My vet told me I was an idiot today regarding weight carrying

Leo Walker

Leo Walker

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in the nicest possible way, and hes the 3rd professional person who has said that, but I'm pretty sure I dont agree with any of them!

I have a 14.1/2hh traditional cob, 10/11" of bone, but hard to be accurate due to the fluff! But a big tank of a pony. He has good conformation, does look cow hocked on occasion but not all the time and appears to be growing out of it with work. He has short cannon bones and loins soo wide a table of 6 could dine off them. Hes the very definition of strong and robust generally. But hes croup high. He has been since a 2yr old and still is as a rising 5yr old. I am doubtful that will ever change now, although my fingers and toes are firmly crossed! He has a very well fitting saddle designed to bigger/longer legged riders on smaller horses.

I'm not even going to try and post a picture as it never works! But if you imagine a Highland with a bit more bulk thats him. All 3 have told me to just get on and start slowly with 15mins of walking and build it up. But I am dubious, I still see him as a cobby but weedy 2yr old, and hes my boy <3

i know this is an annoying question, I'm irritated just typing it! But what sort of weight would you think is ok for very light work?
 
A real proper absolutely stable weight carrying cob, 13-15 stone for light work? Pics would be a lot more helpful though! :)

Height isn't everything when coming to weight carrying, but if he is a proper big tank, with strong legs and as wide as a table, and you don't plan to do anything arduous, with properly fitting tack, and way of going... he should be able to carry a substantial amount :)
 
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He was backed by me this time last year when I was a fair few stone lighter. Did some intermittent work over last winter, and went out on loan in spring time to a lightish, 10 stone I think rider who did a bit with him. He came back from loan in September, did some light work really wasnt happy at all :( So had a full MOT, vet, teeth, back and saddle. He had some chiro work to his shoulders which not even the vet picked up on but he is now a lovely happy pony again. Hes still in light work, hacking 3 times a week with a LW rider, but I'm moving yards tomorrow so will hopefully start to do a bit more. Not very much schooling, but enough to educate him, lots of hacking and hopefully lots of trips out to learn more about the world. Depending how he goes he might get turned away from Jan time for a couple of months, but depends how he feels and the weather. Pet ponies are no fun in 2 foot of snow or 2 foot of mud :lol: And for a big lump of a cob he makes his feelings VERY well known if hes hurting/tired/fed up so I will see how he goes. Hes loving working at the minute :)
 
My impression is that normally a horse can readily carry 15% of his own body weight (rider plus tack) and should not carry more than 20% of his own weight. My old lad weighs 560kg and is 14.2h so 84Kg is fine, with 112kg as an absolute maximum. Apparently these were limit set by the US Cavalry in the 1920s. Personally I would err on the lighter side with a young horse as the bones growth plates in the spine are not fully mature until around 6 years of age. However, tack fit, style of the rider and the manner in which the horse is produced are also all important.
 
I don't quite understand what has been said to you, but even though I've sometimes disagreed with a vet, if three seperate professional people had said the same thing I would quite likely be rethinking whether I was right or not.. (Hope that doesn't sound rude).
 
This horse is 15hh, not a heavyweight: I am 80kgs. He is just fine and has been for many years, with a pretty full-on workload as a display and stunt horse. You are fine.
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I thought it was 20% and up to 25% for a fit horse doing light work? I read a research paper that said something similar, or it might be the RDA guidelines? But I def read something and was horrified when I did the maths!. I'm not 100% what he weighs. My 15.2hh LW cob is 612kgs in good condition on a weight bridge, so I work off 500Kgs for Frankie. Not sure how accurate that is though as he is considerably broader and wider than the big cob, and definitely broader across the loins with shorter cannon bones.

