Navigating Weight-Ratio Welfare in Dressage

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barefootbeginner

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I'm feeling very helpless after BD'ing this week and seeing a rider who I cannot believe could have been even remotely close to the 20% ratio of their horse competing on the same day. I have battled with hormone- and health-condition-related weight issues in the past myself and have worked extremely hard to get to a weight that is safe, healthy and sustainable for my horse to carry. I also have a bigger horse to give me even more "leeway". So I am in no way whatsoever criticising another human's body, knowing how harmful that can be. What I don't know how to cope with is keeping shtum around what feel like welfare issues. I would advocate genuinely for all body types being welcome and belonging in the horse sport community, with everyone needing to "horse themselves" appropriately for welfare requirements of the ratios. The combination competing alongside myself were a horse showing a lot of resistance in the warm up and (to me) clearly crying out through their aversion to the ring that they weren't coping. How do others handle it? I'm thinking we all love horses so much that others must feel sore inside at what these horses are experiencing? Or is it a case of staying in your lane and zone, ignoring as best you can with the knowledge that it's within the rules, and live and let live?
I suppose I'm wondering whether others are submitting anything to BD to increase the voices calling for change in this area? That feels savage if it involves photos/specific names, but anything else seems to be shouting into the void.
I realise now this is all just waffle but I think just getting it off my chest within a community I respect is helping me, so sorry anyone at this point has had to wade through all this for nothing really!!!
 
The way I deal with it? I feel horribly glum inside and try not to look whilst assuring my horse I will always do my best for him, and hoping that some day soon systemic change comes - as until then, you cannot say anything or do anything that will make any material difference.
 
barefootbeginner said:
I'm feeling very helpless after BD'ing this week and seeing a rider who I cannot believe could have been even remotely close to the 20% ratio of their horse competing on the same day. I have battled with hormone- and health-condition-related weight issues in the past myself and have worked extremely hard to get to a weight that is safe, healthy and sustainable for my horse to carry. I also have a bigger horse to give me even more "leeway". So I am in no way whatsoever criticising another human's body, knowing how harmful that can be. What I don't know how to cope with is keeping shtum around what feel like welfare issues. I would advocate genuinely for all body types being welcome and belonging in the horse sport community, with everyone needing to "horse themselves" appropriately for welfare requirements of the ratios. The combination competing alongside myself were a horse showing a lot of resistance in the warm up and (to me) clearly crying out through their aversion to the ring that they weren't coping. How do others handle it? I'm thinking we all love horses so much that others must feel sore inside at what these horses are experiencing? Or is it a case of staying in your lane and zone, ignoring as best you can with the knowledge that it's within the rules, and live and let live?
I suppose I'm wondering whether others are submitting anything to BD to increase the voices calling for change in this area? That feels savage if it involves photos/specific names, but anything else seems to be shouting into the void.
I realise now this is all just waffle but I think just getting it off my chest within a community I respect is helping me, so sorry anyone at this point has had to wade through all this for nothing really!!!
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Unless you were judging there isn't very much that you can do. If you were officiating in some other way, e.g. steward/car park attendant, you could have a word with the secretary.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
The way I deal with it? I feel horribly glum inside and try not to look whilst assuring my horse I will always do my best for him, and hoping that some day soon systemic change comes - as until then, you cannot say anything or do anything that will make any material difference.
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that is a totally depressing reply and it is exactly what I do. :) I just stick to doing my best for my horses and learning whatever I can to improve how I deal with them.

I see endless stuff making the points that you are OP yet nothing ever seems to change.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
The way I deal with it? I feel horribly glum inside and try not to look whilst assuring my horse I will always do my best for him, and hoping that some day soon systemic change comes - as until then, you cannot say anything or do anything that will make any material difference.
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^^^ this is me too.

There was a huge lady on a chunky cob complaining he wasn't going forward. She wasn't tall and all her weight was on top, back of the saddle - I don't think he could move forward.

Wasn't nice to watch in the warm up & I didn't see her test.
 
