sorry, another weight thread!

B

budley95

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 August 2012
Messages
904
Location
Kent
Visit site
Teenager at our yard is having some Issues with her horse. She's only been riding a few years and her mum brought her a 4 rising 5 year old ex racer. he's an absolute star. She just doesn't feel balanced or confident on him. She's had him a couple of months and feels she's over horsed herself so has put him up for sale. In the mean time she's having him professionally schooled once or twice a week and he's being lunged every day he isn't being ridden, as she doesn't feel confident on him. However she had someone try him yesterday and he was a bit unbalanced so rushing when the lady asked for walk to canter. Getting to the point, teen has asked if I'll ride him and give him 20 minutes schooling a couple of times a week so he's not just being lunged and schooled 45 minutes once a week. My question is will I be too heavy for him? A 16hh rising 5 fine tb. I'm 13 stone, all be it one that fits in a size 12 (unfortunately more muscle than is good for me!). He just looks so little compared to my 14year old 16.2hh 3/4 ID! Everyone at the yard is saying I'll be fine but the tb is lacking topline at the moment so im panicking. She keeps asking me, as does YO & YM and I keep saying im not sure but she wants me to hop on today. So, too heavy or not? Btw I won't be offended if it's a definite yes!
 
If it was me I'd be looking at what sort of build he is... But then I'm a bit soft.. Then on the other hand male riders buy youngsters to bring on and train up for all sorts of disciplines so you will probably be fine.. Just do small amounts until he builds up his muscles..
 
I'm intending max 20 mins a session max 3 times a week! Ok. I think im being soft as he's fine and im used to my big chunky monkey muscly fit jumping machine! May see if I can just take him out for quiet hacks and do hill work for 20 minutes a time instead!
 
The weight carrying capacity is related to the amount of bone, a good rider of 13st will not be too heavy for most T.B.s
It sounds as though you are not overkeen, I would agree to ride for 30 mins twice a week or whatever suits you and insist owner tacks up and walks horse after work, as these things take time, and really the girl should find a home for the horse asap even if she has to give him up to eg homes4horses.
Another ex racer who has not been rehabilitated and found a suitable home by the sound of it ...........
 
Last edited:
Not overly keen because of the time it takes. We don't have a floodlit school so atm im riding mine in the dark and often hacking on the trot routes with a torch. Dog comes along in her neon collar so I've got extra light! I've ridden ex racers before and schooled them and he's lovely. He doesn't buck or tank or rear. He gets unbalanced and rushes is all. I think he's a sweetie pie. She needs to sell him as needs the money for something more suitable. haven't ridden him yet but may as well give it a go! Otherwise he'll just get bored lunging and that can't be good for their legs as youngsters! thank you. Guess id better say yes and hop on today then...
 
Unfortunately the cost of keeping the horse over winter will soon equal it value, so she may want to sell him, but it will be difficult enough to find someone willing to take on a green T.B. if my recent experience is anything to go by.
The longer she keeps it the more costs will build up. she might be better getting rid so to speak and finding a loan horse, after all the next one she buys may not suit either!
Her other option is to pay for more lessons, this may seem very expensive route, but it will help her own riding, if horse is amenable as you say, she could manage something.
What I did once was to have my instructor instruct me for 25 mins, then she got on and taught the horse something, that worked out quite well.
 
Last edited:
What I did once was to have my instructor instruct me for 25 mins, then she got on and taught the horse something, that worked out quite well.[/QUOTE]

That sounds like a good idea until the horse is sold.
 
I'll have him!! :p

I think you'd be okay for short periods of time, I sometimes feel big for my (admittedly very dinky) 15.3hh tb at 9 stone. But then I'm 5'10 so it's probably a height thing. How about some groundwork? I would avoid TOO many circles at that age, mine struggled with doing a slow canter (it was either trot or RUN) for about a year, it took a lot of time to build up the right muscles. Long reining over poles and cavalletti would be good for him!
 
Re owner riding and then instructor taking over:
Not only will she learn how to school a horse [something not often taught in riding school situations], but she may actually realise what a joy it is to "make" your own horse :)
Also it seems she is lunging him............ if she can't ride well enough to school after several years experience, it is not likely she has suddenly learned to lunge in a meaningful way. I see lots of people swinging a quiet horse round and round on a ribbon of nylon, at some pace or other, this is not a good idea. Lunging is a skill and every lesson needs to be just that.
I recall one girl telling me she was in a hurry, so could she skip the "warming up" phase as it was not very important, wrong.......... particularly with a young horse one phase is as important as every other phase, just as leading out to the field is important, it is all important.
 
Last edited:
She did have lessons with the instructor then riding but she just doesn't get on with the horse, doesn't enjoy riding him and wants him gone. Unfortunately giving away is not an option. She needs him gone inside the next 2 weeks but not entirely sure what happens if he's not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top