Who cares if you are too heavy?

I don't know about you but I've seen plenty of horses ruined as a result of the strains put on them by training and competing at dressage, jumping and xc including ending up pts but I've never come across a horse ruined directly and solely as a result of being ridden by a fat person!
 
sussexbythesea said:
I don't know about you but I've seen plenty of horses ruined as a result of the strains put on them by training and competing at dressage, jumping and xc including ending up pts but I've never come across a horse ruined directly and solely as a result of being ridden by a fat person!
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I don't think op meant this as a thread to get at 'fat' people, it is about people who are too heavy for the horse/pony they ride. A 11 stone person isn't fat and wouldn't look too heavy on a 16HH cob (for example) but if it was a 11HH Sec A it would be a different matter. The rider still wouldn't be fat but they would be too heavy for the pony.
 
putasocinit said:
Chrisrtmas has been good to my waist line and i need to trim down but finding it hard, so would myself and l my saddle together = 11.17 stone be too heavy for my 15hh cob, i always feel guilty that i am getting to heavy for him.
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No. I often ride a 14hh HW cob and I'm ten stone plus tack and clothes.
 
what means fat to everyone 10 stone 13 stone 15 stone or over 20 stone

for me i would always think about it bacause i love my horse and iam 165cm tall and my weight is with tack 12,6 stone

New horse is 15.3 hh good bone appaloosa x irish cob

...............ups I forgot to tell you that I will make a new thread for all other infos
 
Spiritedly said:
I don't think op meant this as a thread to get at 'fat' people, it is about people who are too heavy for the horse/pony they ride. A 11 stone person isn't fat and wouldn't look too heavy on a 16HH cob (for example) but if it was a 11HH Sec A it would be a different matter. The rider still wouldn't be fat but they would be too heavy for the pony.
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Exactly.

If you are big, get a horse that can carry you. Don't ride diddy ponies unless you are very petite. I would love to be petite...:(
 
I can't quote but Sussexbythesea, how many of those horses who were ruined by the strains of dressage, jumping and xc were showing problems caused by carrying more than their ideal weight through their training and competition career. It would be tempting to say that if there was ever any unsoundness in my mare it would be due to her training as a dressage horse rather than the excess weight (hers plus riders) she had carried in that training if she had been ridden by a bigger rider.
 
I dont think you can say 10 or 13 stone etc is "fat"as its all relative. If you 10stone and 5ft then you probably are a bit porks but if you 13stone and 6"6 then def not porks!
Q
 
Some people seem to doubt that people underhorse themselves. We have a recent thread about a lovely lady on this forum who has recued an undernourished QH. She said at the beginning that she got him to ride herself. Now this lady is 23 stone and he is 15 hh with 7 1/2 inches of bone. I don't know if it's a wind up or not. I really am not sure. I do wonder if she is pulling our legs a little...
 
I didn't read this thread as being about being fat at all. I'm thin, but there are some ponies I am too heavy for. I've happily let a morbidly obese child ride my 14.2, whereas a relatively skinny 6' man I wouldn't.
 
I always motivate myself to stay slim because i have to wear white jods for comps, there is nothing worse than really fat celulite legs and bum in tight white jods!! Best motivation ever!!! Anyone struggling to lose weight stick a pair of these on, take a pic then stick it on the fridge ;)
 
Being twenty stone plus I wouldn't dream of riding a horse but that's just my personal view

It seems that riding is seen as a right by some. Now I'm always on the go but I'm not fit by any stretch of the imagination and horse riding is a sport so I believe you should be fit enough to participate and that includes being an appropriate weight

Apart from anything I shudder to think of the damage I could cause to myself and the horse if I was to fall off

If I ever manage to lose weight id love to ride again but for now I accept that it's not right or fair for me to try
 
I have always been overweight I have always ridden and have owned horses and ponies all my life I have had many into old age and never once had one that was injured by my weight regardless of how high that went. I had a 13.3 welsh cob for many years when I was at my heaviest and over 14 stone I rode jumped hacked for miles and did long distance she never had a lame day. Never had a back problem and would jog and dance all day long she used to make my tummy hurt with her antics. I dont ride anymore but my diddy highland has people of a whole range of weights on her and she has only had one spell of injury in 16 years due to landing awkwardly over a jump at that point she was ridden by a 6 stone child. So no I dont think if you are in the low teens stones in weight and are riding a mature horse or big boned pony you are likely to be too heavy for it.
An immature pony will be damaged by any rider regardless of weight so even a light weight rider on a two or three year old doing too much is more likely to injure it than a heavy rider on a fully mature animal doing little or nothing adventurous
Perhaps I would agree about heavy for the size of ponies if they were overdoing it and or the pony was a baby or normally ridden by a small child. Horses and ponies accustomed to carrying weight usually are fine
 
Yes, but who decides ?

