Minkymoo's post...HOW FAT IS TOO FAT?

10 stone bloke must look tiny! I don't think I know a bloke under 13 stone! My brother is skinny (not ribby, just hasn't gotta gut!) 5ft10 and weighs 13 stone. I've let him have a walk down the lane on my 14hh NF. Didn't do him any harm wahtsoever. He didn't bat an eyelid. (the pony that is!)
 
Cinn is 14,2 and a chunky monkey, not fat, just built heavy. I would be happy with someone up to 14 stone on him. If they were a nice light rider maybe a tad more, 15 stone of decent rider is a lot different to 15 stone of a sac of spuds!
I was having this conversation with my mum earlier actually, ponies like mine are often seen as being a little girls pony. Thing is, if he decides to REALLY buck (I,E, Being a nappy sod and shoving his head between his legs and leaping about on all 4's etc), like he has done with me before, they would have no chance. I am 5 foot 7 and about 10 stone (maybe slightly more) anyone slighter than me or what most people would consider the 'right' size for him, would have had no chance at keeping his head up (not bragging about my abilities, just saying with the weight I can control him with...)
However, my friend has a 14,2 skinny little thing, he could never carry 14 stone- he would collapse! I think it just depends on the horse. At the end of the day, sorts like mine weren't originally bred to potter around the countryside with a skinny minny on their back.
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JM07 - That's ok then!
But it's obviously a bit controversial or you wouldn't have posted this thread!
I mean you wouldn't have said anything if your friend was 12 and a half stone - maybe it's you that's not comfortable about your mate riding a 15.3 cob??
Christmas Kate - I would eat less if i felt uncomfortable on my horse but he's 17.1 and I'm 12 stone so i feel fine thank you thankyou *reaches for another cream cake*
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Yes, I do - I owned my 14.2 NF/TB for 23 years and the max weight he was happy carrying was around 10 stone, and that was when I was at my heaviest.

If you kept these so called weight-carriers to the end of their days rather than selling them, you would be able to keep track of the cumulative stresses and strains on their joints which are the result of the heavier rider.

Not trying to be nasty here - but if you go off on holiday, would you rather carry two suitcases or just one?
 
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If you kept these so called weight-carriers to the end of their days rather than selling them, you would be able to keep track of the cumulative stresses and strains on their joints which are the result of the heavier rider.


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Agreed.
 
My OH (whose just walked out the room! he he! After muttering are you still on the pony forum! tut!) is 6ft 2, wieghs 16stone has a 36" waist.... He hasn't got a belly, but he's a bit squidgy! he he! Certainly no beanpole!

When he learnt to ride a few years ago he was nearer 15stone and was on anything 15hh cob to 17hh tbx. They never seemed to struggle too much. Luckily for a big guy he was quite balanced and didn't blob about too much!! (I'm so lucky he's not in the room!) However, I've never let him sit on my little man! He hasn't ridden for a few years cause I haven't known anyone with a horse big and sensible enough as he only just learnt how to canter when he had to stop because of work. However my friend is planning on buying a 15hh Haflinger next year for her OH of similar stature and I'm sure I'll be borrowing it! He'll only to pottering out hacking.
 
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If you kept these so called weight-carriers to the end of their days rather than selling them, you would be able to keep track of the cumulative stresses and strains on their joints which are the result of the heavier rider.


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Agreed.

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agreed also, i wont let anyone over 12 stone ride my neds! ones 15.3 and the others 16.1, just personal choice though!!
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JM07 - That's ok then!
But it's obviously a bit controversial or you wouldn't have posted this thread!
I mean you wouldn't have said anything if your friend was 12 and a half stone - maybe it's you that's not comfortable about your mate riding a 15.3 cob??
Christmas Kate - I would eat less if i felt uncomfortable on my horse but he's 17.1 and I'm 12 stone so i feel fine thank you thankyou *reaches for another cream cake*
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WTF are you on about now???

controversial??...of course...lets be controversial...i know i'll post about FAT PEOPLE...trot off...read what i have replied to minkymoo's original thread, and no, apart from the fact the "fat" person had NO idea about riding, she was very wobbly, i STILL stand by what i said, the bloody animal wasn't asked to do too much, didn't look overly bothered and got oe up on the fat person!!!!...and of course I'M being controversial......


as far as i 'm concerned....HORSES AREN'T MADE OF GLASS...................................................
 
