Fat people...

cblover, I think you look very well matched actually. She doesn't look as though she is having any trouble carrying you as all, and overall it is a nice picture.
 
smelly_horse said:
What, telling my opinion to other hho'ers? Some people take it offensively, some dont. Just cant justify why anyone knowing they're to big/fat to ride the specified horse carry on doing so on a day to day basis when in a few years time the horse will most likely have back problems and joint problems. Its totally different being taller and heavier, easier to balance, equals out more. But being fat and nothing else on a little horse, not being balanced and not being able to use aids/seat etc correctly clearly isnt beneficial for the horse.
Anyway, im off to take my skinny self ( ;) ) to ride my horse.
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In fact being taller and heavier should be more difficult for the horse - it might be a nicer picture, but the centre of balance is more likely to be a problem because it will be higher off the saddle, and further from the horse's natural centre of balance.
 
I don't think anyone has a problem with overweight riders on horses that can carry them capably. So if you are a bit overweight and ride a cob, chill out it's not a problem. It's overweight riders on unsuitable animals that is the issue.
These threads are always the same :rolleyes:
 
My poor OH (a mere 14st) is barred from riding any of my horses except the 15.1hh H/W cob once or twice a week. Otherwise cob is ridden the rest of the time by lighter riders which enables him to keep fit and enjoy the experience of carrying a light weight. Cob is built like a tank, but his strength is for pulling not carrying. Both my vet and saddler agree he is able to carry a heavy rider, but its not in his best interests or ideal.
I have on a few occasions walked away from a potential horse sale because the owner was morbidly obese. Their right to ride, my right not to buy.
I have to watch my weight because I want to play fair on my horses.Its tough when I'm starving and want to mine sweep the fridge, but I want to ride more.
 
The problem with threads like these, is that really fat (as in, clinically obese) people know they are overweight, and the vast majority of them could, medically speaking, lose it, yet lack the willpower to do so. So they make the best of what they have and say 'big is beautiful' etc. Everyone else, who probably diet/watch what they eat from time to time, cannot fathom how a person could not be able to do likewise with the end goal of being healthier, living longer, being easier for their horse to carry etc.
 
But what about those of us who are overweight for medical reasons, i am overweight because i am on steroids, i struggle to maintain my weight (which im not going to disclose, though i will say that im a size 16) i know i am overweight, but i do not want to be tarred with the same brush as those who simply cannot be bothered to lose weight.
Pah, at least i have a year to battle with my weight until its deemed acceptable for me to ride my horses.
x
 
cblover said:
I haven't read all the posts od this thread but as its been done so many times, I get the general picture of what the majority of people think. I would be classed by many of you as a large rider..you decide from the pictures below if it 'turns your stomach or not!' I am a very considerate rider (I hope), consider myself to have choosen the 'right' type of horse for my built and try to be as active as possible. Its hard not to be with three horses to muck out every day, poo to pick every day, general repairs around the stables etc....not to mention going to work, housework, school run etc!

Still I beat myself up about riding and have been on the receiving end of some negative comments from what I woull class as 'completely uneducated' people! They hurt my feelings for a long time but it gets easier with age and a certain amount of wisdom that comes from having the correct knowledge. My cob (who is 14.2hh and has 10.5 inch of bone) and I complete at dressage, hack out, do pleasure rides, showing and basically have fun. She is my friend and I trust her completely. I'm not overhorsed or underhorsed but would like to think we're well matched. My time in the saddle is a small part of why I own her.....I'm honoured to share my life with her and we have shared some very special times together. Here we are, please feel free to tell me what you think and why!

I suppose basically what I feel is that there are a lots of larger riders out there, like me, but we're not too big! However, being surrounded by very negative people and comments could easily lead to you never having the courage to put your foot in the stirrup again......how sad would that be!
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I think you look wonderful on your stunning horse & you shouldn't worry about what anyone else thinks because you have no need to!

However, lets not detract from the OPs original message which was in her opinion, larger than average people are too heavy for fine boned TB's. I think it's a valid point considering that horses backs weren't 'designed' to carry any weight at all and some back conformations are weaker than others anyway.

I don't think anyone would want to deny a fellow horse lover their love of horses, which does include riding them, just because of their weight. I would like to think that most of us are sensible enough to choose the right horse for our needs and weight. I own a 16.1 TB and I think he's just right for me at 5'7 & just under 10 stone. We can only go by how we & our horses feel and not by what others think because when it comes down to it, we probably shouldn't be riding horses at all! ;)
 
Thank you all for your lovely comments - she really is one in a million and I'm blessed to own her. I'm 5ft 8 and absolutely no size zero as you can see, but I think we 'fit' together. Anything smaller in height or width would be a no no for me. But like I have said before, comments in the past have made me feel like the people the OP was talking about, although I know I don't look like that! I did once see a very large lady on a small haflinger, which was clearly struggling and my heart just sank. She did actually look like I used to feel!
 
