Sorry a weight question :-/

[Tabbi]

Will probably regret asking this! lol

But this is my 20 year old boy (the pony not the rider! the rider is my son who is nearly 12!), the pony is ex riding school, so quite fit (although has done a lot of miles!) currently used for hacking out only 2-3 times a week, passported at 14hh.... so in your opinion what weight would he comfortably carry?

Thanks

(Not an expert at posting pics so hope it works!)

 

[GlamourPuss86]

Can't see the pic as the photobucket app is having a moment!

I believe the 'rule' is generally a stone per hand.

(to post pics put

after the 'direct link' faracat has instructions in her Sig but i can't remember how to change on PB)

 

[Alphamare]

The accepted maximum any horse or pony (age, fitness, conformation and health will reduce this number) can carry is 20% of their weight.

 

[QueenOfCadence]

IMO - A stone per hand is ridiculous. By that rule a 10hh Shetland should be able to carry someone that ways 10 stones??? Or a 7hh Falabella someone that weighs 7 stones?

I think realistically at that age and height - about 50kgs max (hope my conversion is right, but that should be about 7.9 stones?)

 

[Tabbi]

There is a pic of the pony in my profile pics if this helps!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7447&d=1304354006

 

[Tabbi]

Ta Dah!! done it! lol

 

[Megibo]

he looks sweet. at his age perhaps 10 1/2 stone.

 

[holeymoley]

I'd say no more than 12 stone so remember to include tack.

 

[putasocinit]

Agree age etc no more than 10.5 stone

 

[webble]

For light hacking 10.5 stone bit less for anything more energetic. Lovely pony

 

[Tickles]

Your son looks a good size on the pony. Wouldn't want anyone that much bigger on him - agree with the poster above who mentioned 7 and a bit stones. If he is only hacking a few times/week he won't be at RS fitness any more (and at his age that is fine!).

 

[Tabbi]

I have only had him a couple of months and he was working up to the day I took him home, and I have exercised him as regularly as possible to keep him fit.

I was very surprised to see someone put 7 and a bit stones (my son must be at least this weight if not more!) as a comfortable weight for him to carry as he is a cobby type 14hh (ok he is 20 but where am I going to get a adult rider at 7 1/2 stones that can give him a good stretch? which I will add he loves a good canter and even a gallop and I would love to see at child try and stop him if he took off lol .... :-$ )

I was expecting comments of around the 11 - 12 stones ....... but I suppose thats the danger of asking weight questions.... there is lots of differences of opinions....

Got the vet and back specialist coming out this week so will prob get advice from them as they will see him in the flesh, as photos can be hard to judge and I am more confused than ever!

Thanks for all your comments

Your son looks a good size on the pony. Wouldn't want anyone that much bigger on him - agree with the poster above who mentioned 7 and a bit stones. If he is only hacking a few times/week he won't be at RS fitness any more (and at his age that is fine!).

 

[JFTDWS]

At 14hh I reckon he could carry a fair bit more than your son (who I'd say looks quite small on him at the moment!). If he were mine, I'd probably ride him and I'm over 11 stone

 

[julie111]

At 14hh I reckon he could carry a fair bit more than your son (who I'd say looks quite small on him at the moment!). If he were mine, I'd probably ride him and I'm over 11 stone

I totally agree with JFTD, he looks more than capable of carrying 11/12 stone. Someone said 7.5 stone, that is ridiculous!

 

[JFTDWS]

Someone said 7.5 stone, that is ridiculous!

I presume the lass who suggested that hadn't seen the photo and thought the pony a lightweight, fine type who could be knocked over by a falling leaf

 

[Tabbi]

It would have to be a flipping huge leaf to knock my boy over lol.

I presume the lass who suggested that hadn't seen the photo and thought the pony a lightweight, fine type who could be knocked over by a falling leaf

 

[JFTDWS]

It would have to be a flipping huge leaf to knock my boy over lol.

Happen it would take more than a whole tree to take mine down That's the virtue of native breds!

 

[Spiritedly]

I'm another one who would say he could carry 11/12 stone easily as long as there are no underlying health problems. The 'stone a hand' tends to be used for old fashioned type pure bred native ponies. I would certainly say your pony is capable of carrying more than 7 1/2 stone.