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Yes, I do - I owned my 14.2 NF/TB for 23 years and the max weight he was happy carrying was around 10 stone, and that was when I was at my heaviest.

If you kept these so called weight-carriers to the end of their days rather than selling them, you would be able to keep track of the cumulative stresses and strains on their joints which are the result of the heavier rider.

Not trying to be nasty here - but if you go off on holiday, would you rather carry two suitcases or just one?

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that would of been the weak gene TB in him......
 
Had mine for 8 years, he's now 16. Granted I'm the main rider and only weigh 10.5 stone but other people a bit heavier do borrow him. I have his back checked every 4 months and I never get any comments about weight or anything. (he always prats in the field and pulls muscles in his rump!) he certianly is never sore under the saddle.

I also occasionally ride a 12.1hh NF mare that my friend has had nearly 20 years. She is still going strong with no problems whatsoever and is frequently ridden by adults about my weight (she can be a bit of a handful but loves going for her gallops)

Look on the nfed website at the pictures of the drifts. Full grown men riding pure NF ponies. Been doing it for years and NF ponies are known for living a long time!
 
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If you kept these so called weight-carriers to the end of their days rather than selling them, you would be able to keep track of the cumulative stresses and strains on their joints which are the result of the heavier rider.


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Agreed.

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surely not.......knowing what Quarter Horses are capable of???
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He didn't have a weak TB gene, but my current full TB certainly has some kind of mutant gene.

Ay Beat (1989). Look him up on Racing Post. Shocking summary paragraph. He's very luck to have me! Anyone heavier would have been shafted at the first hurdle, so to speak.
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no, but they're not machines either.

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and at what point during the you tube vid was there any indicatoin that this animal was used as an automaton????
i think this Vid was more on the line of taking the p1ss out of the fat person...FOR 3 MINUTES!...than horse abuse...


keep inside the perimiter everybody
 
Sorry but yes I do agree with Ruey; which is why most people who come and ride my QH's are no heavier than 12 - 14 stone. No way would I let an 18 stone person ride most of my little QH's even though many of them, I'm sure, are perfectly capable of carrying heavier "good" riders on their backs. I don't see too many good riders, hence no super-fatties get to ride my little lot.
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I ride a 12.3 NF, I'm 10 stone, I hack him 2/3 times a week for miles, have a lesson on him once a week for an hour, and jump him. He has no problem with my weight, I'm only 5ft 3 so no probs there. Depends entirely what sort of rider you are, My RI says I'm good (!) so he has no difficulty whatsoever carrying me.
He is very very strong, and very fast. If a 7 stone 8/9 year old were to ride him I think they would have difficulty stopping him!
 
I'm sure a good rider that rides light who weighed 17-18 stone could ride Hattie with no problem at all if she was fit. I do put a weight limit of 15 stone (excluding tack) on her though as she is long in the back and its a good excuse to get dad to lose more weight! Those that don't know Hattie, she is 15.3hh Hw cob, 10" bone.
Gyp however I wouldn't put more than 13 stone on, good rider or not, as he has had tendon trouble and a slight problem with his back. He is 15.1hh, Mw cob with 8.75" bone.
BSH at work is 17hh, 9" bone but is 19. He regularly carries 13 stone to jump. They would let 14 stone on him and in his hayday he could of taken that round Badminton.
 
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Apparently I need to give up riding
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I'm too fat.

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Me too!!!

I do however, think theres a difference between weighing 13 stone and being reasonable fit and active(which I am) and being 13 stone and being unfit, wobbly and grossly overweight.. I wouldn't let the latter on any of my horses but I will happily ride my daughters 13.1hh native pony or either of my cobs which could carry twice my weight...
 
I don't think you can say that any horse of a certain height or breed will carry more or less than another, it depends alot on conformation not just the height.

A bloke i know who is shall we say no lightweight bought a 16.3 cobby true middleweight that to look at you would of thought would of had no problem carrying him, but believe me it really did!!!! The horse was fine for lighter,better riders but got to the point with this chap that he constantly had his ears back and would buck, he wasn't happy to go forward atall, his back became sore quite quickly.
This horse was sold and is doing very well and the chap bought a 16.2 dutch warmblood, who is short coupled and short in the cannon and has no problem whatsoever carrying him all day, always has his ears pricked and they have a great time together.

I also feel that it's not just what the person weighs but how they ride, i have seen some larger riders who ride well, and have good balance, i have also seen lighter people who ride very heavy and thump around in the saddle.
 
