Weight limit for riding

Horsemadsmother

Horsemadsmother

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 March 2014
Messages
89
Location
Channel Islands
Visit site
Hi all

My daughter is starting riding lessons tomorrow and she wants me to learn as well.

I haven't been on a horse in about 15 years and i was alot, lot lighter then

I'm currently 15st 12lb

Am i going to struggle to find a horse to ride realistically or should i wait till i lose some more weight?

Thanks x
 
I think it really depends on the riding school. Most have a limit of 16 st but its dependant on what horses they have. Would probably be worth phoning round your local riding schools and just asking if they would have anything suitable :)
 
Thanks for your reply :)

I'm at the riding school tomorrow with my daughter (who is too excited to sleep at the moment bless her) so will ask whilst im up there.

Shes been mad on horses for about a year so we finally gave in to let her have lessons. I get the feeling this will be a slippery slope for the whole family mind as my 2 year old wants to go and my husband isn't refusing!
 
Definitely a slippery slope!! Probably best you learn alongside then if (when!) they want a pony you can all join in and have fun with it. I was lucky enough to ride and have ponies growing up and I will be eternally grateful to my mum for that :)
 
My parents refused to let me have riding lessons, probably with good reason to be fair

DD1 (eldest) already wants her own pony before shes ridden but we've put our foot down and said no chance as i have no idea how to take care of one at the moment and it would be all down to me right now. DD2 (youngest) just wants to ride a pony lol.

I'm going to take lessons separatly for now on the advice of my sister in law until im confident as frankly im more scared than my daughter. But we're all animal lovers in our house so it may be a very very slippery slope!
 
Its definitely a lifestyle, not a hobby, and one that grabs you pretty quickly! We're not from a horsey family either and started with me (about 7) my sister (about 5) and my mum all having lessons after much begging. Then moved on to loan ponies and got our own. My sisters now 19, has ditched university (much to my dads fury) in favour of working at a dressage yard and also rides for other people. We've got 2 atm, our first pony and my sisters showjumper but have had many others in between. Slippery slippery slope especially for an animal loving household :) I hope you find the right horse and it all goes well for you!
 
Thanks :)

Its the cost that worries me the most. We're not well off but we're not skint either. But knowing how expensive horses are im guessing a loan eventually is going to be the better idea. Being in Jersey as well the liveries here are super expensive so would most likely be a DIY which will all fall to me (until i know enough to train hubby!)

But we're going to have some lessons and see how we go from there :) There are horses in the family so thats a good start!
 
There was another thread in similar vein to this one a while back............. this subject tends to re-surface on here in various guises at pretty regular intervals, and does appear to be a rather contentious issue; and unfortunately one of the more recent threads got very unpleasant and contentious indeed with some very personal comments made to the OP (just to warn before you venture any more on this one OP!!!).

In most places i.e. riding schools the weight limit is 13 stone; I know that when my horse was on loan to an equestrian college this was their stated weight limit.
 
Oops sorry if i am rehashing an old topic :(

This is why i asked as the last thing i would want to do is be too heavy for a horse. DD is going regardless as she is a very skinny 7 year old so no problems there.

If i am currently too heavy for the horses then i am happy to learn about basic care, tack etc instead until i've lost some more weight. So far i've lost 3 stone so happy to wait till i've lost some more if i need to. It would be so worth it in the end :)
 
Am always quite surprised by low levels of maximum weight. In times gone by it was customary for big horses to carry two people (e.g. farmer and wife) or 1 person plus considerable baggage, as in chain mail. I believe war horses carried up to 18 stone in battle - hence Friesians etc.

Whatever, I do hope you find something to ride, and enjoy yourself. As to expenses, when you get some experience you never know what might turn up. Have fun!
 
I took my daughter to her first riding lesson 2 years ago. I thought I was too heavy to ride and when I mentioned this to my instructor she showed me 3 or 4 horses there that would happily carry me. now my daughter and I ride together and are looking for a horse of our own. I owned, rode and worked with horses up til my daughter was born so it wasn't completely new to me but I did discover that I wasn't as brave as I used to be :D good luck and I'm sure your daughter will have a great time and you will all become hooked like the rest of us! :D
 
Some riding schools have higher maximum weight limits, you would have been gine at the place where my husband and I used to ride so ask but try not to be offended if your local school has a limit of 12 or 13 stone it is often down to the horses they have.

If you can't learn to ride then sign up for the BHS horse owners certificate and get a good grounding in horse care. This is far more important than being able to ride.
 
Thanks Kat

If they don't have a horse i can learn with then i won't be offended. Its not the horses fault i ate rubbish for year and got fat. I wouldn't want to hurt it but would rather lose weight to be able to ride.

Thank you for the information about the horse owners certificate that is something i will definately look into over here :)
 
Horsemadsmother said:
Thanks Kat

If they don't have a horse i can learn with then i won't be offended. Its not the horses fault i ate rubbish for year and got fat. I wouldn't want to hurt it but would rather lose weight to be able to ride.

