What Do YOU Think Is Too Big?

I am not questioning the validity of this thread in any way but is it just me or does it seem to be entirely populated by women worried about there weight none of which IMHO seem to be of an unhealthy weight. I think we need a male opinion they don't seem to worry are they more pragmatic? Do they have less weight issues? How do they manage to ride at all being taller and heavier?
 
I personally think this post is aload of rubbish, if your horse cant carry you, then you are too big, its not about how much you weigh or how much fat you have. I'm 9 stone and i ride a 14.2hh connie x tb and she doesn't have any difficulty carrying me, she could probably carry another 2st. People need to stop worrying about how much they weigh unless their horse is actually struggling!
 
teamsarazara said:
I personally think this post is aload of rubbish, if your horse cant carry you, then you are too big, its not about how much you weigh or how much fat you have. I'm 9 stone and i ride a 14.2hh connie x tb and she doesn't have any difficulty carrying me, she could probably carry another 2st. People need to stop worrying about how much they weigh unless their horse is actually struggling!
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I totally disagree - surely it's our responsibility as owners to ensure we don't get to the stage where a horse is struggling before we realise something is wrong!

Same as saying it doesn't matter if the saddle fits - as long as the horse keeps jumping... My horse is a tough, hardy soul who will NOT let on if something is bothering him; I have to be ultra careful (although luckily my weight is not an issue).
 
rhino said:
I totally disagree - surely it's our responsibility as owners to ensure we don't get to the stage where a horse is struggling before we realise something is wrong!

Same as saying it doesn't matter if the saddle fits - as long as the horse keeps jumping... My horse is a tough, hardy soul who will NOT let on if something is bothering him; I have to be ultra careful (although luckily my weight is not an issue).
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I understand what you mean, I haven't been in the situation where i have needed to reconsider as a long term issue as all my horses have been projects. If horses are fit, healthy and well built enough i dont see why they cant carry an extra bit of weight. Most riding schools have a weight limit of 16 stone. Most of the horses being cobs/highland types, I don't think any post that i have seen has said they are over 16 stone and most of the horses have been cobby. Just seems a bit of a moan to me. Very important issue but some people seem far too worried about what others think.
 
I don't think anyone on this thread looks too big for the horse or pony they are riding either.

I think a lot of people are reacting to an earlier thread (don't know if it is still here or was deleted) where an overweight owner was riding a very old, lame horse yet seemed oblivious to anyone's suggestions.

This upset quite a few posters and spawned a few threads like this one.
 
rhino said:
I don't think anyone on this thread looks too big for the horse or pony they are riding either.

I think a lot of people are reacting to an earlier thread (don't know if it is still here or was deleted) where an overweight owner was riding a very old, lame horse yet seemed oblivious to anyone's suggestions.

This upset quite a few posters and spawned a few threads like this one.
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I was aware there was an older post but didn't see it and wasn't aware it was quite as bad as that:( x
 
Wow! A whole thread where I'm allowed to comment on girls'/women's weights!

Wow!

Seriously though, here are my impressions....

[Feel free to hate me, I'm a naturally chunky person who looses weight for specific reasons (ballet, coxing, pulling...) and then rides smaller ponies when I can. I used to ride at a place with a scales in the corner... if you were over their limits in riding gear you didn't get on and only got put on something more suitable if there was one. So, I'm very used to people looking at my weight when riding... as we all should be. But I still think all the posters are very brave for putting themselves out here - well done!]

OP - I agree with you, first is a little small for you in those pics, second looks more in proportion

MissC - it can be hard to tell in a BP as they fit ppl so differently but I think you'll look better on that horse with the new lower weight (or even a bit less)

Holly Hocks - yes, you do look out of proportion. You don't have to be at all heavy for your height to be too tall/heavy (looking) for the horse.

AndiK - look fine, although wouldn't want you taller on your horse (love the way he looks at the camera in the second pic!). You look too tall (and as a consequence of that too heavy) on the Welshie.

madeleine1 - the pony is chunky which helps but yes, certainly not a long term option for you

jaspejoo - you look a tiny bit tall but your mum doesn't. Having said that you're probably a better weight.

