Who cares if you are too heavy?

In terms I sacks and potatoes TH, ok cool....

a for a small pony a 50, 60, 70 what ever weight of potatoes is going to be easier and more comfortable for it to carry if the load is sitting evenly and securely on its back.

Large horse- more potatoes... Same thing. Weight that is evenly spread is going to be a lot more comfortable to carry than 30kgs on one side of a horses back and 60 on the other side... Or 20kgs on one and 30 on the other.

That is why rucksacks are designed the way they are...

And why we all spend so much on saddle fitting and making sure our gear fits... To spread the weight evenly.

Someone who can carry their weight evenly regardless of size will be more comfortable than the same weight or slightly light thy bounces around like a sack of spuds....
 
WelshD said:
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
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That is a really good point about the added danger of falling off. It's sad that not everyone has the same attitude as you. I do wonder if some people are just unaware of just how much they weigh. I know an overweight family and the daughter tells me they don't have scales in the house.
 
windand rain said:
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
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If fourteen stone was your heaviest and you were riding chunky cob types, then I wouldn't expect this to cause too much of a problem for them.
 
JennyNZ said:
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. :)
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Arabians have denser bones than other breeds and are more up to weight than people think. But even so, I would not want to see more than 20% of their weight on them.
 
Although size clearly does have a bearing on the wieght bearing capacity of the horse ,Conformation and particularily back conformation is the key driver in how comfortable a horse will be with carrying wieght .
Horses with poor back conformation and weak back muscles are unsuitable mounts for the heavier rider irrespective of their size and type.
Hunters find long days much easier if they are blessed with' easy' back conformation and great care needs to be taken to ensure they develop good back musculature and learn to use their backs correctly even if "schooling ' is not really an important part of their career.
 
Goldenstar said:
Although size clearly does have a bearing on the wieght bearing capacity of the horse ,Conformation and particularily back conformation is the key driver in how comfortable a horse will be with carrying wieght .
Horses with poor back conformation and weak back muscles are unsuitable mounts for the heavier rider irrespective of their size and type.
Hunters find long days much easier if they are blessed with' easy' back conformation and great care needs to be taken to ensure they develop good back musculature and learn to use their backs correctly even if "schooling ' is not really an important part of their career.
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I agree. It is no good just looking for a taller or heavier horse. The best weight carriers are shorter coupled, with short thick cannon bones and wide loins. I had a 17.2/3 hands ID that weighed in at 850kg but I would not have put more than fifteen stone on him. His back looked quite weak to me for his size.
 
The balanced rider theory is very easy to explain. If you weigh 10 stone, & ride well, you feel like 10stone. If you weigh 10stone & you are bouncing & slamming about, you will feel heavier than 10stone. But no matter how well you ride, you can't defy the laws of physics & feel lighter than you are. So its not a reason to ride too small horses because you ride well, more a reason to avoid borderline too small horses if you don't.
 
NaeNae87 said:
In terms I sacks and potatoes TH, ok cool....

a for a small pony a 50, 60, 70 what ever weight of potatoes is going to be easier and more comfortable for it to carry if the load is sitting evenly and securely on its back.

Large horse- more potatoes... Same thing. Weight that is evenly spread is going to be a lot more comfortable to carry than 30kgs on one side of a horses back and 60 on the other side... Or 20kgs on one and 30 on the other.

That is why rucksacks are designed the way they are...

And why we all spend so much on saddle fitting and making sure our gear fits... To spread the weight evenly.

Someone who can carry their weight evenly regardless of size will be more comfortable than the same weight or slightly light thy bounces around like a sack of spuds....
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Yes, of course, that's why I used to have 2 x partitions in my 3.5tonner and carry my 700kg horse in the centre, totally different driving experience. BUT I only needed to do this when I had a 700kg horse, like most other 3.5tonner drivers I had previously carried a 550kg horse on driver side and not even noticed. New lorry with better conformation and don't notice one sided load again. Lots of variables but indisputable point is that its harder for a horse to carry 90Kg than 50kg, bounce or no bounce. As for the sack of spuds, if you halve it regardless of the spud size and bounce it'll be much easier to carry surely?
 
To those who make the point that it is better to have a heavier balanced rider than a lighter unbalanced rider, I have found that overweight riders find it more difficult to maintain balance, especially if they are rather blessed in the boobs department. It is impossible to make yourself weigh less than you do. Obviously, if you are also unbalanced, then you will weigh more, but you can never weigh less. Balance is not really part of this discussion though. I am assuming an averagely balanced rider.

