How much weight could Star carry...?

[Puppy]

Can I stress, posted not in the slightest bit related to the on-going debate

I was going to post this anyway. Also, I am 100% confident that Star has NO problem at all with me or my mother etc riding her.... In fact I think a little more weight on board her might be a good thing given how full of herself she was this morning....

But I have a friend who is, well, a rather substantial rugby player,

who has previous riding experience, and he wants to come for some rides with me, and I really have NO idea what Star's weight limit would be....

I've put men on her before, but not such solid ones,, and I've never even had to hazard a guess at what her limit is, so I've NO idea where to start...

She is 16.2, and a substantial one at that, (most people guess/argue that she is must be bigger

). She is 1/2 Hanoverian, crossed with an ISH. She is going to be 22 this month, but apart from a touch of stiffness in one knee you can spot some days, she is fighting fit for her age.

She had a back problem once, over ten years ago, which has always made me a bit precious about her back

(NEVER mount from the ground etc) but she was recently fitted with a new saddle (that she clearly is very happy in

) and the physio who saw her recently assured me she has no problems there at all and is in excellent shape...

To give you an idea of her build (taken last winter, she's not quite this fit at the mo, but in very pleasing condition

):

And a summer one, without the hairy legs

So, any idea what on earth her limit is?? This guy wouldn't be doing fast work or jumping at all, just hacking, but I just want to make sure she'll be ok....

Thanks in advance, H x

 

[Seahorse]

I don't know about the weight thingy, but she's very lovely

 

[Jade2007]

I read somewhere that horses can carry 20% of their weight (as a rule of thumb).

 

[Starbucks]

She a similar size/build to Badger... I don't think I'd want someone more than 16 stone on him, but I might just be being a wuss!

At the end of the day if it's only a case of a few hacks then I'm sure it won't hurt. Not sure if her age will effect it though??

 

[CracklinRosie]

I've never heard about the 20% thing but that sounds about right .

She'll probably weight about 600kg maybe more so technically should be able for 120kg which is about 18 stone give or take a few pounds!

I think your rugby playing mate will be fine on her and any sign that she's struggling you can stop!

I'm sure if you share your concerns with your friend he'll understand. Tell him it's because of the mares age not his weight!! Although men are not so touchy about these things as us women!!!

 

[Coffee_Bean]

My mare looks like a slighty finer scaled down version of yours, (15hh) and vet said that she can take up to 10st, so maybe Star could take up to about 15st, COMPLETELY guessing though!!

 

[JoBo]

I would say she would carry 15 stone quite easily. My husband is over 15 stone and he rides (or has ridden, as she is now in foal) out 16’3hh ID, and that includes jumping.

 

[Eira]

[ QUOTE ]
I read somewhere that horses can carry 20% of their weight (as a rule of thumb).

[/ QUOTE ]
But that does include all tack and riders clothing

So depending on how heavy your saddle etc is .
So that has to be a factor

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know about the weight thingy, but she's very lovely

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you

Must be in the breeding

She wasn't quite so lovely when she had a massive hormonal day earlier this week and totally refused to be caught, despite the fact it was glorious sunshine and I wanted to take her warm rug off

But generally she is Star by name and nature. She looked after me as my first horse, and is now perfect for my mother (whose in her mid 50s and although a good rider isn't hugely confident in her ability) and she is happy to canter and gallop her and feels safe.

My biggest regret is never having the funds to breed from her when she was young enough.

Everyone, farrier, physio, saddler etc asks why I didn't as she is such a super girl. It will be our 11 year anniversary this month and (although I came off her trying her out

) I've never come close since - she just looks after us so well. A definite horse of a life time

Ooops, I am gushing

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
She a similar size/build to Badger... I don't think I'd want someone more than 16 stone on him, but I might just be being a wuss!

[/ QUOTE ]

That was pretty much the figure I had in my head, but I was just totally guessing....

[ QUOTE ]
At the end of the day if it's only a case of a few hacks then I'm sure it won't hurt. Not sure if her age will effect it though??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, well her age/slightly stiff knee was something I was worried about - although on soft ground you'd never know it, and she was being very feisty this morning

 

[Puppy]

I *think* she weighs a bit more than 600kg, but we've not got a weigh bridge near us and I find the tapes/calculations vary great, so I'm not totally sure...

[ QUOTE ]
I'm sure if you share your concerns with your friend he'll understand. Tell him it's because of the mares age not his weight!! Although men are not so touchy about these things as us women!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh he'll totally understand. He stopped riding in the past because he was too heavy for the horse his family had and he asked me outright if he'd be too heavy for mine. He isn't touchy about his weight, but he is very typical rugby playing build (although not tall). I haven't actually asked him how much he does weigh... I guess I ought to.

