Find a horse for a 18stone + rider

Going to have to back up Kerilli.

There has been some research done by the saddlery industry re weight, riding light etc.
Result was weight, is weight. Guess its better to have a lightweight crashing about than a heavy rider, but conclusion was that the heavy rider impacts saddle area most.
 
Would definitely have to disagree about it not being enjoyable for horse or rider. Me and my horse have done a lot of competing and he has coped fine. He has also been used for lessons and probably had riders about 20+st on him and has coped fine. He struggles with the height of people rather than the weight. He is extremely happy in what he does, we've had no back problems/lameness with him in all the time I've had him. He loves jumping and clears everything with miles of space. Has done 3ft courses on a regular basis. Loves to go for a gallop. We do four hour hacks and he comes back still raring to go. In terms of balance - I am very able to keep my balance on top. Have ridden lots of people's horses for them and again have been able to ride very light/neat/balanced and get the results. None of the horses have had a problem. The only problem I have is the height of a horse. For example a 14.2hh heavy weight could carry me, but I find that because I'm also very tall there isn't any shoulder/neck in front of me and hate that feeling. But that's mainly because I moved off 'ponies' many years ago so struggle to go back when asked. However, I do cope and still maintain balance. I just don't like the feeling. THat would probably be the same for any rider though going from horses to ponies. I know my friends (size 8's) fall off more when riding the smaller ponies because of finding where their balance should be totally different to when their on their 16.2hh horses.

If you are 18 stone plus because you are obese rather than Amazonian in build riding is never going to be enjoyable for you or your horse as you are just too big!! That is probably not politically correct to say these days but I watched an overweight friend who was desperate to ride and because of her weight and size she struggled to get on and off the horse, was uncomfortable in the saddle as it was just too small for her and really found it difficult to balance on the horse because of her size. She tried a couple of times and was very embarrassed by the RS. The only good thing was it spurred her on to do something about her weight and ended up having a gastric band fitted and is now slim and healthy.
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I think its really interesting the difference in answers depending on where on HHO you post it.

There is another thread going, someone who is 18St horse owner who wants to instruct.

She has been advised to get her stage 3 and PTT.

I personally would be amazed if any of the exam centres have enough horses up to that weight to be able to offer it.

Interesting :D
 
Rodeo12 - That is the point I am trying to make, you may be overweight (sorry, don't mean to be rude) but you are obviously fit with it and have muscle tone. The 'blobby' overweight people are the ones I am talking about, with no core strength and no balance.
 
As a seriel yo yo dieter i go by this golden rule .
When the old man doesn t want me on top then its definately time to stop riding the horse!
 
I'm another one with Kerilli. I think there is a lot of denial and 'cognitive dissonance' going on with some people around weight.

I simply don't see how it is possible to be an 18 stone woman and be truly fit. Even tall male athletes, who have massive muscle bulk often weigh less. And women simply do not easily develop the same level of muscle as men. We naturally have a higher body fat level. Therefore potentially more of a woman's 18 stone is fat.

If you are 18 stone, and a woman, you are seriously overweight. You may be reasonably active, in which case you will have some cardiovascular fitness and some muscle tone and stength. However you are carrying a lot of body fat which is basically dead weight. If you wish to carry that around that is up to you, but I agree with others here that it is unfair to ask a horse to carry it for you.
 
Here is my Cakey! Breeding unknown but believed to be Suffolk Punch x, 16hh and a real HW. Bought for total novice OH who did weigh 18 stone at the time, they had a great time together for two years until silly OH lost interest. Clearly that is not the OH on him, but he's not happy about having his photo plastered all over the internet so you get me instead (no, I have no idea what I am doing with my shoulder/arm!).

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Hi, I think riding and owning a horse is a great way to loose weight. My mums always been over weight but poo picking and mucking out everyday has helped her a lot, she doesn't ride anymore though.
I'd be looking for something at least 6/7 years old who has matured and about 16.2hh upwards, the coloured you've seen looks nice.
When I worked on a dressage yard the head boy was nearly 7ft tall and was around 18 stone. He had a lovely 17.2hh hunter type and was one of the best riders I've seen.
If your a balanced rider then a horse will find you much more easy to carry than a novice who bounces all over their back.
Good luck with the search :)
 
I think there's a big difference between 15/16 stone and 18. I work my ass off (literally!) at the gym doing bootcamp training and strongman. Have a lot of muscle, and yeah I am overweight but I don't eat crap, and I exercise 3-5 times a week. I mean exercise to the point of vomiting, not a quick walk
I am just under 5'11 and closer to 16 stone than 14 stone. I'm careful what I get on, and I am conscious of being very very balanced when I ride
Here is me riding a 16.2hh
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And the best full body shot I can find!

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Just to add as well, I think a lot of people are being dam right rude.
My mother was about 17 stone when she started riding. She had no problems getting on or off and her horse had no issues taking her out for hacks. I'm not over weight myself but it upsets me to see some of these comments towards the OP.
when I worked in a riding school we had disabled people coming to ride, some of those were very big and they were put on horses not much bigger than about 15.2hh, would you tell a disabled person who gets so much pleasure from riding a horse they couldn't get on?
 
SNORKEY said:
I'm not over weight myself but it upsets me to see some of these comments towards the OP.
when I worked in a riding school we had disabled people coming to ride, some of those were very big and they were put on horses not much bigger than about 15.2hh, would you tell a disabled person who gets so much pleasure from riding a horse they couldn't get on?
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The OP is neither 18 stone, nor looking for a horse, so I'm not sure why she'd be upset :confused:

Secondly, yes I've worked at a centre where we had weight limits for our ponies. These applied to able bodied or disabled children equally. The horse's welfare is also an important consideration IMO.
 