I'm still not going to ride him till I'm thinner and hes fitter, but it is interesting to read other peoples opinions :)
 
They have said I am an idiot for not riding him because I think I am too heavy. Obviously this is made on a visual assessment so may not be accurate, but I do look pretty fat in the mirror :lol: I suppose I am lucky, that due to various medical conditions I have slim legs and butt and a big fat stomach and big boobs and a lovely double chin and huge moon face! Means I can easily fit in a 17" saddle, but doesn't detract from the fact that I am a big fatty :lol: I'm a size 20 round the middle, and a 14 on the bottom. I think I actually look fatter in person though, but who knows, maybe they arent accurately assessing my weight. In fact, I think I will have a chat with the vet and the chiro and ask for actual figures weight wise to see how it compares with my actual weight :)
 
Cobs are known as good weight carriers, due to their conformation - short backs, good musculature....I have always understood that 20 - 25% of the horses weight is fine for them to carry (rider + tack), anything over would be subject to what you are asking them to do, over what terrain.....so what does your horse weigh? Have you got access to a weight tape? And what do you weigh? What saddle are you using? I am around 72ks, I use a Wintec saddle, around 7kgs and ride a 13.3hh Arab mare who would weigh under 400kgs...What you really need to do is bite the bullet, get started and watch what your horse tells you :) I really don't think teaching a horse to carry you and riding short distances over reasonable ground will cause him any problems :) Good luck and go for it :)
 
I would work on his hind quarters to build up muscles by slow trotting up hill, with your issues, try walking him in hand 20 mons per day, to slim you down and build him up.
Measure the bone with a tape measure, fluff is irrelevant.
 
How long is his back? I would be more careful with a long backed youngster as they can be weaker and need more strengthening work ideally, but if he is short coupled then you should listen to the professionals.
 
I would follow the 20% guideline. Its hard to estimate weight but if he's a chunky boy about 14.1 I would guess at him weighing around 450 KG (we have a 13.3 NF who when not overweight comes in at 380 KG) 20% of this would be 90KG, and this would equate to 14st 2lbs, knock a stone off for the saddle, and another half stone for clothes, boots and hat, and the weight of the rider could be up to approx. 12st 7lbs.

Though as you say he has good short cannons, wide loins, and you are working him gently, I think you could push the weight up more if you needed to. Hope this helps. I've researched weight carrying a lot and the 20% rule seems to be the most popular one followed, you do need to be careful though, that your pony is at his correct weight and not overweight as this method would not be helpful as they would already be carrying too much weight.
 
It all depends on wether you want to ride him. I have a 14hh cob, well boned but not massive. When he was four I made the choice to have him backed by a lighter rider and she rode him for a year before I started this year. I am a big girl, I always have been, no matter what I bloody eat. I could wax lyical about losing weight but it could very well be pie in the sky. Are you really going to lose weight( just a question, not try to be rude) ? I checked with two vets and both came out and checked and said similar things to what your vets have said. So I started riding and have not looked back since. Yes I took thing slowly to accustom him to my weight, yes it was harder then riding my horse mountain because now I really have to move with my horse, but I am doing it and he is not worried and is fine.
If you want to and you have the go ahead get up there, if you are stalling is there another reason?

By the way Moses is bum high, I am expecting him to grow until he is eight so I expect your horse will too and he will level out in the spring before merrily going bum high again!!
Good luck
 
Right any reason to post a picture of moses! But I am on my iPad so it's touch and go if it works!!! :)

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You could always start a fitness plan for you and him by long reining.
Great for him to get out see the sights getting out for 20+ minute hacks and will start to build up muscle espcially if there is hill work and you for slogging it behind him will burn a pound or two :)
 
Sukistokes2 said:
It all depends on wether you want to ride him. I have a 14hh cob, well boned but not massive. When he was four I made the choice to have him backed by a lighter rider and she rode him for a year before I started this year. I am a big girl, I always have been, no matter what I bloody eat. I could wax lyical about losing weight but it could very well be pie in the sky. Are you really going to lose weight( just a question, not try to be rude) ? I checked with two vets and both came out and checked and said similar things to what your vets have said. So I started riding and have not looked back since. Yes I took thing slowly to accustom him to my weight, yes it was harder then riding my horse mountain because now I really have to move with my horse, but I am doing it and he is not worried and is fine.
If you want to and you have the go ahead get up there, if you are stalling is there another reason?