Thank you for the information about the horse owners certificate that is something i will definately look into over here :)
Click to expand...

Also you may find that you lose weight quicker when you start doing things with horses - not just because of the extra fresh air and excercise (haynets and horse poo are heavy!) But also cause of the feelgood endorphins releaed when you are in contact with horses, and enjoying it!
 
I started riding last year, at 16 st 10. i am 6ft 2 and reasonable well built, but i was fat. i was never questioned at a riding school about my weight. they put me on a big horse. i bought a 16.3 warm blood on impulse and he managed.
i then got into it, really into it. i ride everyday.
this was a huge influence to me losing weight. i just decided this was the best for Buddy and me. so i lost 2.5stone in the first 6 weeks of this year. i am still 14st and really could only ever be a few pounds lighter. i am a farmer and pretty well built to lift and carry stuff about.
i see on here all the time the weight "nazis" saying 10 st is the max any rider should be. i would have to lose a leg to be that light.
i now have a cb cross as well again a substantial horse. but i feel now my weight is acceptable and the horses are going to be fit enough to do what ever i need them to do.
the bug can certainly bite you. i have built my own yard in the last 6 months from pretty much nothing. 5 stables and an arena. i cant get enough.

Good luck op, get out there and ride, it will help you lose weight and its the best!
 
I am afraid the majority of riding schools have a weight limit of just 12 stone. Not all do so ask your daughters riding school what their weight limit is. There are horses that can happily carry your weight.
 
Riding school weight limits vary a lot and I do know of one local one that allows riders up to 16 stone. If your daughter's riding school can't help you, they may be able to suggest somewhere that can. Somewhere that specialises in adult beginners may have more large weight carrying types, whereas riding schools which mostly cater to children may not bother keeping horses that will carry up to 16 stone, as these probably wouldn't be suitable for many of their riders. Don't forget that horses also have to carry the weight of their tack and your clothing too and riding school horses may have to carry more than one rider in a day of their top weight. This can lead to riding schools being a bit more conservative than a private owner.

Another thing to consider is your agility. Getting on and off a horse can be difficult when you are not that experienced, and, depending on your shape, you might find this difficult until you have lost some weight. However, you also might be fine, but it is something to think about before hand.

If you are not able to ride straight away you may be able to have stable management lessons to learn how to care for the horses.

Good luck, and I hope you are able to ride soon.
 
I think 12 stone is a really low limit! I'd be surprised if your riding school didn't have something suitable for you, especially the basics, and if you continue to lose weight then the horses will be able to carry you whilst doing more, cantering, jumping etc.
 
Good news!!

DD1 loved her lesson, is in love with her pony and was trotting by the end :O. She rode the pony back to the yard herself in and out of cones and over a little hill. :) I was bursting with pride!!

DD2 wants to go too but shes too young for now


Oh and i'm booked in on Tuesday for my first lesson in YEARS!
 
just caught up… wow that is brilliant news! Good luck for Tuesday :) get some arnica in first for the stiffness afterwards!!

Before seeing this I was just going to wonder whether there is a riding simulator anywhere near you… might still be worth a look if you get into it as you can refine your technique on one of those as you get detailed biomechanics feedback.

Enjoy Tuesday!! :)
 
Horsemadsmother said:
Good news!!

DD1 loved her lesson, is in love with her pony and was trotting by the end :O. She rode the pony back to the yard herself in and out of cones and over a little hill. :) I was bursting with pride!!

DD2 wants to go too but shes too young for now


Oh and i'm booked in on Tuesday for my first lesson in YEARS!
Click to expand...

Whoopee!!!! Enjoy - and welcome to the world of proper euine mums (as opposed to the dreaded pushy pony club mum!!)

I an recommend gin n radox fo the aft-effects (nt mixed)
 
Last edited:
Horsemadsmother said:
Good news!!

DD1 loved her lesson, is in love with her pony and was trotting by the end :O. She rode the pony back to the yard herself in and out of cones and over a little hill. :) I was bursting with pride!!

DD2 wants to go too but shes too young for now


Oh and i'm booked in on Tuesday for my first lesson in YEARS!
Click to expand...

Oh nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

You've done it now. Start flushing fivers down the loo as practice for your future horse owning expenses :D

Have a great first lesson on Tuesday.
 
Thanks everyone! Yes i'll be a mad equine mum. I couldn't be a pushy mum at all. DD1 is doing ballet (which shes giving up for riding bless her) and some of the mums there are INSANE at being pushy for exams. As long as she enjoys it that sthe main thing.

I think, however, i am more excited than her now :D
 
Will see if this works. a picture of DD1 riding

1535015_10152697951180620_1404651376_n_zps470e3817.jpg
 
Good luck for Tuesday!
When/if you feel the need to move on, and have learned about horse care etc, think about a part share - I have just offered a teenage girl part-share with my horse, so she (and her mum) can learn a little more hands-on stuff, without having total responsibility. I get a enthusiastic helper, a fitter horse, and help towards costs, they get 3 days a week riding, get to learn what I know about horse-care and showing, without any of the worry, risk or cost!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top