Three Counties Show and overweight Riders...

[paddy555]

They didn't, they did it on the way it looks which is really not good. This cannot be done on people's opinions. They need to use a set figure and actually weigh riders and horses. Doing it subjectively leaves it far too open to criticism.

this. However if you weigh show horses they are often going to be overweight so a horse carrying excess weight itself would be able to have a heavier rider so they would be carrying excess rider weight in addition.
I can't see this would be any incentive for people to have their show horse lose weight.

 

[Goldenstar]

You really would have to see some photos to make any judgement about the fat only person I would be prepared to take a bet it was very obvious that the rider was way to heavy to be on the horse she was riding .

But this is no easy simple problem to solve obesity is a nationwide problem and it’s a way bigger issue than the horse world .
When I was clearing my parents house I found a photo Dad had kept in a bits and pieces draw by his bed . It was picture of me my brother and our ponies it would be April time and the ponies where so slim infact I got a shock but when you looked at it carefully they looked great coming out of winter low end of 3 out of 5 perfect for going into a summer .
We are all more used to seeing fat horses and people and dogs .

 

[Goldenstar]

this. However if you weigh show horses they are often going to be overweight so a horse carrying excess weight itself would be able to have a heavier rider so they would be carrying excess rider weight in addition.
I can't see this would be any incentive for people to have their show horse lose weight.

This a big issue because once horse go out of the looking a bit to well stage and into the laying down dangerous fat stage they can safely carry less weight not more .
So you have to be calculating on a guessimate of what’s ideal for that horse non of this is going to be easy to get fair and simple to manage at a show .
My experience vets are poor a guessing a horses weight and regularly under dose my big hunters when they are fit I am always careful that I know what weight because I had a few issues caused by under dosing over the years .
The amount of muscle bulk a horse carries is also a huge factor .
We really need something that can calculate fat % easily but that’s not going to be simple on shod horses even if it was affordable .

 

[PSD]

You really would have to see some photos to make any judgement about the fat only person I would be prepared to take a bet it was very obvious that the rider was way to heavy to be on the horse she was riding .

But this is no easy simple problem to solve obesity is a nationwide problem and it’s a way bigger issue than the horse world .
When I was clearing my parents house I found a photo Dad had kept in a bits and pieces draw by his bed . It was picture of me my brother and our ponies it would be April time and the ponies where so slim infact I got a shock but when you looked at it carefully they looked great coming out of winter low end of 3 out of 5 perfect for going into a summer .
We are all more used to seeing fat horses and people and dogs .

Completely agree.

People often tell me my welsh c is “lean” when actually he is still overweight. He gets ridden a lot and is fed on next to nothing so I can’t imagine how big he would be if I were “feeding up to show condition”.

I don’t show mine simply because I don’t look good in the overall picture yet. Plus I don’t enjoy it, I’d rather someone else show him and I watch/groom. But the amount of riders I see that are either far too tall or too heavy is worrying. Especially on the heavier breeds, just because they’re a cob doesn’t mean a 20 stone rider should be riding them. Like someone else said, just because you can doesn’t mean you should…I mean you can quite easily murder someone but you realy shouldnt

 

[Kaylum]

We always cringe at the ridden hunter classes. A ridden hunter should be fit enough to hunt. Some were puffing after 10 minutes around the ring and so overweight.

It should be in the rule book. If a horse/rider is deemed unsuitable for the class they will be asked to leave. This covers all scenarios.

 

[Squeak]

They used a 20% value. I wish they would also pay more attention to the RoRs as the weight of some of their riders is appalling!

I've noticed this at some of the shows too. Really appalling and some of those riders were being well placed/ winning too.

 

[maisie06]

The Royal 3 Counties Show asked 12 riders to dismount: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/three-counties-show-big-riders-asked-dismount-829775

Excellent news = and I speak as someone who gave up riding due to my weight issues.

 

[Micky]

About time they went back to the much earlier years where horses and ponies were fit for purpose, fit for the show class they were entering and riders too, I was appalled at cheshir show a few years ago, watching puffing fat ponies being ridden around by hard handed over weight riders..and badly behaved ponies being placed! Bad conformation foreign breed horses winning their classes, and show jumpers bitted and kitted to the nines..tragic.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My saddle fitter takes the issue of rider size/weight seriously. I won't need to take her up on this offer as I already accurately know my horse's weight and mine inc all clothing, tack and equipment.

One of the most difficult aspects of saddle fitting is having to raise this issue with riders. But as saddle fitters it is incumbent on us to do so.

This is all in the interests of horse welfare.
And it doesn’t mean you are overweight!
You can be too tall/large for the horse or pony and consequently requiring a saddle that is too long. Or you might be in a correctly sized saddle for the horse but sitting at the back of it - your own position compromised. This all affects the horse or pony, which will eventually suffer musculoskeletal pain.

Equally you might be worrying about nothing and be within the limits!

