Weight limits- Is it getting silly? :/

Spencer93

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I've been wondering about this recently. I am about 5'8, 12 stone, dress size 10/12 and an experienced rider. My pony atm is 14.2. She is a stocky (fat...) welshy and perfectly ok to carry me. I also ride a 15.2 arab cross and very occasionally a 14 hand stocky NF. Recently I keep seeing loans or sales with absolutely ridiculous weight limits. A friend who is a very competent rider, who is between 11 and 12 stone, has not been able to get a dressage lesson on a schoolmaster as a 16.2 had a weight limit of 11 stone. I have just seen an 18.1 full shire up for loan with a weight limit of 10 stone?! Is it just me who thinks this is silly? Ok so maybe a very fine tb, small pony or a horse with a sensitive back/ back problems may need a lighter rider but surely people are going to far?
 
I think it may be a little OTT BUT, at the end of the day, if it's your own horse then you can stipulate these things can't you. Plus, just because the horse is larger doesn't necessarily mean it is a weight carrier. Shires for example were intended for pulling not for riding so it's quite possible a Shire isn't as much a weight carrier as a TB.

I have to say, I have seen far too many overweight riders on horses and it does rather beg the question - just because you CAN ride a horse. Should you?

Don't get me wrong, I am no teeny person and, at my heaviest I was 11.10st but now I am closer to 10st and do not intend on going back up again. I feel bad that my horse had to carry me at that weight and I wish I'd done something about it years ago as I may have felt more active as well!
 
I completely understand that it is each riders own choice and I would rather be lighter for my mare, its something I'm working on. And seeing an overweight ride on a small horse is a horrible sight. It just seems to me that people are getting more and more concerned about it and that maybe weight limits are getting a bit out of hand
 
I do think people go over the top with weights but that's coming from somebody on diet |O|
I'm 5ft 9 and currently weigh 11.12 after being 13.8 and set to lose another stone and all because I want to back my highland pony this summer.
 
I've said previously ten stone limit on my 15.1 cob, but he has arthritic changes on a hind and I don't see why I should let anyone get on him over that. I do, however, think that some weight limits I've seen are daft, but unless you know why a shire can only have ten stone on it, I see your point. A girl I know has a huge shire cross but she's old and creaky and the girl is teeny and doesn't want a bigger weight on her precious horse. Fair enough, you're still plonking however much on one small area of the horse.
 
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I see your point with the arthritis. The shire in question is a 4 year old with no issues but still growing, hence the requested weight limit. I still think 10 stone is a bit ridiculous. If at 12 stone I am to heavy for a 18.1 shire then what can I hope to ride? :/
 
Personally I'd rather be safe than sorry, and stipulate a lower weight than the horse COULD carry if pushed.

And I would rather see owners that care, even if it does make it difficult/limiting for some riders.
 
Im 10 stone & loosing weight to event my 5 year old 16hh id x tb but thats my personal choice most people say I don't need to but as it's her 1st season I want to make it as easy as possible

that said at work I used to ride & compete connes, 1 was 13.2 the others were 14.2 but I wouldn't do much with the 13.2
I felt fine on the 14.2s though they schooled be 90 xc etc with me :)
 
The way I look at it is that carrying less than its capability is not going to harm a horse whereas carrying too much could well do, so I would rather see people being too careful than vice versa.

There are some terrible sights around in terms of overladen horses - my personal rule of thumb is that the riders bottom should never be bigger than that of their horse (and yes I have witnessed this at an unaff dressage comp)!

Bear in mind that the weight you state should be your 'riding weight' which is you fully dressed in your riding gear including hat/boots etc. and once you add the weight of your saddle you could easily be looking at nearer 13.5 stone than your actual 12 stone - that is more weight than I would put on a pony of that size. Also, if your pony is fat then that is also additional weight that she is carrying.
 
You guys are making me feel bad! I feel quite comfortable on my 14.2 and have ridden her since she was 7, now 15. Do you all really think you need to be under 10 stone to ride competitively?
 
I am looking for a sharer for my TB and have stipulated no one over 10 stone, bit hypocritical as I was 10.48 stone last week but I am loosing weight and now down to 10.18 stone. The reason being as he is an ex-racer and as a result has a week under developed back, I don't want him carrying any extra weight that he doesn't have to.
 
For horses that are competition fit they surely can carry more. Also don't they have to have weight cloths for eventing if the riders are too light. I laughed at the thought of the shire only being allowed to carry ten stone. I think the owner may have issues about large people expecting a shire to be able to carry anything!
 
An eleven stone wieght limit could be perfectly resonable on an old or young light wieght 16.2 .
While my 16.2 ID would hardly notice twelve stone it would be too much for some horses .
 
