How heavy a rider for a tb?

pinklilly

pinklilly

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I know this subject has been done to death but what would you expect an average build 16hh tb to carry as a permanent rider not a one-off? He's a flat bred, not weedy but not a chunky chaser type either.

I had a girl come and look at my horse who is a friend of the owner of where I keep him and I think she's too heavy for him.

He dropped his back when she got on which he doesn't do and she's asked to come back and ride him. Would you say you thought she was too heavy or make up an excuse?
 
Sounds like she is too heavy, the actual weight carrying capacity depends on overall strength, condition, fitness, conformation AND quality and dimension of the cannon bone, a lightweight hunter could be a TB with good conformation and maybe 7 and half inches of bone.
A heavyweight hunter could be TB cross ID with 9 or more inches of bone
Oh,,,, and a sack of potatoes style rider is a lot more difficult to carry than a neat balanced rider of the same weight
 
If his back dipped when she got on and would be very wary.
Also it depends on the rider, if she has a 'light' and correct seat you can get away with more weight, though even someone who weighs 7 stone and bouncing and hammering around on the horse's back could do an awful lot of damage!
 
Thanks, that's what I thought too. He's p2p'ed but that weight includes the saddle too and they aren't sitting on their backs or on them very long.

I weighed one of my GP saddles and it was 13 lbs, just the bare saddle.
 
He will have pointed with a max of 12'7 on his back, including saddle, pads, leathers, stirrups etc, and as you said its only for a short time.
A normal GP saddle kitted out will easily way over a stone if not nearly two! (my p2p saddle kitted out weighs about a stone).
 
I wouldn't beat about the bush. Just tell her - politely - that you feel he's not up to her weight and that you have an xxx weight limit in mind for him.

I'm a heavy rider, and I wouldn't take offence at such a comment. And frankly, if you are heavy, you should be aware of it without having to be told. It's not a crime to be heavy, but common sense dictates what you can/can't ride.

One of my livery horses (broke his leg last weekend RIP) had a 10 stone weight limit as he was a light built TB, and an old gentleman to boot. Everybody accepted that that was the way it was.

Look at it another way: if you had a bicycle and someone who was patently too short wanted to ride it, you would tell them so, on safety grounds if nothing else. The girl will find another horse somewhere that's up to her weight. Your duty is to look after your boy.
 
I have one of my 2 up for loan or sale, unemployed due to my boss leaving... Trying to sort out house move as currently in the middle of no-where and look for a new job. Have a back up plan for horses if all else fails...
 
pinklilly said:
Thanks, that's what I thought too. He's p2p'ed but that weight includes the saddle too and they aren't sitting on their backs or on them very long.

I weighed one of my GP saddles and it was 13 lbs, just the bare saddle.
Click to expand...

Wow, thats mad, never realised that saddles were that heavy, really should have, considering i whinge at carrying them!!lol!!
As regards too heavy, it really depends on the horse and the rider, if rider is good and light, then extra weight isn't so bad, but sack of spuds on a horse, even at minimal weighht will wreck any horses head!!!
My boy is the total polar opposite to a tb, he's an irish cob, is 15.1hh and could carry 20 stone no probs!!! ( now, he doesn't,) but is built to carry weight, saying that, my neighbour is riding his tb mare, and he has to be 15 stone, really tall and broad, without being heavy, and she is totally able for his weight. You need to decide for your horse, what weight it can carry, and if you are not happy with said person riding, then come up with some excuse!!! hope it works out!!!
 
Yeah I reckon with the saddle and clothes and riding gear on that could easily be 2 or 2 and a half stone depending on winter or summer, bit of an eye-opener really. Don't think I'd dare step on the scales in the winter dressed, it takes half an hour to dress!
 
As everyone else really (depends on horse/rider) but did he keep his back down when she was riding him? It might have been a shock to him carrying a different weight rider or maybe she was nervous trying him for the first time and kind of lost balance when mounting and thumped down on him?? How was he when she rode him around?