If you are in doubt, and would like answers, I will be holding a “Weigh for Welfare Day” on 16 July @******** Livery where your horse (and you with your tack and riding hat/boots etc) can be weighed on our weigh-bridge and your ratio calculated - in return for a donation to @World Horse Welfare.

If you at all are worried, please come over and check your ratios.

 

[DabDab]

I do think the horse community (same as any community I suppose) becomes blind to some issues that are very obvious to outsiders. Was with a friend at a country show over the weekend and stood watching the working hunters in one ring and the maxi cobs in the ring next door, and after a period of watching they said "so horse showing seems to be mainly fat horses with fat people on them - is that normal?"

 

[Lexi 123]

riders fitness is so important and what people forget is riding shouldn’t be your only workout it isn’t enough for a lot of people because you’re not burning enough calories horse riding actually a lot of stuff like hacking and only walking and trotting around a arena isn’t enough to be considered exercise your burning nothing . You should be physically fit to ride your horse and i think this is why we have so many overweight people in the horse world.

 

[Goldenstar]

riders fitness is so important and what people forget is riding shouldn’t be your only workout it isn’t enough for a lot of people because you’re not burning enough calories horse riding actually a lot of stuff like hacking and only walking and trotting around a arena isn’t enough to be considered exercise your burning nothing . You should be physically fit to ride your horse and i think this is why we have so many overweight people in the horse world.

You are off the mark with that riding well in walk and trot is engaging the core which is actually a very effective workout however the main thing that owning a horse does is get us up into the more active range of life styles an active life is So important .
But mainly it’s about what you put in your mouth as nation we eat too much junk and poor quality food , we have sold the whole low fat tinkered about food is the way to go and it’s a total myth .
We also trained to eat too often it was an absolute revelation to me that you can eat in four hour window in the day and feel fantastic.

 

[Widgeon]

a lot of stuff like hacking....isn’t enough to be considered exercise your burning nothing .

HA. Come and have a hack with us on the moors and you'll soon change your mind.

 

[humblepie]

Just seen a picture of a HOYS qualified pony and the height of the rider is making them sit very far back on the saddle. Conversely I know a tall rider who can sit very well on a show hack so 15.3 max and enhance the picture and way of going.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Just seen a picture of a HOYS qualified pony and the height of the rider is making them sit very far back on the saddle. Conversely I know a tall rider who can sit very well on a small hack so 15.3 max and enhance the picture and way of going.

A shetland by any chance?

 

[humblepie]

A shetland by any chance?

No not the one I saw

 

[sbloom]

Just seen a picture of a HOYS qualified pony and the height of the rider is making them sit very far back on the saddle. Conversely I know a tall rider who can sit very well on a show hack so 15.3 max and enhance the picture and way of going.

Too wide a saddle seat shape and bulky flaps can make a shorter rider sit on the back also, but yes, a long femur on an English straight cut saddle will often cause issues, especially with long blocks as on most show saddles (even if they're not big blocks).

 

[maya2008]

riders fitness is so important and what people forget is riding shouldn’t be your only workout it isn’t enough for a lot of people because you’re not burning enough calories horse riding actually a lot of stuff like hacking and only walking and trotting around a arena isn’t enough to be considered exercise your burning nothing . You should be physically fit to ride your horse and i think this is why we have so many overweight people in the horse world.

The amount I have to eat to maintain my weight, mostly ‘just hacking’ and the skinny frames of my kids who eat ridiculous amounts doing the same, would beg to differ that hacking isn’t work. We hack fast, using particular tracks for fitness work and others for transitions etc.

The most overweight horse people I’ve seen are those who DON’T ride, but instead stand around criticising others.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I've just seen a well known equestrian centre advertise their dressage comp using a photo of what I would call an over weight rider on a pony. Perhaps there is no hope....

 

[Gloi]

The shows could stipulate that only the rider who is riding in the ring can ride the pony in the collecting ring or elsewhere on the showfield.

 

[Snowfilly]

The shows could stipulate that only the rider who is riding in the ring can ride the pony in the collecting ring or elsewhere on the showfield.

Not a bad idea but a problem for show teams and even families who have multiple ponies - it’s quite common for a kid to be riding in one class while someone else warms up another one.

Just at the last show I was at, there were kids with rides in the plaited and m+ms etc.

 

[AmyMay]

The amount I have to eat to maintain my weight, mostly ‘just hacking’ and the skinny frames of my kids who eat ridiculous amounts doing the same, would beg to differ that hacking isn’t work. We hack fast, using particular tracks for fitness work and others for transitions etc.

The most overweight horse people I’ve seen are those who DON’T ride, but instead stand around criticising others.

This. I was slim and very fit when I had horses. I was most definitely a happy hacker, but my horses did hunt and our hacks were long, and proper workouts. The horses were also diy. So lots of manual Labour for me.

By comparison I no longer have horses. But I walk my dogs for hours and am always moving (very big garden so I’m always out there doing something). But I’m a good half stone overweight.

Horses kept me fit. Dogs - sort of

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The shows could stipulate that only the rider who is riding in the ring can ride the pony in the collecting ring or elsewhere on the showfield.

