What is a lightweight adult?

khalswitz said:
BMI though, as we all know, is a bit dodgy. Anyone who is fit and more muscular than fat will very easily be over a healthy BMI. A lot of doctors will say that into the 'overweight' category of BMI isn't always a problem, depending on build.

From the BBC website: "The ONS said the average man in England was 5ft 9in (175.3cm) tall and weighed 13.16 stone (83.6kg).

The average woman in England weighed 11 stone (70.2kg) and was 5ft 3in tall (161.6cm)."

And that's not taking Scotland into account, as that would obviously shoot the figures up ;).
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The BMI, whilst not perfect is calculated from insurance data. It has nothing to do with average weight.
Sadly, the average man and woman in England at the heights and weights quoted
would be overweight, because the 'average' person does not have a high muscle mass.
I think the obesity epidemic is beginning to skew everyone's idea of what a normal size for a human being is. Certainly if I go into town these days I feel incredibly thin.

For an adult lightweight rider I would say under 9st.
 
I personally am not sure if I'd be classed as a lightweight rider.

5"4, 10.5st at my heaviest (however I have most definitely lost weight in the past few weeks just haven't measured myself - I think around the 10st mark is more realistic)

I always assumed lightweight rider was a nice way of saying 'skinny petite people only - no fatties'. Whilst I am not skinny I'm not overweight either, whilst my BMI is apparently 'high' yet in the healthy range I know I do carry a lot of muscle and am not a petite build.

It's interesting to see what this thread says. Whilst I can expect 12.2 show ponies won't be able to carry heavy riders, I've actually been looking into buying myself a Connemara/sporty-type pony of around 14 - 14.2hh but am now reconsidering it.
 
I would say it depends on the pony. If you're looking for a 'lightweight adult' for an 11.2 you're probably looking for a teeny tiny person, under 8 stone certainly. A fine 14.2 might be nearer 10 stone. Personally I am about 5'9 and 12 stone and consider myself to be overweight although I will probably never get down to under 10 stone, my boobs alone must weigh nearly that much! I agree that perceptions of weight are changing, people keep telling me I'm a fine weight and I'm just curvy. They are just being polite but politeness doesn't help people stay a good healthy weight, I know I'm overweight, I feel overweight and am probably overweight on a BMI. At least I'm not in denial!
 
Under 10st would be a lightweight adult in my estimation. Height/sex doesn't matter to the horse, it's all to do with what's plonked on his back.
 
sasquatch said:
I personally am not sure if I'd be classed as a lightweight rider.

5"4, 10.5st at my heaviest (however I have most definitely lost weight in the past few weeks just haven't measured myself - I think around the 10st mark is more realistic)

I always assumed lightweight rider was a nice way of saying 'skinny petite people only - no fatties'. Whilst I am not skinny I'm not overweight either, whilst my BMI is apparently 'high' yet in the healthy range I know I do carry a lot of muscle and am not a petite build.

It's interesting to see what this thread says. Whilst I can expect 12.2 show ponies won't be able to carry heavy riders, I've actually been looking into buying myself a Connemara/sporty-type pony of around 14 - 14.2hh but am now reconsidering it.
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I wouldn't class you as lightweight, but at 10st you'd be fine on a stocky Connie.
 
I'm 5ft 3" and 8 st 10 at the minute. I rode my friends 11.2 when I was just under 8 stone.

For years I rode my 17hh horse and then got a 14.2 on loan. I felt too big on him, I have long legs and a stumpy body, so didn't look right. Horse I last bought is 15hh and about right for me.
 
The term "lightweight adult" is nearly always used in the context of ponies - "suitable for competetive teenager or a lightweight adult" or something similar is what we usually hear. So in this context I would say under 9 stone. This is not saying that anyone over 9 stone shouldn't ride horses - that is ludicrous and someone is being oversensitive by suggesting it. This term is used within a particular context so that's why we all said a similar thing. Whoever is moaning about being considered not lightweight because they're around 9 stone needs to get a grip. I'm 5'6 and around 10 stone - not fat by any means, could do with losing a couple of pounds but couldn't we all? I don't consider myself lightweight but wouldn't hesitate to hop on a pony if needed and when I get older I fully intend to get a highland pony (JTFD has inspired me) and hack away in my old age a bit closer to the ground.
 
