Weight limits- Is it getting silly? :/

Thanks for your reply! I have seen lots of smaller horses capable of carrying heavier riders. I think that it depends on the horse, not its size and also what you do with it! My horse carried 13 st riders before and it was not a problem at all. But for a sharer, who will ride him regularly, I just wanted to be surw it won t hurt him. He is still very unbalanced and trips constantly because of his immense legs and narrow shoulders. I wish people would try to understand or at least do some research before judging... very disappointed!
 
Sorry, my aim is not to have a go at anyone or their weight limits. I am not judging you personally or trying to disrespect your opinions. I have no problem with someone saying what they want on their own horse. This isn't aimed at anyone, it was a simple comment asking in general about what people think of the weight limits people put on their horses and if current attitudes are changing with regards to what horses are capable of doing. I have never been worried about my weight combined with riding but it does seem more so now that anyone over 10 stone is considered to heavy to be riding
 
Shire123: I'm only commenting because I saw your advert and thought of commenting but refrained, it isn't regarding weight limits, as that's a personal choice.

However I do think you might struggle to find a loaner, after all from what I gather from your advert (and I can't find it now so may be wrong) you want someone to be fully committed to your horse 3 days a week ie muck out, turn out, feed, bring in etc. But then riding wise the loaner can only ride the horse at walk for a short while. And correct me if I'm wrong, did you also want a financial contribution?

I do hope you find someone, and you have a beautiful horse, but I do think it might be a struggle.

Edited to say, just found the advert and see that you have said that you don't mind trotting just on soft surfaces. But it does mention financial contribution.

Just to try and help with perspective, and I'm aware this might be unwelcome, I don't know many over 18's, under 10 stone, who have 3 days a week spare to devote to a horse on DIY (poo picking, mucking out, including bringing in at 2pm etc) and give a financial contribution, who'd feel confident being around an 18.1hh just turned 4 y/o that exercise wise they can only walk and occasionally trot.

Sorry to put a downer on things, and I hope I'm proven wrong, but maybe dropping either the financial contribution or the amount of work might help your cause.

P.S sorry for hijacking the thread.
 
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the advert you are referring to was over a year ago and I found someone. She is now pregnant so I need to find someone else for the time being because I work until late during the week. And yes she only hacked out and mucked out , but there was no financial contribution.
She became a friend and my horse loves her. So yes I did find someone! my horse is now older and in work and just tonight, I had at leat 20 messages from people interested in loaning him. It s not just about riding..... or the money! I need someone to give my horse attention during the week. And I didnt want a financial contribution because I wantwd someone on the long term who would then enjoy my horse for free when he was ridable. I am very honest in my adverts so no surprise for the loaner/sharer. And I hope this new person will be as good as my previous sharer! You would be surprised to see how many people are interested. And looking after a shire is different so usually, it is people who know about them and are committed. :)
 
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I suspect many people have no idea what a certain weight looks like.

I'd be frankly amazed if someone stopped me riding an 18.1 shire based on my weight. By looking at me, most people would happily let me ride most horses with my weight. I am fairly tall and slim and have an athletic build. Yet I weight nearly 11st with my clothes on.

It sounds like an awful lot of people don't know what 10st looks like, esp at the taller or shorter end of the height scale. And therefore no real idea what a 'heavy' rider would class as.
 
Shire 123: Well I'm glad you have had interest, and hopefully you will get another good sharer. I am still surprised, but maybe that's due to location and type of horse. Either way he is a lovely horse, my boy has a touch of shire blood in him so I have a soft spot for the breed.
 