My TB is 15.3hh and 15 years old and she carries 13 1/2 stone me no probs whether we go bareback or side saddle (and those things weigh a ton, even the habit weighs a ton!) but saying that, Hattie is fit and so am I (the judge yesterday at the show we were at commented on how good condition she is).

A pic from yesterday to show what sort of TB Hattie is to give an idea of our builds! :)
hattie_diamond.jpg
 
Your horse is luffly :D

I am a larger rider, and I am perfectly aware of what sort of horse should or shouldn't be able to carry me. To be honest, I'm not sure I would even try a dainty TB! I would certainly get off if it's back dipped! I've always ridden nice, chunky WB x or ID x types with lots of bone ;)
 
I've had to tell someone they were too heavy. I've also been told that I was too heavy in the past. No-one likes to hear they are fat but you'll be doing them a favour. The girl I told lost 2stone and so did I when I was told. Suck it up and deal with it :D

If she can't take it then she's in denial as to how heavy she really is and pony/horse-squashing is not acceptabe in my book!!
 
Please come to my yard! I need to lose about 4 stone I think! But then my mare has to get 50kgs off too so we're exercising...

There isn't anything wrong with being a bigger person, apart from the obvious health issues and the fact my horse would be grateful if I lost a bit I suspect!!
 
What puzzles me is why so many overweight people don't seem to think about whether they may be too heavy for the horse. I have twice had to tell people, and it's not nice having to do that, especially if the person concerned is really nice. Luckily, there are also plenty of people who DO know what type of horse is up to their weight. These are the people who have accepted their weight and either decide to diet or are happy as they are. The ones who don't seem to consider the horse are usually those with their head in the sand about their weight.

Regarding the OP's question, I would say the weight limit for an average 16 hh TB (without tack) would be around 11 stone. My boy is the chunky type and 16.1 hh. But he should take up to 14 stone as he has 9 inches of bone and is really chunky. I am nearly ten stone.
 
I am just starting to ride an ex racer (hurdler) who dipped his back when i first get on for the first 2 times of being ridden. I am not heavy (9st) and im an experienced light rider (had to be for my old horse who reared up if you were heavy on his back at first. He didnt do it the last time as he is getting used to me and so am i to him. So as you dont state her weight maybe he just isnt used to her so was tense. But you saw her so know if she is too heavy! I am just giving the other idea!! sorry :p
 
I had an ex racer he was 15.2, not really a chunky horse, and i was around 14st at the time. said horse carried me perfectly well, he LOVED going out, would jump easily, gallop easily, school easily.. I've never been a heavy rider though (heaviest I've been with baby weight) and can carry myself etc.

Maybe she caught him unaware and unsettled him.. did he settle once she was settled in the saddle? what was his work like?
 
If she looked too heavy she probably was. I used to ride at a stables with a weight limit, they had a scales in the corner. If anyone looked over 12st (something, I think about 12.5 was the limit) they were asked if they'd like to get on the scales. Over 12.5st, in full riding gear = no ride. I used to ride the ponies there but was perfectly fine with being moved to horses when I got heavier (adult throughout note, it wasn't growing, just fattening!) and then back again when I slimmed.

I wouldn't want much more than 11stone of dressed rider on a light TB. That is about what my current one takes comfortably. Can (and occasionally does) take heavier riders but is limited in what can do and it isn't happy/comfortable.
 
Some interesting replies..

He's doing a bit of light hacking at the moment so fairly unfit though in very good condition.

He seemed ok when he was moving, however when I tried him his saddle was a dreadful fit, and I don't think he's the type to complain about anything.

He's never tensed up, dipped or tried to evade being mounted.

Slightly roach backed and very slightly bum-high doesn't help, also completely unschooled, high head carriage and hollow. If schooled properly and muscle built up correctly would probably be much stronger and capable.

Sidesaddlegirl your horse is lovely!
 
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