Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
No idea clava, but the us is a lot bigger anyway so easier to find like minded freaks with a bigger population. I've certainly seen something similar here, think it was a Facebook group a while back iirc.
Well this is a can of worms
- Thread starter sunleychops
- Start date
Wagtail
Horse servant
Polotash
Well-Known Member
Did anyone read as far as the discussion on people getting their "excess flesh", bra's and "pants" hung up on the horn of their western saddles?! I know I shouldn't but I did snigger/ cringe!
Buds_mum
Well-Known Member
is anyone looking at the pics on that forum with a face like this 
*some* look fine, on good stocky (i presume qh? and cobby types) others are on like what look 14hh shp!!! madness really.
*some* look fine, on good stocky (i presume qh? and cobby types) others are on like what look 14hh shp!!! madness really.
touchstone
Well-Known Member
I'd agree with this; one comment on the other forum was the the horse 'didn't once stagger with me', as if this is how you judge a horse is overloaded
I agree that the saddle seems to be being marketed for overweight larger riders rather than taller riders, the simple fact that it is being made by 'fuller fillies' alone suggests it is.
We have managed for centuries without using such large saddles, seems sad that we are resorting to them now.
Polotash
Well-Known Member
I'd agree with this; one comment on the other forum was the the horse 'didn't once stagger with me', as if this is how you judge a horse is overloaded
Totally agree.
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I agree with the majority who think that a 22" saddle is going to be too big for nearly every horse.
I use a 171/2 or 18" saddle on my 16hh horse, but he is both broad and quite long backed, and I need the man's saddle (as it was sold to me) as I have a long thigh, but I don't have big backside.
What about the old army style saddles? I have used one of these at a trecking centre, where the saddles were designed so that even if the rider sat at the back of the saddle in a slumped position, they were not sitting on the b ack of the saddle as the weight bearing bars extended behind the seat - but they didn't go back all that far, and they used a good thick saddle pad underneath.
Looking at the photo it is more about being broad sideways rather than length.
I use a 171/2 or 18" saddle on my 16hh horse, but he is both broad and quite long backed, and I need the man's saddle (as it was sold to me) as I have a long thigh, but I don't have big backside.
What about the old army style saddles? I have used one of these at a trecking centre, where the saddles were designed so that even if the rider sat at the back of the saddle in a slumped position, they were not sitting on the b ack of the saddle as the weight bearing bars extended behind the seat - but they didn't go back all that far, and they used a good thick saddle pad underneath.
Looking at the photo it is more about being broad sideways rather than length.
AmyMay
Situation normal
Do you think you should be 'fit' to ride? Or fit really to do any of our chosen sports?
Wagtail
Horse servant
What gets me, is that they do not feel ashamed or embarassed about it. If I was unfortunate enough to put on that much weight, there is no way I would sit on a horse, not only because I would feel cruel, but because I would worry about what other people would think. I have always been skinny until the past year when I was put onto some pills to help with my severe morning sickness (non pregnancy related). The pills give me a ravenous appetite and I piled on 20 pounds in 4 months. Okay, so that only took me to ten and a half stone, half a stone of which I have now lost. But I have, for the first time in my life had to deal with being a foodaholic. I totally get why these people cannot stop eating. It is REALLY HARD. I lost the half stone but it is a constant daily battle not to pile the weight back on. Of course, I could just come off the pills, and I tried that, but found that I couldn't function as my nausea had more than doubled in intensity. I don't mind staying on them though as they have completely stopped my migraines and my allergic itching. However, I now have rolls of fat that I never have had before and I HATE it. What I am saying, is that I know how hard it is to resist food when you are a foodie, but it can be done, and getting/staying slim enough to ride should be a major incentive.
Montyforever
Well-Known Member
All the heavy horses I have known (cobs/shires/Clydesdale/percherons etc) have all been short backed so can't see many of them taking a 22inch saddle! I'm not skinny but felt fine in a 18inch saddle ..
Beausmate
Well-Known Member
Yep, I read it. With a kind of horrified fascination
I reckon some of those women must weigh nearly as much as the horses they're squashing. Certainly more than 20% of the horses' weight anyway.
rhino
Well-Known Member
TBH I think *most* of the riders on the linked thread look fine, and there are some stunning horses and ponies and some great looking partnerships.
I'm more stunned at the state of the horses and the ill fitting tack (upside down bits and bridles put on back to front - i.e. browband behind ears ). Think I'll stick to CoTH
I'm more stunned at the state of the horses and the ill fitting tack (upside down bits and bridles put on back to front - i.e. browband behind ears
). Think I'll stick to CoTH Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
I also hate the way these debates always end up with people thinking its fat bashing, when its really down to the horses ability to carry you.
Hippona
Well-Known Member
Anyone noticed a lot of the horses have odd stances, and very few seem to be tracking up...
One actually looks to be sinking slowly into the ground.....
