Heavy Friend on my skinny horse....help! :/

OP, you said in one of your posts that he is on loan - you need to get in contact with the owner of this horse ASAP (if you havent already) and establish if he has had any previous issues with lameness, back troubles ect, and establish when all the necessary checks were done..

And for those who are saying it should have been vetted - I wouldnt vet a horse I was only having on loan :)
 
sadlle not only fits horse but fits the rider. maybe it was adequate for small lightweights, but taller, slightly heavier person would sit differently in it & it may have too small a weight bearing area for her. Think it is easy to let her down, tell her he has strained his back & you need to get it seen too (just don't sya why, lie if need be, did it in field) so don't need her help at the moment. Get his back sorted, worth paying for a saddler visit to assess current saddle then go from there. If friend asks later sya someone at yard riding him & you didn't want to inconvenience her.

She may have done you a favour & highlighted an existing issue, so you can get it treated, rather than simmering away & causing prolems later.
 
I agree with gingerthing - I wouldnt vet a horse on loan, on lease yes but not on loan.

OP - As other posters have said the saddle seems not to fit and this is the issue that needs addressed and its not the weight of the rider thats the issue. Since the horse is on loan, its worth talking to his owners and asking when saddle was last check and if they use a particular saddler and/or "back man". I also agree with Kenzo - he could have tweaked his back rolling in the field and just need a rest. Or the horse could simply have a history of back problems? Another reason why to contact owners to discuss, esp since you arent that experienced and I am sure they would rather you called than not as shows how much you care about the horse.
 
Samantha008 said:
yeah she is quite a heavy rider. his saddle isnt a perfect fit but hes been ridden in it for years and its always been fine (apparently)
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So carrying a fair amount of weight (even a two year old child is a fair amount of weight) on a badly fitting saddle and this goes on for years and years until the horse finally says enough is enough I HURT GUYS and you are blaming someones weight?

Get your horses back checked by a professional, get a qualified saddle fitter that comes with good reccomendation to fit a new saddle and look after your horses back.

A 16.3 - even if it is a skinny 16.3 - should be able to happily carry much more than the weights you quote here in a well fitting saddle.

You have this horse on loan - get in touch with its owner asap and talk to them about the problems.
 
I would imagine the problem lies with the bad back you have told us he has, in another post, and is poorly fitting saddle.

12st is nothing to a horse of his breeding and height.

P.s and get the vet first, then a recommended and registered physio on the vets advice only.
 
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Horses are very tolerant for a long time and it sounds like it has been going on a long time... it does soung like a coincidence that he decided enough was enough just after your friend got on board.
My 13.3hh NF pony carries me at 10.5 stone without any problems in walk, trot and canter but I know I am too heavy to jump him. Due to being at the top end of his weight scale his saddle is checked every 6-12 months along with his back - so far we have never had any issues... I would get his back checked and then an independant saddler (who doesn't sell saddles themselves!)
 
So sorry you've suffered a nasty injury just as a new horse has arrived. It must be very frustrating and worrying. But I would have thought a horse of that size should be able to carry your friend easily, even if she has avoided the scales for longer than she should >g< I would suspect a back or tack problem. Good luck!
 
Definately think the instructor is the best person to advise.

Surely by comparing your body type to hers you would be able to tell if she is roughly similar in weight to you or not?

Riding style can make even an 8 stone rider unbearable for the horse to carry - I've seen it myself.

Was the horse formally vetted before you bought it? Or informally so by your instructor (which I wouldn't blame you for in the slightest by the way!)?

Oh and get well soon, your injury sounds horrible!
 
Ditto what other have said. A 16.3, even a pure TB, should be able to carry even a 16st rider for a couple laps of the school, so assuming the girl was a reasonable rider, there's an underlying problem with your horse.

Get a saddle fitter out to tell you if it's his saddle, and a physio out to look at his back.
 
If he was still the same when the lighter rider got on I'd say no it was already a problem. Have you had his saddle fitted properly ? I presume he didn't do this when you went to try him, its possibly the different saddle, I'd get someone out to check it asap
 
I don't think it is the weight, 1/2 a stone difference is nothing!

Either his back is out or the friend rides badly.
 