Great Yorkshire have this rule kind of. Only some of the right age for the class can work it in which means if the actual jockey is in another class someone else can warm it up.

Where this falls down is where the parent is also riding the pony in a class that day.

 

[ApolloStorm]

The amount I have to eat to maintain my weight, mostly ‘just hacking’ and the skinny frames of my kids who eat ridiculous amounts doing the same, would beg to differ that hacking isn’t work. We hack fast, using particular tracks for fitness work and others for transitions etc.

The most overweight horse people I’ve seen are those who DON’T ride, but instead stand around criticising others.

I wish! I have to be so careful even to maintain my weight. This is with riding 5/6 times a week doing schooling hacking etc. And on DIY
Even when I was working hard on a yard I was still “overweight” even though I wasn’t “fat” to the eye (I had other people tell me this!)
Maybe I am outing myself but to many I would be considered obese at size 16 and 5’8 but I just bought a horse of appropriate size and build to ensure they can comfortably carry me - I refuse to ride anything I deem too small or slight and always tell people it’s because I would be too heavy!
That said if someone approached me and said I was too fat for my horse, my own relationship with food would be such that I would probably fall into ED habits so I guess you can’t win!

 

[minesadouble]

This. I was slim and very fit when I had horses. I was most definitely a happy hacker, but my horses did hunt and our hacks were long, and proper workouts. The horses were also diy. So lots of manual Labour for me.

By comparison I no longer have horses. But I walk my dogs for hours and am always moving (very big garden so I’m always out there doing something). But I’m a good half stone overweight.

Horses kept me fit. Dogs - sort of

I'm going to say that a large element of this is age related, I know as I've got older I've definitely had to work harder to maintain a low weight, so don't blame the dogs

 

[tda]

You do see quite a few large breed m&m's with too large riders, clearly sitting / hanging over the back of the saddle. Maybe not too much weight wise but just too big
I went to a demo recently , there was a recently successful large breed pony with a male rider, I said if you don't mind me asking how much you weigh (because it's such a hot topic atm) he said he didn't know, maybe 13 stone. Pony was in show condition and the overall picture looked ok.

 

[Miss_Millie]

Apologies if this derails the thread slightly, but I think it has to be said that in the pursuit of inclusivity, big brands are also happy to collaborate with certain equestrian 'influencers', who imo should not be riding when they are clearly too overweight to do so, as are their horses. There is a certain influencer with a very fat cresty cob who gets lots of brand deals and freebies from well known companies...I don't feel that it sets a very good example at all, especially as there are lots of young people on social media who will be looking at this horse and thinking that the horse's condition, e.g. huge crest and fat pads, is 'normal'.

I understand that weight is a sensitive subject for a lot of people, but when it comes to horses it should be extremely objective. If you are too heavy for your horse to carry you with a healthy posture, you should not be sitting on their back.

If your horse is too overweight and unfit to carry you regardless of your weight, you should not be sitting on their back.

It's quite simple really, it isn't personal at all. The welfare of the horse should put above everything else.

 

[J&S]

Seeing as 25.9% of adults in England are obese and a further 37.9% are classed as overweight (with a BMI of over 25) it is little wonder that one is seeing too many overweight horse riders. I am ashamed to admit to being in the overweight class with a BMI of 25.7. When I was riding competitively I would have been well under but age does slow one down.

 

[marmalade76]

Apologies if this derails the thread slightly, but I think it has to be said that in the pursuit of inclusivity, big brands are also happy to collaborate with certain equestrian 'influencers', who imo should not be riding when they are clearly too overweight to do so, as are their horses. There is a certain influencer with a very fat cresty cob who gets lots of brand deals and freebies from well known companies...I don't feel that it sets a very good example at all, especially as there are lots of young people on social media who will be looking at this horse and thinking that the horse's condition, e.g. huge crest and fat pads, is 'normal'.

I understand that weight is a sensitive subject for a lot of people, but when it comes to horses it should be extremely objective. If you are too heavy for your horse to carry you with a healthy posture, you should not be sitting on their back.

If your horse is too overweight and unfit to carry you regardless of your weight, you should not be sitting on their back.

It's quite simple really, it isn't personal at all. The welfare of the horse should put above everything else.

Yep, there was an ad for a brand with her and her horse on Facebook and someone actually put in the comments "nice to see a normal sized person in an ad" WTAF? Since when has being morbidly obese normal?!?

 

[maya2008]

Large breed m&m can carry adults - I am 5ft 4 and my husband 5ft6. I can ride anything 13hh up that is chunky (by build, not fat) and he tends to stick to 14hh up. His healthy weight is less than 11 stone. Our last 14.2hh NF cross was 450kg at healthy weight. 20% is 90kg. Take off 10kg for tack, coat, boots, hat and that leaves 80kg which is 12 and a half stone.

I think it’s mostly the adults on shetlands/Welsh As and Bs/Dartmoors warming up that they’re aiming at.