Turned away due to my weight :(

Oh dear, this is going from the bizarre to the ridiculous. By these criteria, me and lots of my (healthy) friends are on the verge of succumbing to an eating disorder.
As you can see by the link http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/healthy-living/Pages/height-weight-chart.aspx, its perfecly normal for someone of 5'7" to be well under 9st and for someone accustomed to being that weight then 10st will seem heavy.
I myself am 5'6" and usually weigh around 9st, again perfectly normal, and if I go up to 10st then I feel as though I'm carrying too much weight.
You cannot possibly just choose an arbitary weight and state that anyone worried about being that weight is in danger, I say again it is ludicrous!
As for attention seeking and 'rubbing it in' well words fail me........

I agree with you. I'm 5'6" and currently 10 and a half stone. I feel overweight and am currently going to the gym regularly and eating more healthily in a bid to get down to 9 and a half. I know my horses will appreciate it (and my jeans!).
I think if you're used to weighing less and the clothes get a bit tight, then yes, you do feel fat. I don't have an eating disorder. Basically I have eaten excess calories and put weight on. I now need to eat less and do more exercise to get back to where I'm happy. It's not an eating disorder, it's called keeping yourself healthy.
 
There have been some cruel mean post by a few and a few sympathetic ones too, Fiona surprised me in this with the post she wrote (it must be the sweet chocolate I made her last week) made her all sweet and kind :D

OI!! I'm always sweet and kind!! :mad3: Well, mostly anyway.... ;)

:D :D

Bit harsh. Out of all the posters on this thread, FionaM12 is one of the most consistently nice and considerate.

IMHO, natch.

Thank you for coming to my defense, JFTD. :) But as Leviathan said, I did know it was a joke. :)
 
I didn't go today. Nor am I a troll. I am a genuine novice who didn't know any better. I came on this forum to look for answers and reasons. Not to be slated. I am giving up horses now. I feel extremely hurt by some comments and do not wish to be a part of this forum or even be associated with such mean horsey people. It's no wonder horse riding isn't at the top of everyone's lists anymore if this is what novices get greeted with.

Many thanks to the genuinely nice people on here for your advice and information. I do feel bad for the horses now but had never known it was wrong. But that doesn't matter now as like I said I'm giving up for now.

Sarah

Whilst it's easy to people to say don't be hurt/affected by what people write on an internet forum, imagine how it feels to log on to a new forum you've joined and encounter nasty personal comments and abuse directed at you.

I can understand how confusing it must have been for you to have ridden for a year at that weight and then to be suddenly told that you are too heavy. Whilst it may seem perfectly logical to experienced horse people, you would be surprised at how many people are unaware that horses should have weight limits.

I really hope that what you have typed above about leaving horses altogether is a post written in haste because you are upset after what you have read and by the awful disapointment of being told that you can no longer ride. (Which even though you have now said you understand the reasons, it must still be very upsetting.)

Take the good advice given in this thread - and there is alot of good advice and if riding horses is something you decide you still want to do then use it as a goal to help you on your weight loss journey. I understand that what your riding instructor has offered instead in the meantime (learning to lunge, long reining etc) might seem like second best when you want to be riding but it is actually an amazing opportunity she is giving you. Most people at riding schools do not get to learn these things and they will massively increase your experience.
 
That's such a shame jelly babie :(

Just ignore the usual rude people, most people gave you good advice.

As you say, as a novice you did not realise you we're doing anything wrong , but now you know, so that is a bit more experience under your belt.

It's sounds like horses have given you a lot of pleasure and it would be a shame to stop that just because if a few strangers have been not as nice as they could be.

Go back , take the offer that your new instructor has given you, and get an experience a lot of people would have loved to have had :)

I will hands up, god knows I have made many mistakes ( and continue to do so, any one who says they are perfect and know everything are lying)

Good luck
 
I often find it rather strange when certain people join this forum. They post a thread which some people are likely to take a strong stance over, get upset at the minority of responses, come out with something absurd, then come back telling us they're giving up totally ... based solely on the responses from forum members that they only just spoke to for the first time in their lives. Very odd behaviour if you ask me. How on earth do some people get through real life if they have to have a forum of unknown strangers to help them make decisions :confused3:

I think I understand what probably happens. Even though they are from strangers, comments can be personal or perceived as such by the OP. The OP feels hurt and retaliates, often by as you say "coming out with something absurd". The perceived insults continue, and in their hurt the OP says something rash like they're never coming here again, or even they'll give up riding.

