Am i too big

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kellykelbe

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I am about to take on loan a 14.2hh cob who is coming back into work after having a foal, this is mainly for my daughter to ride but I would really love to satrt riding again and wonder if I am too heavy at 13st,
 
I'm looking forward to any replies you may get. I weigh 11 stone and the owner of our yard often says i could easily ride stocky ponies with no problem. I do sometimes wonder if people underestimate ponies capabilities. Surely stocky ponies can manage more than 9 stone if the rider can ride?
 
kellykelbe said:
I am about to take on loan a 14.2hh cob who is coming back into work after having a foal, this is mainly for my daughter to ride but I would really love to satrt riding again and wonder if I am too heavy at 13st,
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What does the cob's owner think?
 
It really depends on the cob and it's amount of bone, there are 14.2hh cobs who probably could carry 13st now and again, and probably manage around 11/11.5st regularly. There are also cobs who would cope with 13st even for a wee shot, mine wouldn't have, but he's of the lighter cob variety.
 
I agree Cobs are excellent weight carriers, but bear in mind this horse may have been off for a long time (over a year if she's had a foal) so her muscles will be weak and she'll be very unfit.
Depending on how heavy set she is, when fit I don't think there would be any problem. If it were my horse however given her current state of fitness I don't know how happy I would be.

(apologies I don't mean any offence at all by saying this)
 
If she's just had a foal she won't be fit so her weight carrying ability will be reduced.
Also depends on how much bone she has and her conformation.
If you weigh 13st, then when you add saddle and clothing etc. you will probably ride at 14.5-15st. From a personal point of view I think that is too heavy.
 
I would say yes. The cob depending on her weight probably weighs around 500kg or a bit less but dont forget she wil be unfit so the most you would really want her to be carrying is 80kg. 13 stone is 83kg plus add at least 6kg for saddle then clothes boots hat etc and you are looking at 90kg+. Sorry I dont mean to be mean but that is too much
 
estrelaslave23 said:
I'm looking forward to any replies you may get. I weigh 11 stone and the owner of our yard often says i could easily ride stocky ponies with no problem. I do sometimes wonder if people underestimate ponies capabilities. Surely stocky ponies can manage more than 9 stone if the rider can ride?
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Could and should are two different things though
 
Although I don't think that you're hugely over her weight carrying capabilities, I wouldn't want to risk it if she were my horse, especially considering that she's been out of work for a while so she's going to be relatively unfit.
 
My 14.2 highland (stocky, lots of bone and cob like in all but name)would easily carry that weight, but he's fit and in regular work (I'm 10stones). I wouldn't ride this mare until she's had the chance to muscle up properly, build up some top line and generally get back into full fitness after having her baby. (... or you could try to drop a bit to meet her in the middle ...!). Sorry ...no offence, but you did ask...
 
I know a 14.2 cob who is ridden most days by his 14 stone owner. He is fit and in the prime of his life, but has had various problems such as PSD and mild kissing spines. Sometimes he really looks as though he is struggling with her weight though. On the other hand, they are regularly placed in dressage, so not everyone would agree with me.

OP, I think that you are probably too heavy for this unfit cob. You need to add around 2 stone for tack, clothes, boots and hat.
 
I have a 14.2hh welsh and am currently nearly 12 stone (im 36 1/2 weeks pregnant). I would no way get on my lad at this weight. I usually weigh 9 stone and feel comfy on him at this weight and wont be getting back on him til im at least near that 9 stone again.

Sorry OP, i think you will be too heavy for this pony.
 
EKW said:
How about starting with long lining the mare and that will increase both of your fitnesses and then see how things progress.
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This.

I don't think you're wildly off, and I see no problem with a fit, well conditioned, well put together animal carrying your sort of weight (and god knows what tack weighs 2st - mine certainly doesn't!). However, this mare isn't fit, so you could use that to your advantage to get both of you fitter before you start riding.
 
JFTD said:
This.

I don't think you're wildly off, and I see no problem with a fit, well conditioned, well put together animal carrying your sort of weight (and god knows what tack weighs 2st - mine certainly doesn't!). However, this mare isn't fit, so you could use that to your advantage to get both of you fitter before you start riding.
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I once weighed my saddle and bridle, long boots, hat and body protector and it came to just over 2 stone. Obviously, if you have a synthetic saddle it will be less. In the winter you will have several layers of clothing and possibly a thick coat as well.
 
Wagtail said:
I once weighed my saddle and bridle, long boots, hat and body protector and it came to just over 2 stone. Obviously, if you have a synthetic saddle it will be less.
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Nope, I have 5 different leather saddles, the lightest of which is around 5kg with girth/stirrups/saddlecloth/prolite. The others are heavier, but not massively so. All in, the lot comes to around a stone (saddle etc, bridle, hat, boots - I don't wear a bp) - perhaps my gear is just very light...?
 
It does also depend on what the pony has been used to carrying. If used to only carrying 9 stone he will really struggle with carrying 14 stone and especially if unfit. Sometimes at dressage competitions you see large riders competing on small ponies and to me they always look if they are struggling x
 
I really think that you will , in the future, be able to ride the cob, if you really want to. You would not need to loose a ridiculous amount of weight, and you could lead him out in hand for now and improve both of your fitness, with future riding fun the carrot to motivate you to drop a little weoght. Good luck and best wishes for your success.
 
