Fat or big riders... on small horses...

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Starbucks

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Am I the only one who hates seeing big fat people on small/slight horses? It really does drive me insane!
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If people insist on eating a lot, why can't they have a horse to suit?

Ok, people might be fat, for whatever reason, but why make your horse carry the load????

Personally, If I was really heavy I would not ride, I don't think it is fair on the horse.
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What would you class as 'really heavy' and obviously horses should not be made to carry riders that are too big for them.
 
i wouldnt normally respond to this, but im not a small rider.... size 16 on a good day, and short, my worse bits are my hips and arse, my horse is around 16 hh an idxtb, not a heavy build, the cow can still rear and buck and leap off all fours (and yes since ive had her back teeth legs saddle etc all checked)

am i really to heavy for her??

ok im always told i ride light.... i dont look big, but i know what i weigh, if i thought id damage my horse id never even lie across her, but again.... am i too big??
 
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I've just put a post in SB, I think I am fatist.
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Although I'm happy for people to do what they want on a correctly sized horses - i.e. if you weigh 15+ stone, ride a bigger chunky horse - not a pnly!
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Welsh cobs might have carried farmers round back in the day, but they HAD to and I doubt the farmers would be that big anyway!
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Oh no! You haven't been visiting PG again have you? That's one of the reasons I don't go down there much.
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Maybe!
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S&H - totally depends on the horse, obviously.

My dad is 12 stone at the very max, I think for his little TB he is big, and he would rather me jump him because I'm lighter.

It is one of my pet hates to see people too big for their horses, I think it is wrong and I don't care if I upset people, I'd rather have happy horses.
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is this the tb you posted a pic of him jumping? IMO no way is he too heavy!
The problem comes when people are far too precious of what weight the horse can carry, different opinions. For instance I suspect you would say I am too big for my boy, he's 17hh 3/4 bred tb, I'm sure you've seen pics. However, he seems happy with no back problems so I will let the horse tell me
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Mine had (still has) a dipped back..its bad conformation I can assume as in his earlier years he had slight riders on him!
 
I'm big but i'm ride - however my horse is 16hh and quite chunky. I would not ride him if I did not think that he could carry my weight. I've only got big now i'm older - I used to ride ponies all day long but when I had my little boy I put on a lot of weight. I have an office job and find it hard to be active - therefore I spend time with my horse mucking out etc trying to loose weight and get fitter. I've had my saddle made to to fit me and my horse etc. I love my horse more than anything in the world and would never like to do something to make him unhappy/uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel worried about riding my horse and what people will think and i'm obviosuly right because people like you that make me think that ! I have had times when riding along when people have shouted fatty at me (not nice). Anyway i'm off to the farm now to muck out ! I'll try lose some more weight so not to offend you further. (and yes I have taken this personally).
 
I weigh 11 stone and ride teeny 15.1hh TB type sporty things with a sodding great heavy stock saddle or a heavy western (both of which I swear weigh as much as I do!!!) and the horses have no problems (bearing in mind you have to sit down really deep in the saddle in prep for a stop as well).
 
Yes the horse should be happy, but at the end of the day you can't judge people, yes there are surely going to be people out there riding horses that are struggling to carry them, but horses are tougher than you think and a lot of horses with riders that may look to big are perfectly happy, so don't judge, what you see isn't always what you get. At the end of the day riding is purely damage limitation, just by sitting on your horse, even if your as light as a feather, your going to be doing some damage. Horses didn't evolve in order to be ridden, its unatural. Yes a heavier rider may not look as good, but if their horse is capable of carrying them, which them as the owner are likely to know. Don't judge.
 
This post was done to death some months ago. What a pony/horse can carry weight wise depends on various facters. How the animal is built, how the rider carries themselves, condition & age of animal etc. Welsh ponies are only slight but they are capable of carrying adult men around the hills. Highland ponies can carry the dead weight of a stag up & down steep hills. I would agree that someone who's arse can hardly fit the saddle riding a pony in its 20's is probably pushing it a bit!!
 
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I'm big but i'm ride - I love my horse more than anything in the world and would never like to do something to make him unhappy/uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel worried about riding my horse and what people will think and i'm obviosuly right because people like you that make me think that ! I have had times when riding along when people have shouted fatty at me (not nice). Anyway i'm off to the farm now to muck out ! I'll try lose some more weight so not to offend you further. (and yes I have taken this personally).

