What weight limit for my horse?

[abbijay]

I've been putting out feelers to find someone to ride my horse but ended up rejecting someone yesterday on the basis that she was too heavy for him. She was fab about it and opened the discussion although wouldn't say what she did weigh but confirmed she was quite a bit more than I generally allow.
So HHO'ers if this horse were yours what weight would you let him carry?
18.1hh pure Clydesdale, 15yo. 850kg, good weight although always struggled for topline. Slightly long in the back and very narrow (for a big horse).17.5" fitted saddle and only used to carrying lightweight riders of approx 11st or less.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I've been putting out feelers to find someone to ride my horse but ended up rejecting someone yesterday on the basis that she was too heavy for him. She was fab about it and opened the discussion although wouldn't say what she did weigh but confirmed she was quite a bit more than I generally allow.
So HHO'ers if this horse were yours what weight would you let him carry?
18.1hh pure Clydesdale, 15yo. 850kg, good weight although always struggled for topline. Slightly long in the back and very narrow (for a big horse).17.5" fitted saddle and only used to carrying lightweight riders of approx 11st or less.

I would expect a Clydesdale to be able to carry way more than that! His long back might be a slight weakness but the Cumbrian Heavy Horses (if that's what they are called) allow 12 1/2st to ride all day, every day, well I assume the horses get a day off but they are working horses.
We had a 16.3hh Clydesdale who was bought for a 16st novice man to share and she barely noticed him. I am surprised that yours only takes a 17.5" saddle tbh.

 

[abbijay]

I would expect a Clydesdale to be able to carry way more than that! His long back might be a slight weakness but the Cumbrian Heavy Horses (if that's what they are called) allow 12 1/2st to ride all day, every day, well I assume the horses get a day off but they are working horses.
We had a 16.3hh Clydesdale who was bought for a 16st novice man to share and she barely noticed him. I am surprised that yours only takes a 17.5" saddle tbh.

No, of course he can carry more than 11st! He normally carries about 9st (me) or another slightly larger rider.
He could take a larger saddle but I have a saddle that fits me as well as him and I'm not buying another saddle for someone else!
CHH weight limit is 15stone (sliding scale though) and actually my horse was there's when he was young.

 

[AmyMay]

There's not much that would be too heavy to be honest.

 

[tda]

Why don't you let the person ride and see how they both cope?

 

[_HP_]

It would depend much more on how they ride than what they weigh for me, within reason of course, and how fit the horse is. Most average sized adult men weigh more than 11/12 stone as do many women.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

No, of course he can carry more than 11st! He normally carries about 9st (me) or another slightly larger rider.
He could take a larger saddle but I have a saddle that fits me as well as him and I'm not buying another saddle for someone else!
CHH weight limit is 15stone (sliding scale though) and actually my horse was there's when he was young.

Yes I think your saddle (and I quite see that you don't want to buy another saddle!) is the limiting factor, rather than the weight that the horse can carry.

 

[alainax]

There's not much that would be too heavy to be honest.

Agree with this. How heavy was the person op? And experience? I disagree with the phrase “ riding light” but a novice can certainly ride heavy. An experienced person of larger stature can be less of a burden than a lighter novice bouncing around.
Although they were bred to pull not to carry, it should still be a substantial beast!

Re the saddle size, I have a very big bum and was professionally fitted with a 17.5, I don’t have long thigh bones. Depends on the saddle type of course how it distributes the weight.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Yes I think your saddle (and I quite see that you don't want to buy another saddle!) is the limiting factor, rather than the weight that the horse can carry.

This. If the saddle's too small for her, her backside will be jammed back towards the cantle which will lead to uneven weight distribution and potential soreness for the horse.

IIRC, Adventure Clydesdale in Devon allow 16 stone for their shorter rides of around 2 hours, and 14 stone for all day rides.

 

[Wagtail]

I was going to say 16 stone. I would set the limit there even if the saddle were bigger. Clydesdales are not the best weight carriers despite their size. Same with Shires. A 16hh and stocky ID would be able to carry more weight comfortably. The bigger the horse, the less weight it can carry as a proportion of its own bodyweight. Small = proportionately stronger.

 

[Leo Walker]

This. If the saddle's too small for her, her backside will be jammed back towards the cantle which will lead to uneven weight distribution and potential soreness for the horse.

At a size 20 and 15 stone I could easily and comfortably fit in a 16.5" saddle. It depends where someone carries their weight though. A pear shape at that weight wouldnt have been suitable for my saddle at all, whereas it fit me well.

 

[JFTDWS]

At a size 20 and 15 stone I could easily and comfortably fit in a 16.5" saddle. It depends where someone carries their weight though. A pear shape at that weight wouldnt have been suitable for my saddle at all, whereas it fit me well.

Or someone with long legs - I have long thighs so either have to ride long or in two point on anything below a 16.5.

I think it's very much a question of competence, balance, and conformation (relative to saddle) - and, of course, how much they'd be doing with him.

 

[buzyizzy]

With tack and all the gubbins, it should be less than 20% of horse weight, so 170kg or 26 stone.

 

[ester]

:eek3:.


I agree with JFTD I could squeeze into a 16.5 occasionally but unless it was particularly forward cut I wouldn't want to ride in one regularly.