Samantha008 said:
Today my lovely friend rode my horse, hes a 16.3 ISH, ive only had him for 10 days so is still very new to me and on the day that he was coming i dislocated my knee and ripped the tendons, meaning im out of riding and life in general for a while. So....i asked around my friends (im on a riding club) to see if there was anyone that might be interested in riding my horse for a while whilst im out. I can manage looking ater him, though it takes me ages i just cant ride. The only girl that got back to me is an old friend of mine, however, she is 6ft4 and although very slim, is still of a stockier build. I asked her how much she weighed and she told me 12st. Which is great, i weigh 11 and half so thats fine for my boy. However, she sat on him, and he hollowed his back so much that i cringed and couldnt look. She rode him for a few circles in walk and trot and he looked lame, swishing his tail and refusing to go on the bit. I asked her to get off and my friend whos my weight jumped on and although he then looked sound he was still swishing his tail and ater a few mins she got off and i had a poke around his back and hes sore where the seat of the saddle is.I really think my friend has got her weight very wrong and not weighed herself for a number of years :/ Is it possible that this girl just really hurt him and hes sore from that? How should i treat him? Just give him rest? Or should i do more? I have bute but dont want anyone to ride him. equine touch? Any help is greatly appreciated :)
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Sorry but i would have dragged her off the moment the horses back hollowed, friend or no friend. Sounds like an existing problem flared up by a heavier rider..
 
bensababy said:
Sorry but i would have dragged her off the moment the horses back hollowed, friend or no friend. Sounds like an existing problem flared up by a heavier rider..
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Well, I suppose when you put it like that...

You shoulda said "oi!! Fatty boom boom banana cakes me darlin'!!! get off me horse you great big feckin lump! Yer bendin' it in 'alf luv!!!!"
 
get his back checked. the back man can see all sorts of underlying probs, my girl had a good fitting saddle but had twisted herself at somepoint, and started goin hollow etc, and it turns out she had twisted her spine and rotated her pelvis. now after 2 visits £40 a time, shes as rite as a daisy :) much better to check as it could be easily fixed. horses are masters at having accidents in the field when your not looking lol
 
I can't see your friends weight being a problem for your lads back as a 16.3 ISH should be able to carry 12 stone easy, if not a bit more. Plus, you say she looks slim? - Would you not have realised she was more than 12 stone if she is?

Trot him up to see whether he looks lame, give him a day or two off and if nothing has improved or he goes any lamer, call the vet out. Wouldn't bute him, just masks the problem in hand.
 
Samantha008 said:
SuzieT, if i was claiming to be all that experienced, i probably wouldnt be posting on here...:rolleyes:
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OP, you've shot yourself in the foot I'm afraid.
You state here that you aren't particularly experienced, yet also stated earlier that you 'checked your horses back thoroughly' when you bought him:confused: So you're experienced enough to do that and proclaim him sound, as afterall, vets are *****, but you now haven't a clue what's wrong with him, even though his saddle isn't great, and he appears to be in pain:rolleyes:

Get a vet to look at your horse, get a saddler to check the fit of your saddle, and stop blaming your 'fat' friend for your horses problems.
 
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it is possible that he hollowed his back for the reason only that your friend maybe isnt the best rider? there are some real pratts on this forum-( im sure you will have noticed) who jump from thread to thread spouting nonsense and being rude. I would try to ignore this and get yourself some advice (in the flesh) from an expert. Good luck
 
Get a vet to look at your horse, get a saddler to check the fit of your saddle, and stop blaming your 'fat' friend for your horses problems.[/QUOTE]


I believe the OP said her friend as very slim but of heavier build.
 
I haven't read all the replies but my teeny tiny 14.2hh on her tippy toes, arab cross (build of a NF) who has been a broodie for the last few years, has NO muscle and isn't currently in work, is more than happy with 12 stone for light work. My sisters 16.3hh trak, who is very old fashioned and chunky, is happy with nearly 15 stone and she has numerous health issues, inc kissing spines etc. And believe me, the trak would let us know in NO uncertain terms if she wasnt up to it!

However the trak mare wont tolerate bad riding! You could be 6 stone and if you were a 'heavy' rider she simply wouldnt tolerate it. And the 14.2hh has tweaked something and is sore just behind the wither, and was unhappy with my 4 stone niece sitting on her the other day. We didnt know there was a problem as she was, and is a 100% sound, but her reaction to doing 'pony rides' for a 4 stone rider soon told us something was wrong. So it may well be a physical problem or 'heavy' riding.
 
i think that saddle check and back checks are needed here but you must point out to your friend what your feeling as if she is true friend she wont be offended a 16'3 should be able to take that weight and prob a lot more if its just for an hour or so exercise but if you find a problem with back and saddle and get it corrected then you may need your friend to help you out ! also have his teeth checked and how annoying hurting you knee when you have just got your horse!! did he hollow his back as soon as your friend got on? he may be a bit cold backed?? try making him step back 3 or 4 strides before he is mounted (or she sorry didn't pay attention to that bit)
 
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