Ilovefoals - loosing a few pounds (or just the body warmer?) would look nicer but really not much

welshcobabe - I really can't tell from that picture but I think you're probably fine

Tazhazzamoose - you look too big on her (not fat, just out of proportion, outgrown, whatever...) Personally I'd put you on something a fair bit larger, especially if you're taller now.

JFTD - not too bad but you look better on the bigger one

madeleine1 - sorry, I'd like to see you a little slimmer on that horse

Toffee44 - same for Samba I think

GlamourPuss86 - you look OK for the horse (although black top is flattering!)

Janah - I think you look fine, a little tall but so what? (you're right he is fat in the pic though!)

unbalanced - you look tall so with her health issues you might need to cause yourself some (starvation ;-)) to keep riding her. You don't look too heavy in that pic for a healthy horse of that size though

GeeGeeboy - hard to tell from that perspective... your weight sounded a lot for his height but when I scrolled down you looked surprisingly in proportion weight-wise just a bit tall

Some People - *giggle* /gorgeous/ horse :-)

animal - you look a bit tall but not too heavy

PS: where I've said someone looks too heavy I mean 'for that particular horse' not too heavy in general/for their health/appearance/whatever.

And there is obviously no harm in being 'too tall/short' as long as both you and horse are happy, it is only a question of how we're used to things looking.
 
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Not read all replies soz, thread far too long. Just wanted to add, I'm generally far less concerned by riders' weight, than I am by bad riding. Tight knees and unforgiving hands are far more common and in my opinion far more likely to make it so much harder for a horse to do its job that rider weight ever will in our society.
 
Come on then Tickles - let's see some photos of you on your horse as you've commented on all of us. in response to your comment, I am 5'6" and 10stone 3lb - my aim is to get down to 8 stone for her to be able to carry me more easily, but it doesn't drop off overnight!!
 
Gah - sorry but I've only skim read all the replies :o

But so far I haven't seen anyone mention the fact that most ponies/horses muscle up to the weight they have to carry (obviously within reason and not the extremes). Its the same as any "normal" person getting their horse fit for the job, ie hunting, a horse will muscle up to its routine whatever sphere that may be.

As an example - we have a 15hh well built Welsh D x - so on paper she should be perfectly capable of carrying a decent weight. However her everyday riders, her owner and my daughter are total skinny lightweights and therefore I wouldn't dream of allowing a heavy rider to take her hunting for the day because she simply isn't muscled up for it.

As an observation however, every year we seem to get a large group of Haflinger owners come down around the Golden Horseshoe time and I watched them recently. A string of Haflingers all in very good shape except the only one that was being ridden by a very large rider and that pony stood out as being much thinner and dipped backed than the others. Obviously there may be a hundred explanations as to why but if that pony had had that rider for some time - it certainly showed in its shape!
 
Do we have a double-standard for men and women?

If I told you I was 14 and a half stone and riding our 16hh Clydie X, would you say I was too heavy? My OH weighs that, he is 6'1" and trim and muscley rather than fat, he's also a novice and I know draught horses are designed more for pulling than carrying but Jack manages just fine...

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Holly Hocks, sorry no pics of me/horses I ride as I don't own my own but do sometimes comment on the ones I share and don't want to upset the owners. TBH I think your target weight might make you a little thin as you didn't look too big for yourself now if you see what I mean. It is just that my personal preference would be to see you on a slightly larger/chunkier mount.

As a guide though the smallest I've happily regularly ridden is a chunky 14something Weshie at 8stone something and at 9stone something ride 15/15something TB/Arab types. Having said that I do ride larger horses as and when.

domane I've (un)happily told (quite slim) chaps on here they sound too heavy for their ponies. Your OH looks OK, if tall, on your horse. Probably about the upper limit though.
 