I endurance ride, the horse of choice is of course an Arabian or Part Bred. They are not known for their height or bone as it is conventionally measured.

I'm 5'10" and with saddle ride at 80 kg.

<==== is 15.3 hh and I manage to make him look small. Most people get a bit of a surprise when they go stand next to him. He's now retired from endurance and my current horse is 14.3 hh.

There are plenty in the mainstream equestrian world who think I am underhorsed. But in endurance terms, I'm quite normal. :)
 
el_Snowflakes said:
Also far too many folk about who seem to think a big fat horse will carry a big fat rider! Nothing worse IMO! :o
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So in order to ride my pony I need to make it lose 80kgs to carry my 80kgs I guess I would then be in big trouble for riding an emaciated pony you cant win
Oh and according to the Olympic riders they all weighed roughly between 60 and 82kgs so not all thin as lats either and that is without tack I was very surprised to see Carl Hester as the near top weight I always thought he looked a skinny little guy but then again I was also surprised that he is 6ft tall
 
I am about 5'7 and 80 kg plus gear, although I am losing weight.

I ride a 14.3 Andy x TB x Riding pony. He is a 14yr old, solid little b***er. My other horse is a 16.2hh solid OTTB, who acutally gets mistaken for a warmblood. I don't feel underhorsed on my little guy, nor do I feel over horses on my big boy.

IMO 60kgs flopping like a sack of spuds around on any horses back from an inexperienced rider with no balance is far worse than a heavier person who can carry their own weight and not use the horse to balance themselves.
 
Yeah! Skinny people can't ride!! They just bounce around their bones. Terrible for horses that. You only have too look at Jordan to see how uncomfortable it is for horses to carry skinny people.

Fat people on the other hand have in built sophisticated suspension and built in airbags for the horses backs. Self limiting you see. Plus, don't you always find it funny how fat people make better riders???

Those Olympians would do well eating man size portion fish n chips.

:D
 
TH - hardly what she suggested though. You seem determined to turn this thread into a pi** take rather than a sensible discussion? Although someone has already stated it ISN'T supposed to be a fat bash! Perhaps you didn't read that one?
 
I honestly don't see how anyone can not understand that the less you weigh, the less strain you put on your horse.

If the heavier rider is better balanced and a better rider than the lighter one, wouldn't they be even better if they lost some weight as well?

My horse is 18hh and I weigh just over 11st- I am currently trying to drop a stone as I want to put the least strain possible on him.

It's not even being 'fatist' - I wouldn't want a 14st man on him who may be perfectly healthy and slim at 6'3ft (although WFP is only 12st at 6'6ft!!)
 
Spiritedly said:
I don't think op meant this as a thread to get at 'fat' people, it is about people who are too heavy for the horse/pony they ride. A 11 stone person isn't fat and wouldn't look too heavy on a 16HH cob (for example) but if it was a 11HH Sec A it would be a different matter. The rider still wouldn't be fat but they would be too heavy for the pony.
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Your right and perhaps I shouldn't have said "fat". The point I was trying to make (and maybe not very well :) ) is that when you have 500kg- 600kg of horse sitting on its hocks to perform movements in dressage or to jump and extra 20kg (3st) from an perceived to be overweight rider (for that horse) is unlikely to be that significant in my opinion. I'm not saying it has absolutely no effect but it's not the main contribution to the strain on the horse.

Most calculations on suitable weight used as far as I am aware are not based on any particular scientic fact just certain assumptions and there are so many variables bit like BMI that are not taken into account. Also most leisure riders rarely do more than is "light work" In terms of concerns of overall welfare for the horse it's low down imo but easy to pick on.

BTW I am not saying a horse should carry someone who is obviously grossly too heavy or that we all shouldn't look after ourselves so that we are fit and healthy to do our sport well. But saying 10st is ok but 12st isn't makes no sense to me.
 
