Too Heavy for Eventing?!

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ginnyspinner

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Just had someone come look at my mare which I am selling, she is 16.2 ISH (Clover Hill mare) Rising 5. They have said they think she is too "heavy" for eventing!!! How bizarre, she is a true middleweight and has a jump to die for!! Can a horse of this type be too chunky for eventing? What are your opinions on this? She was also quite a large girl herself - surely she would need a middleweight to carry her through all the phases?
 
I think different people simply have different preferences. At the top end of the game in supplying saddles to international eventers they are mostly narrow to medium which might give you an indication of the build of the horses, however if your horse will slim down and fitten with work that is not to problem that cannot be overcome.

At anything lower than the very top levels I don't see why a middle weight horse couldn't do the job if it ticks all the other boxes, and I am sure you will find a buyer.

Don't be too concerned with the views of just one person; it maybe they had concluded your horse just wasn't the one for them and were throwing that at you as some kind of justification any way..and yes, depending on weight of rider the horse has to match
 
I have 2 horses one a middleweight CB x TB and one a TB. I had to work so much harder to get Jim fit and he needed twice the amount of work that the TB needs. Jim also was fine with PN times but anything higher than that and he struggled - he just did not have the speed that the TB has. I do not think its the ability its the speed and endurance aspect that is still needed despite it becoming short format. If you are looking to go further than PN then you need a lighter more TB type.
 
Interesting. She has an amazing ground covering stride and will go all day, so I don't think she would lack endurance.
Surely ability does count too though and she certainly has that.
Would a 13/14 stone rider not be too heavy to event a TB type?
 
Good lord!! I was told last year by someone who came to see Hector as a foal, that he was too light for eventing?????? All shapes and sizes event - even at the top level!
 

Just looked at the picture - I don't think she looks too heavy at all - she is a very nice type.
Sounds to me like the woman didn't know what she was talking about
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As everyone has said above - it is a personal preference thing.

Personally I prefer lightweight horses - easier to keep fit so fewer miles on the clock needed and intuitively it seems likley that galloping XC should take less out of them.

I don't think there is much science behind it. There are loads of chunky horses eventing, certainly up to Novice level. From what you have said your horse doen't sound particularly chunky anyway.

What she probably meant was that your horse just wasn't right for her. If we all liked the same thing then the world would be a boring place.
 
Sad sale as broke my leg just before x-mas. Physio and docs say no riding for 6 -12 months. She is too good to waste and I refuse to leave her idling in a field. Ready to compete - she loves to jump and has the most amazing attitude to life.
 
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