than 12 stone.
IMO a chunky 15.3 is not too small for the OP.

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To be honest I don't think it's fair . I have seen some rather large people on horses that are far too small/lightweight to be carry them and it makes me feel awful when I see them making these horses carry them round xc whether the horse wants to or no (cue rider kicking and hitting horse round)

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What's that got to do with the OP? She's not thinking of riding a section A or even a TB
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I mean, at the end of the day why should we expect horses to carry us just because we want them to? We need to think about ourselves physically as well if we want to horse ride as a hobby.

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Well, PF carries me because I want her to. In fact most of what we do with horses is because WE want them to.
If the OP wishes to do something about her weight for fitness/health reasons, then that's great, but the 'it's not fair to the horse' just isn't a valid argument as there are lots of horses that are more than capable.
 
I ride a 14.2 Dales X coloured cob and I am NO lightweight. She has 9" of bone, is very forward going, I would think hard about putting a child on her. She thinks nothing of hacking for hours, and we enjoy a good gallop up the fields. And, if she can pratt about like she does (jogging/rushing.....etc) then I am not causing her any problems. We go dressaging and showing. We don't jump because I don't wnjoy it, although she does.....
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And by the way, Dales ponies were bred to carry a farmer and a bale of hay, through deep snow, and packs of Pig Iron as pack ponies. Those packs weighed up to 20 stone. HAve a look on the Dales Pony Websites for more info. They can do a lot more than we give them credit for.

OP - It's more about how you ride - if you ride sensitively, in balance and are tactful, then you are a lot easier to carry than a novice with poor balance.
 
I'm a little bot shocked at some of the replies on this thread! The 14.2hh fine bred Arab at our yard carries a 15st bloke day in day out. Has done for years and isn't showing the slightest sign of suffering for it.

You need to find a horse you feel comfortable on, whether it's 15hh or 17hh clydie cross on WB. It's a nightmare with some precious owners balking at any rider over 10st. Maybe try a could of dealers, they tend to be more open minded and often more horse savvy!
 
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It would be a bit of a drive but if you are looking for an ID then I'd recommend these guys http://www.irish-draught.net/ Janet George posts on here, the horses are cracking types & beautifully produced.

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That's very kind!
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We do try!

When itcomes to carrying the larger rider, it's hard to beat a pure-bred ID - or an ID x with a good HW hunter type. Clyde x often ISN'T a weightcarrier - particularly when crossed with a TB - a Clyde/Shire etc is built to PULL not to carry.

This chap (pardon the pose
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- he doesn'tdo that anymore!)

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is a true weight-carrier. He's by my 17hh, built like a brick outhouse RID stallion, out of a 17hh TBxPercheron mare. 10.5" of bone, 17hh, with a VERY short back and a lot of depth! He's carry a 6'2, 20 stone man hunting all day (my OH is not THAT heavy yet butif he doesn't lay off the choccie biscuits ....)

and this chap will also be a real weight carrier when he finishes growing. He's pure ID, 17hh, 10.5" of bone - but still a little weak behind the saddle to carry 20 stone - although 17 stone would be easy!

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He still has his bits, though, and will hopefully grade RID for a stud career.

I DO have 2 full brothers to him - one rising 4 and currently being backed. He's not quite as tall, but will be a weight carrier - and sensible with it. And a rising 3 year old who probably WILL make 17 hh.

They are out there! I would say you MUST have 10" of bone, and a short back (particularly behind the saddle), and a good back-end - along with plenty of depth and breadth. Height matters a lot less as a horse who is built right will take up the leg.
 
Just want to agree with the other posters that the height of the horse doesn't matter in the slightest when it comes to weight carrying, it's the build that is all important.

Isabelle
 
my mare is 16.1 clydesdale ID X and I am 17 stone (losing it now I got her tho!!) my 10 stone neice also rides her and always comments how she goes better for me, despite the fact I am heavier!!
 
I'm sure you will find something. I'm heavier than op, 5'4" and have a 14'3 cob x. She does everything I want to do and carries me with no problems
 
We have a 16hh Normandy cob x with something lighter, she would easily carry 17stone! I think we managed to get 5 of us on her back...ok it was only for 5minutes but she couldn't have cared less! there was probably 20+ on her back! My brother who at nearly 6ft and almost 15stone hacks her out for hours and she comes back no sweatier than if I was riding her...I'm no lightweight, in fact most people would probably say I'm too heavy for my little 15.3 arab x trotter...but he manages fine with me! I also rode my friends 13.3hh very fine pure bred arab and she managed to take off with me!

IMO it depends more on how the rider rides rather than soley on how heavy they are. And those that say that they wouldn't put someone over 12 stone on a 16hh+ horse are really silly!!

If you wanted to find something a bit smaller then maybe a haflinger. They may be small but they can carry a lot of weight and still manage to do everything that a smaller rider can with them!! I think once you've found the right one then you'll know. There is one out there for you, you just need to keep looking.
xx
 
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Just want to agree with the other posters that the height of the horse doesn't matter in the slightest when it comes to weight carrying, it's the build that is all important.

Isabelle

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Agree....OH's mare is 15.1.....she's IDx....something large and hairy
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and carries my 5'9'' 15stone OH no probs at all.
 
Plenty of horses out there to carry that sort of weight, I have customers at 20 stone who's horses have no problems, so I really wouldn't worry!
As long as they have the length of ribcage to accomodate a longish saddle panel you will be fine.
Oz
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"An ounce of quality is worth an inch of bone." It has been proven in an abbattoir's by weighing a draft horses leg against a good TB's leg, that the TB leg can sometimes weigh more due to the bone being denser.

I know of a good big middleweight chaser type TB who has an owner of the same weight who carries her out hunting as though she was a feather on his back. Like a lot of people have said on here, it all depends on the individual horse and often how it is put together.

I had a husband of approx 18 stone, who was 6'5", long in the leg and long in the body too. He looked and rode best on a 15.3 cob, as he sat into it better.

Some heavy types are struggling to carry themselves without adding a rider of a good weight too. Again you have to judge each horse individually, but I also agree the most important thing to remember is it must be short behind the saddle and deep through the girth, even more important than how much bone there is in the leg.

If you go and have a look at what some people ride out hunting, if its a fashionable pack, you will see lots of big blood horses carrying large riders as well as the more substantial draught types.
 
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