Welsh D illustrated what this thread is all about. Caring about your horses. My question was, why is it that some people accept that they are too heavy and either do something about it, or deny themselves the pleasure of riding? Whether it be someone like me who really would like to ride ponies, but accepts that at 5' 10" and 10 stone, it would not be fair on the poor little mites, or someone who is 20 stone who has decided that they cannot ride in their current state. When others do not appear to care and carry on regardless.
 
I never once said heavy people are better riders. Where is this coming from? I agree that riders should have horses appropriate for their size and the lighter you are the better.

I stated in my original post that I am about 80kgs and I am losing weight (6kgs since January for any one interested), I also do Pilates to help with my core stability and muscle tone... I would not be happy riding my smaller boy if I was any heavier and I will not ride anything smaller or finer than him at my current weight, so I am doing something about it. I agree that it is common sense that the lighter you are, the easier it is as puts less strain on muscles. However, i would not want someone even 10kgs lighter than me flopping around on his back. A super lightweight 6yr old on the other hand i am fine with.

When I say heavier riders, I am talking about those riders that are not obese, are somewhat fit and can carry themselves. Not everyone is a size 6.
What's more comfy to stand in all day? Flat shoes or high heels?
 
Well I went from one extreme to the other and have just posted about my squashing abilities on another thread. I started off riding a 13.2 New Forest and a 13.2 Welsh Sec B. I am 5ft 8 and back then weighed 9 and a half stone. Those 2 ponies were at a riding school and they were picked out for me by an instructor that had seen me ride everything from the 13.2's up to a 16hh TB's. She said they both went well for me and enjoyed being ridden by me, which they did!

I always got comments about being too big on the Sec B especially at shows but despite being the same height I never got comments when I was on the NF, yes I know he is a chunkier build.

After I started filling out (polite way of saying gaining weight) I called it a day with the pony squashing and I wanted my own. I took that same instructor with me when I was looking for a pony/horse and out of the 30 odd I tried I ended up with a 17.3 TB purely as we gelled the best, the second best was a 15hh New Forest.

Because I was still very slim for my height I then constantly got comments about being overhorsed.

It really annoyed me and still does. If the horse and rider are happy and it's perfectly safe then so what.

After returning to riding a couple of years ago I ended up with the problem of riding schools. Due to having a disability I have gained a bit of weight since my svelte youth. I'm still 5ft 8 but I am now 11.5 stone. I'm not overweight I'm in the top end of "perfect" range but the riding schools I contacted all took a sharp intake of breath when I gave my height and weight and 3 said they had nothing suitable for me to ride "being that weight". It was demoralizing. I felt like I was being branded obese!! Before anyone says it, I went to the riding schools in person and they weren't limited to Shetland's they had plenty of Cobs and TB's I could've ridden but I couldn't because I was clearly too heavy.

Now I've moved to hunt country I haven't had a problem riding anything as all I can find here are ID x TB's :D
 
Actually dunlin, unless the sec b was chunky & flat withered, rather than the more usual lighter build of a sec b, it makes sense people would comment on that & not the chunkier pony. I'm 5'10 & in hat & boots 9stone, & I have yet to meet a 13.2 sec b I would sit on. I've got on 12.2 chunks when needed, as small as 12hh chunks when I was lighter, & not been fussed about looking ridiculous. But I feel with typical sec b's, I'm too heavy for a 13.2.
 
windand rain said:
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
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Sorry I don't understand your post regarding the 80kgs?
 
I ride small ponies, I do look tall on them but I ride them short term and I wouldn't have one for myself long term. My own 14.2 I don't think I'm too big for in any way but I do keep both me and him as slim and fit as possible as I think it's only fair when I expect him to perform.
 
Re the stone a hand nonsense, Sister has a 16hh Westphalian Kalt blut, I have a 15.3hh Appy (mainly arab and tb blood lines). We allow an obese friend (18stones) to sit on the 16hh for a short plod round, no way on this good earth would we allow her to sit on the 15.3! The big mare seems to have no resentment of the friend, and indeed seems pleased to see her and this mare is no stoic :) I do see too many riders who are too heavy for their horses, and the horses do indeed suffer problems as a result. I can think of one in particular, the pony cob is overweight, the girl is obese and the pony has horrendously dropped fetlock joints. I do wish people would not overestimate their abilities and underestimate the effect of their weight, when they ride.
 
It is a really difficult thing to approach someone about their weight. Hypothetical situation: As a yard owner, do you think it would be wrong of me to say anything to a client if I was sure their weight was haveing a bad effect on their horse? In that horse feels like a cripple to ride and owner around 25% of the horse's weight?
 