My haffy was weigh bridged last week, also fat scored. I have been weigh taping him as he was over the end of the tape two years ago, so well over 700 kg. His current weight on the tape is 475kg, but the bridge was 595kg. His fat sore was overall 3, do not bad for a fat haffy. Any way going on the 20 percent he can carry 18.7 stone !!!!!!!!!!! He is 14.2. Also as I have said before, with tack my 3 year old son would be too heavy for our 11.2 pony. Weight is always a tough subject, if you are fat or skinny, it is about having some common sence.
 
Tickles said:
Wow! A whole thread where I'm allowed to comment on girls'/women's weights!

Wow!

Seriously though, here are my impressions....

[Feel free to hate me, I'm a naturally chunky person who looses weight for specific reasons (ballet, coxing, pulling...) and then rides smaller ponies when I can. I used to ride at a place with a scales in the corner... if you were over their limits in riding gear you didn't get on and only got put on something more suitable if there was one. So, I'm very used to people looking at my weight when riding... as we all should be. But I still think all the posters are very brave for putting themselves out here - well done!]

OP - I agree with you, first is a little small for you in those pics, second looks more in proportion

MissC - it can be hard to tell in a BP as they fit ppl so differently but I think you'll look better on that horse with the new lower weight (or even a bit less)

Holly Hocks - yes, you do look out of proportion. You don't have to be at all heavy for your height to be too tall/heavy (looking) for the horse.

AndiK - look fine, although wouldn't want you taller on your horse (love the way he looks at the camera in the second pic!). You look too tall (and as a consequence of that too heavy) on the Welshie.

madeleine1 - the pony is chunky which helps but yes, certainly not a long term option for you

jaspejoo - you look a tiny bit tall but your mum doesn't. Having said that you're probably a better weight.

Ilovefoals - loosing a few pounds (or just the body warmer?) would look nicer but really not much

welshcobabe - I really can't tell from that picture but I think you're probably fine

Tazhazzamoose - you look too big on her (not fat, just out of proportion, outgrown, whatever...) Personally I'd put you on something a fair bit larger, especially if you're taller now.

JFTD - not too bad but you look better on the bigger one

madeleine1 - sorry, I'd like to see you a little slimmer on that horse

Toffee44 - same for Samba I think

GlamourPuss86 - you look OK for the horse (although black top is flattering!)

Janah - I think you look fine, a little tall but so what? (you're right he is fat in the pic though!)

unbalanced - you look tall so with her health issues you might need to cause yourself some (starvation ;-)) to keep riding her. You don't look too heavy in that pic for a healthy horse of that size though

GeeGeeboy - hard to tell from that perspective... your weight sounded a lot for his height but when I scrolled down you looked surprisingly in proportion weight-wise just a bit tall

Some People - *giggle* /gorgeous/ horse :-)

animal - you look a bit tall but not too heavy

PS: where I've said someone looks too heavy I mean 'for that particular horse' not too heavy in general/for their health/appearance/whatever.

And there is obviously no harm in being 'too tall/short' as long as both you and horse are happy, it is only a question of how we're used to things looking.
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i didnt ever see the first one as i perminant option but as the situation was very difficult he definately got more good then bad from me and the second pic of my horse, i agree with you to a certain extent. i am currently at her 20% with all my riding gear on and tack in hand. well i was before i dropped half a stone in a month and a half and i plan on loosing 2 more in the next year or so. this is for my health and to make her job easy. however if i stayed the same i dont believe it would have any detrimental effects on her as she has back and tack checks and i got 2 vets opinions and 5 riding instructures points of view on my weight and her work. i got these opinions as she is my first horse and ive never had to consider it before as my riding school always made the decisions on which horse when i was at the differant weights. if however i gained more more wiegh then i was a month and a half ago i would let my friend ride her and get my weight down before riding regualy again.

seperate issue sort of. i believe the 20% should be taken from the horses desired weight. as if the horse is overweight that means it can carry less not more surely? as it has its own added weight to carry. my horse is at her desired weight btw throught some seriously hard work with her feed and exercise management. wish i was better at doing that with me
 