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I think as a rule of thumb a well bred horse with the right bone can take the stone per hand. FGS I used to hop on the shettie to give my kids demos!! And I'm damn sure if the little monkey could tank off and get me off out the front door he wasnt struggling to carry me.

We have a 13.1hh NF arriving in a weeks time, and I specifically wanted a NF so it could carry me without being too big or strong for my child. I've had mixed reactions, one vetinary nurse was appalled that i was saying i was going to hack it out three times a week, and might attempt minimus jumping in the summer... apprently adults shouldnt ride "children's ponies".
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I don't think you would be too big or heavy to ride your son's new pony. Not at all. I also think it does ponies the world of good to have adults on them reminding them of their manners every now and then, especially when the child rider isn't riding much above novice level.

I must admit, and I'm not having a go honestly, I'm quite bemused by the "not too big or strong for my child" comment in relation to the new pony's choice of breed.

Surely any pony, of any breed, can be too strong for a child if they are only 7 and not a competent rider? Hannah's been riding for over 4 years and Oliver has gotten the better of her a few times over summer. She's almost 10 as well. Not being too strong for your son has alot more to do with it's schooling, than it's breed. He is, after all, going to look a dot on the new pony. Bless him.
 
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so the stone per hand ratio isn't viable???


would you allow a fourteen stone person ride a 14hh pony?

i'm of the opinion that as far as the New Forest breed is concerned, they can, and are able to, carry such.

if you owned a 16hh cob, would this be a 16 stone limit?

i have a very good male friend who owns a 15.3 cob, hunts at least 5 times a month, .......... unfortunately from this thread, it seems he shouldn't do this......as he weighs 18 stone 4 lbs.......

maybe he should go out in the field riding a chieftan tank??

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I am of the opinion that the fitness of a horse, importantly it's muscle covering, directly relates to how much weight they can carry, as well as their conformation.

Most cobs are very short coupled and as such, I believe their backs are "stronger" than more strung out types of horses. If your friend's cob is hunting fit, I would assume that he is ridden very regularly and has excellent topline/muscle tone.

If this is the case, then I have no doubt in my mind that his cob is more than able to carry his weight around a hunting field. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. He's already doing this job, and well, so clearly the horse has no problems at all with the weight of it's rider.

People would sometimes do well to realise how heavy some men can be, even when they aren't exactly fat. Tall, well muscled men, can seem alarmingly heavy in comparison to the weight us ladies see as "normal" (more the weight we'd wish we were)
 
I think there is a big difference between someone who weighs 14 stone and can ride to a complete novice who weighs 14 stone and is learning to ride. When I taught we had a weight limit of 15 stone for our largest horse which could carry more but it would not have been fair to have a 16 stone novice learning to trot on him. I think it all comes down to balance, sympathy and each horse has their own individual limits.
 
TBH it doesent mean if you are heavy that you ride heavy. Some heavier riders actually ride 'light' if you know what i mean.
I have seen skinny riders who can do more damage by riding inconsiderately and not lightly at all.

I think it is a misconception that a heavy looking rider is a bad thing and compromising the welfare of the horse. In fact a few years ago there was an article in the horse and hound about this subject.
 
These 'fat' rider threads do intrigue me! At one point it was my intention to tell everyone who reads HHO how heavy I was at my heaviest, not sure I will now!! You wouldn't believe me anyway, as I never looked the weight I was - very fat yes, but even specialist drs were surprised on meeting me!!

I am now the weight I was when I was a student - still need to loose a load more, as I did then!! However, I was riding at Stage 3 level jumping then and Stage 4 flat and Jenny L-C commented to me, when she saw me riding when I was on work experience (not at her place I might ad), saying how lightly I rode and that lighter riders than me could learn a thing or two from observing my seat!
 
Hmmm...me too....

The horse in my avatar is just under 17hh. At the time that photo was taken I was approacjing 18st...does the horse look unhappy to any of you?

I've lost a bit of weight since then but still 'test' the stone per hand rule on this horse. He jumps the top hole of the wings at home regularly and is more than capable of having fun with me if he feels like it.

Trike is only just 16.1hh....and still scares the bejeezus out of me with the spring he has over a fence.

All I would say is that as a heavier rider it is important to keep an eye on the little things as the extra stresses and strains are magnified
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BTW...neither of mine are h/w or cobs. I would describe them as m/w. We have 15.2hh cobs on our yard that I would have no concerns about riding whatsoever...
 
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