Too heavy to ride?
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Big Ben
Well-Known Member
You have it, way to make a fortune, stop the snow birds heading south, fill then with helium, make them perk up, and as a bonus make me lighter....love it.
And on the subject of hot air and weight loss do you weigh more or less after you fart?
AntxGeorgiax
Well-Known Member
I haven't read all the comments, but could she try driving? 21 stone I think is personally too heavy to ride, but other than being on the ground there are brilliant ways to get involved! Horses can pull more than they can carry, and whilst there are no riding schools I know of dedicated to driving, you could contact the BDS and see if you could get a number of someone closer to you, and book some lessons. It doesn't seem such a big sport from far, but once you have participated a few times it's lovely! I thought I wouldn't like it because it wasn't that close contact you feel when riding, but it really is similar. This way, she could enjoy being around horses and doing something other than groundwork with them.
Then, if she does take a liking to driving, while she does this, she could lose weight for her own personal benefit, and by then she will have gathered adequate experience around horses ready for her to get aback in the saddle
Then, if she does take a liking to driving, while she does this, she could lose weight for her own personal benefit, and by then she will have gathered adequate experience around horses ready for her to get aback in the saddle
Pale Rider
Well-Known Member
If she is serious about wanting to ride the incentive to lose 6 stone should be the desire to ride.
If she can't lose 6 stone she should forget it.
If she can't lose 6 stone she should forget it.
Shysmum
Well-Known Member
Big Ben - what happens when your OH has a bit of bitty tho - does he speak in mickey mouse voice forever after ? Does the helium get sucked out ?
Coldfeet!
Well-Known Member
Im a size 16 at 13st. I have wide hips and big boobs so a couple more ounces would easily put me in an 18!
People do find it hard to judge.
Back to the OP issue I think everyone is right horse riding should be an incentive to lose weight. I need to lose weight too!
Big Ben
Well-Known Member
Big Ben - what happens when your OH has a bit of bitty tho - does he speak in mickey mouse voice forever after ? Does the helium get sucked out ?
Worse yet what if he comes home unexpectedly and finds the window cleaner has a Mickey Mouse voice Wiz201
Well-Known Member
I haven't read all the comments, but could she try driving? 21 stone I think is personally too heavy to ride, but other than being on the ground there are brilliant ways to get involved! Horses can pull more than they can carry, and whilst there are no riding schools I know of dedicated to driving, you could contact the BDS and see if you could get a number of someone closer to you, and book some lessons. It doesn't seem such a big sport from far, but once you have participated a few times it's lovely! I thought I wouldn't like it because it wasn't that close contact you feel when riding, but it really is similar. This way, she could enjoy being around horses and doing something other than groundwork with them.
Then, if she does take a liking to driving, while she does this, she could lose weight for her own personal benefit, and by then she will have gathered adequate experience around horses ready for her to get aback in the saddle
I'm doing that, I have lost weight and now about 14 stone but I now enjoy driving so much its taken over riding. I drive a dales x pony with my instructor and he does very well pulling a two person carriage.
moana
Well-Known Member
Well, I think that if she can actually ride, with the right horse there is no rasn why someone of 21 stone should not ride.
Big Ben
Well-Known Member
Because they can't strap their oxygen masks, and store their sticks on the horse anywhere
Well at least thats what some people seem to think.BTW Steer wrestlers in the US, commonly weigh between 200 - 275 pounds, some even heavier, 14 stone to around 19.5 stone, and they are athletes, you may not approve, but anyone who can sling themselves from the back of a galloping horse and wrangle a steer to the ground all in less than 5 seconds doesn't have time to use sticks.
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Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
No arguments from me that with a suitable horse a person of 21stone can ride. Problem is that the 'suitable horse' doesn't exist. And I think its actually more constructive to say that right now I don't think its feasible, than to say 'yeah, just wait a good few years till one is bred up to carrying you'. Although in all seriousness, I think with the rising levels of obesity, sooner or later someone will start breeding horses capable of carrying that.
chazza44
Well-Known Member
Just bear in mind a person weighing 21st would have to be 7foot 5 inches to have a BMI in the normal range....
inamac
Member
Has no one suggested the option of driving? Which requires all the same contact with the horse as riding, plus road skills and learning how to shift weight and balance.
Unfortunately finding somewhere to learn is difficult - but worth trying.
Unfortunately finding somewhere to learn is difficult - but worth trying.
showpony
Well-Known Member
Im really sorry but no She just needs to lose the weight - if she wants to be around horses could she possibly volunteer @ a yard @ the weekends?? so close to horse which would in turn possibly give her the incentive to lose the weight??? Im just over 8stone & feel guilty riding my daughters 11.3 !
She just needs to lose the weight - if she wants to be around horses could she possibly volunteer @ a yard @ the weekends?? so close to horse which would in turn possibly give her the incentive to lose the weight??? Im just over 8stone & feel guilty riding my daughters 11.3 ! I haven't read all the comments, but could she try driving? 21 stone I think is personally too heavy to ride, but other than being on the ground there are brilliant ways to get involved! Horses can pull more than they can carry, and whilst there are no riding schools I know of dedicated to driving, you could contact the BDS and see if you could get a number of someone closer to you, and book some lessons. It doesn't seem such a big sport from far, but once you have participated a few times it's lovely! I thought I wouldn't like it because it wasn't that close contact you feel when riding, but it really is similar. This way, she could enjoy being around horses and doing something other than groundwork with them.
