welsch cobs - weight of rider

[tiree_88]

I have a 14.2hh 19 yrs old welsh cob. she has been riden all her life in shows and also in a riding school. a year ago she developed arthritis in her back coffin joint and is still rideable but is sometimes a bit lame. i am over 14st in weight at the moment, but do not intend to be for long and would like an opinion on whether i should loose some weight before carrying on riding. i feel like iam to heavy but some people tell me i am not and would like a majority vote as i dont want to make her pain worse?

 

[piebaldsparkle]

If she wasn't 19 and with lameness issues, I would say no, but in her case, probably yes. I guess if you feel she isn't coping with your weight, you are probably too heavy.

 

[Pedantic]

Tricky one here, I got chucked off a forum for trying to answer a similar question, maybe some one else could try

I think you allready know the answer in your own heart, 19, arthritic, 14 stone, and you should be what for your height ?

 

[Smash]

Given her condition, I think 14 stone is a bit much.

 

[JessPickle]

I would agree with everything above, we have a horse of a simular age and with problems with lameness and I think 14 stone would be a bit much for him

 

[Baileyboo]

I weigh just over 11 stone and sometimes worry that I am too heavy for my 14.2 welsh cob, I think that I agree with the others and would say that if she is already having problems it may be a bit much. I also think though that you should trust your own judgement, perhaps a little bit of slow hacking is doing more good than harm as it is keeping her in work?

 

[MagicMelon]

I would also agree with the above. If the horse was perfectly healthy and younger then you probably would have been ok, but if she's old and sore already... I also think she should only be ridden if its necessary to keep her supple.