Too heavy to ride?

WHY do some of you assume that questions such as these are set-ups??

It's not fantasy if someone of that weight would want to ride.....if they know nothing of horses, maybe they would naturally think that a bigger horse could take them?

I've known heavy people who wanted to ride and have asked when I used to work at the riding stables and I kindly explained about the weight issues, they accepted and those that were serious did something about it, those that didn't, well...didn't.

You talk of 'when the schools are back'...I'm thinking some of you still belong there.

Good grief, not everyone is a troll, take them at face value, IF they are proved to later be taking the pee, who gives a toss? This is the internet, shrug and do something else!
 
My husband is lithe and slim but at 6'1" he weighs 15 stone of muscle. I'd like him to have some lessons but fear I'd have trouble finding a RS to take him at that weight.
 
DragonSleighBells said:
WHY do some of you assume that questions such as these are set-ups??

It's not fantasy if someone of that weight would want to ride.....if they know nothing of horses, maybe they would naturally think that a bigger horse could take them?

I've known heavy people who wanted to ride and have asked when I used to work at the riding stables and I kindly explained about the weight issues, they accepted and those that were serious did something about it, those that didn't, well...didn't.

You talk of 'when the schools are back'...I'm thinking some of you still belong there.

Good grief, not everyone is a troll, take them at face value, IF they are proved to later be taking the pee, who gives a toss? This is the internet, shrug and do something else!
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I'm with you here. You only have to walk down any city high street to see that the average size and weight has risen massively in last 40 years. 21 stone is huge, but plenty of people weigh that much and agree not always obvious to novices that this is too much.

It all boils down to perspective really. Unfortunately I'm in NE Scotland and there are plenty of people at (I guess 16/17 stone) riding but on really inappropriate horses. How much can Clydesdales with loads of bone carry I wonder?
 
Unfortunately 22 stone is too heavy but good on your friend for wanting to get active, it is a really positive step.

You dont have to be superfit to ride but there is a baseline fitness and flexibility that helps. Your friend can be referred to the local gym from their GP (normally pretty cheaply) work on thier fitness and loose some weight in the progress. Getting in the saddle could be a really enjoyable goal and much more fun if they feel fitter too.:)
 
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Hmm well their first post is on a well known inflammatory subject here, they never returned after the first few sensible (and obviously disappointing to them) posts, oh, and they picked a name which even sounds like troll.

I don't mind these posts, in fact they amuse me, but this ones a poor effort :)
 
DragonSleighBells said:
WHY do some of you assume that questions such as these are set-ups??

It's not fantasy if someone of that weight would want to ride.....if they know nothing of horses, maybe they would naturally think that a bigger horse could take them?

I've known heavy people who wanted to ride and have asked when I used to work at the riding stables and I kindly explained about the weight issues, they accepted and those that were serious did something about it, those that didn't, well...didn't.

You talk of 'when the schools are back'...I'm thinking some of you still belong there.

Good grief, not everyone is a troll, take them at face value, IF they are proved to later be taking the pee, who gives a toss? This is the internet, shrug and do something else!
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I agree. I suspect the original poster was posting on behalf of themselves and was too embarrassed to ask how much weight a horse could take.

Even if it was a troll though its no excuse to make mean, disparaging remarks about overweight people. :(
 
Charley657 said:
Even if it was a troll though its no excuse to make mean, disparaging remarks about overweight people. :(
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Unfortunately there are a lot of people who have no inbuilt filters when it comes to talking about fat people, because it is all our own fault and we have no feelings. Oh and being rude to us really helps us to want to lose weight.
 
Of course they can ! Contact a dealer on DD and ask if she can be the rider for the photos of skinny looking rising 3 years olds ;)


No i jest, I certainly wouldn't want a 21 stone person sitting on me, and i doubt a horse would either no matter how well mannered they are and put up with it :)
 
Elfen said:
Size 18/20 at 17/18 stone? I was an 18/20 at 14.5 stone!
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Everyone is different though :) people are just built differently. Which must also make it hard for RS to tell how much someone weighs, id hate to be in the situation of asking someone to step on the scales to make sure they came under the limit! :eek:

Years ago the RS i worked at had a chart with all the horses names on, and weight limits. Was handy :)
 
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Big Ben said:
Unfortunately there are a lot of people who have no inbuilt filters when it comes to talking about fat people, because it is all our own fault and we have no feelings. Oh and being rude to us really helps us to want to lose weight.
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Well before they say it... we have no feelings because we eat our feeling. :D
 
DosyMare said:
I think everyone agrees that 21st is to heavy.

