PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
So we're not allowed to "fat shame" but we can use derogatory language to criticise a person who is a healthy weight? ? 10.5 stone is going to be bang in the middle of healthy weight for many people.
Should there be a weight limit for people at shows (and if so, what and how?!)
- Thread starter Morgan123
- Start date
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
Ponies are a lot stronger pound for pound than horses. Think shire vs shetland. So the 20% rule makes more sense. So a 400kg event pony can carry 80kg inc tack. I've seen the gold medal winning team at various events doing demos or whatever. They are all fit and slim and well under those weights.
I think everyone agrees that if you are 'too heavy' for a particular horse then you should not ride it. As a basic, non judgemental, statement of fact. But defining 'too heavy' is a minefield. I still think the national governing bodies need to address the issue though, not ignore it, despite the complexities.
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
Well I certainly didn't say I was being victimised so I really hope that wasn't aimed at me. I just stated that some horses are more 'weight carriers' than others and you can't compare what a 17.1hh TB weighing 600kg with 8" bone can carry against a 17.1hh WB with 9 1/2" bone.
I then showed 2 photos of me and my horse with an explanation. Wasn't looking for forgiveness, justification or anything else but if there any other heavier riders on the forum that have been made to feel guilty then you are not alone.
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
Not allowed on here I'm afraid BB.but I am however allowed an opinion that doesn’t require questioning by everyone else ??
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
And apparently not lololNot allowed on here I'm afraid BB.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
At no point did I say that anyone was too fat. This thread is all about what weight horses should be expected to carry. Many of us think that the often quoted 20% guide is too generous, and think that 15% is much fairer to the horse.
I have my own weight struggles, but the lightest that I can do at my height (5ft 10ins) and chunky build is 11 stone 1lb. Even then my osteo ticked me off for losing too much weight as my backbone and ribs were sticking out, I am definitely not 'fat' at that weight. So I accept that that limits what horses I could, should and do ride.
Cortez
Tough but Fair
Like you Tiddlypom, I am tall and sturdy. I have weighed roughly the same all my adult life (between 10.5 and 11.5 stone). Does this entitle me to ride any horse or pony that I please? No, of course it doesn't. But I'm not getting all shirty with people who tell me, and I wouldn't dream of getting on anything under 15 hands or so, or slightly built.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
I'd be interested to know if there is anyone on this thread whose horse is carrying 15% or under of its own fit weight arguing that the 15% limit is too low. It's my impression that it's mostly people who are over 15% who believe that 20% is the right limit.
I'm not talking about fat here, just weight. My fit but very tall and heavy-framed OH would be under 20% of my horse's weight but there is no way I would let him even sit on him.
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I'm not talking about fat here, just weight. My fit but very tall and heavy-framed OH would be under 20% of my horse's weight but there is no way I would let him even sit on him.
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fetlock
Well-Known Member
What about calculations based on this one? (Taken from Scarsdale vets website)
“Bone” is the measurement of the circumference of the foreleg cannon bone,
just below the knee. One useful formula for determining if a horse can handle your weight is: Add the weight of the horse, rider, and tack together, divide this number by the cannon bone’s circumference, then divide that figure by 2; the result should be between 75 and 85.
When the number is higher than this, you are too heavy for the horse.”
“Bone” is the measurement of the circumference of the foreleg cannon bone,
just below the knee. One useful formula for determining if a horse can handle your weight is: Add the weight of the horse, rider, and tack together, divide this number by the cannon bone’s circumference, then divide that figure by 2; the result should be between 75 and 85.
When the number is higher than this, you are too heavy for the horse.”
The Xmas Furry
🦄 🦄
My own rule is max 15% (inc all tack etc) on a hacking fit animal and 12.5/13% max for strenuous comps, long days in the saddle, inc drag hunting etc.
I'd not entertain 20% at any time on any of mine, past or present, but that's my own choice.
My biggest bug bear right now? Overweight riders bottoms bulging over the seat of their saddle, often in a saddle that's too long for their mount in the 1st place! Shoot me for saying so ?
Cortez
Tough but Fair
I think your maths is a bit off there Fetlock..........15% would be in excess of 11 stone.
stangs
Well-Known Member
15% of 400 = 60kg, so a little under 10st.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
It's bollocks, frankly. That measure would have Shires coming out as being able to carry some of the greatest weights when they are notoriously weak backed for their size.
ETA what measures are they using? Kilos, pounds, some, inches, millimetres? I can't make any sensible weight and bone measurement fit.
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PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
A 300kg pony can carry 7.5 stone by the 15% rule... (including tack)
Cortez
Tough but Fair
Apologies, you are correct (I did the calculation on 18%....for some unknown reason). Still not an outrageous weight limit for a presumably fit teenager though, surely?
