Too fat to ride?

MamaPonio said:
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
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I have bought two of the best horses I've ever owned through preloved...


And nearly been killed by another one lol.

It's one to look at. I like how the ads are local first. Of course the ones I want are never local!
 
FfionWinnie said:
I like how the ads are local first. Of course the ones I want are never local!
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Lol, same here! I'll see a beautiful one, google the location (because my geography is appalling!) and it's like 200 odd miles away :( I wouldn't mind that for something special but not for this one.
 
Whatever you do, if you are in any doubts as to if you might be too big for the horse you're going to try, ask the seller their opinion before going to try!

I had a lady ring up about my 6 year old 15.2hh weedy TB when he was for sale, bearing in mind all the photos were of me (5ft3, 7.5 stone at the time) on him, and then when she turned up she must have weighed twice as much as he was used to. I felt it would be too rude to say she couldn't get on him (especially as they'd travelled some distance), so poor Wilby had to take matters into his own hands and grunted when she got on and then wouldn't do any more than the worlds slowest walk. Poor boy :( I felt awful for him!

However, it sounds like you're being far more sensible in the type of horse you're looking for! Good luck :)
 
FfionWinnie said:
I don't like the bucks into canter or the front shoes as it gets foot sore. Both could be something (or nothing) to worry about.
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Me neither, green horses are more likely to run into canter. I have owned two who have sometimes bucked into canter, one was a young cob who we later discovered had OCD and needed surgery ( but then recovered 100%) and another was my daughters pony - we later found out he had PSD and spavin
 
I used to worry about how much weight my horse could carry, yet he struggles to hold weight, last summer he put on over 100kgs (measured on weigh scales) which is far more than I'd ever put on his back, yet he still carried my quite happily even though I was at my heaviest ever! He's now back down about 75kgs and about right, I've also lost about 10kgs and feel much better but I don't think he's even noticed!!! Anyway, I think as long as the horse/pony is fit and healthy they can carry a lot more than some are making out. I can't believe that are many men in this country under 12 stone these days and many of our top show jumpers must be over this and jump horses at the top of the sport daily! 14 stone should be easy for the full up height and weight highlands, welshes, haffies etc but I'd want to go no smaller than 14.2hh really.
 
burtie said:
I used to worry about how much weight my horse could carry, yet he struggles to hold weight, last summer he put on over 100kgs (measured on weigh scales) which is far more than I'd ever put on his back, yet he still carried my quite happily even though I was at my heaviest ever! He's now back down about 75kgs and about right, I've also lost about 10kgs and feel much better but I don't think he's even noticed!!! Anyway, I think as long as the horse/pony is fit and healthy they can carry a lot more than some are making out. I can't believe that are many men in this country under 12 stone these days and many of our top show jumpers must be over this and jump horses at the top of the sport daily! 14 stone should be easy for the full up height and weight highlands, welshes, haffies etc but I'd want to go no smaller than 14.2hh really.
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........
 
If it helps I'm a little more than you and have a 15'1 cob mare who has no problem with me at all - it's just about the right horse, I wouldn't go sitting on a 15'1 tb type as they wouldn't be ok with me but a stockier horse is fine. A big part of it is how 'heavy' you ride by which I mean a physically heavier rider who is well balanced and doens't thump about on the horse is going to be easier for them to carry than a bit lighter rider who lurches everywhere, bounces up and down and thumps on their back
 
I can't think of a single 14hh native that would carry 14stone...😕
My 14.2hh Sufolk Punch X New Forest can't manage more than 12st -personally I won't even have that on him for very long!!
15.2hh plus with substantial bone and short strong back would be more ideal!
 
if you have to dismount on a hack, you can always find a wall or a gate to mount from. In a middle of a field? Walk for a little bit, won't do your horse any harm!
I rode a 15hh cob when I was 16 stone and he was fine, when I was 14 stone I was once put on a 14hh pony (felt tiny lol) but carried me fine.
 
Marchogaeth said:
I can't think of a single 14hh native that would carry 14stone...��
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erm, stalking Highlands carry huge stags that weight more than that, and at 15h as suggested here by some, would be overheight and overheight natives are sometimes not true to type and lacking bone. I realise its just in walk but often on tough, steep terrain. A decent 14.2h old school haffie or Section D (if you can find one) should be able to cope with that weight as well, especially if OP is sensible about saddle fit and what they do together until some weight is lost.
 
The mare you linked is def the type of horse you should be looking for BUT bear in mind that many of these bigger cobs are Clydesdale X and end up with very shallow, weak loins. It makes them very poor weight carriers. A 14hh pony with very wide thick loins will find you far easier to carry than a sloping loined 15.2 cob (regardless of how much bone it has). I've got the classic example. My friends 14.1 highland mare is a far better weight carrier than my 15.3 HW (clydesdale X) cob. Her mare is short and wide across the loins whilst my mare, although heavily boned and feathered, is longer in the back and weak through the loins.

