Mithras
Well-Known Member
I actually get quite a few nasty comments about being too small to ride my horse. I'm 5 feet 1, 8 and a half stone and ride a 17.2 middleweight hunter type. A very powerful horse. Constant comments about how tiny I look on him, which is fine, but also remarks about how I can't hold him and along those lines. Remarks which simply wouldn't be made if I was the same height but carrying an extra 5 stones.
In actual fact, I'm a very fit athlete who does regular gym work, I'm extremely strong, have a high power to weight ratio and had to change from a metal to a soft plastic bit as I want my horse to go forwards when jumping and take me into the fences. I also used to ride National Hunt horses.
So can we hear less of the judgemental comments for those of us who never come near to straining our horse's backs, who ride with balance and core strength and aren't afraid of big powerful horses, and whose horses probably find it easier to jump because they are carrying what must seem like a featherweight to them?!
In actual fact, I'm a very fit athlete who does regular gym work, I'm extremely strong, have a high power to weight ratio and had to change from a metal to a soft plastic bit as I want my horse to go forwards when jumping and take me into the fences. I also used to ride National Hunt horses.
So can we hear less of the judgemental comments for those of us who never come near to straining our horse's backs, who ride with balance and core strength and aren't afraid of big powerful horses, and whose horses probably find it easier to jump because they are carrying what must seem like a featherweight to them?!