Can you really tell if some is to heavy for their horse from pictures?

[Irishcobs]

I read a post about someone who was worried they were to heavy for their horse and they were asked for pictures so we could get an idea.
I know this was just a rough guide so they could see if that person looked far to heavy, horse too small etc. but how easy is it to guestimate someone's weight/horses weight carrying capability from pictures?
I've been told I don't look as heavy as I am and I know at work we get a lot of people tell us their weight and you had guestimated them to be heavier/lighter.
So I'll add a few pictures and a brief description of each horse. All horses are mine and I am the rider in all pictures. Pictures are taken at different times and I'm fairly sure I am 3 different weights. Oh and I'm 5ft7.

So first horse- 17hh Belgian Draught x 9 1/2" of bone. 7yrs old. Fit and well. Taken a month ago.

Second horse- 15.3hh Irish Cob 10" of bone. 16yrs old and fit and well in photo. The coloured in the link below. Taken in Nov 2011

http://www.pbase.com/dhbphotos/image/139835123

Third horse 15.1hh Gypsy Vanner. 8 3/4" of bone. 13yrs old. Fat and hairy!
Taken winter 2010.

 

[rara007]

There's a large amount of grey area, but in general those that are actually too big don't want to know this so don't ask and the pictures posted are all of people who are clearly well within the horses ability!

 

[Batgirl]

Huge huge grey area, I weight 16 1/2 stone and look about 12/13 stone as I am an ex rugby player with a large muscle mass. I am on weight watchers and on the way down but I know at 12stone I will be about a size 12 and won't look that big.

I think sometimes you can tell in motion shots if the added weight is affecting a horses movement but it is very subjective.

I also have enormous chesticles!! (people say about a stone each lol)

 

[Irishcobs]

I agree they is a large grey area. I would say probably 2 stone either way.

Do you think people post asking if they are to heavy to get nice posts saying they aren't etc?

 

[Batgirl]

I think some definitely are! Some are genuinely concerned and those that aren't don't post.

I don't post asking if I am too big because I bought a horse specifically big enough that I wouldn't have to worry

 

[rara007]

Alot do I'm sure And if you are on the larger side for your horse surely you'd listen to the horse/people who see the horse moving and know you and the horse over some people from the internet who think in a handful of pictures you look too big

 

[Buds_mum]

To me, yes I sound very judgmental, but if someone posts a pic of a spindly tb type with an obvious obese rider then i tend to think they are too heavy for them.
I felt too heavy on my tb, all in all weren't suited to each other. But I did feel too large on him, he was 16.2hh with about 2cm of bone and I'm 5'2 and 11.5 stone there. However from that pic I don't think many people would judge me as far to big? (might be wrong)

Far more comfortable on my boy now

He's 16hh with 9'' of bone, i'm still about 11.5 stone (WORKING ON IT!). But people often comment I look little on him lol. Ride a cob, makes your bum look smaller

 

[KSR]

It's perhaps self doubt and lack of self confidence with some people, but not all..

Much of it is in the mind.. You can be a size 6, very underweight but untoned and feel you are the size of a small country.. Or size 18, Amazonian, without an ounce of spare fat and feel exactly the same.. Then there is everything in between with all weights, sizes and degrees of over and underweight.. It's very subjective..

 

[Irishcobs]

I don't post asking if I am too big because I bought a horse specifically big enough that I wouldn't have to worry

Haha yep, so did I, 3 times

I'm just interested in whether you can actually tell from a photo if that horse is capable of carrying that rider.
If I hadn't said what breed, bone, height etc my horses were, I wonder if anyone would say I was too big for them?

 

[Littlelegs]

Sometimes its obvious from a pic, other times its a grey area as already said, apart from persons weight there are things you can't tell about the horse from a pic. I know plenty of old horses that you wouldn't guess age from a pic, but in real life would struggle with a rider that was fine in their youth. Same goes for old injury or ailments that aren't visible. On the whole though a picture & sizes is more use than just giving size. Everyone has always guessed my weight lower than it is, but for me height has always been the restricting factor before weight.

