Heavier rider. Trekking centres ?

TrasaM

TrasaM

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Please can anyone help me out here. I'm going to have my stepson staying with me in July and OH has asked if I can take him riding. Problem is that stepson is quite heavy..I'm thinking about 17st.at least. I've explained that weight might be an issue but it seems stepson is quite keen and he did have some lessons when he was in school age 11/12. He and I don't have the best of relationships as he's got Aspergers and OH and ex wife seem to think that ignoring it will make it disappear whereas I tend to confront his eccentricities. Therefore tantrums and sulking. He loves animals and it would be great if there is something we could do together.
I'm in Leicestershire and would appreciate any advice. I've done a google search for trekking places but there's nothing coming up nearby.
 
The max weight I've heard is 16 stone, & that's few & far between. Although there are horses who can carry an owner that weight, they have to be extra careful with working horses as they do far more hours. And people do lie about their weight.
I'd try the rda & see if they can help. Failing that do a morning grooming/stable management somewhere maybe?
 
The only one I'm coming up with is in Cumbria where they use Clydesdales. It looks like fun but it's too long to go for a day out. Back to the drawing board and I will try the RDA people nearby.
 
You could always put the word out that your looking to borrow a shire type thin for a ride in return for poo picking or something. May not be able to go for a hack but could give a lesson in a school.
 
think the driving idea is genius!!

good lateral thinking

anywhere I've worked/ridden has had 15 stone limit

and although draught horses initially sound a possible...

you have to get him ON and OFF it!
(IME, OFF is always the problem)

to get onto something that tall
and sit up there
is actually extremely intimidating ....

will he really cope?
 
Is Derbyshire too far? If not try Arraslea Shires, I think they will do hacks on their Shires or take you for a drive or offer driving lessons.
 
I've left a message at a local riding school which also does RDA. I know she's got a heavy cob there as I had an assessment recently on it to see if my riding was up to joining their Sunday hack. It's previous job was jousting so maybe he could take the weight.

I actually think that driving would be something he'd enjoy as well so I'll see of there's anywhere about which will do it.

I'm sitting here grinning about him not being able to get back down from the horse..oh I'm a mean stepmother.

Some great ideas though. Thank you all.
 
Kat said:
Is Derbyshire too far? If not try Arraslea Shires, I think they will do hacks on their Shires or take you for a drive or offer driving lessons.
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Kat. Thank you. It sounds really interesting and I could join him and do the whole day as well. They don't mention riding but it would be a lovely and different experience for him. I love big horses anyhow so it will be a treat for me too. ..Now thsts an idea...maybe this is where I get leverage on OH on buying a really big horse. :D
 
The riding may not be on general offer, probably worth an ask though. I know someone whose OH was over the weight limit for the local riding school and rode with them.

You could also try Barleyfields in South Derbyshire if you wanted lessons. Not sure what their weight limit is but they have lots of horses suitable for larger adults and lots of male clients.

It would be worth checking his weight before you phone around as at the top weight it makes all the difference.
 
Kat said:
The riding may not be on general offer, probably worth an ask though.

It would be worth checking his weight before you phone around as at the top weight it makes all the difference.
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Yes I will have to, won't I . I'm guessing at the moment but he's now about 6ft. So he may be even heavier than I think. Think I will let his dad ask that question.
 
c2b said:
Nothfield farm trekking centre Buxton derbyshire have 17 stone limit
. http://www.northfieldfarm.co.uk/index.php?id=53
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I've been there, it is very good and the hacking is gorgeous! Didn't realise that they had such a high weight limit, although they had no trouble accomodating our group which included two tall men and they seemed realistic about what horses could carry.
 
TrasaM said:
The only one I'm coming up with is in Cumbria where they use Clydesdales. It looks like fun but it's too long to go for a day out. Back to the drawing board and I will try the RDA people nearby.
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Cumbrian Heavy Horses has a 16 stone weight limit and if she's not convinced with what you're saying she will put you on the scales! Fully dressed in boots and hat so chances are he will be way off.
Beware with people who tell you a shire is the ideal weight carrier. Generally their confirmation is poor for weight carrying. They can pull a ton but put it on their backs and it's a whole different story.
I used to do RDA and we had a schedule of our weight limits on the wall. We had a big heavy cob and he was only allowed 14 stone. Riders were either turned down or asked to lose weight if they could.
 
Kat said:
I've been there, it is very good and the hacking is gorgeous! Didn't realise that they had such a high weight limit, although they had no trouble accomodating our group which included two tall men and they seemed realistic about what horses could carry.
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Just had a look at it's website. That looks very promising and it means I can ride with him too. I spoke to Fiona at Barleyfields and she said they could do a half hour lesson although he's above their normal weight limit.
I will also take him to meet my friend's Arab who's possibly the friendliest horse I've ever met and loves a fuss being made of him. He'll be all horsed out by the time I'm done with him :D

Thank you all very much for the suggestions :) I was beginning to think it wouldn't be possible. T.
 
TrasaM Heavy horse bred crosses, might be an answer if you could find one to use - I had a half bred shire cross cob, he only went 15.2HH but he would have carried a 17 stone rider.

Try here: http://www.rookinhouse.co.uk/horse-riding/

I rode there - I'm not 17 stone, but I'm no lightweight, they had a fairly big strong type that I rode there that might be suitable for an hour or so if you explained that it wouldn't be a regular thing.
 
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