However this summer I saw many more larger women in the show ring, size 18 to 20 so what 17st to 18st. They were fit and balanced and horses in great condition. Cobs and hunters where not struggling at all with the weight.
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As a nation we are becoming fatter and fatter so there are alot of very large people riding and competing.
 
Charley657 said:
Well before they say it... we have no feelings because we eat our feeling. :D
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Can I get fries with that? :D

To a large extent the discussion about weight is pointless, because so often the answer is "it depends"

Speaking as a fat person....

If you want to ride as a sport, you and your horse should both be as near to perfect weight and fitness as you can be.

If you simply want to ride for recreation then fluffy in both weight and fitness you will probably get away with.

The key to happiness is finding the right mount, there is a world of difference between a 6' 4" well muscled 18 stone man and a 5' nothing well padded couch potato.

There is a whole world of difference between a really fit and ready to go, well conformed lighter horse, with well fitting tack, then an under muscled heavyweight with poorly fitting tack.

Like it or not there is a world of difference between countries on what is an acceptable weight or height to ride at, look at Iceland for one example, small horses but normal size people.

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Unless you are a top class equine athlete we probably all have room to improve, it's just that some of us have more room than others. If we encourage and include people, by saying there are ways to be involved in horses what ever your size and shape, but you may not be able to ride yet, then just maybe we will encourage and motivate.

There are a lot of people who think that the horse world in populated by a bunch of stuck up and privileged people, and by the way that we oftne behave it's no wonder.
 
Elfen said:
Size 18/20 at 17/18 stone? I was an 18/20 at 14.5 stone!
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Clothes size is not an accurate indication of weight. I know a lady who is size 20/22 and weighs under 13 stone, and another who is a size 18 blouse size and weighs under 10 stone. It all depends on height and shape!
 
I've found this post very interesting.

I just assumed bigger ladies size 18+ would weigh over 16st. How wrong I am and I am a larger ridder myself.
 
FionaM12 said:
Clothes size is not an accurate indication of weight. I know a lady who is size 20/22 and weighs under 13 stone, and another who is a size 18 blouse size and weighs under 10 stone. It all depends on height and shape!
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And where you live, this is me at 13 stone

size6jeans003.jpg


Gotta love US sizing:D:D:D
 
Clothes size relates to height and weight. At 17 stone I was a size 20 but then I am quite tall. A woman of 17 stone who is five foot tall would probably wear considerably larger clothes than a size 20.

At 10 stone I am a size 12 whereas some women at 10 stone would be a 16.....
 
FionaM12 said:
Clothes size is not an accurate indication of weight. I know a lady who is size 20/22 and weighs under 13 stone, and another who is a size 18 blouse size and weighs under 10 stone. It all depends on height and shape!
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I'm the opposite end of the scale, I'm 5"6, weigh aprox 12 stone (too many choccies at Christmas oops :o) and I'm a size 12 clothing, I am a lot heavier than I look :o
 
Well, as many of you know, I eat pies, it is my right. I am a slimmish 53 stone. I don't look it as I am tall.

I hope one day to own a pie shop, or a bakery. Anyway, I digress, I have a lovely 13.1 HH slight build welsh. He carries me fine. It's probably because I drag most of my hips, arse and tummy on the ground behind me, oh, and my 10 chins. So I suppose it's more like driving for him.

Anyway, he copes fine, but, he sometimes has a lie down when I hack out. I have to whip him quite hard to get him up. What a naughty boy he is, I think it's high spirits. I might change his feed to low calorie meat pies, or veggie ones.

So OP, tell your friend not to worry one jot. Happy days.
 
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