General question on weight limits

[simsy6]

Hello all,

I have a general question regarding weight limits that requires a bit of back story -- I'm from the US originally (have lived in the UK for four years, ridden off and on throughout that time) and started taking riding lessons when I was eight and am now in my late twenties and I had never encountered anything regarding weight limits until I moved to the UK.

My question is -- have weight limits always been a strict thing in the UK? Do they play a role in any kind of certifications/insurance policies at riding schools here? I'm just puzzled at how this was never even something I'd encountered riding in the US when it seems to be such a common thing here to have a weight limit. The general rule back home was pretty much just put bigger riders on bigger horses. I've also ridden at both riding schools and with freelance trainers in the US too and didn't encounter weight limits.

I was a bit shocked when just the other day the riding school I ride at (which is a great place! No problems with this school!) they weighed each rider and recorded the weight in their system. Just something that I felt would have never happened back in the US. I'm not saying weight limits are necessarily wrong (riding school horses probably wouldn't appreciate very overweight people riding them constantly), but if it's so integral to horses' overall health and happiness, it's strange it isn't a thing back in the States. Not to mention, many male riders are more than limits here and routinely ride stocky quarter horses in the US!

It does worry me a bit since I'm on the heavier end of limits -- I'm a curvy girl (but not huge) and would say that I weigh more than I look due to muscle. I'm also quite advanced and am not a sack of potatoes when I ride or anything.

I know this can be a sensitive subject, just looking for some insight since it's culturally so different to what I've experienced!

 

[teapot]

Nothing to do with insurance or approval schemes. It's about the welfare of horses who do a bloody tough job six days a week.

They're becoming stricter with a general increase in size/weight of people too. Speaking from my previous job role experience, three years ago we never had to allocate kids to the horses usually ridden by the smaller/average height ladies. 2019/2020 the number of kids who were just too big for ponies, and not by height was appalling.

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s a good thing and it’s a reaction to more people being overweight.
The horses deserve protection in their work.

 

[simsy6]

I'm not positing that it's a bad thing -- if it's integral to the welfare of the horse, are horses at riding schools in the US as a whole being poorly taken care of then?

 

[teapot]

I'm not positing that it's a bad thing -- if it's integral to the welfare of the horse, are horses at riding schools in the US as a whole being poorly taken care of then?

They could have the best care in the world but would you want an unbalanced 20stone/280 pounds on a horse's back for three/four hours a day, six days a week? The horse's spine is one of their weakest points.

Granted many US places for treking will use western saddles to even out the weight but even so.

 

[SpotsandBays]

A lot of the riding schools around here have weight limits. When I was at college doing a diploma in equine management we were weighed in our full gear holding tack twice a year, and then I guess they used that weight to determine what horses we were allowed to use in lessons. I think it’s a very good idea

 

[simsy6]

They could have the best care in the world but would you want an unbalanced 20stone/280 pounds on a horse's back for three/four hours a day, six days a week? The horse's spine is one of their weakest points.

Granted many US places for treking will use western saddles to even out the weight but even so.

What if that rider is balanced and weighs that much though? Would that make a difference? I've definitely seen men that weight who are muscular and ride horses in the US, albeit with western saddles. It may also be the case that I just happened to ride places where each horse isn't ridden as much as they are here, so that wasn't as much of a concern (although I'm not sure).

 

[simsy6]

A lot of the riding schools around here have weight limits. When I was at college doing a diploma in equine management we were weighed in our full gear holding tack twice a year, and then I guess they used that weight to determine what horses we were allowed to use in lessons. I think it’s a very good idea

Wow, like a jokey weigh-in! It is like you're saying probably a good thing, again, just very foreign to me. We also don't have anything resembling the qualifications and programs you guys have! (which are also good and I've been impressed with)

 

[dogatemysalad]

I think it's become more of an issue in recent times as obesity has become so much more common. Riding schools, quite rightly, have to put the welfare of their working horses first, particularly as some riders (and not just novices) ride very heavy.
So potential clients know what to expect, it's good to be forewarned so as not to cause embarrassment. I think we're all a bit shy about being weighed outside of our bathrooms, but it's a necessary part of life when visiting a GP or hospital.

 

[teapot]

What if that rider is balanced and weighs that much though? Would that make a difference? I've definitely seen men that weight who are muscular and ride horses in the US, albeit with western saddles. It may also be the case that I just happened to ride places where each horse isn't ridden as much as they are here, so that wasn't as much of a concern (although I'm not sure).

I think at that weight, it depends entirely on the horse and the work it is repeatedly doing. You see men of that size out hunting in the UK or on the polo pitches. How they view their horses is anyone's guess however.

