Too fat to ride?

Mongoose11 said:
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.
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Well there are saddles and saddles and some are much smaller than others even sold as the same length. I found the pictures of the heavy rider on the lightweight Highland with her bottom spilling off the back of the cantle quite disturbing as a recommendation of the weight carrying ability of the breed :( If that's a 17.5, it just isn't big enough for the rider, and one big enough for the rider would be too big for the pony. In short, that pony is surely too small for her, whether it can carry her weight or not?
 
FfionWinnie said:
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!
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Firstly, I think your cob is stunning. A picture of fitness and health. However, she has a very long back for her height which is not good for weight carrying. Secondly, would a 14.2 highland be able to take a saddle of at least 17.5 inches in length?
 
It's such a shame that so many "real scientists" are such insufferable know-alls. Of course, as a "real linguist", I have no peer-reviewed studies to back up this assertion; my evidence is purely empirical. Oh, and JFTD, you're way too big for that saddle.
 
PleSe note cobs still have weight limits. When mine was 12 very fit and toned and fighting fit, he had a weight limit applied to him at 12st max. He is a very heavy, thick boned, 15.3hh cob cross
 
Gentle_Warrior said:
PleSe note cobs still have weight limits. When mine was 12 very fit and toned and fighting fit, he had a weight limit applied to him at 12st max. He is a very heavy, thick boned, 15.3hh cob cross
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I agree. Cobs are not always the best weight carriers. Many are long backed and lack depth through the chest. They are also very often rump high which also puts more strain on the back when a rider is added. But they are all different, and some 14hh cobs are more suited to weight carrying than a 15hh plus. But then there will always be the problem of people trying to fit their backsides into saddles that are too small for them.
 
Wagtail - Agreed. Just bugs me when people say get a cob and generally think they are all weight carrier's! !! Mine is so much the weight carrier looking horse. Shocked me when vet gave him a weight limit. Made me buy him to take out of riding school! !!

And yes, if the horse or pony can't take the saddle that you need then a blaten no! !

Like me taking a 17.5 saddle and putting it on a Shetland and expecting it to cope. Lol
 
Bojingles said:
Oh, and JFTD, you're way too big for that saddle.
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ycbm said:
I found the pictures of the heavy rider on the lightweight Highland with her bottom spilling off the back of the cantle quite disturbing as a recommendation of the weight carrying ability of the breed :( If that's a 17.5, it just isn't big enough for the rider, and one big enough for the rider would be too big for the pony. In short, that pony is surely too small for her, whether it can carry her weight or not?
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After looking at the pic, I agree with the above and don't think it should be used as an example (if that's what it was?).
 
Wagtail said:
Firstly, I think your cob is stunning. A picture of fitness and health. However, she has a very long back for her height which is not good for weight carrying. Secondly, would a 14.2 highland be able to take a saddle of at least 17.5 inches in length?
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My 14.1hh very correct and compact cob can and does. He definitely sounds very like the chunky old fashioned highlands people are talking about.

I'm more than 14stone and am fine in a 17" saddle. I'm fat, but its mainly stomach and boobs, bit like a weeble :lol: But my actual backside and legs are probably the equivalent to most sze 14/16 people, whereas the rest of me is a size 20
 
Wagtail said:
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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Sorry, perhaps I have a different understanding of the phrase. The 'jury's out' means they haven't made a decision, whereas I'm very clear that I believe it is possible to find an appropriate highland of that size. This would mean that the jury isn't out, as far as I'm concerned.

I also noted to Goblin that I was referring to the 'plus' in your post. Again, apologies if that's not clear.
 
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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So you are / were 14 stone !!!! ahh... its all making sense now
 
FfionWinnie said:
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!
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The OP was asking about a 14 hander though, and there will be very few of those who are up to carrying between 15 7 and 16 stone. Indeed if any, and there is also the size of the riders bottom which needs to be accommodated in a suitable saddle, which, as has been debated, may likely then not fit the pony's back due to potentially being too long.
 
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FrankieCob said:
My 14.1hh very correct and compact cob can and does. He definitely sounds very like the chunky old fashioned highlands people are talking about.

I'm more than 14stone and am fine in a 17" saddle. I'm fat, but its mainly stomach and boobs, bit like a weeble :lol: But my actual backside and legs are probably the equivalent to most sze 14/16 people, whereas the rest of me is a size 20
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I think you would be the exception to the rule. You have a compact cob who rightly has a 17inch saddle, but as your weight is not carried around your backside, you fit in it fine. I don't think many 14stone people would fit easily into a 17 inch saddle. I am a size 10 and only just do! Ideally I need a 17.5 inch because I am 5'9.
 
Wagtail said:
Firstly, I think your cob is stunning. A picture of fitness and health. However, she has a very long back for her height which is not good for weight carrying. Secondly, would a 14.2 highland be able to take a saddle of at least 17.5 inches in length?
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I would say she has short legs for her body actually! My point really was that there absolutely are 14 something ponies weighing over 500kgs which aren't obese.