It's not logical, it's just human nature. I doubt anyone REALLY gives up something they love due to a few strangers being unpleasant, but they may be put off forums. If that stops them coming back for more advice, that's a terrible shame and one of the reasons I think people should lay off with the sniping and troll-calling.

Behind many posts there's a person nervously disclosing details of a personal dilemma. They probably feel quite vulnerable doing so and I wish people always had the decency to bear that in mind.

(That last bit's not aimed at you SF).
 
Hi as a new newbie and a relative novice (20 year break) I wanted to suggest that helping out with every aspect of the horses at the riding school would be a great way to get fit and what you'll need to learn if you one day want your own. I have gorgeous pony on share and was a little heavy IMO a year ago, however, several weeks of mucking out, poo picking and generally lifting and carrying and all that's involved with caring for a pony saw my weight (1 1/2 stone) drop off within a couple of months and I enjoyed every moment of it! Good luck whatever you decide but there is a huge amount of enjoyment to be had just being around and caring for horses.
 
Hi as a new newbie and a relative novice (20 year break) I wanted to suggest that helping out with every aspect of the horses at the riding school would be a great way to get fit and what you'll need to learn if you one day want your own. I have gorgeous pony on share and was a little heavy IMO a year ago, however, several weeks of mucking out, poo picking and generally lifting and carrying and all that's involved with caring for a pony saw my weight (1 1/2 stone) drop off within a couple of months and I enjoyed every moment of it! Good luck whatever you decide but there is a huge amount of enjoyment to be had just being around and caring for horses.

Welcome to the forum and well done with getting fit progress. :)
 
Well at risk of sounding harsh bloody well " Get motivated" if you want to continue riding!!!!

Help bring horses in & out from field, lead in beginners lessons, help muck out.... You should see a difference in no time.. If you are that passionate about riding you should have NO problem getting motivated to do whatever needed so you can get back in the saddle.

Thank you galaxy. That is interesting. I guess I need to make the decision between riding again and weight. The instructor said at 16 stone (I'd have to 16 including a saddle and gear) the school could offer me two horses to ride. My dream has always been a 15.2 heavyweight cob ( this is the horse I feel most comfy on) what would be an ideal weight for that? I want to do low key competitions?

Also I have not a lot of time to exercise and to be honest I don't have the motivation but horse related is fine! Any ideas for weight loss involving horses. Instructor said I could lead out ponies for hacks with small children, lunge, long line (what is this?)
She said if I am willing to help she will add up my hours and it will amount to some free lessons when I'm slimmer
 
mucking out - 354cal/h

general riding - 236cal/h

grooming - 354cal/h
O
sweeping 472cal/h

walking across an uneven field - 354cal/h


brisk walk leading a pony 236cal/h

As you can see, its easy to loose the calories you eat at the yard whilst you're there :) I use a pedometer and a calorie counting app on my iPhone which helps me keep on top of everything. If I have a treat, my horse gets one too - like a walk round the village in hand or a really good groom.

Where on earth did you get those figures from? I wish they were true!!
 
this is a very tricky situation and i don't want to sound nasty in anyway but surely you must of at some point felt that your weight was an issue with some of the horses. i think of hand that its something like 20% of the horses weight that is the maximum or ideal weight you should be.
 
I agree with majority here - and with your new instructor.

16 stone is realisitic and probably the average UK (not just horsey folk)! weight!... :)

Your motivation to loose is right here :) to ride


good luck :)
 
Get your blubber butt into the gym..end of ...
Horses are animals not HGVS

You really are the most vile poster I have come across in a long time!

Why don't you take your nasty attitude else where this forum is about advice not acting like a pathetic child...

I disagree Risky Business, FF has now gone so far that she is almost a parody of a Troll - becoming so ridiculous that it is almost funny. Carry on FF because I find you most entertaining! :)
 
No your just down right rude FF and I don't have any doubt you wouldn't dare say that to someone's face.. You just sit safely behind your screen!

You post nothing but a load of useless and pointless tosh that's designed only to offend.. Do really not have anything better to do?
 
Sorry but I speak the truth many others are thinking but don't have the guts to say...
Why dress it up when the answer to the problem is obvious ?

No, you are a disgusting human being (if you are the same as this in RL), and for that reason I doubt you would keep the company of enough decent people to know what most of them would think
 
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