I will say I don't think the majority of people have an accurate concept of weight - I'm tall and slim, lanky if you will, but with full kit and tack, I'm not far enough the more common weight limit of 13 stone.

 

[simsy6]

I think at that weight, it depends entirely on the horse and the work it is repeatedly doing. You see men of that size out hunting in the UK or on the polo pitches. How they view their horses is anyone's guess however.

I will say I don't think the majority of people have an accurate concept of weight - I'm tall and slim, lanky if you will, but with full kit and tack, I'm not far enough the more common weight limit of 13 stone.

I agree! Weight can look different on so many people. Thanks for your insight on my question!

 

[McGrools]

People are getting much heavier. Some children and teenagers are shockingly overweight and a riding school only has so many horses and ponies. It is now very difficult to source safe reliable weight carrying horses. Nobody is breeding big steady neddies. And even if you find them they are nowhere near as robust as the small ponies.
Interesting point about quarter horses though? We dont see them in the uk but they do appear to have a better weight carrying capacity....

 

[simsy6]

People are getting much heavier. Some children and teenagers are shockingly overweight and a riding school only has so many horses and ponies. It is now very difficult to source safe reliable weight carrying horses. Nobody is breeding big steady neddies. And even if you find them they are nowhere near as robust as the small ponies.
Interesting point about quarter horses though? We dont see them in the uk but they do appear to have a better weight carrying capacity....

Definitely understandable regarding kids and ponies -- I'm not up to speed on what kids weigh now vs. when I was a kid, but can believe it's more of a problem now.

The UK would greatly benefit from quarter horses I think! They are the go-to kids riding horses where I grew up (rocky mountain western US). I didn't actually ride ponies when I learned to ride. They're also stellar all-arounds with the right training, but that's a different threads worth of chat

 

[Jenko109]

I think this country seems to be trying to normalise obesity.

In terms of animal welfare I think it's important to challenge that.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have been to the US a lot and will admit to being pretty horrified by the weight small horses are expected to carry .

 

[McGrools]

Thanks Simsy6.
Off to do a bit of research on quarter horses!! They do seem to be tough little equines. Wonder why we dont hear about them much in the uk?

 

[SEL]

I'm not positing that it's a bad thing -- if it's integral to the welfare of the horse, are horses at riding schools in the US as a whole being poorly taken care of then?

I went on a holiday with friends to a ranch in Montana many years ago and was horrified by the size of some of the riders getting on those horses. Climbing on from the ground was normal too.

My YO has had quarter horses all her life (her final one is now 25) and she says they are bred to take the weight of a fully grown man but said she was shocked on her last business trip to the US when she saw horses the same build as hers taking massively obese riders. They may be designed to take a decent amount of weight (the sire of hers was under 14h and took a 14 stone man round the competition circuit), but its a whole different story taking an experienced well balanced rider to a wobbly overweight novice.

 

[simsy6]

I think this country seems to be trying to normalise obesity.

In terms of animal welfare I think it's important to challenge that.

It's a complex issue in society that everyone has views on and definitely worth thinking about with animal welfare. The weight limit here has prompted me to think much more about it in regards to horses (in a way I should have in the US, but wasn't ever challenged to) and it's another solid reason to stay in shape/be in better shape

 

[ester]

It varies a lot, I look heavy now (and have not ridden recently through choice because of that) but for a long time I was heavier than I looked and definitely received a lot of variety in responses, some were very strict, some had a larger limit and some seemed not to be too bothered at all so long as you could ride well (and they presumably had suitable horses).

 

[simsy6]

I went on a holiday with friends to a ranch in Montana many years ago and was horrified by the size of some of the riders getting on those horses. Climbing on from the ground was normal too.

My YO has had quarter horses all her life (her final one is now 25) and she says they are bred to take the weight of a fully grown man but said she was shocked on her last business trip to the US when she saw horses the same build as hers taking massively obese riders. They may be designed to take a decent amount of weight (the sire of hers was under 14h and took a 14 stone man round the competition circuit), but its a whole different story taking an experienced well balanced rider to a wobbly overweight novice.

I'm actually from Montana Just curious, which ranch was it? Getting on on the ground in particular seems to be a western thing and people tend to judge you if you can't do it lol, it's ridiculous. Can certainly understand not letting very obese riders ride horses constantly. When writing my first post about the weight limit, I was thinking of people who were just hovering around the limit/slightly over it or who may be the limit because they are muscular but that probably wasn't super clear!

 

[ester]

Definitely understandable regarding kids and ponies -- I'm not up to speed on what kids weigh now vs. when I was a kid, but can believe it's more of a problem now.

