How can you tell if someone it too heavy

I've heard the horse can carry 20% of its total weight. So say your horse weighs 1000kg, 200kg. The 200kg would have to include tack etc as well as human :D

Most of the time you can tell, its just with ponies I get a bit stuck :o
 
If you was too heavy they wouldn't move wouldn't want to walk legs splayed and back would dip a lot as you got on but generally you would use common sense you can just tell or you could ask what the person weights and take it from there I would never let anyone on my horses unless I knew their weight
 
Surely it depends a lot on the breed of the horse? From that calculation a 14.2hh pony could take 14 stone. I wouldn't have a problem with putting 14 stone on a heavy cob, but on a TB - probably.
 
Footlights said:
Surely it depends a lot on the breed of the horse? From that calculation a 14.2hh pony could take 14 stone. I wouldn't have a problem with putting 14 stone on a heavy cob, but on a TB - probably.
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But then a heavy cob would weigh more at 14.2 than something built like a thoroughbred would weigh at 14.2?
No 'rules' are definite its all just a rule of thumb, depends entirely on the horse! Its just a guide I think
 
Ditto- just use your common sense.

Most coby/native types are fairly weight carrying however I think a 6'2 14 stone man personally would be a little unfair on a 14'2 for example.
 
elsiecat said:
I've heard the horse can carry 20% of its total weight. So say your horse weighs 1000kg, 200kg. The 200kg would have to include tack etc as well as human :D

Most of the time you can tell, its just with ponies I get a bit stuck :o
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Jeez, what horse could weigh that?!

I think the 20% rule is a very loose rule, but IMO, if the person looks too big for the horse, then he probably is. Horses with more bone can probably take more weight, but height is not a good guide plus workload/ability of rider have to be taken into account.
 
cinnamontoast said:
Jeez, what horse could weigh that?!

I think the 20% rule is a very loose rule, but IMO, if the person looks too big for the horse, then he probably is. Horses with more bone can probably take more weight, but height is not a good guide plus workload/ability of rider have to be taken into account.
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Lbs!!!! not kgs!! :o
 
11st is nothing for a 14hh Welsh I had a 13.2 Welsh cob and my 13st dad rode him no problems in fact he rode better with him then me lol. My fell pony should make 13.2-13.3 and I will be having my fella 12stone ish ride him when he is old enough people are soft horses are very strong and if they want you off they will if they are not happy they will show you they are not but breed is important I only ever buy cob types in case I ever got fat Haha !
 
I was thinkng this the other day. My cob is heavy weight 10inch of bone & 15'1hh. My OH is 6'1 & nearly 17st not fat but solid I would have said he was too heavy for him & would be more suited to a Cleveland Bay or something similar of 16hh what do you think? Sorry Hijack but interesting to hear your thoughts :)
 
the 20% theory is about right as long as the horse is at its ideal weight and not overweight, otherwise you would be taking the excess weight it is carrying already and adding some more of the riders weight, so the weight calculation must always be on its ideal weight e.g. 15h cob 550kg.
 
As some other posters have said the 20% rule is about right, of a horses fit bodyweight, this rule has been around for a while and recent research showed it to be a good guide.
Also width of loin amount of bone length of back and horses fitness were also to be considered.
 
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