 

[stencilface]

Hmm.

At a show at the weekend I was tempted, but didn't, to ask a lady why she was riding her horse, that to me was obviously struggling. It was a welsh D, 15.2 ish, and not hugely built. The woman was massive, biggest rider I have ever seen on a horse, the joint width o her legs was wider than the horse. . The horse was struggling IMHO to canter, and her and a mate kept laughing when it tried to bronc when she asked for canter. I don't think I can describe how big she was, and along with that ride like a sack of potatoes, obviously no core strength at all, flubbing around everywhere.

It made me angry, but didn't say anything, as don't know what I would have said? Plus she was with a big group and would have likely punched me

 

[Irishcobs]

Hmm.

At a show at the weekend I was tempted, but didn't, to ask a lady why she was riding her horse, that to me was obviously struggling. It was a welsh D, 15.2 ish, and not hugely built. The woman was massive, biggest rider I have ever seen on a horse, the joint width o her legs was wider than the horse. . The horse was struggling IMHO to canter, and her and a mate kept laughing when it tried to bronc when she asked for canter. I don't think I can describe how big she was, and along with that ride like a sack of potatoes, obviously no core strength at all, flubbing around everywhere.

It made me angry, but didn't say anything, as don't know what I would have said? Plus she was with a big group and would have likely punched me

Hahaha I don't blame you. I don't think I would say anything either.

Things like fitness of rider, core strength and riding ability need to be considered as well, which a picture can't really tell you.

 

[KatB]

Yes agree, a lot of it comes down to balance etc too. I am HEAVY, (I'm not going to say HOW heavy, but anyway...) and am a size 12-14, 5'7 and own a 15.3hh 3/4 tb... however, she is a well built lady, and doesn't seem to struggle with me at all, BUT I do try to make sure I remain fitness, and core strength... I am at a constant battle with my weight because I am aware of how it could effect her. However, I am sure there are larger in volume (!) people who weigh less, but aren;t as fit or as experienced... so will look more "troublesome" to their horse. It is a difficult one though...

Oh, and for what it is worth, OP, no you look fine on all of them

 

[Irishcobs]

Thanks KatB.
It is a difficult one and I don't think there is anyway to tell, certainly not from a picture but even from someone watching you in person, unless you are an extreme. A lightweight novice who bounces and rides heavy could be worse than a heavy rider who is fit and rides lightly.

I think most horses will tell you if they are struggling. My gelding tells me before I've even gotten on that he feels it will be far to much work and would rather stay in the field getting fatter

 

[Kat]

To me, yes I sound very judgmental, but if someone posts a pic of a spindly tb type with an obvious obese rider then i tend to think they are too heavy for them.

But would you think the same if they posted a picture of a spindly tb with a tall thin man on?

Because a skinny 6ft man can weigh much more than a very overweight woman of 5'2".

Who on here would question whether WFP is too heavy to ride a spindly tb? What would you say if you were asked whether a size 18 woman could ride the same horse?

 

[JFTDWS]

But would you think the same if they posted a picture of a spindly tb with a tall thin man on?

Because a skinny 6ft man can weigh much more than a very overweight woman of 5'2".

Who on here would question whether WFP is too heavy to ride a spindly tb? What would you say if you were asked whether a size 18 woman could ride the same horse?

I reckon WFP is a lot more balanced and toned than your average rotund 5'2 woman. I'd certainly let him ride Fergs, though I wouldn't let a short, fat person of the same weight ride him

(Not that Fergs is a spindly TB, but he's little and I'd laugh at WFP's long legs hanging down!)

 

[jools123]

i think we get too hung up on this as an issue i think lots of people look too big BUT that does not mean they are too heavy

its two completely different things

my legs are too long for most 17hh horses but i weigh about 9 stone i ride two 14.2hh at work and mine is only 14.3hh-i figure it dont matter as long as we are all having fun

 

[Oberon]

So first horse- 17hh Belgian Draught x 9 1/2" of bone. 7yrs old. Fit and well. Taken a month ago.

I love him!