Buds_mum
Well-Known Member
Polotash
Well-Known Member
Just spat tea everywhere
Haha, me too. Seriously tho, imagine them riding over soft sand or new forest bog... the horse would literally sink, the rider wouldn't be nimble enough to bale, and the pair would end up stuck. Not funny when you think it through :0(
Hippona
Well-Known Member
I mean...come one.
Surely when you can't get off your horse because 'excess flesh' is getting in the way its time to trim at least a little bit off.....
Surely when you can't get off your horse because 'excess flesh' is getting in the way its time to trim at least a little bit off.....
mcnaughty
Well-Known Member
I don't believe the 22" relates to the flap length but the seat length - not sure what this would have to do with the length of someone's legs???
FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
Anyone noticed a lot of the horses have odd stances, and very few seem to be tracking up...
One actually looks to be sinking slowly into the ground.....
I only got to page 19 but the appy early on is kind of a perfect example. It looks miserable in every pic except the one where she is slimmed down.
sunleychops
Well-Known Member
Its probably terrified of being eaten
Batgirl
Well-Known Member
Absolutely I do, and I am an athlete hence knowing my body very well (my chosen sports include playing rugby north of England, county netball, hockey and basketball, badminton and horseriding). Fit and heavy aren't mutually exclusive, neither are fit and fat (though tend to be more so)
If the comment had said you know when you are too unfit/unbalanced to ride I would have agreed totally
Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
Pmsl! I think in the last pic on the first page 'me squashing dancer on a trail' the poster is using the 20% guide. Unfortunately, the wrong way round with poor horse weighing 20% of what she does.
Batgirl
Well-Known Member
The thread started as fat bashing (including the comment that incensed me), people still make sweeping statements along the lines of no one over 13st should ride (though admittedly not on this one yet). Though there are some very balanced and educated views often the ones that get noticed are rude, thoughtless and plain wrong (in my opinion
).Haven't looked at the thread that everyone's looking at but as several people have pointed out including you it about the horses ability to comfortably carry you and the combination of horse and rider.
AmyMay
Situation normal
So your weight is muscle, as opposed to fat then - which of course is a different kettle of fish all together, I agree.
sunleychops
Well-Known Member
Just to point out I have no problem with muscular or bigger built people riding,
Its just amorphous fat blobs just wobbling about on top of a horse far too small for them that gets me
Its just amorphous fat blobs just wobbling about on top of a horse far too small for them that gets me
FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
I am not laughing, really I'm not
. I am laughing at the skinny people who have clearly posted to be told they are not plus size. I am still looking at the thread. It's addictive.
FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
Oh hell. These folk wouldn't last five mins in here. Post 327 has the bridle on back to front.
Batgirl
Well-Known Member
mandwhy
Well-Known Member
I don't see why they shouldn't manufacture such a saddle if it is suitable for horse and rider. True most horses I know wouldn't take much more than 18 inch but every now and then I see a picture or hear about an 18 or 19 hand horse and think 'that must be the biggest horse I've seen' so if its fitted professionally, why not, and sometimes the seat is bigger than the panels to give a little bit more space. Better spread the weight than perching on top of a too small saddle!
I do find the attitudes of some people in the UK quite ludicrous when it comes to weight limits, trouble is these decisions seem to be made by 9 stone women and the thought of anyone weighing 5 or 6 stone more than them riding any horse doesn't make sense to them. I have a big tall fitness obsessed south African friend who was going to go trail riding in SA and wanted to have a brush up lesson or two first, couldn't find a riding school to take him as he is about 16 stone and built, not even those that clearly had heavy weight hunters and draught horses. What did he ride over there? Some 15 hand Arab type of course!
Likewise their uncle breeds Arabs for endurance and is of similar height and weight. He obviously doesn't know anything about horses though because he is not a bhs gold member ;-)
Whether you have to be fit to ride depends on how fit you mean, I am overweight but not really drastically so for my height, I am fit enough as I do a fair bit of walking and the usual horse related chores help, but I wouldn't say I'd be much good at running or those sorts of intensive cardio sports.
I do find the attitudes of some people in the UK quite ludicrous when it comes to weight limits, trouble is these decisions seem to be made by 9 stone women and the thought of anyone weighing 5 or 6 stone more than them riding any horse doesn't make sense to them. I have a big tall fitness obsessed south African friend who was going to go trail riding in SA and wanted to have a brush up lesson or two first, couldn't find a riding school to take him as he is about 16 stone and built, not even those that clearly had heavy weight hunters and draught horses. What did he ride over there? Some 15 hand Arab type of course!
Likewise their uncle breeds Arabs for endurance and is of similar height and weight. He obviously doesn't know anything about horses though because he is not a bhs gold member ;-)
Whether you have to be fit to ride depends on how fit you mean, I am overweight but not really drastically so for my height, I am fit enough as I do a fair bit of walking and the usual horse related chores help, but I wouldn't say I'd be much good at running or those sorts of intensive cardio sports.