While I agree that the perspective of peoples weight is skewed by obesity being more of a norm I also think that the obsession with riders being skinny is also a skew. A light weight adult is anything from 8 to 10 stone it is surprising how many people think it is too heavy for a rider to ride if over that weight and god forbid approaching `11/12 stone or more, but it really does depend on the rider the balance and quality of the rider, and of course the bone density and shape of bone on the horse. You see I see cobs with long cannons of round bone far less able to carry weight than a well built arab with short cannons and flat bone. I see novices at 8 stone doing far more damage than an experienced rider of 12 stone on the same horse so perhaps a light weight for a small pony is 6-8 stone but there isnt a horse over 14.2 in the country that couldnt and wouldnt carry a 12 stone rider if they were balanced and capable
So in choosing riders for my ponies it isnt their weight that counts but the fact that they can sit still and balanced on their backs the less balanced the less weight and even then I would be dubious
 
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Bear9 said:
I would say it depends on the pony. If you're looking for a 'lightweight adult' for an 11.2 you're probably looking for a teeny tiny person, under 8 stone certainly. A fine 14.2 might be nearer 10 stone. Personally I am about 5'9 and 12 stone and consider myself to be overweight although I will probably never get down to under 10 stone, my boobs alone must weigh nearly that much! I agree that perceptions of weight are changing, people keep telling me I'm a fine weight and I'm just curvy. They are just being polite but politeness doesn't help people stay a good healthy weight, I know I'm overweight, I feel overweight and am probably overweight on a BMI. At least I'm not in denial!
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Just so you know, you're not overweight on a BMI at that weight. I'm the same height and weight, with big bust but very slim waist and reasonably lean, and like I said earlier my % body fat is on the low end of normal for my height and weight. I've never been lighter than 11.5st, and at that weight I looked THIN.
 
windand rain said:
While I agree that the perspective of peoples weight is skewed by obesity being more of a norm I also think that the obsession with riders being skinny is also a skew.
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I agree-its as though everything is extreme at both ends of the scale. hence my facetious first post. There are not many adults under 9 stone, there are plenty of ponies and lighter weight horses that can happily take 9 stone and more. I am 5'6 ish, in my early 30s I would run xc 45-120 mins 5 or six times a week. I was a size 8-12 (if it wasn't for the darn boobs, I would have been a size 10 up top too) -I was never less than 10.5 stone. When I worked full time on the yards in my mid-late thirties, again I was a 10-12, and never less than 10.5 stone. I've been up above 13 stone and am currently round about 11. Long reining like a mad thing atm, so I am fitter to start riding again next year-if they werent youngsters though, I would be riding now. I don't expect to get much below that weight but I do expect to drop one or two dress sizes.

I do find this forum quite odd-in the hunting forum we have recommendations to work a horse extremely hard to 'bottom it out' (and I am not saying they are wrong necessarily) and that horses are never worked hard enough, and in the Tack Room we often have threads whereby noone over 10 stone should be riding anything less than an ID. If you are 12 stone, you cannot ride less than 12 stone (physics) but a 10 stone rider can be harder to carry than the 12 stone rider depending on fitness, body shape, level of riding, saddle fit and horse conformation.
 
windand rain said:
there isnt a horse over 14.2 in the country that couldnt and wouldnt carry a 12 stone rider if they were balanced and capable
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I don't agree. There's a huge difference between being able to, and being comfortable in doing so. You could probably carry two of me on your back, but that does not mean that you'd be comfortable doing so or that you wouldn't suffer later on for it.

I think a lot of riders refuse to acknowledge the fact that they are simply too heavy for their horse and convince themselves that everything is dandy just because the horse hasn't fallen to its knees.
 
Always thought it was under 9 stone but then again not everyone under 9 stone is light enough to ride ponies!
 