A person who is 5ft2 and 14st has a lot of weight they could lose (no offence op but I am 5ft8 and I could lose a lot of your 14st and not be stick thin).

My thoughts are the op would struggle with a much bigger animal and would be better to lose the weight anyway for her own health. That would be my reasoning for buying something like my cob who could carry her now, and would carry her as if she were nothing if she lost a few or more stones.

When I bought my cob it was via internet and she is exactly a hand smaller than advertised. I am 5ft8 and I want to look slim on her. It's great motivation!

Highlands are immensely bigger than my cob. I actually had a lesson with one the other day and I've got footage of them stood together. Now this highland is quite plump, but even slimmed to my standards would be a bigger horse than mine, at the same sort of height. We used 17.5" saddles on highlands all the time when I rode them. An over height one would be a good contender for the op.

Also another thing is measuring to the withers is a fairly inconclusive way of measuring height. My friends have a pony who measures the same height as my welsh C. They are both Welshes, he is a B. Both our ponies are technically the same height at the wither but he has high withers and my C has no withers. There's really a hand between them if you look at overall size if that makes sense!
 
Mongoose11 said:
Sorry, perhaps I have a different understanding of the phrase. The 'jury's out' means they haven't made a decision, whereas I'm very clear that I believe it is possible to find an appropriate highland of that size. This would mean that the jury isn't out, as far as I'm concerned.

I also noted to Goblin that I was referring to the 'plus' in your post. Again, apologies if that's not clear.
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So YOU are the jury are you? I thought we, as a collective are. Last time I checked a jury was not just one person, hence why the 'jury is out' because we have not come to an agreement on it.
 
Wagtail said:
So YOU are the jury are you? I thought we, as a collective are. Last time I checked a jury was not just one person, hence why the 'jury is out' because we have not come to an agreement on it.
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It's my opinion and I don't need a jury to form it, Wagtail.
 
Fascinating discussion, getting a little personal in places. No need, is there? There's a lot to be learnt on here if people would stop trying to get one over each other.

Anyone care to guess saddle size and height of cob here?
DSC00026.jpg


As well as how it fits the horse, a saddle must fit the rider and I don't mean just size of bum on seat. Length of leg is mentioned at length in some saddle fitting information.
 
SpringArising said:
After looking at the pic, I agree with the above and don't think it should be used as an example (if that's what it was?).
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Just to clarify, when I said "example" I meant it was a good example as it clearly showed the problems encountered with larger rider/small pony/saddle interactions.
 
cinnamontoast said:
Fascinating discussion, getting a little personal in places. No need, is there? There's a lot to be learnt on here if people would stop trying to get one over each other.

Anyone care to guess saddle size and height of cob here?
DSC00026.jpg


As well as how it fits the horse, a saddle must fit the rider and I don't mean just size of bum on seat. Length of leg is mentioned at length in some saddle fitting information.
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Cinnamon Toast I don't know how big either are, but for me, the saddle is sat too far forward, and therefore probably, too long for the horse. Though these things can be very much a personal preference.
 
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I have read most of the replies on here and quite often when someone says their weight I am surprised how heavy they are compared to how they look. I have a 15.1hh heavy sect d and am 11st 4lb and I am sure he would carry a lot more with no difficulty what so ever but I also have a 14.3hh welsh d x tb and I wouldn't ride her at my weight. She is retired now anyway but I don't think she would be happy with me at this weight. She isn't much smaller than him but a totally different conformation. It really depends on the horse's shape and fitness. Just look at a Shetland pony they can carry an average adult but if you just went by their height and weight you would only put a child on one. OP I am sure you will know what is best for you when you try some potential horses.
 
ozpoz said:
Just to clarify, when I said "example" I meant it was a good example as it clearly showed the problems encountered with larger rider/small pony/saddle interactions.
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And when I said 'example' I meant that the rider had put it up as an example of a horse which could carry weight, not you :)
 
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Honestly you lot are talking such a lot of sanctimonious bull, I suspect the OP has long since done a runner.
For reference: 13.5 stone, 17 inch saddle.
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cinnamontoast said:
Fascinating discussion, getting a little personal in places. No need, is there? There's a lot to be learnt on here if people would stop trying to get one over each other.

Anyone care to guess saddle size and height of cob here?
DSC00026.jpg


As well as how it fits the horse, a saddle must fit the rider and I don't mean just size of bum on seat. Length of leg is mentioned at length in some saddle fitting information.
Click to expand...

I'd say 14.3hh and 17.5 but think it is too long as looks to extend past where the last rib would join the spine. Lovely compact cob.
 
Wagtail said:
I think you would be the exception to the rule. You have a compact cob who rightly has a 17inch saddle, but as your weight is not carried around your backside, you fit in it fine. I don't think many 14stone people would fit easily into a 17 inch saddle. I am a size 10 and only just do! Ideally I need a 17.5 inch because I am 5'9.
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Sorry, I didnt make it clear He has a 17.5" now. Its better if he is carrying weight and he can take the length just fine.

I'm 5ft6 so pretty much average height, just fat with it. I do see people my shape all the time, not everyone who is fat carries it on their bum
 
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