New forest pony weight carrying help

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Megz04

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Hi, I wonder if anyone can help. I have had an extremely upsetting experience today when a vet (called out to look at my lame NF) said I was too heavy to ride him, and implied it was my fault he was lame!! This has really hurt and upset me (especially as the vet said this infront of a yard full of people). The NF breed standard states that NF ponies are "quite capable of carrying adults". And I regularly see large adults (men and women) riding and competing NF at shows. I will post a picture to see what you all think. He is a 13.3, 4 year old gelding. with Rushmoor and Furzey bloodlines. I am currently 12.5st (I am in the process of losing weight that I put on due to some medication) my normal weight is around 11st, and I am 5'3". Please note that the hoodie in the photo is VERY large and baggy on me!

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This has really upset me to the point I am thinking of getting rid of him (putting him out on full loan, I would never sell him!)
 
I wouldn't have thought even at your current weight it should be a problem. And 11st def not! My 14.1 pony has carried a 16 st guy in full armour with no trouble.
 
I think as a 4 year old you are really too heavy to be riding him properly, he is still growing and not as strong as he will be when mature, however telling someone this to their face should be done tactfully in private, not in front of a yard full of people.
The vet should be advising you what to do with him to build up his muscles until he is a little older and you can get back to 11 stone or thereabouts.
Some gentle walking hacks would probably be ok but I would not be schooling him.
Did you find out why he was lame, it will not be just because you are riding him, unless his back is sore, there is usually more to it than that.
 
I do not do a lot of heavy work with him, he gets ridden in walk and trot in the school or on hacks. No help or advice was given, nor was any offer of diagnosis.
 
So he just said you should not ride him:confused: but offered no reason for him being lame, is he lame in front or behind? Have you checked his back for any soreness?
I would be complaining that the vet has wasted your money coming out and not doing his job and if he is still lame get another vet, a physio may be a good idea they will be able to find any sore places and treat them but will need vet permission to treat.
 
Firstly others will know more about the breed specifics than I. Hard to judge from your pic, I have some where I look way too leggy & others where I look fine. Will say that there is a world of difference between what a 4year old and a fully developed muscled up adult can carry. I wouldn't have put more than 5 stone on daughters pony at 4 but i'm sure she'll be fine with 6 when she's mature & fit. Also whether you are a beginner or a balanced & quiet rider.if i'm entirely honest I probably wouldn't myself
 
I agree with be positive. Sounds like a completely tactless and insensitive vet (was he male?). Despite your pony being young and therefore undermuscled, I don't think you are too heavy at all, particularly as you are only riding him lightly anyway. He's lovely!
 
Sorry meant to ask did vet manage to explain how you caused the lameness? And don't think you should give up on riding him forever, 11 stone on an adult is a different matter.
 
The vet didn't tell me much at all, and it was a woman. And in response to your question I am a very quiet rider, and have been riding for over 20 years
 
And he has no soreness or any issue with his back. It is his right fore that he is lame in. He has shown no issues while being ridden (apart from general age related balance problems), and happily carries me without arguement (he is a very 'mardy' pony, the type that would make it very clear if he wasn't comfortable!)
 
Yes you probably are too heavy for him as a 4yo. 12.5st will be closer to 13.5/14st with tack.

Once he has stopped growing and is fully muscled he may however happily carry you, provided you can find a saddle that fits you both.
 
Tbh I wouldn't get on him and I weigh about what you do. I am 8 inches taller though so I'd look daft even if I did! Maybe when he's grown up and fitter he'd cope better. Remember with tack and kit etc you'll be more like 13.5 - 14 stone, a lot for a small and still developing pony, even a chunky one! At 11 stone I'm sure you'd be fine :)
 
The saddle I have fits us both well (he has a long rib cage, so plenty of room!). He has a bridle, a non slip pad and a lightweight synthetic saddle, I don't think all that weighs 1-1.5stone!
 
If its a front leg I would suspect he is either getting a splint or it is in his foot, the vet should have been able to check both easily enough and neither will relate to your weight.
Run your hand down the inside of his leg, if a splint is forming you may be able to feel heat there, rest and cold hosing will help if that is what it is, they are very common at this age.
Your farrier will be the best person if you think it is the foot.
 
Megz04 said:
The saddle I have fits us both well (he has a long rib cage, so plenty of room!). He has a bridle, a non slip pad and a lightweight synthetic saddle, I don't think all that weighs 1-1.5stone!
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Ahh OK I was thinking leather saddle, synthetic saddle probably equals about .5st, so is still 13st which on a growing pony is probably too much. Even though he will probably more than able to carry you in a year or so.
 
There's no heat in leg or hoof. His field is rather rutted, and I think he has probably pulled or sprained something. I was worried it may have been early laminitis (hence the call to the vet - a precaution). There's no sign/feel of splints forming (I checked that myself)
 
If the vet can't give you a diagnosis then its very rude & unprofessional to say you're the cause especially infront of others. Have to say I noticed a massive difference in the effort required by my 14.2 to carry me when I went from 8.5 to 12 in pregnancy, despite me doing less on her. As a rough guide 20% of your horses weight is the max it should carry as a mature horse in peak condition.
 
