Thoughts? (Online article)

[ponynutz]

https://www.unilad.co.uk/celebrity/...ut-ranch-ride-horses-weight-20220615.amp.html

Thoughts on weight issues and riding?
Putting aside the company's awful reaction to the original TikTok I do think they had every right to turn her away.

But do you think a riding school or "ranch"'s duty is to have horses available for all sizes to learn on?

 

[stangs]

Website should have made weight restriction clear beforehand.
Ranch should have explained exactly why they couldn't let her ride.
The ranch-hand's TikTok was fatphobic and uncalled for.

I don't know a single yard that has horses that can carry a novice 17st. Most horses wouldn't be able to carry that, I reckon. So I definitely don't think RS/ranches have a duty to provide horses for customers of that weight.

 

[Pmf27]

There seems to be more and more of this popping up, people with an attitude of entitlement who believe that they should be able to ride a horse regardless of their weight and then claiming discrimination when they aren't permitted.

This isn't the first of its kind I've heard about and I'm sure it won't be the last.

I think people need to be more considerate of the fact that, unlike many other hobbies, with horse riding you are sitting on the back of a living, breathing, feeling animal - if you are heavy and the horse is not accustomed to carrying that weight, it's simply unfair and cruel.

I do really feel for riding schools that have to enforce this, as it must be so awkward to say to someone that they are essentially too fat to ride. But the welfare of the horse must come first.

That said, that TikTok response was horrid and bullying and there is absolutely no need for that. You can turn someone away due to weight without being a bully about it.

 

[Glitter's fun]

There seems to be more and more of this popping up, people with an attitude of entitlement who believe that they should be able to ride a horse regardless of their weight and then claiming discrimination when they aren't permitted.

When I visited Maeshowe there was a very large lady shouting at the guide & stopping everyone else from getting in. She couldn't crawl along the entrance passage & seemed to be seriously suggesting there should be a door blasted in the side for people like her. The guide was very patient and professional but I did think there should have been more information back across the road where the tickets were sold.

I absolutely don't think there's a duty to provide horses for all sizes but they need to make the weight limit very obvious before you book & deal with large people sensitively if they still try to ride. (That said, I ride somewhere with a 13 stone limit prominently displayed but I notice that their on-line reviews have a complaint from someone who lied about their weight and was made to get on scales. She was a lot heavier than she told them but complaining about being humiliated. Whatever you do, people can be difficult!)

 

[TPO]

Ugg the entitlement

 

[Wishfilly]

I do think weight restrictions ought to be made clear at the time of booking, and the ranch hand's video is obviously vile.

That said, Western saddles are pretty heavy- you'd be talking about putting potentially 19st on the back of a horse by the time you include tack and clothing and the fact that the article says over 240lbs.

To carry all of that, using, say, a 15% rule as you wouldn't want a horse to be on the edge of their weight limit carrying novices regularly, you'd need an 800kg (ish) horse that's safe for a novice, fit and suited to weight carrying not pulling. That's a rare sort of animal, and in the UK would be out of price range for the vast majority of riding schools- if you can even find it at all.

Then you get to the situation where you're putting someone who's overweight (not tall) on a large horse. They may well lack core strength and balance due to being a novice and not being very fit- it's definitely different to putting a fit, tall man on a large horse (even if they're not a rider). If something does happen, they are probably more likely to fall and may be more at risk of injury if/when they do fall. So you get into the question of whether it's safe to do this as well. They may need assistance mounting and dismounting, and this also puts staff at risk of injury.

I think the best thing riding schools can do is communicate openly and honestly as to why they have weight limits, and try to educate customers. Realistically, it's not possible to have a horse that exists in order to cater to everyone.

 

[Ratface]

Paranoid Pauline here! I've just checked my weight/height to see if I'm cruelly overloading His Imperial (16hh) Majesty.
I'm happy to say that I have a 4 stone leeway!
I've been doing groundwork and in-hand schooling since February. So, tomorrow I shall scramble aboard and hope that my balance still manages to absorb his paragliding sharp spookathons!
I shall, as ever, keep my little finger tucked under the Jesus Strap . . .

 

[ponynutz]

I think people need to be more considerate of the fact that, unlike many other hobbies, with horse riding you are sitting on the back of a living, breathing, feeling animal - if you are heavy and the horse is not accustomed to carrying that weight, it's simply unfair and cruel.

I do really feel for riding schools that have to enforce this, as it must be so awkward to say to someone that they are essentially too fat to ride. But the welfare of the horse must come first.

Exactly my thoughts.

Agree would be very difficult to provide horses for all weights. I think the entitlement probably comes from the fact that being overweight is starting to not be seen as a negative thing anymore (which is right it shouldn't be!) but unfortunately when it comes to horse riding horse welfare should always come first.

 

[ponynutz]

manages to absorb his paragliding sharp spookathons!
I shall, as ever, keep my little finger tucked under the Jesus Strap . . .

Oh dear, I don't envy you lol! Sounds like a fun ride though...