 

[ozpoz]

Your son looks perfect on him : )
I wouldn't ask the pony to carry more than 10 stone. He doesn't have a lot of bone, so although you describe him as "heavy" I don't see him as that type, in his limbs.
He is 20 - I'd be keen to preserve a nice pony to do it's job, rather than do weight carrying, at his age.

 

[FionaM12]

IMO - A stone per hand is ridiculous. By that rule a 10hh Shetland should be able to carry someone that ways 10 stones??? Or a 7hh Falabella someone that weighs 7 stones?

I think realistically at that age and height - about 50kgs max (hope my conversion is right, but that should be about 7.9 stones?)

Really QoC? A strong stocky 14hh should only carry under eight stone? :eek3:

I'd better stop riding Mollie then!

By the way, he's gorgeous. Love the tail.

 

[Tabbi]

Thank you FionaM12 He is my dream pony, couldn't believe it when I was asked if I wanted him!! His tail is just wonderful love the white and black in it

 

[walkers_dream]

i genuwinly believe its dependant on the bone, conformation, sometimes the height, build and breed of the horse, some ponies can hold more weight than some others i.e one with bone will hold more than one with out, if some one is too heavy the pony will not tolorate the weight, will try its damndest to do the job its asked but any good horse owner will know its struggling, i.e grunting, fitness seems off, balance is off, general struggling... some may even throw you?

i personally feel i weigh to much for my boy, but hes happy as larry and on his toes when we hack, looking around, no grunting, normal sweat, no dragging his feet, personal oppinion and horses personal oppinon says it all! (and my horse aint fit!)

im sure you as a good owner will know whats too much for the pony! x

 

[Tickles]

With regard to getting pony some more adventurous outings there are plenty of PC kids/light teens who will be able to do that for you

 

[windand rain]

It is purely dependent on how the horse reacts to someone riding him if his normal gait is interfered with, the rider is unbalanced and unbalancing the horse, fitness level and of course conformation. From the picture he could carry your boy and his mate for hours as the lad is only just big enough to be riding him. I hate to see overhorsed kids the fashion for 11 year old to be riding 16.2 thoroughbreds is a nasty accident waiting to happen regardless of the years of experience of the child they are simply not strong and balanced enough for it

 

[xRobyn]

I'd ride him and I'm 10 1/2 stone

 

[FairyLights]

I'd say about 11 1/2 stone. how much does the pony weigh? if the riders weight is no more than 15% of the horses weight then its ok, or put another way, rider dressed to ride, hat coat etc and saddle no more than 20% of the horses weight.
The stone per hh thing is bonkers. I have a 15.2 who could carry no more than 10 stone as quite fine and a cob same height who could cary 15 stone, so its the horse type/bone not the height which is important.

 

[Tabbi]

I wish I could but he is not that kind of pony...... thats why he was sold from the riding school as he was not a childs pony and would not partake in any fun things kids wanted to do!.... he is a happy hacker (that currently naps! and to find any young rider that could cope with that without getting frustrated with him I think would be hard to find )

With regard to getting pony some more adventurous outings there are plenty of PC kids/light teens who will be able to do that for you

 

[Tabbi]

I weighed a couple of weeks ago and with the tape and formula it came out at 415kg..... but does not look like it in the pic

I'd say about 11 1/2 stone. how much does the pony weigh? if the riders weight is no more than 15% of the horses weight then its ok, or put another way, rider dressed to ride, hat coat etc and saddle no more than 20% of the horses weight.
The stone per hh thing is bonkers. I have a 15.2 who could carry no more than 10 stone as quite fine and a cob same height who could cary 15 stone, so its the horse type/bone not the height which is important.

 

[Alphamare]

The absolute maximum is 20% and that includes tack and clothing so 12.5 stone... Which would be about an 11stone rider max. At the ponies age I would say 10stone rider max.

 

[JFTDWS]

I weighed a couple of weeks ago and with the tape and formula it came out at 415kg..... but does not look like it in the pic

Weight tapes are largely inaccurate, particularly on cobby types. I bet if you weighed him properly, he'd come out nearer 500. That's why you should never rely on weigh tapes for dosages of wormers / drugs!