New forest pony weight carrying help

I vary between 10.5 and 12stone.( At 12 stone, I have to lose some weight as no work clothes fit me!!) My 13.2 NF carries me round xc, s/j, wh courses with great enthusiasm as well as doing long fast hacks - 2-3 hours with plenty of jumping. She wears a leather GFS event saddle which is 17" long. She does not struggle, in fact anyone lighter probably could not stop her! She has her ears pricked and is enthusiastic about whatever we do. She is not particularly stocky but is quite 'old fashioned' ( and better for it IMHO!!)She has won Best NF in NPS Scotland Performance awards for three years as well as being placed in the overall category. This year she has also won two prizes in the NF pony society perfomance awards.
Please have a look at the youtube videos of the NF point to points to see what they can do.
i think we tend to be far too sensitive about ponies - especially natives - and their weight carrying ability.
It also far too far to get up on a 16hh!!!
 
A couple of years ago I lost quite a bit of weight; I did this through exercise as I can't restrict my grazing! I noticed a marked improvement in my horses' way of going and I felt a lot more agile and maintained a better posture in the saddle. I am nowhere near the weight limit for my 15hh cob ( am 8 1/2 stone) but it was interesting to notice the difference.
I don't think there can be definitive weight limits for any horse as there are so many variables but I can recommend keeping as fit and trim as possible to improve comfort for both horse and rider.
 
Eriskayowner said:
I rode my 13hh Eriskay out for half an hour tonight and I'm a LOT more than you are!!! Stupid ass decided to trot most of the way round with no problems ;)

I wouldn't have said you're too heavy!!!
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Thank you! And please could you show a picture of your Eriskay, I have always wanted one!
 
If he were mine and I was that weight I wouldn't be riding him. I'd be doing lots and lots of long lining to build the correct muscle, out and about, up and down dale. He'd be building muscle and I'd be losing weight. Marvelous!

It's meant to be 20% of the bodyweight on a fully grown and fit horse. As he's only young and is a native (so will mature later than most) you're probably looking more realistically at about 15% including tack. Guessing he's probably about 370kilos I'd be looking at a rider about of 8 stone I'm afraid, maybe pushing it to 9 stone.

I wouldn't be happy with anyone over 10.5 stone riding my chunky 15.2hh rising four year old Welsh DxTB at current. Although, he's currently turned away and will stay turned away until Easter.

I know this sounds harsh. But get it right now and you'll have a sound pony for life. Obviously it isn't necessarilly your weight causing the issue, but it might be. The Vet was probably too blunt with his delivery, but I'm sure he wouldn't have said it unless he truly thought it was an affecting factor.

Once he's fully matured then I would bit be fairly happy riding him at 11stone. However you have to remember that he's a native and they mature much slower than other breeds. He doesn't look particularly chunky yet either, but he will fill out at some point.

If he were mine I'd turn him away for 6 months and then start again, with lots of groundwork to build muscle. Obviously keep an eye on the lameness and if it persists, now he's off work, then call in a second opinion.
 
I have a NFX who is rising 3 in May but won't be broken until next year when she is 4. She is currently 13.2hh but should make 14hh. I am 10 and a half stone currently. There is no way I will even think of breaking her in until I am down to 9 and a half stone maximum - preferably less.
Although I doubt very much that your weight has caused the lameness, I do honestly think that at the moment you are just a tad too heavy for your pony just because of his age. But on the photo you don't look anywhere near as heavy as you say you are anyway! Are you sure your scales are right?
 
I think for his age 13 stone is a considerable weight to be carrying. Remember the 20% weight rule. My 13.3hh new forest based upon this can only carry 80kg with tack, boots, hat and body protector I'm 6 kg inside of the 80kg so what does your not weigh?
 
As some others have said, I think due to his age I'd be tempted to say 12.5st is a bit much. Consider how much he is really carrying when including tack, equipment, etc. My 4 year old is a chunky 14.2hh cob and I wouldn't be comfortable putting more than 11, maybe 12 stone at a push on him until he's built up and a bit older. I dropped 2.5 stone off from my "average" weight to make sure he was comfortable.
 
The saying goes with NF ponies that they are capable of carrying their height;
for example, a 12.2 NF is capable of carrying 12.5st, a 13.2 is capable of carrying 13.5st and so on. If the rider is a 'quiet, well balanced rider' then I don't see a problem with the picture. Maybe not ideal, but the pony doesn't look in distress and isn't buckling at the knees!
I'm 10.5-11st, and have a rsing 2 yr NF to make 13.2. WHEN the backing starts, I won't be doing it, as that I feel is slightly unfair, but after she has been ridden away, then I will take her out for 20 mins. I can see no harm in that.
Hope you continue to have fun with your pony OP, just keep doing what you are doing and hope you find a solution to his lameness.
 
Interesting post- especially with the varying opinions. I'm sort of in you position as in I was your weight and thinking of getting a 13.2hh NF...

I too agree that 12.5 is too much at this age- and I think thats the important bit- his age.