No Wagtail, I think it would be absolutely appropriate for you to approach the client with the facts. It's a YO responsibility to the horse BUT I can see how that might be very difficult and a potential loss of earnings. Perhaps if the case ever does arrive it would be worth explaining how you could keep the horse in work (for appropriate fees of course) while they continued ground work with it or if they say that they aren't interested in what you have to say just make it really clear about the potential risks and then you really have done all you can!
 
Wagtail said:
It is a really difficult thing to approach someone about their weight. Hypothetical situation: As a yard owner, do you think it would be wrong of me to say anything to a client if I was sure their weight was haveing a bad effect on their horse? In that horse feels like a cripple to ride and owner around 25% of the horse's weight?
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That would take some doing, without them just removing the horse to somewhere where there would not be someone willing to take the risk. If you can do it without causing too much offence, then I think that you should but not sure it would work. :(
 
Billie1007 said:
No Wagtail, I think it would be absolutely appropriate for you to approach the client with the facts. It's a YO responsibility to the horse BUT I can see how that might be very difficult and a potential loss of earnings. Perhaps if the case ever does arrive it would be worth explaining how you could keep the horse in work (for appropriate fees of course) while they continued ground work with it or if they say that they aren't interested in what you have to say just make it really clear about the potential risks and then you really have done all you can!
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YorksG said:
That would take some doing, without them just removing the horse to somewhere where there would not be someone willing to take the risk. If you can do it without causing too much offence, then I think that you should but not sure it would work. :(
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A few years ago, this did happen. I advised that the back problems the horse was having were due to the fact that the client was too heavy for the 14hh pony (she was 13 stone then), and that if she was struggling to lose the weight then perhaps she should look for a larger horse, as after all ***** was only a pony and not many adults are small enough to stay riding ponies. It fell on deaf ears and the client put on a further (guessing here) three stone. And just kept on regardless.
 
If it were more transparent it would be the easiest thing in the world to do.

See, I have told people they were to heavy for a particular horse. Also, importantly, I have been told I am too heavy. If you want to ride a live animal that can only carry so much humanely then you have to be sensible and a) get to a riding weight or b) choose cycling or trampolining.

Yards should have weight policies screwed to the wall just like any other health/safety warning. e.g. Hard Hats MUST be worn at all times; Riders must NOT exceed 15% of animals weight.

A policy is a statement of fact. It is not there to be rude to overweight people. A small riding establishment with only ponies will not accept you if you are a strapping winger in a rugby team who fancies a spot of showjumping. Find another establishment with bigger horses.

Also, I think the 15% rule is there to safeguard any animal that is perhaps weaker in one way or another. Sadly I have only seen this statement on a wall in a riding school once.
 
tallyho! said:
If it were more transparent it would be the easiest thing in the world to do.

See, I have told people they were to heavy for a particular horse. Also, importantly, I have been told I am too heavy. If you want to ride a live animal that can only carry so much humanely then you have to be sensible and a) get to a riding weight or b) choose cycling or trampolining.

Yards should have weight policies screwed to the wall just like any other health/safety warning. e.g. Hard Hats MUST be worn at all times; Riders must NOT exceed 15% of animals weight.

A policy is a statement of fact. It is not there to be rude to overweight people. A small riding establishment with only ponies will not accept you if you are a strapping winger in a rugby team who fancies a spot of showjumping. Find another establishment with bigger horses.

Also, I think the 15% rule is there to safeguard any animal that is perhaps weaker in one way or another. Sadly I have only seen this statement on a wall in a riding school once.
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What about livery yards? I personally would like to have such a rule, but then, how do you know that people will be truthful about what they weigh? If challenged, they could deny they are more than say 11 stone. Without dragging them to the scales, how do you get them to come clean? Some people are much heavier than they look. Others are surprisingly light. I think I am quite good at guessing people's weight to the nearest stone, but sometimes I have been shocked that someone is actually quite a bit heavier than they look.
 
Wagtail said:
What about livery yards? I personally would like to have such a rule, but then, how do you know that people will be truthful about what they weigh? If challenged, they could deny they are more than say 11 stone. Without dragging them to the scales, how do you get them to come clean? Some people are much heavier than they look. Others are surprisingly light. I think I am quite good at guessing people's weight to the nearest stone, but sometimes I have been shocked that someone is actually quite a bit heavier than they look.
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Sadly... Sme things are always beyond your scope of control.

Y can pass judgement, make yr opinions clear, perhaps go the lengths of putting up a series of horse health posters in the tack or coffee room which reflects ideal weights. Leave magazine articles around or tear off interesting articles and put them up. Other than that, it's just yr opinion against theirs.

It's sad, I know.

