How much weight can my pony carry?

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JoshuaR97

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He's a 14.1hh Cob and is around 20 years old. Just want to know what would be a suitable weight for him to carry at his age now.
 
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Good lord I best sell my boy before someone reports me for cruelty then! I weigh just over 11 stone and ride my 19 year old 14hh forester most days, we hack out, jump, and taking him xc schooling at the weekend.

If the horse is fit and has no soundness issues then I don't see a problem with him carrying 11 stone comfortably - he looks fairly chunky
 
My 24yo connie cross mare was advertised for loan recently with an 11st weight limit - which I am over by 10lbs myself. I ride her 6 days a week for minimum an hour, hack, jump, school to elem/medium. I would think that yours could cope with at least 11st, he looks chunkier than mine!
 
Putting a number on it is a fallacy. A 10st rider out of balance will place far more strain on him than a 12 st rider in perfect balance. As indeed will a saddle which is out of balance regardless of weight of rider. You need to look at the whole picture - not just numbers. Is he comfortable in what you ask him to do? Does he duck away from your weight or look comfortable with you? Is he straining at all during work? Does his tack fit? Is his rider (if not you) in balance with him or left behind a bit? Is he sore at all? 19 isn't too much of an age for a sturdy pony. Depending on how he is in himself you need not necessarily think about him needing to slow down. You just need to look at the whole picture.
 
Not this again! *eye roll*

You've sparked a real discussion now OP. hehe.

Form that photo he looks in reasonable condition. How tall is he- about 15hh?? You haven't said and I find it hard to judge as stable door height vary so much.


I'd expect that type to be able to carry a fully grown man hunting all day with full tack and a full hip flask ;) so crack on and have fun!
 
OP asked for people's opinions and that is what she is getting. And they are likely to vary widely.

I would not feel comfortable putting more than 1ost on him, if other people are comfortable with that then crack on. The decision is an individual one made of many factors.

I feel that just because a horse 'can' carry more weight, does not mean that they should have to. (how do we assess 'can' really? the legs don't buckle when we get on?! some are far more able to hide discomfort than others),
 
Suggest OP asks their vet rather than a bunch of random strangers on the forum who will all have their own ideas.
 
catwithclaws said:
those that say just because they can, doesn't mean they should - what is the upper weight limit to ride at all then?
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Not sure, I haven't thought that far ahead, I just know that I wouldn't want to feel like an uncomfy weight burden to my horse - just my personal feelings. I weigh in at the heavy end of 10st and I would not feel comfortable getting on a 14.1. My horse is a 16.2 TB x WB and I know that I start feeling guilty getting on him when I put weight on, especially when I see the 8stone groom on him and think it must be so much nicer for him.
 
mega spoilt ponies said:
Not sure, I haven't thought that far ahead, I just know that I wouldn't want to feel like an uncomfy weight burden to my horse - just my personal feelings. I weigh in at the heavy end of 10st and I would not feel comfortable getting on a 14.1. My horse is a 16.2 TB x WB and I know that I start feeling guilty getting on him when I put weight on, especially when I see the 8stone groom on him and think it must be so much nicer for him.
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A fit, well put together 14.1 should be more than happy carrying 10stone and up to 12 in many cases, who is going to ride all these smaller horses/ ponies that cannot carry a bit of weight? it depends to a certain extent how balanced the rider is, how established and well muscled the pony but most can comfortably carry an adult, if you feel guilty about your 16.2 carrying nearly 11 stone then what would you want a 14 stone rider to do, give up riding altogether ?
 
I guess people who actually have ponies of a similar size get more of an idea about what they're actually capable of. I bet no one would say from photos I'm too big for my 13.3 yet I weigh well over 10 stone and he's 13.3 middle weight. He also happily pulls more than his body weight. Why should he? Because he loves work!
 
I'll be honest he is currently being ridden by a 6'3 adult and he is around 14 stone but he doesn't seem to struggle with carrying him and he's only being used for hacking
 
JoshuaR97 said:
I'll be honest he is currently being ridden by a 6'3 adult and he is around 14 stone but he doesn't seem to struggle with carrying him and he's only being used for hacking
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I think that is way too heavy. Tack and clothing will add another 2 stone so your pony is probably carrying 16 stone. Horses will not always stagger when carrying too much weight (although I have sadly seen them do just that!)
 
JoshuaR97 said:
I'll be honest he is currently being ridden by a 6'3 adult and he is around 14 stone but he doesn't seem to struggle with carrying him and he's only being used for hacking
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Had you said your pony was 10 I would have said no problem, but he is 20. Just listen to him and if he starts to show signs that it is taking it's toll it might be time to find him a lighter rider!

To all who said 10 stone is absurd - the pony is 20 years old. Even if your grandfather was a weight lifter in his 30's would you expect him to lift the same weights in his 60's?!!
 
My grandfather still lifts more than I can aged 80! I expect the weights have gone down over the years but it's still a lot to lift! He has kept fit and not stopped working to keep it up.
Old age isn't a disease in itself :)
 
10st is amusing at least.. My 22 year old 14.2 welshie carries 13 stone daily/hunting, is fit and well muscled.

OP's pony looks fit and well with good muscle tone.
 
I think it seems to be more about what individual people are happy with their respective ponies carrying given that specific pony and its associated age, fitness, work load etc etc which is very variable.

Some people will be comfortable for their ponies to carry weight towards the upper end of their capability (whatever they deem that to be) and others feel that this would compromise the ponies wellbeing and happiness.
 
It does usually seem to be those that are 10 stone and under with 16.2 horses that tend to think that only the biggest of IDs can carry over 12 stone, and tend to give the impression that they perhaps don't know what 12 stone looks like especially when boobage is involved!
 
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