At the riding school I used to hack a 15.3 and needed double twists in the stirrups!
I must admit mine is quite chunky. Went to look at a similar height welsh b and I thought I was going to squash him! So chunky little ponies only!
 
Tikimouse said:
At the riding school I used to hack a 15.3 and needed double twists in the stirrups!
I must admit mine is quite chunky. Went to look at a similar height welsh b and I thought I was going to squash him! So chunky little ponies only!
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Haha, I would say I was light enough and could look half decent on anything 13hh upwards!
 
Spilletta said:
...when I get changed for riding tonight, I'm going to weigh myself in my clobber to see the difference.
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Possibly a bit off topic now as I think most people talk in terms of undressed weight when saying how much they weigh. But as I was curious, I have just weighed myself with my riding stuff (lightweight jods, vest t-shirt, short boots, chaps, Racesafe body protector and HS1 hat) - I was 9lb heavier than my undressed weight this morning, although some of that will be my lunch:) Then I added my saddle, and that's another 17lb.

Therefore, the horse, in my case, is carrying nearly 2 stone extra (1 stone 12lb) - if my workings out are correct...
 
Spilletta said:
Possibly a bit off topic now as I think most people talk in terms of undressed weight when saying how much they weigh. But as I was curious, I have just weighed myself with my riding stuff (lightweight jods, vest t-shirt, short boots, chaps, Racesafe body protector and HS1 hat) - I was 9lb heavier than my undressed weight this morning, although some of that will be my lunch:) Then I added my saddle, and that's another 17lb.

Therefore, the horse, in my case, is carrying nearly 2 stone extra (1 stone 12lb) - if my workings out are correct...
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That's very interesting!

Different saddles will also weigh more as well though brands and types.
Does this mean when calculating the top weight of your horse, you should include tack or not?
 
sasquatch said:
That's very interesting!

Different saddles will also weigh more as well though brands and types.
Does this mean when calculating the top weight of your horse, you should include tack or not?
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The 20% max guide includes tack... Personally I use 15%
 
Fides said:
The 20% max guide includes tack... Personally I use 15%
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Can't help but make you wonder how many people use the 20% max guide without tack though to justify themselves riding a horse they're too heavy for.

Thank you for clearing that up though! It was one of the things that always confused me.
 
Well that's it then! I will have to stop riding my NF x cob at 14hh as most people who have commented would have me way to heavy for her at 10.5 stone and 5ft 6". I'd better stop riding and let her get as obese as I am!
 
I'd always taken lightweight adult to be under 10st, however I do think what a horse or pony can carry depends vey much in their build, conformation and general fitness levels.

I'm 5'10 and my weight fluctuates between 9-9.5stone, there are wee finer boned ponies at the yard I won't get on because I consider myself to heavy. I used to ride a stockier 13.2hh all the time, jumped him up to around 2'6, he carried me with no bother at all.
 
I read an article possibly in H&H that said icelandic ponies can carry up to 27% of their bodyweight. Also Highland ponies were used to carry slaughtered red deer stags which I was told could weigh up to 20 stone
 
It's 20% of their body weight in total. That includes all tack AND is only reliable if they are not overweight- then they can carry less.

I think the take away here is, if you are medically overweight in terms of BMI and/or doctors advice, then you should be trying to lose weight to make your horse, and yourself, healthier. You shouldn't just buy a bigger horse, that's like buying a bigger pair of trousers. Your weight is totally in your hands and you'd easily pay more for better hay to improve welfare, so why not make some sacrifices and shed some kilos. It can only benefit your health.

If you're a normal, healthy weight for your height, then buy a horse which suits your needs. Have the odd burger. Enjoy the horse.

If you are a "lightweight rider" then you are, by general opinion, under 10 stone and able to ride little ponies. If you're 5'11 and weigh 8 stone, you're probably skinny as all hell but unlikely to be ok schooling a 12hh pony. Unless you have rollerskates. Then you're fine.

At the end of the day, if you're overweight then do something about it as so many inspiring people here do. Then when weight debates occur, you can know that you are doing everything in your power to lessen the strain on your horse and, most importantly, your heart.

No one needs to be a size 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or even 10. Just healthy.
 
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