Should i let my friend ride my horse?

I have a very fine TB mare, nex to no bone. I am at least 13 stone and my mare carries me fine. I think in walk your stocky boy should be fine. If she is too heavy there will be signs, back dipping, not wanting to move etc. I wouldn't make a regular thing of it though.
 
Just had a thought, if you are still sceptical about it, you could always contact your horse's chiropractor, they will be able to tell you what they think
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I had a Dales pony, there is no way I would have let 18 stone get on her.

In fact the heaviest that ever got on her was 11 stone, and I wouldn't have let anybody bigger than that girl on tbh.

Although Dales are sturdy they have very flat, flinty bone, not tree trunks like some cobs have. They should not actually have chunky legs.

I would think your friend would be better on a heavyweight cob.
 
I agree with Katt re. the tall mounting block. Also, make sure your saddle is plenty big enough for your friend. However, I don't think this compares to men in other countries riding ponies and arabs. People from these cultures tend to be a lot slimmer than us!

Personally, I would not let someone of 18st ride a 14h pony.
 
There is a lot of difference between a pony pulling a tonne or carrying a capable rider and load that it is used to.

Asking a pony to carry a probably poorly balanced 18 stone rider, on a saddle that will no doubt be too small, is a totally different matter.
 
I wouldn't let someone who was 18 stone and unbalanced (as they have not ridden for a while) on my 15hh cob, so personally I feel it's too much for a 14hh pony.
 
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I am 9.5 stone, so try to visualize "two" people of that size sat on your pony, my opinion is 18 stone is it's too much for a 14hh Pony.

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That's just what I thought, it's twice what I weigh too!
I actually think it would be easier for the pony to carry two people rather than one heavy one as the weight would be spread out a bit rather than being concentrated in one place.
 
It all depends on how he is built. If he is short behind the saddle, thats good for weight carrying. If his back dips a lot when she sits on him, I would watch to see how he walks. Any wavering or leg crossing and its obvious the weight is too much, but I would expect it not to be a problem, especially if he is a mature cob. I had a friend who was easily that weight who regulary rode a 13.2 appaloosa who regularly tanked off with her and even took her over a full size five bar gate for fun one day, without her wanting him to! (He was a very determined character who loved jumping, and he was no spring chicken either).

Its not the height of the horse that matters, its how they are built and sometimes I think shorter legs are stronger because the legs bones are shorter and so probably stronger than long ones, especially the cannon bones.
 
Thanks everybody for your input. I must admit that i can see it from both sides as i've been having the same arguement inside my head! lol

I think i'm going to let her get on and we'll watch him very carefully and go from there. She won't hesitate to get off should he show any sign of discomfort, i'm sure
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Thanks again!
 
The upper height limit has only relatively recently been removed from the dales pony breed description I believe, so traditionally they are around the 14.0-14.2hh. It also depends on your boy's type. Dales are getting lighter and leggier (IMO) so it depends if he's properly chunky. Also how fit is he and how old? If he is either aged or very young or lacking in fitness and strength then maybe not.

Saying that, in Iceland Icelandic ponies are about max 14.2hh and they are the only breed in Iceland. Huge Icelandic farmers ride them and they don't have a problem. They are weight carriers but IMO not as chunky as the fells and dales. If it's a one off in walk then see how she goes, don't trot if she seems unbalanced etc. and listen to what your pony tells you.
 
i know that ponies are mostly known for being weight carriers,but every one is different,no offense but even if i loved my friend to death i probably wouldnt consider putting that weight on her back as i love my horse too much to do that!I would keep an eye out for his back sinking or when she gets on if the pony staggers with her weight,i would also consider her laying over him first to see how he copes with her weight spread over his back.i would also consider just letting her do a small lap around the school and assess how he goes.On the up side its good excuse for weight loose,this is seriously not meant offensively,at least she could ride him more once shes lost some weight.
 
Absolutely not.

Friend has a 13.3 very stocky fell pony (heavier and more compact than a dales) and there is not way he would find carrying 18st easy.

I totally and utterly disagree with 'try it and see' Most horses are very tolerant and stoic and will do as they are told. They don't know they are meant to complain if the riders too heavy - they just try and get on with it as best as possible.

How exactly would you tell if she's too heavy for him? He certainly isn't going to stagger about (can you imagine how much strain you'd need to put on a pony to cause them to stagger ?!!). He isn't going to suddenly sink in the middle (if anything he'll lift his back to try and carry the extra weight better). He might be bit reluctant to trot and canter but will still try to, if he's well trained.

Whilst your pony might be able to carry 18st of unbalanced rider, he certainly isn't going to find it easy. Just because he can doesn't mean it's fair to make him do so.

On top of that - a 14hh dales is unlikely to have a saddle longer that 17", poss only 16.5". 20st (rider+saddle) concentrated into the small surface area a smaller saddle has will cause muscle damage within 15mins. Riding bareback would only be worse.
 
I'm sorry, but no. Even getting on - which is likely to be a bit of an undignified scramble - could be risky for both pony and rider. It's a kind and thoughful offer you are making but Kallibear makes some very valid points, as does Box_of_Frogs. You have to factor in clothes and tack, so it's 20+ stone.

I work hard and sacrifice lots of goodies to keep light enough to ride my 13.2 Welsh B. I'd love to eat chips every day but wouldn't expect my pony to put up with me a stone or two heavier 'just because he could' according to a few calculations and measurements.

Should there be an accident related to her inability to balance or get on/off properly, I'm not sure how things would stand, legally, should she need to claim. Horrid thing to point out, but it is worth considering.

What a kind friend you are, but thoughtful enough of your pony to ask on here.
 
I was basically saying that some horses i have seen in the past have staggered whilst the rider got on!I have also seen a hell of a lot of horses backs sink with a heavy rider,some horses are polite and put up with it and some arent so willing but i did state in my post that i wouldnt put someone that heavy on my horse,but its the ladies pony and so therefore its her decision.
 
FWIW i think you will be fine...if its only a small walk then its not going to cause permanent damage...its much worse when you get fat people on skinny TBs bumping around an XC course or a show jumping lesson...does your friend want to lose weight? if so then you could maybe work between you to keep riding as a motivator...so one small walk...then another when she has lost half a stone etc...might help
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