When I say shes fat... we've recently bought her back after selling her and shes been put in a field until we have time to bring her back into full fitness. I ride her occasionally and she isn't overweight, just not competition slim (used to do BSJA, compete every weekend)
 
For horses that are competition fit they surely can carry more. Also don't they have to have weight cloths for eventing if the riders are too light. I laughed at the thought of the shire only being allowed to carry ten stone. I think the owner may have issues about large people expecting a shire to be able to carry anything!

There's been no wieght rules for eventing for well over ten years
 
I thought nothing of weight, other than large adults on ponies or something similar, until I joined this forum. I weighed 12 stone at my heaviest, I'm 5'9 and I wouldn't say fat as I am quite toned but still a bit jiggly but I was mortified by some peoples responses! According to some my horse type (16.1-2hh ISH) shouldn't carry more than 10-11 stone, and I was regularly riding 14.2hh+ at this point. Got a bit down in the dumps and I weigh less now but still, people seem to have gotten quite OTT about weight limits these days. I understand if the horse has problems or when its a large rider bouncing along on a small/weak horse but its so pushed these days now I don't even like riding other horses in case someone says something:eek:
 
Thanks flurryjuno, just about summed up my thinking. Theres a girl who rides on my yard who must be 14/15 stone and has a fine, 4 year old, 14.2. I think that is a bit silly, he is still developing and is way to small for her. But a 10 stone person on an 18.1 is surely fine?
 
You guys are making me feel bad! I feel quite comfortable on my 14.2 and have ridden her since she was 7, now 15. Do you all really think you need to be under 10 stone to ride competitively?

I was still riding my 14.2hh and he had no issues at all as is quite a powerful 14.2hh. You do have to bear in mind the ability of a rider as well. If you are well-balanced yet a bit taller/heavier you may be less of a burden to a horse than a lighter person who is not the best rider. I do think more people need to be realistic about their weight and what they should expect from the horse underneath them!
 
I agree ladyt25. I am a competent rider, I am balanced, light seated (I like to think :) ) and know what I am doing, plus I know my girl inside out. I would be much less happy with a novice of a similar weight riding my mare regularly and bouncing around on her back
 
IIRC there has been research done into this and comparisons made of thermal imaging of horses backs when ridden by a heavy but light seated rider and a lightweight but less balanced rider. In every comparison picture the more balanced rider had less impact on the back.

I am not advocating pony squishing, but weight limits may not always be in horses best interests...
 
I can see a balanced rider has much less negative impact on the horse than an unbalanced one but surely a balanced rider doesn't also weigh less than an unbalanced rider of the same weight? Am I missing something, or are there two (or more) considerations here?

ps Just seen Renvers post.
 
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IIRC there has been research done into this and comparisons made of thermal imaging of horses backs when ridden by a heavy but light seated rider and a lightweight but less balanced rider. In every comparison picture the more balanced rider had less impact on the back.

I am not advocating pony squishing, but weight limits may not always be in horses best interests...

At the end of the day we are talking about peoples' personal property here (ie. the horse).

As the owner you are perfectly entitled to stipulate the conditions upon which your property is used.

I am surprised that somebody is complaining about somebody else stipulating a weight condition. Obviously if you own the horse then it is up to you. But don't expect to dictate to other people what they do with their property.

If you want to buy a certain horse or go to a certain riding school then lose the weight or find somewhere else. It is not your place to complain about how somebody else uses their horse. End of story!
 
my 16.1 tb carried me fine, a little too well in fact, he always hopped about the place and was hard to rein in. my welsh partbred carried me fine when i was riding him but i have put on weight since last i rode so i will get that off before i get back into serious riding again. as for lessons, yes there is a weight limit that i am over (14st i think it was) but im never going to be out riding in the show ring, and i can deffo say that not all people in the ring are fairies..
 
I am the owner of the 18.1hh shire. And although I am happy for you to give your opinion, I think that judging me is very unfair and disrespectful! No I do not have a problem with heavy riders, and I am free to chose what I think is best for my horse. In the advert, I explained that he has just turned 4 ( on the 2nd of january fyi) and I only ride him in a treeless saddle! Hence the weight limit. Also, for your information, my shire was broken only a few months ago and shires don't mature until they reach 8/9 years old. I think I know enough about shires to do thw best thing for my horse. He is young and his back is fragile. I don t want to have to retire him when he turns 10. I also only walk him eventhough I am 9 stones because I am worried about dammaging his back or joints. So please be more respectful and keep things in their context instead of taking the mick and trying to make yourself feel better. Thank you
 
Shire 123, I hope you find a suitable person for your horse. Everyone cares for their horse and of course we do what we can to maintain good health for them.

People are very quick to judge these days. I am in the over 10 stone category which seems to get a right bashing on most forums these days. Regardless of the fact that I am a balanced considerate rider I am deemed too heavy for my 14.2hh pony.

I take little notice of this as I've had my pony 20 years and know that if he wasn't happy or capable of carrying me then I would know about it.

I will start backing my 4yo NF this year if she matures a bit more so will make sure that I lose some weight or throw my son on her instead so keep the weight on her back as light as possible.
 
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