Yes I have heard that as well. What breed is your 14.2? The thing that gets me is that NF are bred to carry adults, and although not a lightweight, I'm not a heavyweight either!
 
She's Connie x tb so not comparing the weight limits just used it as an example of how rider weight effects the horse & not implying 8.5 is the weight limit for a 14.2.
 
As for breeding not an expert on nf lines, do know there is a difference between the hardier forest type & the finer types & haven't a clue which type yours is. As for being bred to carry adults, so were lots of breeds but we as a race are much bigger now & ponies didn't live as long as they do now
 
Read my last post & realise it comes across harsh, I do sympathise as i'm very lanky & appreciate hints that you should get a 'proper horse' can get annoying. I'm sure it must be much harder to deal with if its personal remarks about weight. But I get the impression being lighter again would give you the confidence to enjoy your pony more.
 
I had a 13.3 NF for 25 years, bought him as a 3 year old. I'm 8.5 stone but probably looked big on him as my feet were half way to his knees, but my dad - shorter than me but much heavier - was a perfect match. When he retired he regularly took my pony out for a full day's hack, stopping half way round at their favourite pub to share a half of pale ale. When I first got him I competed in mounted games, adding PC hunter trials and drag hunting to his cv once he was 4. As we both got older we were happy hackers with a bit of novice jumping thrown in. Right to the end of his life he was never lame in spite of a poor start - he was broken in as a yearling by a dealer and mistreated when he turned into a bucking bronco before being rescued by the person I bought him from. So don't beat yourself up!!! The NF is sturdy, stocky and hardy. Enjoy your lovely pony.
 
I am really sorry thatmyou probably won't like what im going to say. I have been a NF or NF x owner for many years, I currently own 3 horses ofmwhich 1 is a Reg NF..1 is a NFX. The pure bred is a traditional chunky chap of 14h, he is fully mature, I would not be comfortable with him doing much more than a gentle hack with your weight of rider, when the breed type says they are bred to take an adult that is a lightweight adult..8/9st as a guide. Whilst they can take heavier there will be consequences if there is work which is stressful such as schooling and jumping and particularly at 4. Your boy does not seem a particularly chunky chap but it is difficult to judge from a photo
 
I have a chunky 13hh NF ( much chunkier than yours ) and I'm now 9.5stone, I was 11.5 and I wouldn't ride him at that, it was a good insentive to join WW!! I do sympathise though, its hard! However I would be quite cross at the vet, not only being rude, but not giving a diagnosis either!
 
I would say that at this moment you are right on the top weight for him if he has just started work. Further down the line then you would be fine.

However, tactless and unhelpful vet. He is unlikely to be lame from the weight and work you are doing, more that being 4 he has clowned about in the field. or looking at the photo (and not critiscm of you at all) be just thinking as you are, hmm, mild spell, grass growing - lets just check.

Is it leg? foot? Perhaps the vet could be a little more precise with his diagnosis (said crisply).

Just to add, I have 13.3 NF x Arab, my weight swung about from 8.5 - 12 stone. He competed over open courses (huge stretches over hedges and the like) and I worried myself to death about it (on the top end of the scale). He is now nearly 37 and is his back dipped? No.
 
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RebelRebel said:
I would say that at this moment you are right on the top weight for him if he has just started work. Further down the line then you would be fine.
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Thanks, I know I am on the top side, which is why I don't do any heavy work with him (max 1/2 hour in walk and a bit of trot in the school, or 20 mins hacking in walk - I'm not much of a hacker!). All this has really made me feel bad, like I shouldn't ride him, even though I sought advice at the time I broke him in.
 
xxMozlarxx said:
when the breed type says they are bred to take an adult that is a lightweight adult..8/9st as a guide
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sorry, i don't agree with this. nowadays i think 8-9 stone is pretty light for most adults. whilst i agree that OP is probably a little heavy for her boy at the moment, i don't see any problem with riding him at 11 stone even at his age, provided that she is a competent balanced rider. the new forest pony website quotes "The ponies are quite capable of carrying adults" and doesn't anywhere mention this means a limit of 9st.

OP, bear in mind that some 2yr old racehorses carry 10stone or so while racing, and enjoy bringing on your pony, he is very cute :D
 
I own a 13.3hh NF, weigh 9 1/2 stone and she's carried me and a leather saddle without any issues from the age of 3, so I'd have thought 11 stone with a synthetic saddle would be easily fine. 12 1/2 stone, and no more than 30mins work, mainly in walk? Yeah, I'd be happy with that - my friend's 12.3hh very chunky pone carries her 13 stone frame for light hacks with no issues. Also, I cannot think it possible that if it was your weight alone, there would not be any back issues at all (I'm an equine massage therapist). I just can't see how that would happen! There's something more going on for sure - maybe ask the practice to send you another vet out to investigate?
 
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