Well this is a can of worms

Spring Feather said:
Oops I'm lazy :o I only looked at the videos that were staring me in the face, and then only briefly. Maybe I should retract what I said earlier :o
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I think she's doing the best she can at the weight and level of fitness that she is. She says on the blog that she struggles to walk her son the few hundred yards to school, or walk her dogs at all, so I can imagine how difficult even basic schooling would be.
 
WelshD said:
I hope to goodness none of them stumble across this thread :(
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Well of course we were going to, it's the internet, everything gets found eventually.

I have found this an interesting read, first I do find it funny on so many forums that people attack "them" over there, while defending one of their own, I've seen it so often on COTH, when one of their own admit to a weight issue, the hens spread their collective wings and defend their insider, while still hurling insults over their shoulders at others.

Second, I had to laugh at the comments about FF, and their customer service, I am currently firmly in their target audience, but can't shop there any longer because I am unprofessional in my comments:eek: It's the first time that I have ever offered constructive advice to a business, and been told off for acting unprofessionally, as a customer...heck I'm still laughing at that one.

Third........I love it how people take one statement, slightly out of context and keep repeating it, trying to prove what an abusive and mistaken person I am.

I am Golden Horse from the Horseforum, and no actually I don't believe that the lack of a horse staggering means that he is OK with your weight, but by the same context I DO believe that if a horse staggers and re balances itself when you mount, then heck yes you are to heavy for it. So that comment was solely in response to those who deemed that my little Haflinger looked like a good match, she clearly wasn't, she was unhappy with my weight. The spotty guy however, well again as stated in the HoFo thread, he was rock solid when I got on, hence the smile, and again as stated, there was a huge online debate about the pic as to if he was big enough to carry me, and as you can see from the pics, I lost a lot of weight to enjoy him even more.

What you can't see in pics, and always shocked people in real life is just how solid that boy was, he has been sold since and now is with a guy learning to be a rope horse.

Of course any pic posted is going to be discussed, but for those who are being truly spiteful in your comments, I think that reflects more about you, than about the larger riders. I put my story out there, with pride when I lost 140 pounds, with shame when I gained 100 back, it's life it happens. I'm proud of the fact I quit smoking, hang on.....4 years, 8 months 3 days, 22 hours ago, and counting, I'm proud of the fact that I can take or leave a drink now. I'm not proud that I, so far, cannot win the war against this weight, but I am still fighting, and that in itself is a victory.

But for some of you, if the cap fits wear it, remember, that I have been thinner, I will be again, but it's quite possible that you will still be a bitch, unless you try and change
 
Well exactly rhino- she doesn't seem to correctly ride downward transitions, but collapses forward. I would recommend becoming a lot fitter before riding, improving core strength to help keep body weight in the correct place throughout transitions, but not putting more weight on the horse's forehand. :)
 
rhino said:
I think she's doing the best she can at the weight and level of fitness that she is. She says on the blog that she struggles to walk her son the few hundred yards to school, or walk her dogs at all, so I can imagine how difficult even basic schooling would be.
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Oh :( I haven't read the blog. I can't imagine living like that.
 
I think the point about clothes size not being an accurate guide is very important. I know that so-called 'vanity sizing' caught me out for a while. Of course we all know that there's variation between different sizes in different shops, but I hadn't realised that they've gradually increased the measurements for ALL sizes. A size 10 now is NOT the same as it was years ago. I bet I wasn't the only one who was misled.
I'd always believed that designer clothing was 'vanity sized' (some makes anyway, definitely not Versace!) but then I realised one day that Next (which I'd always taken as a safe benchmark) had gradually changed the measurements on all their clothes. I got up to my heaviest at 11 stone 4 - at the time I was eventing my v big wb lad of 18h + so I didn't die of guilt, but I really didn't like the size of my backside! I kept convincing myself I was ok because I was still a size 12 in Next... hmmmm....
Now I'm a stone lighter (working on that last few pounds, argh) and Next says I'm a size 8-10. No WAY am I a size 8, I honestly doubt my skeleton would be! I'm a 10-12... but my Next jeans are size 8. Crazy.
Re: weight/height. Size 20 at 12 stone is, I'm sorry to say it, pretty much invariably going to be very short with chunky legs. This is NOT the ideal shape for a rider who wants to stay in the saddle... so then we touch a bit on the safety aspect. More likely to fall off, AND going to fall more heavily because of the additional weight. :( :( :(
 
Hi Big Ben, welcome and I am sorry you had to be introduced to us in this way. If you look past some of the comments, I think you will find that many have the equines interest at heart, practicality and simple facts. Its just the way of this forum. You should have seen the bashing barefooters/natural horsemanship/cob owners get, now that makes this lot seem tame!!! Really hope you succeed being your ideal weight again so you can enjoy the good life with your equines :)
 
Exactly Kerilli! I am now a size 0. I am sorry but there is no way I am, or ever will be a true size 0. Before all this resizing nonsense, I was a 8 or 10 size depending on the manufacturer. So yes, size 20 is no longer size 20, more like 26 or 28 probably.
 
