Will my height/weight limit me in riding and finding a loan?

[lucy377]

Hi all,

Apologies because rider weight seems to be a common topic - but usually is in relation to overweight riders, riding school weight limits etc.

I'm 6ft (181cm) and 76kg (~12 stone) and I'm hoping to get back into horse riding again. I haven't ridden since my teens, when I was around the same height but 15kg lighter (so about 60kg). I remember riding all of the riding school ponies, anything from 13hh - 17hh and of all types. The only problem was sometimes I'd have to have my stirrups a bit shorter to prevent my heel hanging and taking off the top rail when jumping!

I'd really like to get back into horse riding - first by having some lessons at the local riding school and then looking for a part loan in the future. But I hadn't thought about my weight being a problem... The riding school I'm booked into lessons with asked for weight but didn't say it was an issue. But I've noticed a few part loan ads state a 11 stone weight limit. Also I've realised a lot of people tend to keep 14-15hh cob-types which I'm potentially all to tall and heavy for, or bigger TB types which are potentially too spindly/lightly built. I'm keen to do schooling, jumping etc too, not just slow paced hacking.

My BMI isn't overweight and I'm generally fit from biking, climbing etc so I'm quite muscly. But at the end of the day I'm still big and heavy! I'm a bit dismayed that this might hold me back from riding the majority of horses in a riding school and also finding a part loan in the future. I'm not sure it's realistic for me to get back to my teen weight (thanks to puberty and medication) although I could probably lose a bit.

Are most adult riders just more averaged height, smaller framed females? Or am I just not finding these bigger/stockier horses for sale/loan?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ihatework]

No, your height/weight shouldn’t limit you. Yes there will be horses not suitable for you, but there will be plenty that are.

 

[Orangehorse]

12 stone is an average sort of weight.

 

[HeyMich]

I'm the same height/weight as you, and I've ridden/loaned everything from 14.2 to 16.3 horses, no bother. You should find something easily.

 

[Pippity]

And don't underestimate how well a cob will take your leg up. My 6'2" instructor didn't look out of place on my my 15hh cob.

 

[Annagain]

I'm shorter than you (5'6 1/2") but until lockdown (during which I lost 3 stone) weighed more than you - it's never stopped me riding. It took me a while to find the right horse when I was looking but found Charlie in the summer. In this photo I'd weighed about the same as you do now (I've lost another 1/2 stone since then). I'm sure you'd be fine on a horse of his type. He's approx 17hh and an unregistered ID type. He's 6 so has a lot of filling out to do but even now I feel fine on him.

This is me quite a bit heavier on my old share horse. I was about 14 stone here and again, he carried me no problem. He's a 17hh Shire x Welsh x TB and chunkier than Charlie above - probably how Charlie will end up in a few years time.

 

[P.forpony]

If you struggle then the poor chaps don’t stand a chance!

I’d put a weight limit on mine if I ever shared her, but she’s a slim-ish 14h which suits my stumpy legs ?

As long as you’re not desperate to ride ponies you should find plenty of options ?

 

[babymare]

You are tall but given height and activities you are not heavy ? Of course you need to find a horse for your height but they are out there. Good luck and have fun. Xx

 

[huskydamage]

I am a bit worried about the future of horseriding when I see these threads where people are made to feel like they can't ride because they are a normal height and weight!
Nobody would ever ride a horse if only very short people and feather light rode.

 

[Nudibranch]

I'm tall (5'10) and my 15hh Dales takes up as much leg as my 17.3 WB did. Same size bit, saddle, girth! Type is more important than height for carrying weight and taking up leg .

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I'm 5'11 and heavier than you. My current ride is a 15.2 tank of a cob...Im not convinced he even notices Im there..!!!! ???
You are a completely normal weight and the weight Im aiming to get back down to

 

[Splash2310]

I’m 6ft and currently ride a 15.2 cob. I do only weigh 58kg, however he would very easily be able to take your weight!

I used to completely disregard anything until 16.2 due to my height, but I look absolutely fine on my current share as he is quite a chunky boy!

 

[Darbs]

That is a perfectly normal height and weight for the right horse to take. You are right to be cautious and sensible, plenty of people don't think enough about the horse.

I am male, and that height/weight combination is very common for male riders and we dont have too much of an issue finding horses. I currently ride a 15.3 ex-eventer, she is not stocky or cob like but carries me with no issue at all!

 

[ester]

I think it's easier to buy something suitable sometimes than it is to find those types for share/loan/at RS.

My general experience is that people don't always know what certain weights 'look like' outside of what they weigh and they tend to stick to the weight they are as a maximum (I've done this myself in the past). I've ridden horses for people who saw me every day and then they have advertised them later for share at about 3 stone lighter than what I was at the time and I've then wondered if I should have told them! 76kg shouldn't be an issue for many (it's a target for me!)

RS experience have varied at my higher weights, some have had very definite limits, some have gone up to 17st some I think have been decided on an individual basis ie you can ride well yes, you are fit yes, that's fine then.

Currently not really riding though will do sometimes with friends horses but I do make sure I tell them how much I do actually weigh currently.

 

[Adoni123]

I'm weight a little less than you but I'm much shorter! I ride a sporty but still chunkier cob type at 15.1hh. You're around 76kg if you're using the 20% rule, which means you give yourself around 15% of the horses body weight... you can ride horses which have a healthy weight of 510kg +. This is most chunkier sorts above 15 hands - you'd probably want 16 hands for your height. But I'd say that's still an awful lot of horses which are suitable for you!

 

[poiuytrewq]

I have a 15hh cob x and a daughter who had put on weight.
I asked my vet when he came back into work what he could safely carry, taking the fact he had been injured into account. He said 10 stone would be perfect but up to 12 stone for light hacking easily.
I don’t consider 12 stone heavy.

 

[Cob Life]

I was 13 stone and the 15he cob carried me easily, I’ve lost 3 stone and I don’t notice a difference in how he carries me now Vs when I was heavier
He also made me look TINY on him (I’m 5’3), I look smaller on him than the 16.3 exracer as he takes up so much leg

 

[QueenT]

It’s all relative... find a horse that suits your size, and you’ll be fine. You could use the max 20% rule of thumb (rider and tack weight to the horse’s weight) but balance and ability also count into this.