The UK would greatly benefit from quarter horses I think! They are the go-to kids riding horses where I grew up (rocky mountain western US). I didn't actually ride ponies when I learned to ride. They're also stellar all-arounds with the right training, but that's a different threads worth of chat

Nah we need ponies, they teach a certain humility IME
(have not really moved up to horses yet )

 

[simsy6]

It varies a lot, I look heavy now (and have not ridden recently through choice because of that) but for a long time I was heavier than I looked and definitely received a lot of variety in responses, some were very strict, some had a larger limit and some seemed not to be too bothered at all so long as you could ride well (and they presumably had suitable horses).

Interesting to hear. Hopefully you can ride soon (if you so choose)! Weight can be so tricky to manage depending on genetics/environment/now it's dangerous to go to gyms. Don't give up if that is a goal of yours!

 

[simsy6]

Nah we need ponies, they teach a certain humility IME
(have not really moved up to horses yet )

Ha, they certainly do! I didn't actually ride ponies until I was pretty advanced and assisted a trainer with young horses and they really do teach some valuable lessons

 

[TPO]

QH aren't any different to any other breed in regards to bone mass, skeletal muscles and rate at which they mature.

The excuse of them being "mature" is often given as a reason for starting them <2yrs old.

Western saddles have wider panels so a correctly fitted one will disperse the weight evenly however a heavy rider is still a heavy rider. Correctly fitted saddles arent a given either.

Back in the day ranch hands would be fit and lean. The size of some american reiners is pretty shocking.

Just because you can doesnt mean that you should....

Horses are a "suspension bridge" design and not designed to carry weight. This is why it's so important to build fitness and muscles, especially abdominals to give them the core strength needed.

Good or bad rider 20st is 20st. However the old force =mass x acceleration has an effect if it's a "dynamic" 20st.

Horses main fault is that they are too obliging...

As an aside Quarter Horses rule! They are an awesome breed (well the halter bred ones dont appeal at all to me) and are so clever

 

[ester]

Mine is medication induced as much as anything else, I am always pretty fit and wouldn't ride if I wasn't.
I do think here it does cause issues for some men who would like to ride.
I actually wish everyone would just put their weight limits on their websites rather than it being quite as much of a depends how well you can ride.

 

[simsy6]

QH aren't any different to any other breed in regards to bone mass, skeletal muscles and rate at which they mature.

The excuse of them being "mature" is often given as a reason for starting them <2yrs old.

Western saddles have wider panels so a correctly fitted one will disperse the weight evenly however a heavy rider is still a heavy rider. Correctly fitted saddles arent a given either.

Back in the day ranch hands would be fit and lean. The size of some american reiners is pretty shocking.

Just because you can doesnt mean that you should....

Horses are a "suspension bridge" design and not designed to carry weight. This is why it's so important to build fitness and muscles, especially abdominals to give them the core strength needed.

Good or bad rider 20st is 20st. However the old force =mass x acceleration has an effect if it's a "dynamic" 20st.

Horses main fault is that they are too obliging...

As an aside Quarter Horses rule! They are an awesome breed (well the halter bred ones dont appeal at all to me) and are so clever

Thanks for your info on this, a lot of food for thought. They are cool horses for sure! (and yes, halter types have been bred really strangely these days)

 

[ycbm]

There are quite a few welfare abuses tolerated in the USA which are either specifically illegal in this country or could be prosecuted if they were done here. Docking tails, soring, "traditional" riding of saddlebreds, stacked shoeing of TWH's, rodeo, medication of race and competition horses .....

Riders who are too heavy are a problem in both countries, but seem not to be seen to be one in the US, only in the UK. I'm pleased for our horses that it has become a subject which is openly discussed.
.

 

[simsy6]

There are quite a few welfare abuses tolerated in the USA which are either specifically illegal in this country or could be prosecuted if they were done here. Docking tails, soring, "traditional" riding of saddlebreds, stacked shoeing of TWH's, rodeo, medication of race and competition horses .....

Riders who are too heavy are a problem in both countries, but seem not to be seen to be one in the US, only in the UK. I'm pleased for our horses that it has become a subject which is openly discussed.
.

Thanks for your reply, everyone's views on here have been really helpful and have honestly made me think differently about the whole thing! Really makes me realize how it should be addressed in the states but isn't.

 

[simsy6]

Mine is medication induced as much as anything else, I am always pretty fit and wouldn't ride if I wasn't.
I do think here it does cause issues for some men who would like to ride.
I actually wish everyone would just put their weight limits on their websites rather than it being quite as much of a depends how well you can ride.

My weight has also been affected by medication, which really sucks, but alas. I've actually seen weight limits for every school I've looked at, perhaps it's just the area I'm in though (Surrey).

 

[ycbm]

Thanks for your reply, everyone's views on here have been really helpful and have honestly made me think differently about the whole thing! Really makes me realize how it should be addressed in the states but isn't.

Super response, thanks for taking it so well.
.