How much is too much? Weight?

Lintel

Lintel

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We have a good friend who is a rather large person. 6,3ft tall and heavy made- 18st at present.
He is in the process of losing weight but it taking it slowly - aims to get to 15st.
He has taken a real shine to the boys and I would love nothing more for him to have a wee shot of riding but he is well aware of the limitations due to his weight.
Question being...
I have a 14.1hh Highland, Will be back to full fitness soon(fingers crossed!)
Would you allow someone 18st to have a short walk around?

Highland is used to carrying 8st..but has carried 13st out hacking.
Would it be too much? I can't help but think of the bodyweight rule but he is built for carrying dead weight adult deer down from mountains?!
 
I agree with last post - too heavy. The max. I believe should be no more than 20 per cent of the horse's body weight and you should also include the saddle, and riding gear in the rider's weight. My saddle, hat and boots etc adds another 10kg to my bodyweight for example.
 
If I think of it as what my boy is built to do though? Carrying stags down mountains that are dead weight and can weigh up to 20st, why would this be ok and an 18st human not?

Part of me is thinking God no.... And the other part thinks this.
 
depends on what you are doing a short walk on a fit not fat highland would probably be ok but not doing a ODE. Depends on the pony too they usually show very quickly if it is too much be staggering about when asked to move.
 
my friend ran a trekking centre solely consisting of Highlands-she had a limit of 18st (walking only). For faster rides and therefore more experienced riders her limit was 14st. Stalking ponies do have to carry very heavy dead weights. Another factor though is your friends height-ponies struggle more imo with someone long in the torso and being unbalanced with a novice heavier rider.
 
Lintel said:
If I think of it as what my boy is built to do though? Carrying stags down mountains that are dead weight and can weigh up to 20st, why would this be ok and an 18st human not?

Part of me is thinking God no.... And the other part thinks this.
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The stag will have a much lower centre of gravity and be totally inert.
 
A dead weight is probably easier to carry than an unbalanced weight of a beginner! Besides which no horse in the wild is designed by nature to carry weight on their backs, it's only what humans subject them too, so we have a duty to ensure it's a fair weight and comfortably placed!
 
windand rain said:
depends on what you are doing a short walk on a fit not fat highland would probably be ok but not doing a ODE. Depends on the pony too they usually show very quickly if it is too much be staggering about when asked to move.
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I agree with windand rain. If you feel that your Highland is fit enough, try him for a few minutes and the pony will probably let you know if it's had enough. As you say, they are sturdy and were bred to carry +18 st of deadweight up steep hills.
Also, we are talking of a one-off ride, to give your friend a taste, it's not like your friend will only ride your Highland from now on.
 
He is currently unfit due to a bruised sole so he's has been off work for 4 weeks. As others have said I'm sure he would let me know if he felt it was too much.. He ks quite forth coming with his emotions! And of course it would only be a one off :)
 
ycbm said:
They were. In the days when ten was an old horse.
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Horses backs and hocks get damaged because on the whole, they don't complain much. I wouldn't dream of putting an 18 stone person on a pony, even standing still. They won't fit the saddle, and it is way too much.
 
Not a chance I would even consider it.

A dead stag draped over a pony will apply much less pressure per inch than 18+ stone in a saddle.

Just because that is the historic use of the breed, it doesn't mean they each pony of that breed is able to do the task.

I have Shetlands, I'd never subject them to the work they were 'bred' to do.
 
No, I would not allow him to ride my Pony. Is there a local RS where he could try riding a larger weight carrying horse?
 
Defiantly wouldn't consider/ recommend it!

You'd be putting you horse at an increase risk of injury, as well as yourself and the individual if your horse decided it was too much weight! Plus you have to think first and foremost about the horses back and the impact the weight will have
 
it would be a no from me

If someone really wanted to ride then over time they would get themselves to a weight where its possible OR they would resign themselves to not riding
 
cally23 said:
No, I would not allow him to ride my Pony. Is there a local RS where he could try riding a larger weight carrying horse?
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There is yes. One local that specialise in Clydesdales couldn't believe the weight limit was 15st?! Hence my thoughts of using my boy for a wee potter. Hadn't really thought of saddle size to be honest as I'm pretty dainty. Thanks all for advice I think it shall have to be groundwork only.
 
Lintel said:
There is yes. One local that specialise in Clydesdales couldn't believe the weight limit was 15st?! Hence my thoughts of using my boy for a wee potter. Hadn't really thought of saddle size to be honest as I'm pretty dainty. Thanks all for advice I think it shall have to be groundwork only.
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I doubt you will find one that takes more than 15 stone (arguably Clydies are not that well designed to take weight despite their size). A very well known ex-eventer does hacking up here using Highlands and their weight limit is 15 stone.
 
I have a 14.2 highland who's built like a tank, but no way would I let your friend get on him. Sorry OP. I admire your sentiments, but your aspiring rider needs to shed at least 3 (and preferably more) stones before riding anything is on the cards (IMO ... ).
 
I have to agree with the majority OP...Sorry! I wouldn't be letting your friend sit on your horse. I think 18st is too much. Especially 18st of unbalanced beginner rider.

As someone has pointed out, he may not even fit in your saddle. And if you think about him balancing in your saddle, with a long torso, getting unbalanced with the movement and not going with the 'rhythm' of the horse, it'll make your pony struggle even more.

I understand why you want to let him have a potter on the horse as I let people potter on mine, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with that combination. Maybe when he's lost the weight.
 
As someone who sadly is now around that weight and has a full up 14.2hh HW cob, much chunkier than a highland, I wont even sit on him. I'm all for being sensible about weight carrying ability but 18stone plus tack is too much, esp when hes taller and a beginner. Your pony almost certainly could carry it, as could mine, but I dont think its fair to ask them.
 
Well why don't you break him to a harness? Why do you have to ride to enjoy horses? 20st is way too much (we don't live in the middle ages or in the middle east where I'm sure 20st is considered a light load) to carry.

127kgs is 32% of a 400kg pony.

95kgs (15st) is about 22%.

He could easily pull that weight on a cart though.
 
tallyho! said:
Well why don't you break him to a harness?
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If you mean me, he already is :) He was bought as a driving pony as weight aside, I have a deteriorating back condition that means I probably wont be able to ride again even if I was 7 stone. Other people do ride him for me, but his main job is to drive and he loves it. He used to pull bow top caravans, so he doesnt even notice people on board a light exercise cart!
 
Leo Walker said:
If you mean me, he already is :) He was bought as a driving pony as weight aside, I have a deteriorating back condition that means I probably wont be able to ride again even if I was 7 stone. Other people do ride him for me, but his main job is to drive and he loves it. He used to pull bow top caravans, so he doesnt even notice people on board a light exercise cart!
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but a cart is balanced and only the tip of the bottom wheel touches the ground.completely different.
 
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