I dont have a problem with overweight riders
I use to be I'n the same boat
After having kids I bloomed to 20 stone
I was very unhappy with myself after 2and a half years I lost
6 stone
I did not ride but I did buy myself a youngster that needed walking out , longrining etc this is how I lost my weight
I'm still not happy with weight and curruntly losing weight
As I breed my youngster who will be backed when I have lost my weight at the moment I walk him out etc so he gets training and I lose weight
I wouldn't expect him to carry me till i lose weight
I have rode my friends cob x Clyde he is 14.2 heavyweight he has no problem
But I defiantly wouldn't ride anything the same size or anything under 15.3 tb type or any finer breed
The other thing what gets me is slim , tall people on county show horses that are 14Hh.or so under
 
mystiandsunny said:
The problem with threads like these, is that really fat (as in, clinically obese) people know they are overweight, and the vast majority of them could, medically speaking, lose it, yet lack the willpower to do so. So they make the best of what they have and say 'big is beautiful' etc. Everyone else, who probably diet/watch what they eat from time to time, cannot fathom how a person could not be able to do likewise with the end goal of being healthier, living longer, being easier for their horse to carry etc.
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That is so very true..but WILLPOWER..now that is the difficulty.Anyone who goes that extra step to get their life back by surgery knows how little food the body actually does need,and to achieve that without surgery would take immense willpower and not a little sheer frustration.Some of us are just "slow burners",and all of those in that category almost hate the others who are "high burners".

If being fat does restrict your life then go for it on the surgery route.After all,it is a medical issue..the outcome in the future is diabetes,buggered joints,hurting back and eventualy disablement.NOT a nice future is it?

At least 90% of those who achieve good weight loss by dieting pile it all back on ..and some..within a couple of years;at the same time being obese is a threat to life and mobility.Get it sorted I say!

Sound a bit overboard?Well..do you want to be sixty and spilling over on one of those scooter things when you shop?Thought not:D

And of all the one`s who will be grateful number one will be your horse.:D
 
cblover said:
Thank you all for your lovely comments - she really is one in a million and I'm blessed to own her. I'm 5ft 8 and absolutely no size zero as you can see, but I think we 'fit' together. Anything smaller in height or width would be a no no for me. But like I have said before, comments in the past have made me feel like the people the OP was talking about, although I know I don't look like that! I did once see a very large lady on a small haflinger, which was clearly struggling and my heart just sank. She did actually look like I used to feel!
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like others have said you are fine. yes your not a skinny bit of a girl BUT you are not riding a skinny TB either!!

I personally am not on about the likes of you (or me for that matter) For me it is not only fat riders on skinny TB but also riders who are JUST so fat they do not have any balance. I have seen people who look a good 5st+ of you and even your lovely horse shouldn't be asked to carry that weight

Also people come on saying oh I am no light weight I am a 16 18 even 20
THAT is NOT large compared to what I am on about.

you will probably find that the riders we are on about know who they are and totally avoid these threads as they feel too guilty.

Been there done that I had a WC that belonged to my daughter who sadly died. I loved him too bits as you can imagine. however I was 12.5st Turns out he had a bone cyst in his stifle, it had been there all along but only showed up 12 months after I started riding him. I gave him lots of time off, treatment. But each time I bought him back into work he went slightly lame again. As I am on steriods I couldn't shift the weight

I tried retiring him but he was only 7 and very unhappy. I had to make the heartbreaking decision to loan and then sell him to a lightweight rider. He went on to hunt, xc etc without any problems

So while a fit and healthy WC of his stature would have easily hunted all day with me, he couldn't. Despite what we WANT TO BELIEVE heavier riders DO cause more damage to ALL horses eventually.

I often wonder how many horses have problems that they wouldn't have had with skinny riders? I guess we will never know, and we all do the best we can!! I currently worry about my WB will me not being skinny take its toll on him eventually, how soon is eventually????????????????
I did consider a bigger horse but I also have RA and cannot manage one
 
I've said it all before and I'll say it all again.

I don't think this topic is fattist or offensive (yes, I have been fat) and it is something that concerns me. It is just something up for debate. I agree that there are a lot more pressing issues in the horse world but if I am allowed to be distressed if someone doesn't feed their horses enough, lets their feet grow too long etc., why am I not allowed to be concerned if someone is potentially damaging their horse by being too heavy for their carrying ability?

I don't have a problem with overweight riders, provided that they have a horse to suit them (though obviously the 'suitability' is and always will be somewhat debatable). It might be that a rider is technically fat and is still able to be carried by a TB, it's just that overall weight, riding ability, fitness of horse etc. have to be taken into account. Riders who are larger overall, as in tall and substantially overweight, are not generally suited to be riding l/w horses in my opinion.

I also have no problem with the way heavier riders look, provided their horse is capable of carrying them COMFORTABLY, as their appearance is up to them as it is in day to day life. Sure, they might look better if they were slimmer but as long as it's not detrimental to the horse, I couldn't care less. Similarly, I don't care if someone looks like a pea on a drum, as long as their horse is happy and they both enjoy their riding whilst being safe.

Basically, someone's weight is up to them and in general, none of my business. Just as the way someone's choice of feed for their horse is none of my business... until it becomes a welfare concern! Then I am entitled to act on it as I think any person with an interest in horse welfare might do. I think I was too heavy for my retired TBx who had an arthritic knee and I wish someone had told me. I was not really huge for her and we only did light hacking, but on reflection I can't help but feel maybe my weight played a part. I don't ever want to feel that guilt again, which is partly why I am a healthy weight now and would not get on a horse unless I felt certain it could take me with no worries.
 
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