Have a look at 14.2 Highlands, if you want something quiet and not too tall. There's an awful lot you can do with a Highland simply because of its breed (a lot of showing esp). A big mature Highland will EASILY carry 14st plus tack. They are a LOT of horse in a small package. There's a big difference between the full height Highlands and the smaller 13.3/14 versions.
 
Kallibear said:
The mare you linked is def the type of horse you should be looking for BUT bear in mind that many of these bigger cobs are Clydesdale X and end up with very shallow, weak loins. It makes them very poor weight carriers. A 14hh pony with very wide thick loins will find you far easier to carry than a sloping loined 15.2 cob (regardless of how much bone it has). I've got the classic example. My friends 14.1 highland mare is a far better weight carrier than my 15.3 HW (clydesdale X) cob. Her mare is short and wide across the loins whilst my mare, although heavily boned and feathered, is longer in the back and weak through the loins.

Have a look at 14.2 Highlands, if you want something quiet and not too tall. There's an awful lot you can do with a Highland simply because of its breed (a lot of showing esp). A big mature Highland will EASILY carry 14st plus tack. They are a LOT of horse in a small package. There's a big difference between the full height Highlands and the smaller 13.3/14 versions.
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Thanks Kallibear, I love Highlands but haven't found anything in my price range unfortunately. Since the pony/horse will only be used for pleasure - hacking, beach rides, bit of light schooling - I begrudge spending too much out as well as not wanting to get a top quality horse and it be wasted with me!
 
Gloi said:
Besides the Highlands a substantial Fell or a Dales is perfectly capable, especially when conditioned to it.
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It's funny you should say that, I've just this minute been looking at Fells. There's plenty of people on different forums who say they're a similar weight and their Fell is easily up to carrying them. I've seen an advert for a 14hh fell that's only 40 mins away, I'll probably give the owner a call and see what they think.
 
The thing is that a lot will also depend on how balanced you are as a rider. And comparing 14stone of Man to 14 stone of overweight woman is not the same. A man will be more lean at that weight and will feel different to the horse. Imagine carrying a stone of unbalanced water in a backpack compared to a stone of something less wobbly. I'm not saying that being overweight automatically makes you a bad rider or unbalanced. But this is something else to bear in mind. Also as someone else has said about the size of the saddle and will you fit in it. I think you'd be better off making a concerted effort to lose the weight, feeling better and being healthier and then you will have so much more choice.
 
14hh natives will carry 14 stone, but whether they should, and how long they'll stay sound is another matter.

Ask yourself "does my bum look big on this? " (it will) and move up a size to something that suits you both better.
 
MamaPonio said:
Thanks Kallibear, I love Highlands but haven't found anything in my price range unfortunately. Since the pony/horse will only be used for pleasure - hacking, beach rides, bit of light schooling - I begrudge spending too much out as well as not wanting to get a top quality horse and it be wasted with me!
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Yes, sadly Highlands are expensive, esp the full height mature ones who are sensible. You'd be looking at a minimum of £3k. But having said that you're average 15.2 cob is expensive as well, esp anything that can be described as a weight carrier and sensible. 14hh cobs are ten a penny and £500 as sensible 4yr olds ( they're harder to find as sensible been-there done-that 8yr olds tho!) but decent solid 15.2hh-ers are surprisingly difficult to find!! They're either very young or green, have an issue or are elderly. I've been looking for a larger weight carrier for a friend ( significantly heavier that you though! ) and it's been amazingly difficult. Eventually found a Comtios but it wasn't cheap!!

If you don't need something very sensible and experienced that will make it easier but then it's unlikely to be suitable for your daughter ( if that's what you still desire).

When looking make sure the first thing you look at is its back. It needs to be WIDE, flat and short across the loins. Forget leg bone: almost without exceptions anything with the correct back conformation will have decent bone.
 
MamaPonio said:
It's funny you should say that, I've just this minute been looking at Fells. There's plenty of people on different forums who say they're a similar weight and their Fell is easily up to carrying them. I've seen an advert for a 14hh fell that's only 40 mins away, I'll probably give the owner a call and see what they think.
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My friend has a 14hh Fell. In fact there's a couple in the area. None are particularly good weight carriers and feel about half the size of a 14hh Highland! I'm tall but only 10st and happily ride various 14hh Highlands but don't feel comfortable on a 14hh Fell.

Plus they're also PITA's!

