Too fat to ride?

gunnergundog said:
Hmmmm......me too! Especially when you look at their postings on the Hunting Forum. Is this their fourth or fifth re-incarnation if it is who I suspect it is? I've lost count.
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They werent banned so nothing stopping them rejoining. The forum is a poorer place when things cant be discussed in a reasonable way though :(
 
Smurf's Gran said:
If this is your regular horse and saddle combination - your saddle is too small for you, this will cause you to put your weight on the back of your saddle ( which is evident from the photo ) and over time will make your horses back sore.
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To get back on track, the photo illustrates well the benefits of having a horse which can comfortably and correctly carry your saddle.
There's a missed learning opportunity here... it is a shame as this is a topic so many people are unsure of.
Perhaps some riders just don't want to be better informed or learn new things.
 
fatpiggy said:
OP, please for a moment stop considering what the horse or pony can carry and think about what you ARE carrying. At 14 stone and only 5'2" you are very seriously overweight. You may be young enough to get away with it at the moment but your joints will be ageing faster than a person in the range of a healthy weight and you get tired faster, plain and simple.
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This is the most sensical post in the entire thread. You need to look at your own health first (and that's really not meant in a malicious way, I promise).

I'm the same height as you and weigh six stone less. I am bang on eight at the moment (heaviest I've ever been) and feel chubby if I'm anything over that.

I treat myself a few times a week and the rest of the time I eat mostly healthy. No junk food, no crisps, no fizzy drinks, ready-made meals or biscuits etc. For dinner I usually have baked veggies with home-made oven-baked chips or something similar. My treat is a can of Dr. Pepper/Coke maybe once a week.

Please try to lose some weight. My sister is overweight and I can't tell you how much we all worry about her. It is such a sensitive subject and so hard to broach, especially with someone you care about and don't want to hurt.

So, lose the weight, then buy yourself the horse of your dreams!
 
ozpoz said:
To get back on track, the photo illustrates well the benefits of having a horse which can comfortably and correctly carry your saddle.
There's a missed learning opportunity here... it is a shame as this is a topic so many people are unsure of.
Perhaps some riders just don't want to be better informed or learn new things.
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Some of us did comment on saddle size earlier in the thread. Though I must admit that it wasn't much dwelt on. I frequently see riders with their bum all the way up the cantle.
 
Poor OP must be terribly confused after reading this thread. So to recap, the majority of people have agreed that a 14hh pony would be too small for the OP, the exception being, perhaps (and the jury's out) a Highland or similar. However, as some people have pointed out, saddle size would likely be an issue if you are either too tall, or overweight. OP is not too tall, but due to weight considerations would likely need a saddle of 17.5 plus, which most ponies could not accommodate. Is this something we could all agree on?
 
Wagtail said:
Poor OP must be terribly confused after reading this thread. So to recap, the majority of people have agreed that a 14hh pony would be too small for the OP, the exception being, perhaps (and the jury's out) a Highland or similar. However, as some people have pointed out, saddle size would likely be an issue if you are either too tall, or overweight. OP is not too tall, but due to weight considerations would likely need a saddle of 17.5 plus, which most ponies could not accommodate. Is this something we could all agree on?
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Yes, I think this is a fair précis :smile3:
 
Wagtail said:
Poor OP must be terribly confused after reading this thread. So to recap, the majority of people have agreed that a 14hh pony would be too small for the OP, the exception being, perhaps (and the jury's out) a Highland or similar. However, as some people have pointed out, saddle size would likely be an issue if you are either too tall, or overweight. OP is not too tall, but due to weight considerations would likely need a saddle of 17.5 plus, which most ponies could not accommodate. Is this something we could all agree on?
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I suspect poor OP has given up and decided to take up dancing or something else entirely....
 
Wagtail said:
Poor OP must be terribly confused after reading this thread. So to recap, the majority of people have agreed that a 14hh pony would be too small for the OP, the exception being, perhaps (and the jury's out) a Highland or similar. However, as some people have pointed out, saddle size would likely be an issue if you are either too tall, or overweight. OP is not too tall, but due to weight considerations would likely need a saddle of 17.5 plus, which most ponies could not accommodate. Is this something we could all agree on?
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No, it isn't. No jury is out on a Highland in my opinion and at 14 stone my bottom fitted nicely in a 17.5 (verified by master saddler), so no 'we' are not in agreement. I have come to expect that though. There is no need to presume that an animal of that size can't take a saddle of 17.5.

Another poster on here owns an almost event fit cob who at 14.1 weighs 508kg (weigh bridge) and takes a 17.5 saddle. Well within the realms of possibility then.
 