Babybear said:
I wouldn't ask any horse to carry an 18+ stone rider.
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There are horses that will do it easily!

My RID stallion would carry that weight easily - although he's never asked to - and I have a 6 year old by him - out of a 17hh TB x Percheron mare who would hunt all day with that weight (although he hasn't had to (yet!) He's in training to be a hunter for my OH and if OH gets THAT fat I'll murder him! :rolleyes:

This is him as a very immature 4 year old. Not too sure he wants to be ridden by anyone!
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Still immature, but better mannered.
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And leaving the ground in a more legitimate fashion!:D
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He's 17.1hh, has 10.5" of bone - but the things that MAKE him a weight carrier are a very short back, a very good depth and breadth (you could drive a small car between his front legs!) The two riders in the pics are both just over 6' tall - so you can see how much he 'takes up the leg'!

The PROBLEM for an 18 stone rider is not finding a horse to carry that weight - but to find one who can move, and work, for an affordable price. A GOOD HW hunter type (not necessarily show standard but one who will look smart on the hunting field and do the job) is likely to set you back £10,000 or more (there are some fat, rich MFHs around who need that sort of horse!)
 
i used to help with and instruct at RDA. we had some very heavy kids (Downs Syndrome), and a 'pony' of 15h ish who was Highland x Percheron, he was like a white elephant. Even so, they only rode for about 15-20 mins tops, and this was no more than 2 mornings a week. some of them did struggle to get on, even from a high mountain block, but i suspect that was more poor proprioception than being big in itself.
Nobody's being rude to the OP as far as I can see.
It does make me despair when people say "the horse had no issues", the horse "didn't object"... most horses don't. the ones that do often end up in a dog food tin. just because they don't play up does not mean damage isn't being done.
btw I know three Amazonian horsewomen, all 6'+. I mean, I'm tall and wide-shouldered but they all make me feel small. None of them are anything like 18 stone, none are skinny but I think they'd all be at the very most 13 stone. There's no way around it, 18 stone is seriously overweight unless you are 7' tall or a professional boxer or rugby player and pure muscle!
 
kerilli said:
Exactly. It's not possible to weigh less than you weigh, however well you ride. Pure physics. An 18 stone rider + riding kit + tack is probably more like 19-20 stone... and I don't think it's fair to ask a horse to carry than for more than a very brief period. The fact that it can carry it doesn't mean it should be expected to.
The horse's back is a suspension bridge held up by ligaments and muscles, too much weight on top for extended periods will make it sag (just as the weight of the gut usually makes the back sway in old age). Heavy horses were bred to pull (and can pull tonnes and tonnes) NOT to carry.
Overweight riders are a real bugbear of mine, and it is getting more and more prevalent now that everyone is so PC and obesity is seen as an affliction rather than a choice. Sorry, I know that sounds horrible and tough but 99% of us could be obese if we didn't make an effort... as riders it is up to us to make that effort for the sake of our horses' long term welfare! If all you're going to sit on is a chair or sofa, great, get as big as you like, who cares, your business. But if you're going to be sitting on a living animal then it's only fair to make the effort. Also, being overweight affects your balance, use of leg muscles, everything, hugely.
btw, my German trainer told me he had a girl go to him asking for training. He told her to go away and lose 3 stone first. She did, he trained her, and he told me she's a very good rider now. I wish it was acceptable to be that blunt over here! ;) ;)

*sits back and puts on body armour* ;) ;)
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*Agrees*
 
After a lot of reading I've now realised the OP isn't the over weight one. But I'm sure there are some over weight people reading this who are a bit upset.
 
Wagtail said:
I do like this horse and yes, she has plenty of bone, but that back looks quite hollow and weak around the loins to me. A common problem with the heavy sorts. I would not like to see more than 15 stone on that mare. I had a very similar, but bigger 17.2 full up ID gelding. He had a similar back confo and really struggled when an 18 stone rider got on him.
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You are absolutely right, been with us 6 weeks. Previously with a heavyish novice who hung on by her mouth. She didn't know how to stretch forward or down and her back did not have the muscles to allow it to come up and carry the rider, she was totally on her shoulder.

She has improved vastly with much work in walk, leg yield and transitions and her back is building up nicely. I posted the picture to show true bone and to show a type of horse so difficult to find, they are simply not bred very often. I would not part with her unless my circumstances changed and I could not afford to keep her properly. The dream is for her to be a Hoy's maxi cob and then go to a big pure RID to breed a tall HW show hunter.

It is a very emotive subject, but horses of the right stamp can and do carry heavier riders with ease and lead useful lives kept by knowledgable and caring owners.
 
SNORKEY said:
After a lot of reading I've now realised the OP isn't the over weight one. But I'm sure there are some over weight people reading this who are a bit upset.
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Yes you may be right. And I'm sure that is not the intention of any of the posters. It certainy want my intention.

Sometimes 'straight talking' upsets people, but that doesnt mean what is said isn't correct or actually potentially helpful once people get over the upset. I know there are times I've needed it.

I don't believe there is some 'right' to not be upset or offended ever.
 
just a comment on the riding heavy/light.....
back in the day, when i had pointers, they had to carry 12.5st when running in a members race, now a dripping wet though moi came nowhere near, & said 15.2 & 16hh whippets had to carry almost 2 stone of lead..... slapped flat on their backs while they galloped & jumped for 3.5 miles, now the same horses, when ridden by the boys, required no lead & oh how they preferred it..... 12.5 stone of body moves as you take off, lead (that i had to drag back into the weighing room) doesn't lift or move, so i'm sure there is a marginal difference between a rider who is fit & strong & can there fore move in balance in the saddle & someone weighing the same who is without any core strength or balance??
 
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