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I'm with you on this one! I too am big and ride - I expect after this Summer at County Shows with my much loved Show Cob no -one will want me to inflict the photos on the Picture Gallery? I wouldn't want to offend anyone
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People are too soft on there horses and this is why they have problems. People who are over 13 stone shouldn't listen to all this twaddle as long as the horse is happy and not a real light weight still ride.
 
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I'm big but i'm ride - I love my horse more than anything in the world and would never like to do something to make him unhappy/uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel worried about riding my horse and what people will think and i'm obviosuly right because people like you that make me think that ! I have had times when riding along when people have shouted fatty at me (not nice). Anyway i'm off to the farm now to muck out ! I'll try lose some more weight so not to offend you further. (and yes I have taken this personally).

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I'm with you on this one! I too am big and ride - I expect after this Summer at County Shows with my much loved Show Cob no -one will want me to inflict the photos on the Picture Gallery? I wouldn't want to offend anyone
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You wouldn't offend me or plenty people on here. This debate will go on forever, and there will always be fattists, sad but true. Funny in this case that the person judging is extremely unhappy about their own appearance, I guess that's why they're so judgemental about others.

No-one wants to see someone too big for the horse they're riding, but that doesn't just apply to fat people.
 
wht don't you STFU and keep your nasty torrrid mean minded little opinions to yourself?? what a nasty bully you are........FYI i am not hugely overweight, but i am not slender either, i ride ponies, welsh cobs, they don't stuggle and i'm sure my vet would have said something by now if i were too heavy, when he came to check the mare's back....as long as the pony/horses isn't stuggling, mind your'e own business.
i am not buying a horse as being short in the leg i cannot ride a 16hh properly, so what is the point??
FYI i show and judges have always said me and my cobs look proffesional, well suited, and smart among many other positive things...
also at shows i have seen many a larger rider riding quietly and effectively, and watched many a stick twig beating their horse, work that out before you gob off.
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People are so so precious about horses now. I've really had a bit of a wake up call since moving to Holland where people seem to be a lot more realistic when it comes to a horses capabilities on so many levels. Yes sometimes this gets taken to extremes (as with many things). There is a girl at our yard who has a little pony, must be only about 11hh ish and she rides it and jumps (only small) and I would have said looks way too big for it. However, the pony is obviously happy, in no discomfort and has everything checked regularly. Horses are capable of carrying a lot more than people give them credit for.
 
I think it is rare to see a horse or pony that really cannot cope with the weight of the rider, and those riders who fit into the obese category are probably not going to be asking much of their horses in any case, so I really don't believe that there is a major problem.
 
I am 5'4, 13 stone, and I ride a lightweight, 15.2 Arab X Selle Francais. Are you going to tell me I am too heavy for her?
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PS. It is worth mentioning that not everyone is 'fat' because they eat too much. Some of us face a constant struggle to keep our weight down
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I am 13 stone 5ft 11 and ride an 18hh cbx. I also used to ride a 14.2 who did not even struggle to carry me had so much fun, I think it also helps if the riders have balance.
 
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I am 13 stone, and I ride a 15.2 Arab X Selle Francais. Are you going to tell me I am too heavy for her?
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PS. It is worth mentioning that not everyone is 'fat' because they eat too much. Some of us face a constant struggle to keep our weight down
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Yep, some of us don't eat much at all but still struggle... I ride my newfie, never had a problem with us. Some people are just so offensive... I find it more awful to see riders who use wrong bits (or right ones incorrectly) and bully their horses, or people that just constantly race their ponies and make them rear/buck/rush...
 
I no longer ride, not because i have put weight on but because i am happy on the ground. My old mare is a thoroughbredx she was great whilst i was slimmer but i know i am now to heavy. If i wanted to ride again i would ride a cobbier type.
I get a lot of heavier people that are short looking at 16 hh + horses. I try to be tactful and suggest a good boned smaller cob. A short plump person looks better on a shorter cob than a tall fine horse. Plumper people can ride horses just as well as the people who i wonder how they fit their insides in. Horses for courses as they say.
 
Starbucks I remember when you sent me numerous PMs saying I was too fat for Castle (yes, I do think it's relevant to this post)... Granted, I'm not the thinnest rider, BUT if I was THAT big for Castle he would've let me know somehow... Castle was quite "cobby" though and was well able to carry me...
 
QR......also in SB...

There are numerous things that are "wrong" which are far more detrimental to the well-being and welfare of a horse than an over weight rider...

badly fitted saddlery, over feeding, over rugging, limited turn out, schooling endlessly, Parreli ,

how fat is too fat, SB?
 
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