Too fat to ride?

Mongoose11 said:
Dear lord anyone would think the OP were on the verge of starring in an episode of 'My 600lb life'! Calm down dears, it's just some excess weight. By a horse, or a pony, there's a fair few that would carry you happily all day long. Alternatively, lose some weight and have the pick of the market.
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Calm down? I don't understand why you think people are not being calm. The OP asked a straight question because she obviously wanted honest replies. I don't see one person being anything other than calm.

OP, at the moment you probably need a horse that is a little bigger than what you really want. So you need to be realistic. You could buy a horse that would suit your needs right now, and then lose some weight and regret not having the horse you really want. That would be a great shame. On the other hand, most of us know that losing weight is not easy. And if you are to keep the weight off, then it is a lifestyle change for life. I have had to diet in order to be light enough to back my tiny WB mare. I cannot eat very much at all or I will pile the weight back on. It's depressing because I know that is it for life. No takeaways, cakes, sweets (unless I starve myself the following day). It is HARD. So your other option is to lose some weight and then buy the horse you REALLY want. But unless you are confident you can keep the weight off, you may end up having to sell it or keep it as a pet. Only you know how likely you are to A) lose the weight, and B) keep it off. It's not easy. Good luck.
 
Wagtail said:
Personally, I would say the hafflinger is too small for you. I once weighed myself and then added full riding gear, boots hat and body protector and then my saddle and I had gained more than two stone. So unless you are weighing yourself in full riding gear and saddle, the pony would be carrying around 16 stone, not 14. I don't think you are too heavy to ride, but I do think you need a bigger horse than a 14hh haffy.
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Agree with this - at 14 stone you will have a riding weight (including saddle of at least a stone and a half to two stone heaver) this is 15 7 to 16 stone. To follow the 20% rule at 15 7 in Kilos this would be approx. 98.43 kilos you would need to be riding something that weighs approx. 500 kilos plus ( not carrying fat this would need to be be its natural fit weight) most horses of this weight are at least 15 hh and bigger, even the stocky ones.

I definitely think you need something bigger than 14 hands
 
Wagtail said:
Calm down? I don't understand why you think people are not being calm. The OP asked a straight question because she obviously wanted honest replies. I don't see one person being anything other than calm.

OP, at the moment you probably need a horse that is a little bigger than what you really want. So you need to be realistic. You could buy a horse that would suit your needs right now, and then lose some weight and regret not having the horse you really want. That would be a great shame. On the other hand, most of us know that losing weight is not easy. And if you are to keep the weight off, then it is a lifestyle change for life. I have had to diet in order to be light enough to back my tiny WB mare. I cannot eat very much at all or I will pile the weight back on. It's depressing because I know that is it for life. No takeaways, cakes, sweets (unless I starve myself the following day). It is HARD. So your other option is to lose some weight and then buy the horse you REALLY want. But unless you are confident you can keep the weight off, you may end up having to sell it or keep it as a pet. Only you know how likely you are to A) lose the weight, and B) keep it off. It's not easy. Good luck.
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It was a little bit of a Michael Winner style joke. Nevermind.

I was genuinely suprised at some of the answers here. The OP could ride a Highland, Fjord, solid Haffy, IDx, any number of cobs that are built right. 14 stone is hardly that excessive for a general pleasure rider's habits. I could be wrong but I don't think OP is talking about hunting three times a week.

There are plenty of saddles that weigh 6-7kg and you don't have to ride in chain mail or boots of lead, as some of you seem to. I don't ride my horse because I AM too heavy but I know she could go for hours with 15-16 (inc tack) stone on her back.
 
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Yeah, I think a pony will be too small. When you actually stand next to a 14hh, they are really dinky.

Yess get a show cob!! Nothing better :)
 
Mongoose11 said:
It was a little bit of a Michael Winner style joke. Nevermind.

I was genuinely suprised at some of the answers here. The OP could ride a Highland, Fjord, solid Haffy, IDx, any number of cobs that are built right. 14 stone is hardly that excessive for a general pleasure rider's habits. I could be wrong but I don't think OP is talking about hunting three times a week.

There are plenty of saddles that weigh 6-7kg and you don't have to ride in chain mail or boots of lead, as some of you seem to. I don't ride my horse because I AM too heavy but I know she could go for hours with 15-16 (inc tack) stone on her back.
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7KG is over a stone, and clothes, hat and boots, and Bikini ??? will weigh at least half a stone, so if you are 14 stone your pony / horse is carrying at least 15 stone 7lbs. For your horse to carry 14 stone you need to weigh about 12 and a half max.
 
MamaPonio said:
Thanks everyone, I'm still in two minds whether to buy now or wait. I've seen a lovely 15.2 ID who looks great on paper and I've always loved the breed, there's plenty of cobs around that I think would also be suitable.
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I used to work at a trekking centre that had a lot of ID mares (bred showjumper's from them with their TB stallions and any that were barren went into the trekking centre for the summer). We had quite a few "larger" riders that came to us because they were over the weight limits of all the other local yards, but the ID's could carry them no problem, even with cantering on the beach etc. I would think a 15.2 ID would be much better for your current weight than a 14hh haffie, so unless you are really sure you are going to lose the weight and keep it off in the longer term it would be a more sensible choice.

