How tall is this horse??

I agree that a weight limit of 100 kilos, which some Icelandic trekking centres operate with, is crazy and way, way too high. But I follow a lot of Icelandic riders and they tend to be slim and if not 10 stone, not much more. I don’t actually think it’s as widespread that huge men ride Icelandics anymore.
 
Kirstineridesagain said:
When it comes to horse welfare (in which rider weight is only one of many factors) I don’t feel worried for my horse. Started late, as is the custom with Icelandics (and probably one of the most important things in regards to long term health), will definitely not be over worked or over-jumped (unlike many competition horses), will hopefully live out 24/7 all her life with ample space and horse friends etc. I don’t know the exact weight of my own horse, but they do vary - I’ve been riding one that weighs in at 470 kilos. Although he’s taller (14.2h) and wider than my own horse, he’s not necessarily stronger than smaller horses. There are many factors at play. I’ll never weigh under 10 stone again (unless I’m very ill), but I’m a balanced rider and will do my best to lose more weight to make it easier for her and also share the horse with my much lighter daughters. I’ll also choose a lightweight saddle, check her back regularly with physio appointments and bring her slowly back into work. It’s fine to worry about this issue in general, but it comes across as rather patronising when people use this thread to hammer on about rider weight.
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I wouldn't worry, some people are quite good at hammering. :D You make some very good points.

your post does raise important points though. Many are quite happy to ride their horses at 3 or 4. Welfare issue just as weight is. (there was a very good post about that on FB icelandic horse chat a couple of days ago)

that is even before we get to all the things done by supposedly experienced riders (no doubt weighing only 15%) to dressage horses (and others)

the list is endless. Plus of course we are breeding poor quality horses that don't stand up to the work as they have done in the past. We don't kill them and eat them as someone mentioned but we do PTS when they fail both mentally,performance wise and structurally. Is that any different from Icelandics killing those that fail to make the grade.

For the people commenting on weight. I only have experience of arabs. When my 14.1 arab (stallion ridden by OH 6ft) was unfit and very fat he may have weighed near to 500kg so could carry a lot more weight than when he became totally fit and lean through work/feeding. So the same rider who could ride him unfit would have had to get off for a lighter jockey?. Not sure how that works.
When fat the horse was carrying another 50kg plus of his own weight in addition to the rider.

the arab did survive OH, he was ridden tens an tens of thousand of miles very fast and riding stopped when he was 25. I have no idea how he survived.

There are far more wrong doings towards horses than worrying too much about weight in Icelandic horses.

Caol Ila said:
I don't mean the OP, who is probably fine to ride her pony, but if you go to Iceland, you see huge hulking Icelandic men on them, who weigh a damned sight over 10st.

People will tell you that the horses can carry far more weight as per their size than any other horse on the planet, including mountain/moorland breeds from other countries.
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don't get why you think that. Go back 70/80 years and farmers were riding small ponies. The postman here rode a fell like pony for his deliveries. I doubt he, his saddle and his mail sack weighed in at 15%. Perhaps we just bred tougher, rougher horses/ponies that stood up to work. Now we are having to have weight restrictions as we breed a lot that just break down under hard sustained daily work.
 
paddy555 said:
I wouldn't worry, some people are quite good at hammering. :D You make some very good points.

your post does raise important points though. Many are quite happy to ride their horses at 3 or 4. Welfare issue just as weight is. (there was a very good post about that on FB icelandic horse chat a couple of days ago)

that is even before we get to all the things done by supposedly experienced riders (no doubt weighing only 15%) to dressage horses (and others)

the list is endless. Plus of course we are breeding poor quality horses that don't stand up to the work as they have done in the past. We don't kill them and eat them as someone mentioned but we do PTS when they fail both mentally,performance wise and structurally. Is that any different from Icelandics killing those that fail to make the grade.

For the people commenting on weight. I only have experience of arabs. When my 14.1 arab (stallion ridden by OH 6ft) was unfit and very fat he may have weighed near to 500kg so could carry a lot more weight than when he became totally fit and lean through work/feeding. So the same rider who could ride him unfit would have had to get off for a lighter jockey?. Not sure how that works.
When fat the horse was carrying another 50kg plus of his own weight in addition to the rider.

the arab did survive OH, he was ridden tens an tens of thousand of miles very fast and riding stopped when he was 25. I have no idea how he survived.

There are far more wrong doings towards horses than worrying too much about weight in Icelandic horses.


don't get why you think that. Go back 70/80 years and farmers were riding small ponies. The postman here rode a fell like pony for his deliveries. I doubt he, his saddle and his mail sack weighed in at 15%. Perhaps we just bred tougher, rougher horses/ponies that stood up to work. Now we are having to have weight restrictions as we breed a lot that just break down under hard sustained daily work.
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Great post, agree with everything.

As you say, rider weight is only a small part of the puzzle.

Starting age 3 or 4 (or even 2 for race horses), before the horse is fully grown and mature, spells problems down the line. For that reason I would not buy this horse (screenshot from other thread about an auction), even though it looks absolutely lovely - jumping away at age four should be a big no-no.

There are many other welfare issues that are prevalent, but this one is a far too common one and it’s not being taken seriously enough, in my opinion. See Annie Dillon’s post from a few days ago (pretty sure that’s the one you were referring to):

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16exd5A7RS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
 

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@paddy555 , there are still folk who trot out "fell ponies used to carry 16+ stone farmers out on the hills all day, so you'll be fine", or "Highlands carried stags through the glens which are far heavier than you as a rider".
Thus giving those who ask or read the statement the green light to clamber on when far too heavy for a pony. Only just this last week have I seen photos of several grossly overweight riders with large amounts of blubber over their saddle, truely shocking. (Plus also grossly overweight ponies).