Billie1007 said:
TH - hardly what she suggested though. You seem determined to turn this thread into a pi** take rather than a sensible discussion? Although someone has already stated it ISN'T supposed to be a fat bash! Perhaps you didn't read that one?
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I think some people are just a bit fed up of people justifying heavier weights by saying 'what if they are better balanced though?'

Well what if they were lighter and better balanced? Surely a win:win situation.

I know I ride much better the lighter I am, so those really good, heavier riders will be amazing if they were lighter.
 
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Billie1007 said:
TH - hardly what she suggested though. You seem determined to turn this thread into a pi** take rather than a sensible discussion? Although someone has already stated it ISN'T supposed to be a fat bash! Perhaps you didn't read that one?
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Pahahah!!!! Sorry Billie, as much as I like wagtail... another "over-weight" thread just appeals to my sense of humour (or lack of).

Everytime a thread like this comes up the classic line of - skinny people ride like sacks of potatoes - ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS comes up and I guess I just cannot resist!!!!!!!!

Please forgive me??? :o:o:o:o

:D
 
I DID NOT say that all skinny people ride like sacks of potatoes, nor did I say that all fat people are better riders. Stop trying to put words in my mouth. Maybe you should get your glasses checked if that is how you read what I wrote.

In an ideal world we would all be as light as possible for our horses. Yes some people are completely oblivious to the fact they are way to big for their mounts however we do not live in an ideal world.

If a rider is balanced they are going to put less stress on their horses back... FACT. I don't care if said rider is 50kgs or 90kgs.

50kgs or 90kgs that is bouncing around on a horses back like a sack of potatoes is going to go more harm than that same weight that carries itself.

Am I making my point clearly enough for you now??
 
NaeNae87 said:
I DID NOT say that all skinny people ride like sacks of potatoes, nor did I say that all fat people are better riders. Stop trying to put words in my mouth. Maybe you should get your glasses checked if that is how you read what I wrote.

In an ideal world we would all be as light as possible for our horses. Yes some people are completely oblivious to the fact they are way to big for their mounts however we do not live in an ideal world.

If a rider is balanced they are going to put less stress on their horses back... FACT. I don't care if said rider is 50kgs or 90kgs.

50kgs or 90kgs that is bouncing around on a horses back like a sack of potatoes is going to go more harm than that same weight that carries itself.

Am I making my point clearly enough for you now??
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Yes - but it isn't really valid though. Anybody with a modicum of physiological knowledge would understand that a bouncing (point) load of 90kgs is going to do more damage and put on more strain than a point load of 50kg. FFS put in in a rucksack and try it. GRRRR. I'm 11 stone, hardly a lightweight and I KNOW my horse would be under 10% less strain if I lost a stone and a bit. It really really isn't rocket science, just simple weight and stress.
 
Ok, If I were to try on a 90kg rucksack (or the equivalent weight for a person) and carry it around, I would want to load balanced as well as possible. Do we all agree that that amount of weight balanced in rhe correct part of your back and sitting where it is supposed to is going to be a lot easier and less painful than the same load was placed all on one side, or if the ruck sack was top heavy?

Would you like some time to experiment??
 
NaeNae87 said:
I DID NOT say that all skinny people ride like sacks of potatoes, nor did I say that all fat people are better riders. Stop trying to put words in my mouth. Maybe you should get your glasses checked if that is how you read what I wrote.

In an ideal world we would all be as light as possible for our horses. Yes some people are completely oblivious to the fact they are way to big for their mounts however we do not live in an ideal world.

If a rider is balanced they are going to put less stress on their horses back... FACT. I don't care if said rider is 50kgs or 90kgs.

50kgs or 90kgs that is bouncing around on a horses back like a sack of potatoes is going to go more harm than that same weight that carries itself.

Am I making my point clearly enough for you now??
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No, still cloudy...

Can you please explain the physics of those weights (sack of potatoes & human) based on one small horse, for each and one big horse also for each.

You can assume both horses have perfect conformation, the ideal weight and fit for purpose of dressage and jumping 90cms. Neither have existing spinal or joint problems, or foot problems. Also, assume both like being ridden.

.... Perhaps it would be more fun to assume both horses have poor conformation and are obese. Maybe assume the tack is poorly fitting too....

Oh god I'm so confused!!!!!
 
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