Looks like I'd better buy a bigger horse then!!

Lana is 14.2hh (she didn't grow as much as I would have liked!) and weighs 420kg so at 20% of her bodyweight means I could weigh 11st 2lb plus 2 stone of tack and clothes (I feel this is excessive I must admit)

At 15% of her bodyweight I could only weigh 7st 12lb plus 2 stone of tack and clothes! This is never going to happen as I would be classed as underweight and would look ill.

My average weight is around 10st sometimes sneeking up a few pounds and she has carried me over 64km at endurance events. Now I'm feeling a bit mean :-(
 
These types of thread always bring out a multitude of differing opinions. I agree with others, I wouldn't say you are wildly off, but wouldn't ride her until she's a bit fitter. Long-reining is a great shout as it would enable you to get fit together, or cycling/walking out on hacks whilst your daughter rides. As it is a loan horse I'd be inclined to ask what the owner thinks, maybe position it in such a way that you're acknowledging you may be too big so they don't feel awkward if they say they'd rather you didn't ride.
 
Bear in mind that if you're unfit (just going by your statements) yourself, and a bit out of practice that in itself will make it more difficult for the horse.
I'd do an exercise regime at the same time you're getting the mare fit. As people said long-lining is great but you will also benefit hugely from addressing core strength which will aid your balance and your mare's ability to work with you rather than for you.

Personally I think pilates and core awareness is useful but the best thing is weighted compound movements: squats etc. Make sure you are taught how to do these properly. This is will have the added benefit of encouraging weightloss without putting strain on your joints as some cardio can. And it takes much less time. Learning to squat properly is also very helpful around horses; getting up without a mounting block and shifting massive strawbales become a lot easier and safer. Plus the awareness of pelvic positioning can lead to a better, more sympathetic seat.

For both of you a focus on health and muscle tone will be beneficial. Fat/ heavy is now seen as emotive and focuses too much on punitive measures. Also consider that strong and healthy is a far better example of language to use in front of a child than fat.

This is just my two penneth and feel free to disregard.
 
Personally, yes too heavy. Only because she's unfit and her back muscles will be weak. Also once you add tack and equipment your looking at 14stone - this on a horse who has had time off for me is a bit too much to expect of her.
 
shadowboy said:
Personally, yes too heavy. Only because she's unfit and her back muscles will be weak. Also once you add tack and equipment your looking at 14stone - this on a horse who has had time off for me is a bit too much to expect of her.
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Personally I would say it's a little much for a fit horse of that size tbh. Though that being said a photo would help as it's hard to tell what build she is. My mare is a 16.3 CBx type, and I would not want much more than 15/16 stone on her regularly, so certainly wouldn't want anything like that on a smaller type. I think a lot of people get mixed up between 'can' and 'should' where weight is concerned on horses. I am completely confident my mare could carry up to 20 stone - but hell would freeze over before I let anyone near that size on her.
 
bakewell said:
Bear in mind that if you're unfit (just going by your statements) yourself, and a bit out of practice that in itself will make it more difficult for the horse.
I'd do an exercise regime at the same time you're getting the mare fit. As people said long-lining is great but you will also benefit hugely from addressing core strength which will aid your balance and your mare's ability to work with you rather than for you.

Personally I think pilates and core awareness is useful but the best thing is weighted compound movements: squats etc. Make sure you are taught how to do these properly. This is will have the added benefit of encouraging weightloss without putting strain on your joints as some cardio can. And it takes much less time. Learning to squat properly is also very helpful around horses; getting up without a mounting block and shifting massive strawbales become a lot easier and safer. Plus the awareness of pelvic positioning can lead to a better, more sympathetic seat.

For both of you a focus on health and muscle tone will be beneficial. Fat/ heavy is now seen as emotive and focuses too much on punitive measures. Also consider that strong and healthy is a far better example of language to use in front of a child than fat.

This is just my two penneth and feel free to disregard.
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'Strong and healthy' a far better example of language to use infront of a child than fat? I don't know if I'm reading that wrongly, but surely it's not a good idea to be using 'strong and healthy' as a description for overweight people?
 
My fit 14.2 welsh D 21 yo carries a fit nearly 13 stone on a daily basis for hours quite happily. He also didn't seem to bothered when I was heavier/less fit but I was and wouldn't have carried on riding him at that weight longer term. I think quite a few on the hho forum probably don't know what 13 stone actually looks like and if 9/10 stone struggle to extrapolate from that. Just my opinion though as we do always seem to get suggested weights around the lower end of the scale on here. Struggling for recent pics of me on him without being trussed up in hunting or showing jackets atm though!
 
I'd say if you can shift half a stone then once the horse is back to work & fitness you should be okay.
Although this depends on the horses conformation & type plus what sort of ridden activiteis you want to do.

If it is a well put together solid sort, and you are talking about moderate hacking, I think you should be okay.
 
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