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Mongoose11 said:
No, it isn't. No jury is out on a Highland in my opinion and at 14 stone my bottom fitted nicely in a 17.5 (verified by master saddler), so no 'we' are not in agreement. I have come to expect that though. There is no need to presume that an animal of that size can't take a saddle of 17.5.

Another poster on here owns an almost event fit cob who at 14.1 weighs 508kg (weigh bridge) and takes a 17.5 saddle. Well within the realms of possibility then.
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Well I'm still not convinced about a 14hh highland and if your 14st bottom fits into a 17.5 saddle, well, isn't that exactly what Wagtail said?
Plus a 14.1hh cob is not a 14 hh cob.
 
Mongoose11 said:
No, it isn't. No jury is out on a Highland in my opinion and at 14 stone my bottom fitted nicely in a 17.5 (verified by master saddler), so no 'we' are not in agreement. I have come to expect that though. There is no need to presume that an animal of that size can't take a saddle of 17.5.

Another poster on here owns an almost event fit cob who at 14.1 weighs 508kg (weigh bridge) and takes a 17.5 saddle. Well within the realms of possibility then.
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But doesn't a 14 hand pony who has a long enough back to take a 17.5 saddle have a longer than average back for a 14 hand pony? And wouldn't that mean its back is weaker and the last type which should be carrying 14 stone even if the rider's bottom will fit into it?


Can we see a picture of you fitting into your saddle? I ask because I've seen more bad fitting by Master Saddlers than I can shake a stick at, and there is one around here who actually prides himself on persuading people into saddles which are, to my eyes, too small for them.
 
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ycbm said:
But doesn't a 14 hand pony whos has a long enough back to take a 17.5 saddle have a longer than average back for a 14 hand pony? And wouldn't that mean its back is weaker and the last type which should be carrying 14 stone even if the rider's bottom will fit into it?
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Possibly, but it would be a shame to presume that it would be the case in every instance when there has been at least two ponies on this thread who would fit the bill in terms of back/saddle/bone.
 
ycbm said:
But doesn't a 14 hand pony who has a long enough back to take a 17.5 saddle have a longer than average back for a 14 hand pony? And wouldn't that mean its back is weaker and the last type which should be carrying 14 stone even if the rider's bottom will fit into it?


Can we see a picture of you fitting into your saddle? I ask because I've seen more bad fitting by Matter Saddles than I can shake a stick at, and there is one around here who actually profess himself on persuading people into sales which are, to my eyes, too small for them.
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All very conveniently there is only one pic in existence of me riding and it isn't it that saddle or at that weight. I don't 'do' cameras.
 
Smurf's Gran said:
I am surprised that so many on here choose to dismiss anything scientific re weight carrying ability and instead rely on anecdotal stuff such as the horse was okay - obviously its up to each individual owner, but in my view if there is any info out there which suggests you might be too heavy, then for your horses sake, you should consider if you might be too heavy - as opposed to carrying on regardless.
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You seem to be arguing with your own science. I have already said this but I will say it again.

My 14.1 (barefoot measured today) cob weighs 508kgs (weighed not guessed). She is in hard fit condition with no excess fat at all. She wears a 17.5" saddle. She could going on the science you are quoting carry 101kgs or 15.7 stone which is exactly what the op wants her horse to be able to carry.

Now, I am sure the op (as she has said), wants to weigh less than 14 stone. Personally I don't weigh anywhere near that amount. However I have in the past weighed more. There is no better incentive to weigh less than for the beautiful cob I am lucky to own. I am under 15% with tack and I am happy to be there. It takes a lot of effort but it's worth it.

If the op wants to buy a similar cob to mine and ride it while she loses weight, it's not going to damage the cob in the short term to carry 20%. It may not damage it in the long term.

The op is best placed to know her own mind and whether owning the right size of horse for her height will help motivate her to get to the right weight for her height.

A fit muscled 14.2 highland will weigh more than my cob for sure!
 
Mongoose11 said:
No, it isn't. No jury is out on a Highland in my opinion and at 14 stone my bottom fitted nicely in a 17.5 (verified by master saddler), so no 'we' are not in agreement. I have come to expect that though. There is no need to presume that an animal of that size can't take a saddle of 17.5.

Another poster on here owns an almost event fit cob who at 14.1 weighs 508kg (weigh bridge) and takes a 17.5 saddle. Well within the realms of possibility then.
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I said 17.5 plus, which means 17.5 or bigger, just like 16hh plus means anything over 16hh. So you have completely agreed with me there, sorry about that. Also, when I say the jury is out, I mean just that. So once again you have agreed with me.
 
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