Kallibear, I totally agree with you! And a light rider can be bad for a horse's back if they are unbalanced and bouncing. My shire is growing and heavy horses are known for having growth pain, weak growth plates, fragile joints... and lots of related problems as they get older. He just turned 4 and was diagnosed with sidebone at the age of 2! I did not want to offend anyone in my advert or say that anyone over 10 st is too heavy for an 18h horse, but I just think it is better for a growing horse not to be put through it if you have the choice... I am not desperate to find someone and I just dont want to regret anything later. I am 9 stones and I had stopped riding him for a month because he had a funny reaction to the saddle being put on his back and then started bucking in trot. I could feel he was unbalanced and didnt enjoy the work. I was worried it was because of me being too heavy for him! Lots of people laughed at me! :p but he is just a baby... so yes, later he will carry any weight, but for now I d rather stick to my 10 st.... at least I wont feel sorry later! I bought him as a 2 week old foal so I have plenty of time to push him! I am patient :)
 
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Kallibear said:
I suspect many people have no idea what a certain weight looks like.

I'd be frankly amazed if someone stopped me riding an 18.1 shire based on my weight. By looking at me, most people would happily let me ride most horses with my weight. I am fairly tall and slim and have an athletic build. Yet I weight nearly 11st with my clothes on.

It sounds like an awful lot of people don't know what 10st looks like, esp at the taller or shorter end of the height scale. And therefore no real idea what a 'heavy' rider would class as.
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This, this, this. And I'm even happy to attach a photo to demonstrate.

I am around 13 stone (fluctuate between 12 1/2 and 13), which for the discussion on this thread is like planetoid heavy. I am 5'10", and fairly curvy - but I have a little waist. I'm not as toned as i'd like to be, but I'm certainly not fat. I'm in the top end of my healthy range BMI for my height, but critically still within healthy.

Here I am, just a week or two ago, I'm on the left:

1401230_10201894190491898_443971079_o.jpg



And me with my old horse:

562019_4368948257368_334954845_n.jpg


Question: how many of you would have said I was too heavy for your horse straight off? Not including very little, light TBs, or small but not stocky ponies?

I have broken and ridden away young Clydesdales, I've ridden Shetland x Highlands (albeit when a bit lighter than now), Eriskay ponies, Highlands on a regular basis, and I've had a 14.2hh Arabx Lipizzaner, a 15.2hh thin type TB, a 16.2hh WBx TB and my current 17hh TB. None have had any problems with my weight (except the small TB by the end, at age around 18).

How do I know they've had no problems? The yard I worked at for a long time hosted RDA as well s a riding school - we are well practiced in watching a horse for signs of struggling with weight.
 
If 10 or 11 stone seems the top end for a lot of people, what on earth are use lanky people supposed to ride?! I'm 6' and weigh 12 stone, got down to that from nearly 14 stone and was still riding at that weight with no complaints from the horse and looking absolutely fine as well. Now ride a 15.3hh fairly fine type and she's going really well. It does depend on the horse, I agree with that, but if taller people got to under 11 stone, a lot of us would be too weak to ride!
 
It's nuts isn't it? Endurance still has a minimum weight rule - For CEI3* (160 km) they must carry a minimum of 75 kg and 15.2 hh is a big Arabian !

My 14.2 hh part bred Arabian mare carries all 5'10" of me at 80 kg (inc saddle) no problem.

I am however a huge fan of doing the right thing, eating well and keeping yourself at a healthy weight. Seems like the human race in developed countries, is just getting a whole lot fatter than it needs to be for it's own good.
 
I think Shires123 's post highlights that it is very much a matter of the horse. It is very well to see an advert and rip it to shreds, without know the horse, it's ability, fitness or any ailments. I also think the height thing is bobbins too - I would put a lot more weight on a healthy 14.2 cob than my 16.2 tb.
 
