Find a horse for a 18stone + rider

F

flump

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 April 2010
Messages
1,328
Location
the yard
Visit site
Im off sick so have been searching old posts etc, this isnt meant to start a war or drag up old news but I am genuinely interested being overweight and loosing weight to improve my riding.

The Game is to find a suitable horse for 18 stone + rider.

Meant to be interesting not b1tchy ok guys!

I will report back in a while as Im going to the gym :eek:

Here is my selections


http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_6_yrs_16_2_hh_blue_white_north_y/advert/243285
 
Interesting thread?

In all honesty, I think this weight is an awful lot for any horse to carry. Clydesdales are also not the best weight carriers, they are more a work horse - bred for pulling and tugging, not carrying. Yes they can tollerate more than most normal horses but would you not consider losing a few stone first and then looking?

This isnt a bitchy post at all, more concern for both yourself and the horse.
 
Even the local heavy horse place here has the weight limit capped below this, because whilst horse - including the one linked to - may be capable of carrying 250lbs once, the cumulative toll will give the horse a far shorter, less comfortable working life.

If I was that weight I would spend the next 6months to a year saving up to purchase the horse whilst trying to lose some more weight.There are ways you could incorporate horses; riding a mechanical horse, helping with mucking out and barn activities, lunging and long reining. That way you still get to spend time with horses, and since (here anyway) big heavy horses can cost a bomb you can save up to buy an amazing horse.
 
its not meant to be a 'popcorn post' nor a post where a 5 stone on an 18hh thinks they are to bad or 30stone on a shetland thinks they are overhorsed. play nicely guys
 
I don't think there is a horse that "should" not could carry that weight. Too heavy I think.

I'm sure they could but I doubt it would be nice for them.
 
Sorry op, I wouldn't put 18 stone on that horse myself, let alone as an owner/ rider. Wouldn't it be easier for the 18 stone rider to find their local weight watchers? Or, afraid its a case of waiting for an old-fashioned hw hunter to come on the market.
 
i have been loosing weight for a while, i was 16 at my heaviest and went up and down for a while, im now 14 and losing. but anyway this isnt about my weight :)

Dont think mine would allow 18stone on their backs :)
kings.jpg

008-2.jpg
 
Beans2000 said:
Im off sick so have been searching old posts etc, this isnt meant to start a war or drag up old news but I am genuinely interested being overweight and loosing weight to improve my riding.

The Game is to find a suitable horse for 18 stone + rider.

Meant to be interesting not b1tchy ok guys!

I will report back in a while as Im going to the gym :eek:

Here is my selections


http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_6_yrs_16_2_hh_blue_white_north_y/advert/243285
Click to expand...

You would put 18 stone plus on a 16.2 six year old that wouldn't have finished maturing yet?

I have yet to come across a horse that I would be happy to put more than 16 stone on.
 
i have a friend whos an excellent rider and she rides a 16.2hh IDXTB she must be 18st if not more but she rides very well and quite lightly so would think she doesnt ride like a huge bag of spuds, BUT it is still an awful lot for a horse to carry. i have a 16.2hh and wont allow more than 11 stone on him!! overall i think the fitter and lighter any rider is its bound to be better for the horse.:)
 
Beans2000 said:
tizzy- sorry its not for me, i am overweight but not 18 stone and looking for a horse ;) i have 3! it was a post in general
Click to expand...

Lol..I know . You don't look anywhere near that from your pics. I was commending you on going to the gym. I'll need it myself soon as I've been laid off with broken collarbone and with unrestricted grazing and no exercise the inevitable has happened. I'm avoiding the scales as I'm a coward. :(
 
littlelegs said:
Sorry op, I wouldn't put 18 stone on that horse myself, let alone as an owner/ rider. Wouldn't it be easier for the 18 stone rider to find their local weight watchers? Or, afraid its a case of waiting for an old-fashioned hw hunter to come on the market.
Click to expand...

Its all just to see what peoples opinions are..i dont know 18 stone horse shoppers atm :D
 
TrasaM said:
Lol..I know . You don't look anywhere near that from your pics. I was commending you on going to the gym. I'll need it myself soon as I've been laid off with broken collarbone and with unrestricted grazing and no exercise the inevitable has happened. I'm avoiding the scales as I'm a coward. :(
Click to expand...

Lol im on the bike now haha! But ache! I have a little gym in my house now, weights, kettleball, ab pro, ab cruncher, bike and x trainer!! cheaper than gym and can multi task!

Tho im ill and feel **** so may stop for a cuppa in ten!
 
There is another user on here, diet2ride and she is around 23 stone. She rides a 16hh cob. It is interesting to watch the videos of her riding and see the difference in her horse's way of going.
 
think my horse is going better now im losing some but have some to go, i was losing weight then had some crap and piled it back on again, but one day soon i'll be at my goal weight!

He is def going better whether its the weight loss, improved fitness or other i dont know.
 
How shocked am i to read some of these posts.. I am a big rider and standing at 6ft tall i would never weigh less than 16stone if i was a size 10 (which i am not). I do agree the horse pictured does look a little weak in the back, but we haven't seen a picture of you to comment on the suitability. My current horse is a 17.2hh WB x Shire, we have competed BE finishing 7th in our first outing, he has 15BD points in 7 outings and has qualified for the trail blazers final twice.. Do these results show a horse who is unhappy and unable to carry me, we are currently training elementary at home with a trainer. Just because you are big does not mean you are a heavy rider, some people i see who are lighter than me ride heavier. People should not be judged on how heavy they are. Sorry for the rant but when matching horse and rider there are numerous factors to take into account. The right horse is out there keep looking and dont get disheartened - GOOD LUCK!!
 
I am sure there are people out there who are 18st or more who are not overweight just big people and I am sure some of them ride. There will be horses out there capable of carrying that sort of weight just need to find one.
 
Personally I would look at Ardennais or Suffolk Punch slightly shorter backed than clysdale/ID type so stronger on that front and a correctly fitting saddle with wide flat pannels would be very improtant to distribute weight as best as possible.

I know an 18+ stone rider who rides a suffolk punch and horse has no problems (lameness/back) and is a happy chap and forward with rider on! as correctly fitted saddle and they are not galloping around for hours or doing stressful work.

Other option is to learn to drive as horses can pull more than they can carry! :)
 
20% of horse weight is usually considered a guide for what it can carry safely but it also depends on overall rider ability, musculature of horse, its bone and width of loins.
A 650kg horse 'could' carry 20st based on that rough guide. My friend's 15hh heavy cob weighs 600-650kg!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top