Most people are very aware of weights affecting carrying ability but there are those that need a seed planting in their subconscious so it can eat at their souls while they sleep.

I was just under 15% for a 15.2 mare I was riding for a friend. The mare was fit. Since becoming pregnant, I put on 5kgs. That puts me over. Many would say, nah.. She's fine, it's only 5kgs. No. It's not fine. So I have stopped riding her. It's simple. I rode a bigger cob instead. Although my last ride was at the weekend as I struggled to swing my leg over as bump too big.

It's your responsibility as the one who is subjecting the animal to your weight to be able to make sound judgement. The animal will carry you no matter what because it has been conditioned to carry weight across its back without prejudice.

When I come to back my youngster, I HAVE to be 12% of her weight. I will not get on otherwise. That is skinny for me at 60kgs.

Wish me luck people and I hope it's true what they say about breast feeding!!
 
tallyho! said:
Sadly... Sme things are always beyond your scope of control.

Y can pass judgement, make yr opinions clear, perhaps go the lengths of putting up a series of horse health posters in the tack or coffee room which reflects ideal weights. Leave magazine articles around or tear off interesting articles and put them up. Other than that, it's just yr opinion against theirs.

It's sad, I know.

Most people are very aware of weights affecting carrying ability but there are those that need a seed planting in their subconscious so it can eat at their souls while they sleep.

I was just under 15% for a 15.2 mare I was riding for a friend. The mare was fit. Since becoming pregnant, I put on 5kgs. That puts me over. Many would say, nah.. She's fine, it's only 5kgs. No. It's not fine. So I have stopped riding her. It's simple. I rode a bigger cob instead. Although my last ride was at the weekend as I struggled to swing my leg over as bump too big.

It's your responsibility as the one who is subjecting the animal to your weight to be able to make sound judgement. The animal will carry you no matter what because it has been conditioned to carry weight across its back without prejudice.

When I come to back my youngster, I HAVE to be 12% of her weight. I will not get on otherwise. That is skinny for me at 60kgs.

Wish me luck people and I hope it's true what they say about breast feeding!!
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Breast feeding is great. I used to frighten my husband by the amount I could eat and the speed at which I put it away. I never gained an ounce, despite eating way more than twice what I eat now.
 
Yes, I think a yo has every right to say something to a too heavy rider, imo its no different to a yo stepping in if any other aspect of a horses welfare isn't being handled correctly. But, I doubt it would be received well. If you told an owner their horse needed more hay, & they said 'its not my fault, I'm skint', I don't think anyone would be jumping on the yo calling them a poor-basher, or a bully for being personal. But I imagine in the too heavy scenario people immediately jump in with 'fat-bashing' & think its nobody else's business.
 
Littlelegs said:
Yes, I think a yo has every right to say something to a too heavy rider, imo its no different to a yo stepping in if any other aspect of a horses welfare isn't being handled correctly. But, I doubt it would be received well. If you told an owner their horse needed more hay, & they said 'its not my fault, I'm skint', I don't think anyone would be jumping on the yo calling them a poor-basher, or a bully for being personal. But I imagine in the too heavy scenario people immediately jump in with 'fat-bashing' & think its nobody else's business.
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Sad isn't it?
 
Wagtail said:
Breast feeding is great. I used to frighten my husband by the amount I could eat and the speed at which I put it away. I never gained an ounce, despite eating way more than twice what I eat now.
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Wow! Really!! That's encouraging :)
 
A girl local to me is too big for her pony, not over weight but simply to tall, legs too long and pony would possibly appreciate a child, the pony has now started bucking, but there is nothing wrong with her back, saddle, teeth.

I appreciate it may be hard but IMO its time to a size increase.
 
Wagtail said:
Breast feeding is great. I used to frighten my husband by the amount I could eat and the speed at which I put it away. I never gained an ounce, despite eating way more than twice what I eat now.
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tallyho! said:
Wow! Really!! That's encouraging :)
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Sme here, could eat 5 meals a day and the weight came off, I found if you then stop and aren't mucking out is when it goes back on :(
 
wallykissmas said:
Sme here, could eat 5 meals a day and the weight came off, I found if you then stop and aren't mucking out is when it goes back on :(
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I'm going to enjoy losing my extras that's for sure... Thanks ladies! I'm going to tell hubby as lately he's been saying things like "have you thought about sending her away?"

No I haven't, but I have thought about sending him away a few times :D
 
I don't know anyone who doesn't care if they weight too much in real life, and I have only come across a few on here. In my experience, those of us who tread a fine line with (large) ponies and a less than lightweight physique (by which I mean I am anatomically stocky and tall) agonise over it at length :cool:
 
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