Eventing weight (yours, not your horses....)

Weight is just as important as fitness. I was doing Novice BE on my mum's mare 15.2hh MW TB, the first few I did I was 13st in my bare nakedness!
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I went to WW and got down to below 10st and this made the difference between 15 to 20 time penalites and 0 to 5 time penalties and no doubt improved the show jumping (although I doubt that could be scientifically verified!).
I am currently 11st7lbs and have some shedding to do before the pointing season starts but all horses are perfectly capable of carrying 12st round a reasonable course.
Something that nobody has mentioned is the weight verus balance argument!
ETS oops just read some posts mentioning balance!
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Being a bloke, 6foot tall and built rather broadly, I cannot get below 12.5st. Mare is 17h with 10" bone and flys xc.
I try to be as fit as I can and have recently run marathons, but that trains the wrong muscles for riding.
I think I will cut my head off to get rid of 2 st of ugly fat!!!
 
Many thanks to everyone for your replies - I started this off as an 'am I going to be OK weightwise' thread, but actually the replies are really interesting and thought provoking
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I am very aware that I will make 9 1l2 stone if I try hard, and anything less would be aspirational for me, but the real thing I have noticed is that I need to get fitter before we go eventing!

Interestingly (well, to me
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) I was 9 1/2 stone and very toned last year when I evented which was achieved just from riding, but I have absolutely no doubt I could do so much more to help Bob - last year I was eventing a 16.2hh + Selle Francais, who had been there and done it all before
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I'm 5'8 and my normal standard weight used to be 10st.. however since going on the pill, my new stanard weight is 10.5st.. no matter what i do i don't seem to be able to shift it!!
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Although i almost always put weight on in the winter, i don't seem to be doing that just yet, so maybe i can lose it next summer
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Ernie seemed to cope ok this season upto 2* level.. however i don't want to make Polly cope.. she's used to carrying 8st with all the tack etc.
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I dont think you have to worry at all!!

9 1/2 stone at 5ft3 for a 15.2 TB is fine! You can be a stone heavier and still be fine!

I agree with the others that fitness is important, Im 5ft5 and weight between 7 and 8 stone and im puffing like a steam train and feeling all dizzy after a small hunter trial so I dont think I would be much good round a BE course LOL!

I wouldnt like to see my horse carry more than 11 1/2 stone as shes petite but thats just her shes built for flat racing and 9 stone jockeys! other taller more chaser looking TB's can carry more weight
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