NZJenny said:
Seems like the human race in developed countries, is just getting a whole lot fatter than it needs to be for it's own good.
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Aint that the truth and they are getting a whole lot taller!
personally I dont give two hoots what other people do with their own horses but do smile at some of the comments that appear on these type of threads
1) The laws of gravity can not be broken. 12st is 12st no matter how 'light' a person rides. Oh and making your seat light just transfers the weight to the stirrups which are connected to the saddle which is still on the horses back so it is still carrying the same weight. I do agree that an unballanced 12st rider will be more damaging to the horse but no one can magically reduce 12st to 10st through balanced riding.
2) Whilst a horse may well be able to carry a particular weight without showing signs of distress you have to consider the long term, slow damage that will be occuring.
3) The average horse is rarely fit these days. 45 minutes in a school or an hours hack 5 times a week does not a fit horse make. Do not confuse the 16.1 4* event horse with the average. These horses are supremly fit in terms of muscle and are in a different league. Just because they can support 13 st bloke does not mean the same horse in average owner condition can.
4) What used to happen back in the old days does not fit modern times. Humans have got a lot bigger and heavier than they were 40 years ago and the horses a lot less fit. Comparison of welshie carrying farmer over the hills all day are not relevant. Horse would have been much fitter, ridder would have been a lot lighter and life expectancy of the horse a lot shorter.
5) Often the size of the modern human forces their weight further back in the saddle. Whilst bums have got bigger horses backs haven't so there is still a limit to lenght of saddle than can be used. If large bums are squished in to saddles then more of that weight will be towards the back and create pressure points.

Each person has to make their own judgement on what they deem acceptable but no one should be under estimate the fact that horses these days are expected to carry a lot more weight with a lot less muscle whislt having a much longer working life.
 
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I think people tend to take stipulated weight limits far to personally. It's like if they hear a weight limit which is under their weight they feel they are being called 'fatty'. There are so many threads on this that this must be the case.
If the owner - the person who owns/pays for/knows the horse/pony gives a limit - then that is their perrogative.
We are a country with a vast amount of the population over-weight. Weight IS an issue.
I'm 5ft 6 " and 9.5 st and I don't feel comfortable on anything smaller than a 14hh stocky cob.
 
And I couldn't have put it better myself paddymonty


PaddyMonty said:
Aint that the truth and they are getting a whole lot taller!
personally I dont give two hoots what other people do with their own horses but do smile at some of the comments that appear on these type of threads
1) The laws of gravity can not be broken. 12st is 12st no matter how 'light' a person rides. Oh and making your seat light just transfers the weight to the stirrups which are connected to the saddle which is still on the horses back so it is still carrying the same weight. I do agree that an unballanced 12st rider will be more damaging to the horse but no one can magically reduce 12st to 10st through balanced riding.
2) Whilst a horse may well be able to carry a particular weight without showing signs of distress you have to consider the long term, slow damage that will be occuring.
3) The average horse is rarely fit these days. 45 minutes in a school or an hours hack 5 times a week does not a fit horse make. Do not confuse the 16.1 4* event horse with the average. These horses are supremly fit in terms of muscle and are in a different league. Just because they can support 13 st bloke does not mean the same horse in average owner condition can.
4) What used to happen back in the old days does not fit modern times. Humans have got a lot bigger and heavier than they were 40 years ago and the horses a lot less fit. Comparison of welshie carrying farmer over the hills all day are not relevant. Horse would have been much fitter, ridder would have been a lot lighter and life expectancy of the horse a lot shorter.
5) Often the size of the modern human forces their weight further back in the saddle. Whilst bums have got bigger horses backs haven't so there is still a limit to lenght of saddle than can be used. If large bums are squished in to saddles then more of that weight will be towards the back and create pressure points.