The British Dressage Members handbook does contain a Code of Conduct for Horse Welfare which includes a section on “Equine Carrying Capacity and Fitness”. Unfortunately it is just advisory and leaves the responsibility with the rider as to whether they feel they meet the horse welfare guide. There is no official channel for reporting, nor any sanctions for those riders who ignore the welfare advice.

I do wander how many people genuinely do not realise (or in blind denial) they are over weight for their horse.
 
It's a ridiculously tricky area. I actually think they should trial having animal behaviourists at competitions along with a vet so lots more advice can be given to competitors. It should be primarily science based and we have the science now and officials need to be more confident in stepping forward. BD and it's primarily this issue arrises in BD and Showing, should be training everyone in the science and how to have tactful conversations. It's easy to do online.

IMO not enough is being done and I say this as a chunky person who loves food but am trying to get my weight down even more as you ride better lighter.

I also think unless BD knows the scope of the issue they won't act. I think longer term we will get better and riders will be better.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I think they should have mandatory weigh bridges at every BD, BS, BE and you have to weigh in before competing... but whilst you could probably do that on a rental basis for not a hideous amount of money, or do the one off up front payment for it, it just won't ever happen.
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I completely agree.
Until it becomes a completely normalised way of protecting the welfare of the horse there will always be those who don't understand, or choose not to see.

It's not about the weight, shape or body type of the person and its even less about fat shaming or any such nonsense.

I've seen plenty of skinny adults that are clearly compromising the welfare of an animal because they're riding a small pony, or teenagers that have clearly out grown the 12.2 pony but mummy says 5ft11 Tabitha can't bear to part with dear little Coco.
For me it shouldn't be any different to a tack check or trot up.

Also these days all disciplines are increasingly under scrutiny by outside eyes. If we're not driving change and improvement from within, eventually it will be imposed upon us.

Our feelings should never trump the welfare of the animals we claim to care for.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I think they should have mandatory weigh bridges at every BD, BS, BE and you have to weigh in before competing... but whilst you could probably do that on a rental basis for not a hideous amount of money, or do the one off up front payment for it, it just won't ever happen.
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That's not a bad idea, but to cut costs even more, possibly a mandatory once a season weigh-in, either at a dedicated event or filmed and sent in. Okay, so weight will/can fluctuate within a seasson, but it is a starting point and may also bring more awareness to how much a rider weighs with tack and how much their horse weighs. A lot of people use weigh tapes for their horses and these can be wildly inaccurate. A decent 2x year weigh-in for horse and rider/tack would serve to educate at the very least.
 
There is now an organisation called The Equine Welfare Stewarding Alliance….one of the people involved along with others brought in weight rules at The Great Yorkshire Show, I believe more shows have followed or are following their lead, it’s not just weight, it’s also over lunging of equines and similar issues….I do not know if BD, BE or BS are looking at that example, but I do know that they are fighting a, hopefully winning battle…you can google them or if you PM me I will give you name of a founder member..(who in my opinion deserves a medal)
They by the way have vets on site to confirm etc welfare issues re weight
 
RachelFerd said:
Was the OP in the NW of England by any chance? There's a regular competitor here that frightens me for their inappropriate size for their horses. Have seen judges pull them up.
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She was pictured on the forum a couple of weeks back show jumping at Higher Farm. It was abuse, pure and simple.
.
 
i know exactly who you mean (NW based) and i think i would have quietly pointed out the welfare issue to the manager of the venue and also sent an email to BD with a link to any pro pictures gallery -if they aren't aware they cant do a bean....they might not anyway but we have to make it a known issue?
 
We have this as well. One girl is far to big for her poor horse who is also a veteran and can only be around 15.2. It appalls me every time i see them competing. But a blind eye is always turned and i have no idea what you would need to do. :(
 
NW here too. Was disappointed when someone round here gave their horse out on loan to a lady who at a guess was about 19st. Then there was me feeling guilty for riding mine at my heaviest at 12st.

Thankfully said loan ended as lady wasn't fit enough to do requested yard jobs 🤨
 
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