I was mooching around preloved

Well it won't be regular work, probably only about two days for an hour at the moment until weather improves and late afternoons get lighter. If nothing else I could ride her for half an hour, and get off and walk her back or something so I'm giving her a break and me a bit of a walk to lose weight. I've heard lately its good cardiovascular exercise and I've got family history of heart problems so if I find something bigger then I'll move onto that as I know riding will benefit me.
I also know how to long rein a pony as I do it regularly with the RDA carriage driving ponies so I could even do that as good exercise for the pony.
 
I would say irrespective of this pony you like - if you want to get into/back into horses, dieting would be a good idea for several reasons - not just "can the horse carry my weight" scenario

Even stable duties can be hard work and you will tire quicker. Also if you fall, getting back on could be more difficult and recovery could be longer

Im not saying horsey people should be slim (I'm not!) but think its a sport at the end of the day and you want your horse fit and I think they deserve to have you fit

Good luck finding the right horse and with a diet if you so decide to!!
 
Ultimately, the final decision will be with the owner, but don't for get to factor in the weight of the tack, this could be anything up to 2 stone on top of your weight. Good luck with whatever the owner decides.
 
I fully agree with BB-S. however you are determined to give her a try if the owner agrees so I think it's a pretty pointless post. :confused:
 
You could do those things OP, but maybe you could just put up a wanted ad for a bigger horse? I would say anything over 15hh and then when people contact you ask the question just to check. That's what I'd do!
 
It wasn't an answer to my wanted advert, I responded to her advert. I'm not really holding out for this, if she says no, I would be ok with it. I don't want to ride anything too tall, about 15.2 is my limit as I'm relatively short in stature due to short legs compared to normal length body.
I'm helping out on a Sunday with carriage driving ponies every week hence my post above saying I could exercise her on the ground to begin with if the owner was willing to give her a try. I have texted her today saying just that.
 
You probably don't want to hear my answer but ye I think it is too much. My OH weights 13stone and he has a 15hh cob and we thought long and hard about if he was too heavy for him. I think 14 stone plus tack is actually closer to 14.5 stone and to be honest too heavy. Some horses are very stoic and don't complain but it's the internal slow changes that we don't know about that are affected long term.
 
I think also another factor that needs to be thought about is tack fitting for you and the horse.
Being a bigger build you would obviously need a bigger seat on what ever saddle you choose, but that saddle could in fact be too long for the ponies back and cause problems for you both... its a catch 22!

Good luck in your horse search, I think personally that maybe looking for something above 15hh would be a good way to go.

And FWIW, your comment about wanting nothing above 15.2 due to being short, I am 5ft2 and have a 16.3hh tb and ride her fine ;) So dont limit your options in your search as your perfect horse could be none of the boxes you have ticked!
 
A 525 kg hafflinger will carry 16.5 stones so you would be well under the 20% recommended ratio. My highland is 13.2 and easily carries 14 stone jumping and all sports she is 18 now and never had a day sick that didnt involve a tiny rider. The only injury she has ever had was jumping with a 6 stone experienced child and happened as a pure accident.
They are bred to carry deer down of the hills so can if accustomed to it carry 20 stone up hill and down dale a full grown dead red deer will weigh far more than any human especially a well balanced one
I would think the people saying no are skinny or not aware of their own weight. I did 25 miles on said pony when I was close to your weight and she was fit and strong enough to go cross country with me the next day and go again the following day to dressage. She was a very fit pony though and never had a days problems with weight
Hers or mine and I have always been big
I have owned her since she was 20 months so know her full history so I guess I know her inside out
 
Last edited:
We used to own a 13.3hh old style, built like a brick outhouse haflinger

Firstly, he never weighed anywhere near 525Kg. If he had he would have been seriously obese, and secondly we would never, ever have thought it was reasonable for him to carry 14 stone plus tack.
 
I feel I might get flamed for this but I'm going to post it anyway.


I'm 5"10/11 and at my biggest I was 12stone. I am not an experienced rider but am balanced and I felt too heavy on a 15.2 cob.

I would never even dream of getting on a 14hh pony when I was 12 stone let alone 14.

No matter how balanced you think you are that is still 14 stone of weight.

I think it would be unfair to the horse so I would be looking for something bigger that could take my weight without question.
 
When I was working in Canada with the RDA, there was a 14.2 chunky Haflinger in the programme. I was told that according to the way they calculated the maximum weight a horse could carry, he should have been able to take 250 pounds. Of course the weight limit for the programme was 160 or something so he never carried anywhere near that, but still. If it's a traditional proper chunky Haffy, a balanced 14 stone would probably be fine, although obviously at the top end of what you'd want her to carry. I also wouldn't think she'd be happy with anything more than light schooling and hacking. :)
 
Are hafflingers so much more puny than highlands then my highland is about 450kgs on a weight tape and only 13.2 she would easily carry the op up hill and down dale and never turn a hair. she has lots of lovely flat bone and is very compact
must try and get her to a weigh bridge sometime
 
I think you would be fine! Haffy's are strong little things, more than people think.

Good luck :) sorry if you've changed your mind since then, not read all the replies!
 
Yeah I don't need rude comments like that when you don't even know me. I have you know I am quite a fit 14 stone person.
Hopefully going to get reply from owner this evening, Noodles :)
 
Wiz201 said:
Yeah I don't need rude comments like that when you don't even know me. I have you know I am quite a fit 14 stone person.
Click to expand...

Just because you're fit doesn't make you weigh any less though :confused:

You weigh 14 stone. That's how much weight - plus tack - that will be on the horse. You could be 14 stone of feathers, but it's still 14 stone :rolleyes:

No one is saying that you are unfit, but fit or unfit doesn't change weight. Yes one of the comments is a bit harsh but most have been kind.
IMO you are too heavy for this pony.
 
I have never put down anyone else's opinions, I've come on here to ask them and I've got them. You can't compare me to a bag of feathers, they weigh nothing!:rolleyes:
 
Wiz201 said:
I have never put down anyone else's opinions, I've come on here to ask them and I've got them. You can't compare me to a bag of feathers, they weigh nothing!:rolleyes:
Click to expand...


Erm no feathers definitely weigh something. A tonne of feathers will weigh the same as a tonne of bricks.

You asked for opinions but obviously didn't get the answers you wanted.....
 
My 15hh haffy was 470kg on the weight tape last time and 500 before that, but knowing weight tapes are not that accurate she is probably about 500 now :-)

This one looks like a middle sort of build not a tank. You get different types of haffies just like you get different types of highland with the newer sportier types and the old traditional types. I know of a ridiculously chunky one that is like a Shetland enlarged slightly, but this is not anywhere near that.

I am also a fit-ish 14st (11 or 12st would be really quite slim for me) which is why I hope you know I am just trying to be realistic in my advice. 14st of bricks is the same as 14st of marshmallows!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top