Each person has to make their own judgement on what they deem acceptable but no one should be under estimate the fact that horses these days are expected to carry a lot more weight with a lot less muscle whislt having a much longer working life.
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Shire123 said:
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
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Very sensible good for you :)
 
PaddyMonty said:
Aint that the truth and they are getting a whole lot taller!
personally I dont give two hoots what other people do with their own horses but do smile at some of the comments that appear on these type of threads
1) The laws of gravity can not be broken. 12st is 12st no matter how 'light' a person rides. Oh and making your seat light just transfers the weight to the stirrups which are connected to the saddle which is still on the horses back so it is still carrying the same weight. I do agree that an unballanced 12st rider will be more damaging to the horse but no one can magically reduce 12st to 10st through balanced riding.
2) Whilst a horse may well be able to carry a particular weight without showing signs of distress you have to consider the long term, slow damage that will be occuring.
3) The average horse is rarely fit these days. 45 minutes in a school or an hours hack 5 times a week does not a fit horse make. Do not confuse the 16.1 4* event horse with the average. These horses are supremly fit in terms of muscle and are in a different league. Just because they can support 13 st bloke does not mean the same horse in average owner condition can.
4) What used to happen back in the old days does not fit modern times. Humans have got a lot bigger and heavier than they were 40 years ago and the horses a lot less fit. Comparison of welshie carrying farmer over the hills all day are not relevant. Horse would have been much fitter, ridder would have been a lot lighter and life expectancy of the horse a lot shorter.
5) Often the size of the modern human forces their weight further back in the saddle. Whilst bums have got bigger horses backs haven't so there is still a limit to lenght of saddle than can be used. If large bums are squished in to saddles then more of that weight will be towards the back and create pressure points.

Each person has to make their own judgement on what they deem acceptable but no one should be under estimate the fact that horses these days are expected to carry a lot more weight with a lot less muscle whislt having a much longer working life.
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Agree with all of this. Not so long ago the average weight of a man in the UK was regarded as 70kg(approx 11st).
 
khalswitz said:
This, this, this. And I'm even happy to attach a photo to demonstrate.

I am around 13 stone (fluctuate between 12 1/2 and 13), which for the discussion on this thread is like planetoid heavy. I am 5'10", and fairly curvy - but I have a little waist. I'm not as toned as i'd like to be, but I'm certainly not fat. I'm in the top end of my healthy range BMI for my height, but critically still within healthy.

Here I am, just a week or two ago, I'm on the left:

Question: how many of you would have said I was too heavy for your horse straight off? Not including very little, light TBs, or small but not stocky ponies?

I have broken and ridden away young Clydesdales, I've ridden Shetland x Highlands (albeit when a bit lighter than now), Eriskay ponies, Highlands on a regular basis, and I've had a 14.2hh Arabx Lipizzaner, a 15.2hh thin type TB, a 16.2hh WBx TB and my current 17hh TB. None have had any problems with my weight (except the small TB by the end, at age around 18).

How do I know they've had no problems? The yard I worked at for a long time hosted RDA as well s a riding school - we are well practiced in watching a horse for signs of struggling with weight.
Click to expand...

Looking at the bottom pic where you can see you properly and stood next to a horse I would have said you were around 12-12.5 stone and yes a bit heavy for my pony but she is a med/light weight 14.2
 
PaddyMonty said:
Aint that the truth and they are getting a whole lot taller!
personally I dont give two hoots what other people do with their own horses but do smile at some of the comments that appear on these type of threads
1) The laws of gravity can not be broken. 12st is 12st no matter how 'light' a person rides. Oh and making your seat light just transfers the weight to the stirrups which are connected to the saddle which is still on the horses back so it is still carrying the same weight. I do agree that an unballanced 12st rider will be more damaging to the horse but no one can magically reduce 12st to 10st through balanced riding.
2) Whilst a horse may well be able to carry a particular weight without showing signs of distress you have to consider the long term, slow damage that will be occuring.
3) The average horse is rarely fit these days. 45 minutes in a school or an hours hack 5 times a week does not a fit horse make. Do not confuse the 16.1 4* event horse with the average. These horses are supremly fit in terms of muscle and are in a different league. Just because they can support 13 st bloke does not mean the same horse in average owner condition can.
4) What used to happen back in the old days does not fit modern times. Humans have got a lot bigger and heavier than they were 40 years ago and the horses a lot less fit. Comparison of welshie carrying farmer over the hills all day are not relevant. Horse would have been much fitter, ridder would have been a lot lighter and life expectancy of the horse a lot shorter.
5) Often the size of the modern human forces their weight further back in the saddle. Whilst bums have got bigger horses backs haven't so there is still a limit to lenght of saddle than can be used. If large bums are squished in to saddles then more of that weight will be towards the back and create pressure points.