By the way Moses is bum high, I am expecting him to grow until he is eight so I expect your horse will too and he will level out in the spring before merrily going bum high again!!
Good luck
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I love your attitude and approach to things. its so refreshing

OP obviously its hard to give an accurate answer as no one has seen you or the cob but going on the sizes you have posted I would think you would be fine. Do you have an instructor or knowledgeable friend who can be objective and see you in the saddle

I do think it would be nice if you can get back in the saddle, you have had a rough time and deserve a bit of fun
 
OP do bear in mind he may always be bum high, it may be his conformation rather than a growth spurt. From what's been said I would think he'll be absolutely fine with slow and steady work, at his age an hours hack in walk a couple of times an week (and trotting for cars, to gaps etc) should be fine. Does he give you any signs that he can't manage when you do ride him?
 
Mine was 11 in the pic and is forever going to be bum high. He grew 3 inches after I got him at 5 and has always been bum high, it's a cob thing, maybe, seen loads like him.
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Not really answering your questions, but just wanted to add that if your boy is rising five, you will probably find that he's going to really fill out this year. My lad turned 5 in June and this has been the year that he has really become "a leg at each corner" rather than going upwards. His chest has broadened and there is a bigger gap between his front legs now. These pics were taken virtually a year apart with him just over four and just over five.

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I weight (at my heaviest) 10.5st at 5"4, when I was at the riding school I would ride a 15/15.1hh cob, I started riding him when he was around 4 and he could carry me fine and was able to carry mum well who is about 2-3 heavier (I'm making a rough guess here so hopefully I'm not in any bad books later!) as well. I did notice the horse went better for me, however I'm not sure if that's because I got on with him very well and felt very safe on him (despite the fact he was very happy to try and launch you into the air) whilst mum was a bit more wary :P

I also would occasionally ride his half brother who was 14.2hh and slightly bum high, he was a bit older than his brother but he also had no problem carrying me and managed fine when mum rode him once or twice. I didn't ride him as often though as I was mostly riding his brother or my own horse however he was easily capable of carrying 10 stone.

You also have to keep in mind that a fit horse will be able to carry more weight than an unfit one, and as the horses muscle is built up correctly they will fill out too. Since I've had my boy he's build up more muscle in his back and it has definitely made a difference to his conformation as he no longer looks as flat!
 
Smurf's Gran said:
I would follow the 20% guideline. Its hard to estimate weight but if he's a chunky boy about 14.1 I would guess at him weighing around 450 KG (we have a 13.3 NF who when not overweight comes in at 380 KG) 20% of this would be 90KG, and this would equate to 14st 2lbs, knock a stone off for the saddle, and another half stone for clothes, boots and hat, and the weight of the rider could be up to approx. 12st 7lbs.
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^ This :) But note the 20% works on ideal weight, not necessarily actual weight.

My old boy was a similar size & stamp to what OP is referring to. His ideal was around 450kg. 20% is 90kg, or 14st 2lb. 1.5st to allow for tack and equipment, which means rider weight no more than 12st 8.

Having said that, current guy weight tapes at 520kg, so on that logic can carry a 15st rider. He's a 4yo and still uncoordinated, so I'd be reluctant to put more than 12st on him for the time being. You need to be able to read them and assess whether they're happy with the weight they're carrying.
 
Theres photos on my profile now :) They were taken at the beginning of Sept and he has grown a bit since then and levelled out somewhat. I'll take some recent ones tomorrow now I've managed to upload these :)
 
They are easy to paste on to the thread if you want, just copy and paste the BB, it's under the photo when you open it to view,

Looks like a super boy, looks like he could carry some weight as well!! I am bias I know but I think you need to crack on, take it slowly and don't push him if it makes you feel better , but still you need to ride him !
 
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