Then, if she does take a liking to driving, while she does this, she could lose weight for her own personal benefit, and by then she will have gathered adequate experience around horses ready for her to get aback in the saddle
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I remember an article in Horse & Hound years ago with a story from WW II. Don't know if it was true or not!
Apparently Hitler had been trying to breed a giant breed of horse, about 22 hands so he and his army could parade on these giant horses and impress the conquered peoples. It wasn't working very well, the horses weren't likely to be rideable as they had congential soundness problems.
Apparently Hitler had been trying to breed a giant breed of horse, about 22 hands so he and his army could parade on these giant horses and impress the conquered peoples. It wasn't working very well, the horses weren't likely to be rideable as they had congential soundness problems.
Box_Of_Frogs
Well-Known Member
C'mon guys! Newbie clearly lives under a rickety wooden bridge...DO NOT FEED!!!!
showley1
Well-Known Member
Good luck to your friend and congrats for wanting to sort her weight problem, but as to whether to ride yet surely that is not a serious question? All riding schools i know cut off at 14 stone on there heavier horses, i know how hard it can be i have lost 2 stone recently to get back in the saddle (i was 15) but even now i feel like an umpa lumpa and would not dare get on mt daughters id/tb let alone the 1 we just rescued. Riding school cart horse for me for a while but hey not all bad as what encouragement as i so want to get on that naughty horsey and show her who is boss!! I really can see me ending up on my v much skinnier butt, thanks holly!! x
scarymare
Well-Known Member
I'm the opposite end of the scale, I'm 5"6, weigh aprox 12 stone (too many choccies at Christmas oops
Exactly the same as me then
TbLover
Well-Known Member
21 stone is a lot for a horse to carry
but it depends on horse and rider so a heavy balanced rider is better then a lightweight rider unbalanced and who have said that the horse must carry that a 2 hours hack out? I think for motivation with an good school horse are 20 min walking not a problem
But an absolutly beginner with ridding is to heavy I think
I'm 13.5 stone and most of time in balance with the horse (depends on horse
but it depends on horse and rider so a heavy balanced rider is better then a lightweight rider unbalanced and who have said that the horse must carry that a 2 hours hack out? I think for motivation with an good school horse are 20 min walking not a problem
But an absolutly beginner with ridding is to heavy I think
I'm 13.5 stone and most of time in balance with the horse (depends on horse
Bambi.
Well-Known Member
Saw someone share this on fb..
http://www.horsesciencenews.com/hor...t-can-a-horse-carry.php#.UO7lSTT6NAR.facebook
http://www.horsesciencenews.com/hor...t-can-a-horse-carry.php#.UO7lSTT6NAR.facebook
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
So that is around 17 stone. Interesting that the US calvary said the same in 1920.
If you think that a man could weigh about 13-14 stone, plus saddle and kit and the horse would be regarded as fit and not overweight. This is for all day riding though, not galloping and jumping fences. The width across the loins is what I was told too, that tends to be an american thing, we tend to look at width across the chest.
So there is the answer to the person who weighs 21 stone - you have to loose weight!
If you think that a man could weigh about 13-14 stone, plus saddle and kit and the horse would be regarded as fit and not overweight. This is for all day riding though, not galloping and jumping fences. The width across the loins is what I was told too, that tends to be an american thing, we tend to look at width across the chest.
So there is the answer to the person who weighs 21 stone - you have to loose weight!
Molly'sMama
Well-Known Member
theres over 200 comments on this thread and the OP hasnt posted since their first one..
MrsNorris
Well-Known Member
Lord, is this still going?? OP must be in stitches by now!!
Heilo
Well-Known Member
Yes too heavy especially for a beginner. Could you imagine someone of that weight bouncing around say trying to learn rising trot. It may be slightly different for a rider as at least they wouldn't be bouncing all over the place.
Big Ben
Well-Known Member
Depending on the weight and build of the horse!
That study was done with 7 horses, hardly a wide scale scientific study. It's not that I dismiss their findings, I would just like to see a sample size of more than 7 is all
PandorasJar
Well-Known Member
I can honestly say that even if a horse could technically take 21 stone I wouldn't ever sit on one at that weight.
At the weight I am now I want to lose half a stone before sitting on one of mine. She could take more but this doesn't mean she should.
The least I can do for my horses is to make riding as pleasant as possible. If that means sucking it up and realising that I need to lose a few pounds then so be it. I'd rather do this than blindly ignore a problem and inflict that on my horse.
At the weight I am now I want to lose half a stone before sitting on one of mine. She could take more but this doesn't mean she should.
The least I can do for my horses is to make riding as pleasant as possible. If that means sucking it up and realising that I need to lose a few pounds then so be it. I'd rather do this than blindly ignore a problem and inflict that on my horse.