Hallo2012
Well-Known Member
yup-my triathlon fit OH is only 21% of my two (inc saddle) and it would NEVER be fair to suggest he could ride them.
PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
10 stone is not at all an outrageous limit for an adult really. It is my target weight and I'm 5ft7 and hardly a waif.
stangs
Well-Known Member
Reasonable weight limit in my eyes.
Having said that, as the population grows taller, surely there'll be a steady increase in people who can ride a very limited number of horses, even when at their lowest healthy weight?
fetlock
Well-Known Member
it wouldn’t be the first time Cortez. Is 15% not 60kg , which is 10 stones ish? Then take off the tack and clothing weight and that leaves a rider weight of not much more than 7.5 stones if not to exceed 15% in total?
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
Not at all outrageous - would have thought most those pony riders are in the 7-9st bracket. I was 8 stone and 5'10 at 17/18 - and not underweight or unhealthy at that weight. Just fit and active.
fetlock
Well-Known Member
I can’t work it out either
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Of course. What of it, there is no gods given right to sit on a horse.
Cortez
Tough but Fair
The Dutch are the tallest population in Europe, they are also, I think, the slimmest. Quite a lot of them ride.
Hallo2012
Well-Known Member
i'd say thats about right?
mine are 385 on a weigh bridge, i am 50kg clothed and saddle is 7kg.
id be happy to put 9 stone on the C for slow hacking which would put him at 16.8%..... for anything requiring him to use his athletic ability its me and only me!
the B will carry no more than me ever as has the welsh dippy back and can only carry a 15.5 saddle (the C can take a roomy 16 or even 16.5)
PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
Even for a 6ft woman, 16 stone is obese. People would have to get very tall to exceed that proposed upper limit for riding and be a healthy weight. (Healthy weight range for a 6ft woman is 9 stone 11lb to 13 stone 3lb)
TPO
Well-Known Member
So I'm not too fat I'm just too short ??
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
Oh yes, hate seeing that!
PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
Stretching rack for you, TPO? ?
Our view of what is a healthy and normal weight for people has become very, very scewed upwards. I was well into overweight at 13 stone and I don't think anyone would have said I was "fat". At 10.5 stone I'm sitting happily in the middle of a healthy weight. But apparently that makes me a target for being ridiculed as "skinny", when in reality I still look like a rugby player, with ample hips and boobs thanks very much. Twenty years ago I came back from my gap year in America weighing 11 stone and I was told by some (pervy) bloke while on jury duty that he liked "big, solid women" (*vom* and inappropriate but that's beside the point). 20 years ago me at 11 stone was being told I was "big" and "solid"...
Our view of what is a healthy and normal weight for people has become very, very scewed upwards. I was well into overweight at 13 stone and I don't think anyone would have said I was "fat". At 10.5 stone I'm sitting happily in the middle of a healthy weight. But apparently that makes me a target for being ridiculed as "skinny", when in reality I still look like a rugby player, with ample hips and boobs thanks very much. Twenty years ago I came back from my gap year in America weighing 11 stone and I was told by some (pervy) bloke while on jury duty that he liked "big, solid women" (*vom* and inappropriate but that's beside the point). 20 years ago me at 11 stone was being told I was "big" and "solid"...
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
Roasted Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
From reading parts of this thread and the constant 10st being referred to that we are all talking about women riders? My OH at 10stone would be a skeleton with organs, he’s 6ft4. Even when he was fit he was healthily around 13st with his height and build, he’s not a slim built guy. Do you think olly Townsend or William fox Pitt are 10st?
So again are we prejudicing against men or are we just bashing our fellow women who can’t be 10st? Me at 10st on the scales does not look like 10st. 15% of Farans weight right now is 86kgs, me with tack is less than that, 20% of Farans weight would be 117kgs however when you look at me in picture riding folk would say I’m too heavy for him but I’m less than the 15% rule.
I personally find these threads disgusting. Yes it’s about welfare but it is also very telling in our ways of looking at each other that we are very willing to speculate on peoples weight and suitability for riding based on looking at them.
I haven’t read every reply but what I have read has made me rather sad in all aspects
So again are we prejudicing against men or are we just bashing our fellow women who can’t be 10st? Me at 10st on the scales does not look like 10st. 15% of Farans weight right now is 86kgs, me with tack is less than that, 20% of Farans weight would be 117kgs however when you look at me in picture riding folk would say I’m too heavy for him but I’m less than the 15% rule.
I personally find these threads disgusting. Yes it’s about welfare but it is also very telling in our ways of looking at each other that we are very willing to speculate on peoples weight and suitability for riding based on looking at them.
I haven’t read every reply but what I have read has made me rather sad in all aspects