Spring Feather said:
Exactly Kerilli! I am now a size 0. I am sorry but there is no way I am, or ever will be a true size 0. Before all this resizing nonsense, I was a 8 or 10 size depending on the manufacturer. So yes, size 20 is no longer size 20, more like 26 or 28 probably.
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Ooh!! You skinny bitch!!! I am going to bully you now. So there !! :D
 
FfionWinnie said:
I'm sure some have died from all sorts of problems which is extremely sad however I'm sure you will agree that not all obese people have liver problems making them thus. I do not have any medical problems at all although you could probably say I have an eating disorder if you wanted to be pedantic due to my relationship with food.

All of my family and most of my extended family have weight problems in various stages of control, all caused by over eating no one has any medical problems. (incidentally my daughter is not over weight and I have encouraged healthy eating habits in her to the enth degree)

I'm sure not everyone with liver problems is obese either.
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It was a specific reference to FAMINE and obesity - which you made a specific reference to. One which I felt had little understanding of how starvation affects the body. The fatter you are, the more likely you are to have hepatic problems with crash dieting/famine. I am not obese but some of my (non riding friends) are - and I feel for them when people without health problems think dieting is as easy as smaller portions and not eating junk food.

I agree with you that obese people don't necessarily have liver problems. Obese starving people however........................
 
Re the liver disease - over the many years of my life I have known many people that are obese, as I said earlier some in my own immediate family, but none of them have liver disease. Type 2 diabetes, heart & joint problems arising from being overweight, yes. I've only known a couple of people with liver disease (cancer) & both have had less weight than a piece of paper.
 
Is the bitch cap available in ff sizes too I wonder? Only I imagine given their thoughts on slim people they'll need quite a few. Maybe a new line for md fuller, available in zebra print.
 
hairycob said:
Re the liver disease - over the many years of my life I have known many people that are obese, as I said earlier some in my own immediate family, but none of them have liver disease. Type 2 diabetes, heart & joint problems arising from being overweight, yes. I've only known a couple of people with liver disease (cancer) & both have had less weight than a piece of paper.
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Re the liver disease... That comment was about starving people. In Africa I think. It wasn't the cleverest comment but your reply was a little off the point :)
 
Spring Feather said:
Big Ben I was with you, and enjoyed your post, right up to the last paragraph. Shame. It has tainted my impression of what sort of person you really are now.
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Yes.

For me a rider's battle with weight is not the issue, the only issue is whether the horses are suitable mounts for their rider's weight.
 
Hollycat,

If you go to a poorer country you won't find anywhere near as many obese people as you do in the west even without a famine. Nothing to do with liver disease - just eating less compared to levels of activity
 
hairycob said:
Re the liver disease - over the many years of my life I have known many people that are obese, as I said earlier some in my own immediate family, but none of them have liver disease. Type 2 diabetes, heart & joint problems arising from being overweight, yes. I've only known a couple of people with liver disease (cancer) & both have had less weight than a piece of paper.
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Same here. One of my longterm friends is forever battling the weight. She says she cannot understand why she is so large when she used to be the same size as me a million years ago when we were both teenagers. I'm not sure why she can't understand it though. Perhaps she is blinkered to size of portions I eat in comparison to the portions she eats. That and I don't go back for seconds or thirds. And even more rare is me eating desserts whilst she lives in pudding heaven, glugging down her mega sized diet cokes. She's quite lovely though. If only she'd stop trying to make excuses for being fat. I have incidentally told her she's fat because she eats too much and drinks all that diet coke rubbish. She just laughed :D
 
tallyho! said:
Hi Big Ben, welcome and I am sorry you had to be introduced to us in this way. If you look past some of the comments, I think you will find that many have the equines interest at heart, practicality and simple facts. Its just the way of this forum. You should have seen the bashing barefooters/natural horsemanship/cob owners get, now that makes this lot seem tame!!! Really hope you succeed being your ideal weight again so you can enjoy the good life with your equines :)
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OH, I see now I could of multi quoted :o