The Chestnut mare you linked looks a sensible type and does appear to have a decent back on her. She may look ( and feel) different in the flesh but if she's a big 15hh (as opposed to a 14.2-and-a-little-bit-but-15hh-sounds-better)) then she may be suitable. Go and see her if she's close?


P.s if you've got £2.5k to spend you'll easily find a nice Highland up here. It'll be a bit green but nothing wrong with it. Mind you it's a hell of a trek if you're in Kent or somewhere equally foreign;)
 
Most 14hh ponies will take a maximum of a 16.5-17" saddle, that usually being a 'cob' type saddle, so probably equivalent to a 16" regular saddle. If they take a longer saddle, they will have a long and therefore weaker back.
OP if you are thinking of trying a 14hh pony, I suggest you sit in one of these saddles and see if you have a full hands width behind you to the cantle.
 
Here's my somewhere under 14.2 cob. (Need to measure her again, she was 14.2 with an extra inch of hoof and shoes on when I bought her!). She weighs 508kg (scales not weigh tape). She is approaching eventing fit, lean, very strong, tip top condition. Something like her or a little bigger would do your job, and if you rode it to keep it that fit, would also help you shift the weight :)

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It's only because you are not used to it that you don't feel comfortable on them. I had Fells for years when I was a bit younger and a solidly built one will carry weight easily especially when fit. Vetted in every time after 25 - 35 mile distance rides back in the day carrying 12 stone so a bit more in lighter work would be no problem. A saddle which spreads weight over a large area helps avoid pressure points.
 
[deleted user] said:
The thing is that a lot will also depend on how balanced you are as a rider. And comparing 14stone of Man to 14 stone of overweight woman is not the same. A man will be more lean at that weight and will feel different to the horse. Imagine carrying a stone of unbalanced water in a backpack compared to a stone of something less wobbly. I'm not saying that being overweight automatically makes you a bad rider or unbalanced. But this is something else to bear in mind. Also as someone else has said about the size of the saddle and will you fit in it. I think you'd be better off making a concerted effort to lose the weight, feeling better and being healthier and then you will have so much more choice.
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Yes, I'm still in two minds about what to do :( Funnily enough, I don't actually look that big and I'm not worried about saddle size. I'd like to think I'm a balanced rider who rides lightly or I was anyway, I haven't rode for quite a while.

I can't decide what to do!!!!
 
Gloi said:
It's only because you are not used to it that you don't feel comfortable on them. I had Fells for years when I was a bit younger and a solidly built one will carry weight easily especially when fit. Vetted in every time after 25 - 35 mile distance rides back in the day carrying 12 stone so a bit more in lighter work would be no problem. A saddle which spreads weight over a large area helps avoid pressure points.
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My point was that 14hh of Highland is a lot more pony than 14hh of Fell. So if the OP really does want a 14hh Native, and feel confident about it's weight carrying ability, then small Highland will be more suitable than a large Fell.
 
MamaPonio said:
Yes, I'm still in two minds about what to do :( Funnily enough, I don't actually look that big and I'm not worried about saddle size. I'd like to think I'm a balanced rider who rides lightly or I was anyway, I haven't rode for quite a while.

I can't decide what to do!!!!
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Try some suitable looking horses. It's the only way you'll know. Be completed happy in your head that it's ok carrying you now (and after you've eaten cake. Everyone loves cake). Loosing weight is hard so you need to be realistic about the potential of not loosing any. As you sound sensible and aware that you're a larger rider (believe me, there's plenty of people who aren't! !) you'll be your own worst critic. And from experience of heavier, conscientious, friends you'll do nothing but fret and worry if you're not 110% happy with the horses weight carrying ability. So don't get something that will just 'manage' or 'cope' or you have doubts about. Get something you feel utterly confident doesn't even notice you on its back.

You are by no means at all too heavy to ride but for you to feel happy and confident you're going to need the right horse.

P.s just noticed you say you've not ridden for a long time. In which case you'll be unfit (for riding) and will probably find you're a little nervous. You'll also find your balance is poor initially, esp if you've put weight on since you last rode. A decent weight carrier who's sensible is therefore extra especially important
 
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Kallibear said:
My friend has a 14hh Fell. In fact there's a couple in the area. None are particularly good weight carriers and feel about half the size of a 14hh Highland! I'm tall but only 10st and happily ride various 14hh Highlands but don't feel comfortable on a 14hh Fell.

Plus they're also PITA's!
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I take offense to that! Fell ponies mmost certainly are not PITA's!!! My fell was one of the best, most honest, genuine ponies you could ever wish to meet. Carried weighy not a problem. Showed, hunted, galloped with racehorses, did a bit of everything. And he was 'only 13.2hh' but he rode more like a 15.2hh as he was built like a brick outhouse!
 
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