Each person has to make their own judgement on what they deem acceptable but no one should be under estimate the fact that horses these days are expected to carry a lot more weight with a lot less muscle whislt having a much longer working life.
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^^ This exactly. I agree with sarahw123 as well. If I were ever looking for someone to ride one of mine I'd probably be fairly strict with my weight limits - not because I have anything against a bigger rider but because I care about the comfort of my horses in the short-term and also their long-term fitness and health.
 
webble said:
Looking at the bottom pic where you can see you properly and stood next to a horse I would have said you were around 12-12.5 stone and yes a bit heavy for my pony but she is a med/light weight 14.2
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Which I would agree with - you wouldn't catch me on anything fine or lightweight. And being tall, and no twig either, I *look* too big for anything small and fine. I look spot on on my 17hh, short coupled, NH type TB, and whilst I look fine on Highlands/smaller but chunky horses like my Arab x Lipp,, I wouldn't be jumping on any fine types!
 
I agree with paddymonty. I have a 14.3hh heavy weight traditional cob who is adopted from WHW, due to her conformation they have put a weight limit of 10 stone for her.
There are a lot of factors to take into account when deciding the weight a horse can carry.
 
katherine1975 said:
I agree with paddymonty. I have a 14.3hh heavy weight traditional cob who is adopted from WHW, due to her conformation they have put a weight limit of 10 stone for her.
There are a lot of factors to take into account when deciding the weight a horse can carry.
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Yes, there are a lot of factors. Age, conformation, build, the horse's balance, the rider's balance, the activities you're doing, fitness of horse and rider...

However I am sensitive when people make comments about weight limits. I understand the right and tbh the sensible attitude of people protecting their horses, but weight threads always make me feel a bit down - I *know* I'm not fat, but when we hear about "increasing obesity" and how people need to slim down before riding... I already go to the gym 3x a week, row and play basketball, and eat sensibly. I'm just not designed to go any lighter without starving myself!
 
khalswitz said:
However I am sensitive when people make comments about weight limits. I understand the right and tbh the sensible attitude of people protecting their horses, but weight threads always make me feel a bit down - I *know* I'm not fat, but when we hear about "increasing obesity" and how people need to slim down before riding... I already go to the gym 3x a week, row and play basketball, and eat sensibly. I'm just not designed to go any lighter without starving myself!
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From the pic you posted I think you're 'lookin fine'
 
PaddyMonty said:
From the pic you posted I think you're 'lookin fine'
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In my head I know that I'm not overweight, but do you see where I am coming from? Being told routinely that increasing obesity levels are a problem and that people don't think about their horses joints etc... it is deceptive how much someone can weigh despite not being overweight, and yes we have to choose the right horses for the job, but when the 20% rule gets flouted about I do have to bite my tongue sometimes.
 
khalswitz said:
In my head I know that I'm not overweight, but do you see where I am coming from?
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Yes I do. Problem is far too many uninformed opinions are given as fact. A 14.2 should not or should easily etc.
There are far too many variables eg horse - build, age, conformation, fitness level, muscle tone rider - much the same as horse (expect age). Available saddle size, fit of saddle. Workload - 1 hour gentle hack or 3 day event. The list goes on and on. This is why I never reply to specific "am i too heavy for my horse" questions on here. Without seeing in the flesh as it were most cases are impossble to answer corectly. Only when you get to the extremes is it black and white.

