Introduction and a rider weight question

[IsabelleJ]

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I am a curvacious rider (LOL yes i mean larger than normal) and quite tall at 5 ft10 and yet i have the absolute pleasure to ride and own a beautiful 17hh pure ex racing TB.

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Oh, he looks lovely! And certainly not complaining at all

Isabelle

 

[IsabelleJ]

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I used to weigh 20 stone!!! My ex riding stable put me on a lovely 17hh clydesdale cross, i asked to help out etc and within 3 months i lost a staggering 3 stone. I went and bought myself a lovely heavy cob mare and with the riding and caring for her myself, i have lost a further 2 stone!!

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I know, we never realise how much work we put into riding/looking after them, do we? I am definitely planning to do some helping out once I get to riding weight, as I know that that will be even better for me than the gym, not to mention more enjoyable, LOL!

Isabelle

 

[IsabelleJ]

Thank you all for a wonderful welcome and some very kind words!

I feel much better about my chances of finding the horse of my dreams now - although, knowing the way it works, I will fall in love with something totally different to what I thought I wanted! It's just very good for the motivation to know what I can aspire to. Hell, horses are the best motivation, right? Except possibly when it comes to getting up in the mornings to go and muck out

Isabelle

 

[Gingernags]

I never realised how many of us were really on the bigger side!

To add my support, my little 15hh 3/4 TB has carried me at my heaviest, just under 18 stone, but is possibly relieved that I'm now down to slightly over 14 after huge effort...

The only back issues she's ever had was a saddle problem and at the time was being ridden by a skinny 14 year old lad, so not my weight being an issue.

We have been doing endurance pleasure rides and dressage and its not that bad! I joined a riding club, lots of older members rather than kids, and all sizes, and the one who wins loads of the showing classes and dressage, it quite a lot bigger than me and she wins all sorts, she runs the club and she's great - just gets on with it. Its certainly inspired me!

So fine, lose a bit if you can, you will feel better for it (for starters I can get more choice of jods now and my gaiters fit instead of cutting off my circulation!) but it does mean you'll be OK on a part bred type rather than a heavier or cobbier type. Not that there is anything wrong with a cob, but they just aren't my type either.

My mare is off to be put in foal to an appaloosa, and he's got a lot of QH background so he's ideal to use with her for a foal for me to keep...

Good luck and welcome!

 

[Fantasy_World]

Hiya and welcome to the forum

I agree with what everyone else has said really in that you are best looking for a horse with good bone and ideally more than 9 inch circumference around the cannon bone at the front. My lad is 11 inch and daughter's cob is 10 1/2 inch so I could most probably ride him as well.
I know most of us are not happy with our weights ( me included) but don't whatever you do ( and that applies to anyone) be put off riding a horse or indeed owning one just because you are on the larger side.
I'm not saying I dislike skinny people ( I used to be around a 12/14 myself as a kid) but I don't like the snobbery you get towards larger riders like myself both from some riders and even tack wear shops.
I have ridden since the age of ten. After taking a break for around 3/4 years I started back riding again in around 2001 I think it was? I then weighed around 20stone and I'm nearly 5ft 8 tall.
I did have a fairly bad fall at the school ( no protector) but to be honest I'm convinced my weight saved my ribs that day as they were just bruised. The fall was not due to my weight or any in balance but a horse that spooked at almost anything and I was riding no stirrups at the time, trot into canter and he just veered out, neck down and to the side and off I went.
It made me cry to be honest ( first time ever after falling off a horse) I got back on though.
The horse would chuck anyone off and most of his riders were skinny kids. Anyway I fell out with the riding school owner a few weeks later as she made a remark about my weight which angered me to be honest and I never went back there again.
Since then I split with my husband 4 years ago and lost 4 stone in 4 months getting down to 16 stone. The last few years I have put 2 back on but have since lost a stone since Christmas and now weigh in at 17. Obviously I would like to keep losing again but it can be hard. I don't agree with dieting to be honest and never have.
Sensible eating and regular exercise are the best options to help lose weight. When I lost that weight a few years ago it was partly due to stress but also because I cut down on my food and watched what I ate more thoroughly.
Having horses does help though particularly during winter as you burn off so many calories doing tasks like mucking out and grooming etc.
I like Jayne's idea of a HHO weighwatchers though. Why pay a few quid when you can pop on here for free lol.
Anyhow here are a few pics of me on my lad last Sept ( don't have any recent as partner is never around when I ride) When they were taken it was the second time I had ridden him.
Cazx

 

[Stella]

I love this thread, its so heartwarming

I am also taking a bit of comfort from it whilst I go on a quest for a size 22 stock shirt and jacket to go out and do some dressage in