Am I Too Heavy For My Irish Cob..???

H

_Hayley_

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 April 2008
Messages
151
Visit site
im geting very worrid about if im too heavy for my horse as there has been alot of talk about weight and riding horses..!!

im 13st i know eeeekkk am realy trying to loose weight and i have a 15.2hh irish cob am i too big for him.? and im 5ft
x
 
Irish cobs are generally well built and very tough so your weight is fine for him, i would say as long as the horse is not an older veteran for example he will cope absolutely fine
 
Ditto JoBo, definitely not!
grin.gif
 
Not getting involved with this as I got kicked of a site years ago over ladies weight, other than to say if there is a ? over your weight to horse size and are asking the question then you probably are too big.
 
No, I think when people talk about over-weight riders they mean more like 15/16 stone. I had a friend who had a 15.1 HW cob (more of a vanner really), she was 15 stone (well, thats what she told me, could have been more) and her horse was always puffing. 13 stone is fine, I used to have a 15.2 TB ex polo pony and he had been regularly played by 13 stone men. Race horses can carry upto 12 stone in races.
 
I'm sure you are fine to ride him, cobs are usually great weight carriers.

I asked my vet about me exercising a 14 hh pony recently (i m 9 stone ish)and he said as long as the pony has good confirmation and more importantly that the rider is in balance then it would be fine.

In an article I read it had a table of rider weights referring to average build horses and it shows 500kg horses can take up to 13st2lbs and 550kg horses 14st7lbs and 600kg up to15st12lb. It has caveats around fitness, confirmation, age of horse but is intended to give a general guide.

It also said a short-coupled horse is a better weight carrier than a long-coupled horse. whatever that means??? Is it the length of their back?

Hope this helps abit anyway
smile.gif
 
I was told that a large native pony can carry 1 stone per hand of height. Personally, I can't see a difference between a large native and a 15.2 cob - it comes down to bone.
Your horse was bred as a small draft horse. Highland and Dales ponies can carry up to 16 stone 'dead' weight - think dead stags and iron ore! Welsh Sec A ponies were bred to carry Welsh farmers up and down mountains, as were the Shetland Ponies. They are hardy and strong.

Personally, I can't believe that a 9 stone person is worried about riding a 14hh pony. In the USA, 15hh is considered a good size for a man. Look at the size of Quarter Horses.

Do Not Worry.
laugh.gif
 
Just found this... from 'The Dales Pony Society' website....

[ QUOTE ]
They could pull a ton in a cart or coup; were sturdy shepherds ponies, capable of covering great distances on the fells and were able to carry burdens of hay up to 12 stones, often plus a rider and when necessary, in deep snow. A pair could step out in the plough or reaper binder; and having a fast trot, could take the farmer to market in style and also give a days hunting, being willing and clever jumpers

[/ QUOTE ]

Again - do not worry. I know that quote is about dales Ponies, but Irish cobs, are crosses of all the best bits, this is what the Travellers were good at - breeding Good 'Uns.
 
You are fine for your cob.

It also makes a difference on whether the rider is experienced or not. A 9 stone novice will ride heavier in the saddle than a 13 stone experienced rider.
 
MY Friend has a 14.3 irish cob x and he carries her and shes roughtly 15-16 stone and he had no problems he still fines energy to spook and dance at any little thing so defently not
 
Riding a private horse little and often is very different than riding long hours/infrequently etc.

E.g. the 15.2-16hh irish cobs/chunky types at one of my old RSs had a 12.5stone limit - and there were scales in the stables so that included clothing, hats etc too! They weren't generally worked hard, mostly just 'hacked' out with lead-reins in walk/trot but for up to 4-5hours/day so that was plenty.

I'd support your drive to loose weight not because you're being cruel now but because you'll feel better about yourself and how you look on your horse plus you'll be able to balance better, and do more with horsey, when a larger portion of your total weight is muscle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top