Holly Hocks said:
Come on then Tickles - let's see some photos of you on your horse as you've commented on all of us. in response to your comment, I am 5'6" and 10stone 3lb - my aim is to get down to 8 stone for her to be able to carry me more easily, but it doesn't drop off overnight!!
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not meaning to be rude i haven't read anything about your horse so feel free to correct me but at 10.3 you are a perfectly healthy weight but to get to 8 stone would be verging on unhealthily underweight just saying because the only way i'd ever get to that weight (i'm an inch taller) was to be very ill and there was no way i'd have the energy to even climb on board let alone ride
 
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Tickles said:
domane I've (un)happily told (quite slim) chaps on here they sound too heavy for their ponies. Your OH looks OK, if tall, on your horse. Probably about the upper limit though.
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Yes.... he swamps most things, unfortunately because it turns out he's very long in his body. I'm 5'6" and wear 32" leg trousers. He is 6'1" and wears 33", thus proving that 6" of his height is above his hips!!! We only worked this out recently when he started riding Jack and I said "how come you look so tall on him?" :D
 
domane said:
Yes.... he swamps most things, unfortunately because it turns out he's very long in his body. I'm 5'6" and wear 32" leg trousers. He is 6'1" and wears 33", thus proving that 6" of his height is above his hips!!! We only worked this out recently when he started riding Jack and I said "how come you look so tall on him?" :D
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Interesting but I think he looks fine - specially if a novice. Having scared my OH with larger horses, I think better to keep as you are. Men do look lighter than they are though alot of the time. Wonder how messers Stockdale and co fare on the scales
 
Tickles said:
AndiK - look fine, although wouldn't want you taller on your horse (love the way he looks at the camera in the second pic!). You look too tall (and as a consequence of that too heavy) on the Welshie.

PS: where I've said someone looks too heavy I mean 'for that particular horse' not too heavy in general/for their health/appearance/whatever.

And there is obviously no harm in being 'too tall/short' as long as both you and horse are happy, it is only a question of how we're used to things looking.
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To be fair I weighed about 8 stone in that pic of the Welshie :D I have long leg syndrome though.... Like a female Fox Pitt :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
this is me on my 3yo which I have just broken in, she is 13hh approx, im 5'4, she will obviously chunk out a bit and maybe go up another inch, I wont grow any more ;)
Im happy riding her, she doesnt feel too small and seems fine with my weight & height.
In fact I have a theory, if I cant see over a horses back it too big for me, hence I have never owned a horse as such and stuck with ponies :)
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i am completely neurotic about my weight on my boy and i have mainly been driving him while my friend has taken care of the riding side of things. decided to be really brave and do 2 hr hack, with trot work and hills, got back to the yard and he hadn't even broken a sweat!! maybe i should listen to my friend when she says i'm not too heavy, think i drive her a bit mad.
 
having now read the whole thread I see others thought similar to me :D


As for all the pics I've seen, none make me cringe :) as for TB's and how much weight they can carry, I used to ride point to pointers, hurdlers and chaser when i was about 10/11/12 stone (started at 12 and lost a lot of weight purely with the job) none of them had any worries carrying me at whatever pace or over the hurdles and chase fences. Never would've got a job at a flat racing yard tho, they start them as yearlings usually and a lot of purely flat racers are of the much finer builds. even at 10 stone I would've been pushing it.
 
I am.........The wrong side of 13 stone *cringe* and 5'4

The welshie won't be backed for a long long while yet and i am looking for another come november time with any luck by then i will have lost the 3 stone so i can get a lighter horse as im just not a big chunky cob person.

But who knows i may still be a blob then and end up with a tank on legs :)
 
Tickles said:
Tazhazzamoose - you look too big on her (not fat, just out of proportion, outgrown, whatever...) Personally I'd put you on something a fair bit larger, especially if you're taller now.
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Thanks for commenting! Yes I do look a little tall on her...but keeping her. Do need to lose two stone though as advised by back lady so am not riding her at all. My mum has just bought herself a chunky 15.3 cobby with me in mind, and he arrives tomorrow, so I will post a comparison photo then ;) He is two hands taller than my pony...And in regards to me being taller yes I am! I was 5ft 2 then, and now I am 5ft 4 :eek::eek:
 
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