I knew as soon as I saw the pic that he was Ardennes/Belgian Draft. That calm, kind look on the face.....

My Tank is Ardennes x and the face reminds me just of him

 

[Littlelegs]

I think if we're talking about people not too far off each other in weight then a toned, experienced rider will be easier to carry than a slightly lighter bag of spuds. But I don't believe if the former is 15 stone & the latter 10 stone it makes it feel the same to the horse. And the phrase 'but rides light' always makes me think of 10stone plus adults thinking up excuses as to why its ok for them to ride tiny 11hh ponies.
However I really don't agree horses will tell you, by the time they do it means you are causing physical pain which happens well past the point discomfort & damage do. I've seen horses tolerate riders that were double the weight they should carry without making a fuss. Horses are very forgiving so I don't believe in pushing their tolerance to find out what they can take. Not a dig at you op, you look fine to me in all the pics.

 

[PomPomFeathers]

Ride a cob, makes your bum look smaller

MY HERO!

 

[Buds_mum]

But would you think the same if they posted a picture of a spindly tb with a tall thin man on?

Because a skinny 6ft man can weigh much more than a very overweight woman of 5'2".

Who on here would question whether WFP is too heavy to ride a spindly tb? What would you say if you were asked whether a size 18 woman could ride the same horse?

Thats why I said I was being judgmental, I, rightly or wrongly, judge a tall thin man to have better balance and stamina than an big wobbly rotund person. Its all about purely perception when your looking at a picture alone. seeing the same two riders in the flesh may prove that view totally false.

I reckon WFP is a lot more balanced and toned than your average rotund 5'2 woman. I'd certainly let him ride Fergs, though I wouldn't let a short, fat person of the same weight ride him

(Not that Fergs is a spindly TB, but he's little and I'd laugh at WFP's long legs hanging down!)

Ooo Oliver Townend can come school my horsey anytime, he may not leave the yard though. Does this mean this post can now turn into a perve fest of toned fit male riders?

 

[LizzyandToddy]

^ This is what you look like when your too big

Pony is 11 2hh, I'm 5ft 10. I had to jump on him for all of about 1 minute to straighten him up as he was being dangerous to the little girl riding him! Contrary to popular belief his back didn't break when I hopped on!

 

[JFTDWS]

Ooo Oliver Townend can come school my horsey anytime, he may not leave the yard though. Does this mean this post can now turn into a perve fest of toned fit male riders?

AIBU to want fit toned male riders to ride Fergs topless, but not allow fat wobbly female lardarses near him and certainly not want to see them topless?

 

[stencilface]

There's is an eye candy thread in sb if you want to see LOTS of topless men

 

[Buds_mum]

I think you are being perfectly reasonable, in fact it should be mandatory that fit men ride topless.

 

[JFTDWS]

There's is an eye candy thread in sb if you want to see LOTS of topless men

The most recent one was of very questionable "quality" as I recall

I think you are being perfectly reasonable, in fact it should be mandatory that fit men ride topless.

What an excellent idea! We should set up a new show - like Olympia or HOYS, but topless for hot riders only to compete in

 

[stencilface]

The most recent one was of very questionable "quality" as I recall



What an excellent idea! We should set up a new show - like Olympia or HOYS, but topless for hot riders only to compete in

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!

There wasn't one man on that video you'd want to see ride your horse, or ride yourself for that matter?!

 

[Buds_mum]

What an excellent idea! We should set up a new show - like Olympia or HOYS, but topless for hot riders only to compete in

This sounds like quite the plan, we should have an interviewing stage first like qualifiers

There wasn't one man on that video you'd want to see ride your horse, or ride yourself for that matter?!

I think I need a link to this video to judge for myself

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Goodness gracious people, you all look fine on your horses, even the 5'10" rider on the 11.2 is slim enough to train that pony.

Here is what "heavy" and tall looks like riding a 15.3hh TB and winning the class Don't peek at old posts to see what my height and weight is either!!

 

[Littlelegs]

I think Yabu, all of you. If the opportunity arose it wouldn't be my horses I would be wanting ridden by a hot male rider, far better uses for their skill!