I'm looking at getting a 4yo 13.2hh NF to bring on ready for my daughter now almost 7 to take on in a few years time- with this in mind i've been on a major diet and shed 2 stone and hope to shed another to get to 10 stone but if this is considered still too much (and i seriously doubt i can get a lot lighter than that as I have a biggish frame) then i'm going to have to have a re think :confused:

Oh well its been a good incentive to get this far!

He looks gorgeous by the way!
 
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There is a weight carrying class at the breed show where the riders have to be at least 13 stone I think. They are hardy but as someone said there is variation within the breed so not all of them will be weight carriers.

My new forest is about the same size as yours and he is built to carry weight and is very strong he has short cannons and his barrel is round with a flat back so weight is distributed over a larger area. I am only about 8.5 stone max and my saddler says I am like a pea on my pony he probably hardly notices i am there!

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Your pony is young so he is less balanced and going to find it harder work anyway being ridden. Possibly at 12.5 stone you might be a bit heavy now especially for school work if he is not used to it, but later on once he has built up his muscles and is fit it might be different.

I would also say your vet is not very helpful if they have not diagnosed what is causing the lameness and trying to at least cure it. I don't think it is ever as straightforward as if you stop riding him him will not be lame.
 
If he was mine I would give him some time off to mature and sort out the lameness. While this was happening - diet - then bring him back into work.

The length of the time off would depend on -

what's wrong with him,
how quickly you can lose a stone,
whether he's just four or actually rising five.

I don't think that you need to sell him at all.

I'm in a similar boat as I want to lose a stone (even better 1 1/2 stone) before my youngster is backed this summer.
 
SO1 said:
There is a weight carrying class at the breed show where the riders have to be at least 13 stone I think. They are hardy but as someone said there is variation within the breed so not all of them will be weight carriers.

My new forest is about the same size as yours and he is built to carry weight and is very strong he has short cannons and his barrel is round with a flat back so weight is distributed over a larger area. I am only about 8.5 stone max and my saddler says I am like a pea on my pony he probably hardly notices i am there!

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Look at the difference between the above posters pony and your own. I would have no frets chucking a thirteen stone rider on him. Hes a stocky, true to type forester who would probably carry a full grown man out hunting all day with ease. Your pony looks much finer from the one picture you have posted and im not sure id want much more than ten stone on board.....

Good thing is some seem to mature much later. When my nf was a 4yo he was so dainty still! Felt like there was nothing there when I was riding him, now as a 6yo hes built like a brick s*** house and looks a totally different horse. Shot up two inches too :)
 
Agree with vieshot they can fill out a lot as they get older my pony was not as substantial as 5 year old he is now 9. He did not grow taller but he chunked out a lot. This is what he looked like as a 5 year old as a comparision

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tbh I'd suck it up and lose weight, regardless if the weight has made him lame or not at 5'3 at 12.5stone thats technically obese, lose it for you both of your health!
 
At 4 years old I think you are too heavy, sorry. When he is 7 or 8 he would/could carry your weight without trouble, but he's still a baby. 11 stone would be fine though I think.

That said no he doesnt look uncomfortable so I wouldnt nec say stop totally, but only do very light work (once hes sound obv!!) but I would look to lose weight for his sake :)
 
Personally, half an hour in walk sounds fine, you sound very sensible and no doubt lunge etc to help him begin to build muscle as well, and as you originally said you are losing weight anyway, and he wears a synthetic lightweight saddle. I used to ride our kids 12.2 dartmoor to help keep him ticking over in term time, and he never had issue with my 9 stone! Suggest alternative vet for proper opinion on lameness.
 
For the vet to not offer a reason for the lameness and to blame it on you is very unprofessional and I would personally making a compliant to the practice manager.

However, my first thought after reading your post was that as a 4 year old your pony won't be mature / strong enough to carry your current weight. Once he is older then yes, I am sure he will be fine and you shouldn't think about never riding him again.

My vet was out back in January to do vaccines for my lot and commented on the 13.2 Exmoor I currently have. He's a very solid pony but I did make a comment to the vet about my weight / height and he said he didn't think pony would have any trouble carrying me and even went on to say that he could probably carry him on a days hunting (I would think with tack etc that would be around the 14st mark).

Don't be too disheartened at this stage. Get back to your target weight of 11st and should think you would be fine. Oh, and consider getting a new vet :rolleyes:
 
Now you asked the vet to see the horse not you.

So if she thought you were too heavy she should have told you privately. How would she have liked it if you had told her she had a big mouth in front of everyone and had not even been able to substantiate a diagnosis. I wouldnt even pay her bill.

Now your height is fine and you sit ok on him but he is not filled out enough and does look a bit immature. Hence the problem for you is if you keep him lose some weight. Then you will be fine. I would give him some time off to get over his lameness and keep an eye on what he is eating especially with spring on the way.

There is some good advice been given , just unfortunately not from your vet. I feel furious for you and dont take any more nonsense from the vet. I hope no one else uses such an insulting vet and I would complain to her practice. Very unprofessional.
 
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