PS my post used an aribiatry weight of 12st. I could just as easily have used 16st, 30st or 5st. Only point of my post was to despell some of the myths that are far too often posted.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Yes I do. Problem is far too many uninformed opinions are given as fact. A 14.2 should not or should easily etc.
There are far too many variables eg horse - build, age, conformation, fitness level, muscle tone rider - much the same as horse (expect age). Available saddle size, fit of saddle. Workload - 1 hour gentle hack or 3 day event. The list goes on and on. This is why I never reply to specific "am i too heavy for my horse" questions on here. Without seeing in the flesh as it were most cases are impossble to answer corectly. Only when you get to the extremes is it black and white.

PS my post used an aribiatry weight of 12st. I could just as easily have used 16st, 30st or 5st. Only point of my post was to despell some of the myths that are far too often posted.
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This is an excellent post that I feel all those 'am I too heavy' thread started should see :)
 
There is so much focus on how being overweight is bad for a horse for a number of reasons. I struggle to keep the weight off two of mine who are good doers. I feel that if they are already carrying excess weight of their own then it cannot be good to carry a rider who also has excess weight.
People expect my ID to be able to carry much larger riders but I'm not prepared to risk her joints and future soundness. I am not riding my 16.1 TB atm as at 63kg/5'7 I know I am too heavy for her. I also know that even an extra 2-3kg can affect my balance on a horse and I feel uncomfortable if I put any extra weight on which has put me off riding my recently backed Highland. Yes the highland can carry more weight than 65kg but as she is recently backed I want to build her up slowly and as I would increase the length of time she is ridden slowly I would also increase the weight she carries slowly too.

People are aware of how unhealthy it is for a horse itself to be overweight but fail to see how it may have a negative impact in later life if the rider is overweight. Just because a horse shows no immediate bad effects of excessive rider weight it doesn't mean that there won't be long term damage.
 
Khalswitz, you're not alone with that feeling. I also 'know' I am not overweight, however still feel bad when these threads come up and am currently trying to diet another half stone off. Part of the reason for that is so I'm a more acceptable riding weight, which on one side of things feels ridiculous but then gets reinforced again and again in the horse world that a more acceptable riding weight is closer to 11stone. Paddy and montys post does make a lot of sense though.
 
Khalswitz I'm with you ;). I really don't think many people know what some weights look like. Someone down the yard is a stone lighter than me but you wouldn't guess it (she was shocked and hasn't been the only surprised when I have told them my weight). Am still working on dropping a bit and am much much fitter than I was gym/run etc 3 times a week + riding. You'd be very welcome to ride Frank (14.2 welsh) any time!
 
My pony is 13.3 and a heavyweight cob, very chunky. I am 5'6 and 10stone. I feel happy on him and considering that we mainly hack out in walk with only a little trotting and very little cantering (hardly ever) I think its fine. I do think some limits seem a little far fetched and it does depend what you're doing with them. I am not eventing mine!
 
ester said:
Khalswitz I'm with you ;). I really don't think many people know what some weights look like. Someone down the yard is a stone lighter than me but you wouldn't guess it (she was shocked and hasn't been the only surprised when I have told them my weight). Am still working on dropping a bit and am much much fitter than I was gym/run etc 3 times a week + riding. You'd be very welcome to ride Frank (14.2 welsh) any time!
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Exactly this. I have a good friend (who won't mind me posting about her as we've had this discussion with other people a few times before) who is about three inches shorter than me, and has put on a lot of weight over the last six months, and is looking a little top heavy (she is trying to lose it now though). Looking at us, you would think she was the heavier of the two - and yet she is 1.5-2 stone lighter than me. I, however, probably *look* slimmer as I am much longer in the leg. And yet if we were both to post on here about our weights with no pictures, I would be told I need a HW cob whilst she would get away with riding a finer type.

I do heartily agree that we should be trying to protect our horses joints and keep them active longer, however a bog standard weight or height limit can be really deceptive, I think.

And thank you Ester for your loan of Frank :)
 
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