I think that decent horse folk these days are more educated about animals and welfare.
What was 'ok' 50 or even 100+ years ago is very definitely not ok now.

Summing up, because it happened in the past doesn't mean we should perpetuate something that now contravenes health and welfare.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
@paddy555 , there are still folk who trot out "fell ponies used to carry 16+ stone farmers out on the hills all day, so you'll be fine", or "Highlands carried stags through the glens which are far heavier than you as a rider".
Thus giving those who ask or read the statement the green light to clamber on when far too heavy for a pony. Only just this last week have I seen photos of several grossly overweight riders with large amounts of blubber over their saddle, truely shocking. (Plus also grossly overweight ponies).

I think that decent horse folk these days are more educated about animals and welfare.
What was 'ok' 50 or even 100+ years ago is very definitely not ok now.

Summing up, because it happened in the past doesn't mean we should perpetuate something that now contravenes health and welfare.
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This. Things that were ok 5 or 10yrs ago arent ok now, because now we have some research telling us its harmful. But people will do all sorts of mental gymnastics to justify riding because they want to. If OP is more than 10 stone then she is too heavy for the small pony she has bought, going by the recommendations she herself posted. I didnt comment about OP and never intended it to be about her, but seeing her post the society's advice and then dismiss it when it makes her too heavy is mind boggling. Its part of a culture that seems very prevalent with icelandics, but definitely has some cross over with riding in general.

As far as I am aware there is no research to show that starting horses at 3 or 4 is detrimental. There is research to show that there are positive effects though. I cant get my head around someone thinking starting a horse at 3 or 4 is a huge welfare issue but riding it at a weight that has been proven to cause damage is fine.

I've ridden horses when I was too heavy, I was going on the advice and information I had at the time, but it never sat well with me and its something I deeply regret now we know better.
 
Sorry, she may be short(ish) but to refer to an Icelandic horse as a “small pony” is just ignorant (or purposefully rude). You don’t know her weight, fitness (which is obviously not great now but will increase) and what my weight will be when I’ll be riding her - so your opinion doesn’t actually matter that much to me.
 
For the people commenting on weight. I only have experience of arabs. When my 14.1 arab (stallion ridden by OH 6ft) was unfit and very fat he may have weighed near to 500kg so could carry a lot more weight than when he became totally fit and lean through work/feeding. So the same rider who could ride him unfit would have had to get off for a lighter jockey?. Not sure how that works.
When fat the horse was carrying another 50kg plus of his own weight in addition to the ride

can one of you answer my question? ie why could a 500kg horse carry a heavier rider plus it's excess fat than the 425 lean/fit version. ie same rider but none of his own body fat

what is 15/20 % based on? who determines the weight of the horse?

Kristine, this was your happy thread about your lovely mare and it seems to be taking a nasty turn. Are you happy for it to continue or would you rather these weight posts moved to a new thread? please don't get upset. People do like to argue on here and whilst I am quite happy and much of it is like water off a duck's back to me it may not be to you. :)

yes it was Annie's post. :) I thought it was very good.
 
I did try to gently say that this wasn’t meant to be a rider weight thread, happy to discuss this in general but some seem intent on telling me I’ll be too big for my horse (yes, horse, not pony!) but the thread has been ruined for me now so I don’t really mind. Going to measure her tomorrow though.

And I also wonder what the answer to your question is. Obviously when horses fitten up (as opposed to fatten up 🤪) and weigh less, they are more, not less capable of carrying a rider. So the whole percentage system is flawed. Length and shape of the back, the amount of bone etc all matter too, as does rider fitness and balance.
 
I had typed out an answer to FF and I'm Dun's posts about weight but I have deleted it. If anyone wants to continue the conversation or about riding 3 yo's then they can start a new thread.

I cannot see the point of upsetting someone who has a lovely little mare and only wondered how high she was. I'm sorry I commented at all on weight.
 
Kirstineridesagain said:
I did try to gently say that this wasn’t meant to be a rider weight thread, happy to discuss this in general but some seem intent on telling me I’ll be too big for my horse (yes, horse, not pony!) but the thread has been ruined for me now so I don’t really mind. Going to measure her tomorrow though.

And I also wonder what the answer to your question is. Obviously when horses fitten up (as opposed to fatten up 🤪) and weigh less, they are more, not less capable of carrying a rider. So the whole percentage system is flawed. Length and shape of the back, the amount of bone etc all matter too, as does rider fitness and balance.
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I for one am looking forward to finding out who guessed right. Enjoy your lovely mare and can't wait to see what her foal is like.
 
Kirstineridesagain said:
I did try to gently say that this wasn’t meant to be a rider weight thread, happy to discuss this in general but some seem intent on telling me I’ll be too big for my horse (yes, horse, not pony!) but the thread has been ruined for me now so I don’t really mind. Going to measure her tomorrow though.

And I also wonder what the answer to your question is. Obviously when horses fitten up (as opposed to fatten up 🤪) and weigh less, they are more, not less capable of carrying a rider. So the whole percentage system is flawed. Length and shape of the back, the amount of bone etc all matter too, as does rider fitness and balance.
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Me too, but then I'm a pony squisher 😜
 
Drum roll….

So, didn’t get a proper measuring stick, so used a measuring tape. Had the help of my husband, he’s pretty good at these things. He thinks she measured at 138 cm, so that’s 13.3h. I’ll measure her again on hard ground with a proper stick in due course - may be a while though.
 
Still no news! But went back through my messages with the seller. She says she is 14.1 (143 cm). When I told her she looked smaller when she arrived, the seller said she will be taller when she muscles up?! Anyway, nothing to do about her height now, and I wouldn't have sent her back (a bit far!) anyway.
 
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