My 14.3 HW cob could carry you no problems when fit as a one-off for a quiet hack, but I wouldn't want him to always carry that weight 3-4 x a week or carry it when unfit, so again you need to look at whether you are going to be able to keep the horse in work all winter if you look at something smaller.
 
I agree 14h is too small. I tried a 14.1 Welsh whne looking to buy and looked and felt way too big, I'm 5'3 and about 11 stone currently, I bought my 15h mare and I'm fine in her but know I need to lose a stone in order to move up to long fast rides which is what we both need.
 
I just weighed all the bits and bobs such as hat, bit and bridle , jodhpurs etc. and even with lightweight stuff it comes to over 5kg. Add on a lightweight saddle at 7kg and you're up to over 12kg, which is over 26lbs. You need to add at least 2st to the rider weight, my calculations didn't even allow for a jumper or coat ( or underwear!).
 
Smurf's Gran said:
7KG is over a stone, and clothes, hat and boots, and Bikini ??? will weigh at least half a stone, so if you are 14 stone your pony / horse is carrying at least 15 stone 7lbs. For your horse to carry 14 stone you need to weigh about 12 and a half max.
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I'm well aware of how many pounds there are in 7kg and therefore the relation to stones. There is no need to have your tack and clothing come in at two stone if you choose not to. Webbing bridles, Jin Stirrups - these all shave pounds of the weight of tack. OP could consider these things and make lighter choices or she could ride a bigger animal/choose to lose weight.

OP, the thread title is 'too fat to ride?' and the answer is no, not too fat to ride at all. You might have to go up in height/bone/depth though and not by too much. My horse is just shy of 15.1, has ten inches of bone and would see you right 😄
 
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cobgoblin said:
I just weighed all the bits and bobs such as hat, bit and bridle , jodhpurs etc. and even with lightweight stuff it comes to over 5kg. Add on a lightweight saddle at 7kg and you're up to over 12kg, which is over 26lbs. You need to add at least 2st to the rider weight, my calculations didn't even allow for a jumper or coat ( or underwear!).
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Sorry to be picky but a light weight saddle is more like half a stone not a stone. My jumping saddle is 7kgs and I wouldn't call that a light weight saddle. Many synthetics are 4.5kgs or less.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Sorry to be picky but a light weight saddle is more like half a stone not a stone. My jumping saddle is 7kgs and I wouldn't call that a light weight saddle. Many synthetics are 4.5kgs or less.
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Agreed. Your average Wintec comes in at 5kg and some are less.
 
Palindrome said:
yes but you need a saddle that fits the horse well, not necessarily the lightest.
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Of course. What am I missing? You find a saddle that suits, but if weight is an issue then a synthetic could be a first port of call and considered.
 
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Mongoose11 said:
I'm well aware of how many pounds there are in 7kg and therefore the relation to stones. There is no need to have your tack and clothing come in at two stone if you choose not to. Webbing bridles, Jin Stirrups - these all shave pounds of the weight of tack. OP could consider these things and make lighter choices or she could ride a bigger animal/choose to lose weight.

OP, the thread title is 'too fat to ride?' and the answer is no, not too fat to ride at all. You might have to go up in height/bone/depth though and not by too much. My horse is just shy of 15.1, has ten inches of bone and would see you right ��
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I agree you don't have to add on two stone to your riding weight, if you are careful I think you might get the additional Weight to a stone and a half but even with the most lightweight saddle at 4.5 kg (and I don't see any lighter apart from children's saddles and racing saddles 4.5 kilos is still 10lbs)

I don't see how you can cut it back more.

Lots of people have been commenting saying its okay a 14 hand native can carry 14 st, maybe it can but in reality with a 14 st rider it will be carrying 15 stone 7 minimum, and that's different.

No one on here has said the OP was too heavy to ride (sorry OP) just that at 14 stone, this would mean riding at 15 stone 7lbs and this will be too heavy for a 14 hander. Im sure your 15.1 with 10 inches of bone would be fine, but the OP was asking about a 14 hander
 
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Smurf's Gran said:
No one on here has said the OP was too heavy to ride (sorry OP) just that at 14 stone, this would mean riding at 15 stone 7lbs and this will be too heavy for a 14 hander. Im sure your 15.1 with 10 inches of bone would be fine, but the OP was asking about a 14 hander
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I see this all the time on here, yet my vets, chiro/osteo, instructor, any professional I have ever used says my 14.1hh cob is fine carrying 16 stone for steady work. They have weight carrying classes at the New Forest show for NF ponies and I'm pretty sure they are expected to carry 13 stone, plus tack. So why do opinions differ so much on here from the opinions of qualified people?
 