People bash cob owners?? As an English transplant to Canada, tell me that isn't so:eek:

Bare foot, natural horsemanship?? Picks up security blanket and backs slowly and quietly away............
 
hairycob said:
Hollycat,

If you go to a poorer country you won't find anywhere near as many obese people as you do in the west even without a famine. Nothing to do with liver disease - just eating less compared to levels of activity
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Yes, I live in one of these countries so I totally agree with you. But it annoys me when someone with no medical/science background makes statements that all fat people need to do is diet. Since starvation/famine was specifically mentioned I though I would throw it out there - probably since in nutrition class yesterday we were going over this issue!
 
Big Ben said:
Sorry about that, I was feeling a little (lot) bitchy at that point, I know that it will be hard, but I will try and change that impression.
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Well I've been on this forum on and off for 10 years and I'd say most people on here rarely bear grudges. Perhaps you just had a moment :) that's okay, we all have our moments
 
Big Ben, thanks for your contribution and for putting a story behind the face and pics.
I'd just like to put one point across though... I don't think a horse staggering or not staggering, bracing or not bracing, is any kind of good indicator of whether it can carry a person without damage.
I've backed quite a lot of horses, all of a good size (16h ish upwards) and age (5 or 6, I delay it because I'm not 7 stone!) and all when I've been 10 stone ish. Some staggered and braced when I first got on, some didn't. It depended on their stance at the time and their individual balance. Some wobbled a bit on the first circles, some strode out like a pro. All were skeletally strong enough and big enough for my weight...
The last time I rode something I was definitely too big for it was a 13.2 kids' pony with serious attitude, bucking kids off for the fun of it. I got on and schooled it because there really wasn't anyone else around who was capable, unfortunately. No way was I the right size (I'm 5'10") or weight (about 10.5 stone then) for that pony, but needs must, a kid was going to end up hurt, so I sorted it. It did not stagger or brace, it carried me just fine for the 20 mins or so it took to reinstall its manners. I would not have kept riding it for the world, even though it SEEMED perfectly happy. My weight would NOT have done its back any good at all, long term...
Just my experience of horses bracing/staggering under my weight, or not...
 
Big Ben said:
OH, I see now I could of multi quoted :o

People bash cob owners?? As an English transplant to Canada, tell me that isn't so:eek:

Bare foot, natural horsemanship?? Picks up security blanket and backs slowly and quietly away............
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Yup! Some of it is hilarious! Just have a search and prepare for a night of some good reading!! :D

Some of the best have been removed... Such a shame, but probs for the best. The forum loves a good bashing, it doesn't really matter what is being bashed. Just join in, it's fine really. As they say, it is full of opinionated.. Um.. What did Suzanne call us again? Whatever, i think she is the other end of the spectrum than what you think is bad in here. Theres CARE behind them there jokes :D But in all honesty we are a lovely bunch at heart, it's the mick taking that can get quite personal. I do honestly believe that this is the only place you can have a proper debate with no bias and I have really enjoyed it here and learnt such a lot. I hope you will stay and enjoy it too :)
 
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littlelegs said:
Yes, the good old 'fat bashing excuse'. Obviously being overweight means you can't possibly be wrong, cruel or responsible for your own actions, anyone who comments negatively must just be picking on you because of your size. I find that attitude ruder than anything I've said. I judge people as individuals, idiots come in all shapes & sizes, being overweight doesn't entitle you to be excused from wrong. I assume those horrified at so called 'fat bashing' are equally disgusted by the 'skinny bashing' too. Although the general consensus on ff is otherwise. So me possibly offending someone too heavy for their horse isn't on, but causing physical pain to a horse is ok. I'll stick with my own morals thanks.
Lula- excellent post.
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Amen Sista ;)

In other words, I agree to this post :)

Oh, and I may have felt the need to comment on that facebook link ;)
 
Beans2000 said:
Kerilli I can't quote but I don't think at 10 stone you would do much damage to a 13.2hh pony...
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Hmm, I was 10.5 stone, + clothes, + tack... prob getting up to 11.5 - 12 stone. I call that a lot for a 13.2 pony. It wasn't a chunky leg-at-each-corner sort, put it that way, it was a quality little thing. Oh, and my feet would prob have touched under its tummy...

anyway, BigBen, I hope you'll stick around, as this is a good place, honestly!
 
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