 

[Seahorse]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't know about the weight thingy, but she's very lovely

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you

Must be in the breeding

She wasn't quite so lovely when she had a massive hormonal day earlier this week and totally refused to be caught, despite the fact it was glorious sunshine and I wanted to take her warm rug off

But generally she is Star by name and nature. She looked after me as my first horse, and is now perfect for my mother (whose in her mid 50s and although a good rider isn't hugely confident in her ability) and she is happy to canter and gallop her and feels safe.

My biggest regret is never having the funds to breed from her when she was young enough.

Everyone, farrier, physio, saddler etc asks why I didn't as she is such a super girl. It will be our 11 year anniversary this month and (although I came off her trying her out

) I've never come close since - she just looks after us so well. A definite horse of a life time

Ooops, I am gushing

[/ QUOTE ]


Yes def the breeding! bless her, she is very much like Dancer too.

 

[Puppy]

How tall is your husband?? (I am now trying to guess what my friend weighs

)

 

[CracklinRosie]

That's probably a good place to start!!

How do you calculate her weight for her wormer? Or do you just guess like the rest of us???

If you've got a weight tape, isn't there a simple calculation to do?

I'm sure your mare would carry him. We had a guy weighing 120kg on our Quarter horse and she was whizzing about like there was no tomorrow!!!

And before anybody says anything, no her back is fine!

 

[Puppy]

Ah, good point. She's just got a new stubben, so pretty average weight saddle I suppose

 

[Starbucks]

Yes i think you should - I doubt he will care!

I think, less than 16 - go ahead, more than 16 - don't bother. I think if she was younger then it wouldn't be as worrying, but no point in putting her under unnecessary strain for the sake of it.

My ex is a big chunky person (who thinks he dead tough) - my mum wouldn't let him ride Caf (the quiet one) so we put him on a big mare we had at the time - she buggered off with him FLAT OUT!!

It was soooo funny!

He still goes on about it now!

 

[Starbucks]

pups - my ex was 6 ft and very much rugby player type, very big legs, arms etc and very broad... he's about 15 stone if that helps with your guessing.

OH is 6'3'' and fairly slim (apart from beer belly!

) and has little muscles (poor Dan!

) and he's 14 stone, so I think the extra height adds on the weight quite a lot - how tall is this fella?

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
How do you calculate her weight for her wormer? Or do you just guess like the rest of us???

If you've got a weight tape, isn't there a simple calculation to do?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the last time I tried to calculate her weight, (last summer) was about 680kg. I had it written down somewhere... Can't find the notepad now and my memory is awful with the current medication that I'm on

I generally worm for about 700kg knowing full well that it's not all going to get down her neck and I'm going to end up with smears of it on my arm & around her mouth instead of in it...

 

[Puppy]

He is only 5'7" I *think*, but solid!!

 

[Starbucks]

I think he'll be fine then, but probably worth checking just in case!

 

[MistletoeMegan]

15st inc. saddle

She looks in super condition btw.

 

[JoBo]

Just over 6ft.

 

[Puppy]

LOL! I shall have to just ask him what he weighs then

He's not the shy type. I'm quite sure he won't mind saying

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
15st inc. saddle

She looks in super condition btw.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you

(and hello

) Gosh she gives me some sleepless nights trying to keep condition on her.

But I'm thrilled with how she looks right now

It's just such a job trying to keep two such different horses and manage keeping Star's weight up and chubby Bean's down....

 

[MistletoeMegan]

[ QUOTE ]
It's just such a job trying to keep two such different horses and manage keeping Star's weight up and chubby Bean's down....

[/ QUOTE ]

Tell me about it, I think I am the only owner in the country to keep their TB on a diet during the winter and worry if he's too fat

He has the metabolism of a Sec A

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
He has the metabolism of a Sec A

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL! Now never mind the horses, I personally can relate to that!

This has been Be's first winter out, and I've spent much of it trying to keep her weight DOWN because she's not had as much work. In summer we were wearing out shoes in two/three weeks and still she was a tubby!

In the summer I feel such a meanie. I go to the field and give Star a huge bucket of condition mix, and then Be gets a handful of lo cal and chubby chaff, and she does waaaaaay more hours work per week. Thankfully she LOVES lots of work!!

 

[Puppy]

Whoops! I just meant to say, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply. Much appreciated.