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FrankieCob said:
I see this all the time on here, yet my vets, chiro/osteo, instructor, any professional I have ever used says my 14.1hh cob is fine carrying 16 stone for steady work. They have weight carrying classes at the New Forest show and I'm pretty sure they are expected to carry 13 stone, plus tack. So why do opinions differ so much on here from the opinions of qualified people?
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link has been deleted, I'll look for another
 
FrankieCob said:
I see this all the time on here, yet my vets, chiro/osteo, instructor, any professional I have ever used says my 14.1hh cob is fine carrying 16 stone for steady work. They have weight carrying classes at the New Forest show for NF ponies and I'm pretty sure they are expected to carry 13 stone, plus tack. So why do opinions differ so much on here from the opinions of qualified people?
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This is why

http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-experts/horse-vet-advice/safe-weight-horse-carry.aspx

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/heavy-riders-have-impact-on-horse-welfare-and-industry-387319

http://www.horsesciencenews.com/horseback-riding/how-much-weight-can-a-horse-carry.php

I think horses / ponies can carry heavy weights, its whether or not they should I suppose
 
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FrankieCob said:
I see this all the time on here, yet my vets, chiro/osteo, instructor, any professional I have ever used says my 14.1hh cob is fine carrying 16 stone for steady work. They have weight carrying classes at the New Forest show for NF ponies and I'm pretty sure they are expected to carry 13 stone, plus tack. So why do opinions differ so much on here from the opinions of qualified people?[/


I don't know. Although, if you are a client and they are taking your business, it's not unheard of for them to tell you what you want to hear. That's probably a bad phrase to use and slightly harsh, but I have witnessed professionals play things both up and down to suit the client.

It's obviously a mixed bag of opinions. The age old 'just because they could, does that mean they should' applies here.

I'm of the opinion that if you are overweight, (I'm not saying 14st is overweight per-se, but we are all adults - we all know what weight we should be at according to age/height/build etc) then why expect an animal to carry you?
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FfionWinnie said:
Sorry to be picky but a light weight saddle is more like half a stone not a stone. My jumping saddle is 7kgs and I wouldn't call that a light weight saddle. Many synthetics are 4.5kgs or less.
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You have to add in the stirrups and leathers as I didn't put them into my bits and bobs weigh in. Most synthetic saddles are around 5.5-6kg.
 
It was never telling me what I wanted to hear. It was people saying that I was being ridiculous for not riding him, so not people agreeing with me already riding him, if that makes sense? although I can see how that would happen :)
 
Wowzers, lots more replies since I checked last night! I've been having a good think about it and I'm definitely leaning towards a 15.2 ID/Cob type - like a few people have said, what if I never manage to lose the weight or what if I lose it, buy dream horse then gain too much to ride it? I've always loved hunter types so it's not as if I'd feel disappointed about owning one! We're on a new yard with loads of fab hacking, the kids want to go out through the summer holidays and instead of walking (although it is good exercise!) it would be so lovely if I could ride out with them.
 
MamaPonio said:
Wowzers, lots more replies since I checked last night! I've been having a good think about it and I'm definitely leaning towards a 15.2 ID/Cob type - like a few people have said, what if I never manage to lose the weight or what if I lose it, buy dream horse then gain too much to ride it? I've always loved hunter types so it's not as if I'd feel disappointed about owning one! We're on a new yard with loads of fab hacking, the kids want to go out through the summer holidays and instead of walking (although it is good exercise!) it would be so lovely if I could ride out with them.
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I think that's a good decision. Hopefully once you have the horse you will find it easier to lose weight anyway, if you want to, but you won't feel compelled to or have to worry about it a lot, which tends to stop you losing weight anyway.
 
Good grief! You lot should go no where near the show ring then! 'Larger' riders on natives - yes Fells, Dales, Welsh etc ... And then you get the riders of some of the ex-racers out there ... Sometimes I do believe the only reason the horse is behaving is because it is so bogged down with weight it can't do anything but!

OP - Personally I would think a large native breed or a cob from 13.2-14hh upwards would be absolutely fine. Especially as you say you are on a diet. 9/10 you are going to buy a pony that is over weight so you can give both of you a goal to work towards weight wise.
 
True! I mean she's the first one I've really looked at, there's lots advertised - I was slightly snobby about 'preloved' at first but there seems to be some decent horses on there :D

What do you think about her build etc? I've seen some lovely show cobs/hunters but I really begrudge paying those prices when it'll mainly be used for happy hacking. I'd like the potential to do more in the future but I'm not particularly into showing, especially when it's draining the bank account already for the kids, lol
 
MamaPonio said:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/113087298/152-pretty-traditional-mare-for-sale.html

What do you reckon? She's only 6 though, may be best to get a little older and 100% fully matured one with me being on the plump side ;)
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She's very pretty but only 5yrs ( the devil age!) so she hasn't widened out yet and probably has quite a bit of growing to do. Her sort will continue to grow until 8-9yrs.
The front feet would concern me unless she has been ridden very hard. The bucking might be balance, or might not.
 
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