Your horse's weight carrying capabilities

[Happytohack]

In other countries, horses seem to carry lots more weight than we expect them to here. In th US, relatively small stock horses carry fully grown men plus heavy saddles. In Oz, the Austrialian stock horses do as well. In Iceland, their small ponies carry large riders. At a recent FEI 100 mile endurance event, all horses had to carry 75kg minimum - considering most of the horses were small Arabs, this seemed quite a lot especially over 100 miles. What size horse have you got and what do you think is the max weight he/she should carry? Just pondering!

 

[bex1984]

My pony is 14.1hh, and I would be reluctant to let anyone over 14 stone ride him. He is built like a tank though!

 

[pottamus]

I have a 15hh Welsh who is built in the traditional Welsh way. He has good strong legs and is deffinately weight carrying type. I think he would take a man's weight easily.

 

[jumpthemoon]

I think it depends on the rider and their shape etc. I kind of think up to about 15stone, but then I know someone who is 6'7" and weighs about 20stone and I'm sure my 16.2 WB wouldn't have a problem carrying him. We are too soft over here probably! I've got a 15.1 TB as well though and I almost think I'm too heavy for her at 10 stone - I don't think she would happily carry much more.

 

[fairhill]

I don't think 75 kg is all that excessive for a horse to be expected to carry. Arabs are a lot stronger than they look as well.

Chloe is 15.2 and has happily carried an 18 stone man (I didn't ask him his exact weight as it would have been rude!). I don't think there is a max load for her to be carrying, just one of her legs weighs more than me!

 

[Scarlett]

I think we are too soft over here... A horse can carry 1/5 to a 1/4 of its own weight, thats quite a lot!

My Oh has a 15.3 TB who has carried his 13-14 stone for the past 18 months with no probs at all. We make his saddle fits and when we had saddle issues OH didnt ride him, however at the moment he rides him everyday and Darcy certainly isnt suffering for it!

 

[Happytohack]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think 75 kg is all that excessive for a horse to be expected to carry. Arabs are a lot stronger than they look as well.



[/ QUOTE ]
I meant it was a lot to carry for 100 miles!

 

[horsegirl]

I agree I think people underestimate the amount a horse can carry comfortably.

 

[lexiedhb]

I think we are a bit soft over here too (I once rode a horse in thailand, that I really didnt think would take my weight, he was quite fine and about 14hh, I was about 14 stone at the time, but he was fine on our hour hack, full of beans etc!

. Saying that i think a horse could carry a heavier more experienced rider better than a heavy novice, due to balance/movement issues!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

My lighttweight 16.1hh hunter can quite easily carry a 15s/16s man. However, he hates men so doesn't go for them!! What a shame - I can't share him with anyone!!

 

[Michelle73]

The heaviest I've been and my horse didn't even notice he was carrying me was 15st 8lb but now I'm 9st 13lb I wonder what he thinks???!!! He's jumping two foot higher than he needs to!!!

 

[_OC_]

15.1 middleweight cob and up to 14 stone he can take......not that I'm 14 stone

 

[Honeypots]

I think we definitely underestimate what our horses can carry. It also depends alot on the capabilities of the rider and the fitness of the horse. I have 2 heavyweight cobs. They can physically carry pretty much any human being weighwise. I ride my daughters pony 13.1hh and my weight fluctuates between 12 and 13 stone. She has no trouble carrying me.

 

[Ludi-doodi]

If anyone has a copy of the recent edition of Your Horse (the 300th edition I think) there's a calculation in it to work out max weight your horse can carry. I can't remember what it is, but I worked out I'm at top end of what Lude's should carry - Q a diet

(she says stuffing her face with crisps and cheesey sandwhiches

!!).

 

[*hic*]

Deleted as I thought better of it!

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

[ QUOTE ]
The heaviest I've been and my horse didn't even notice he was carrying me was 15st 8lb but now I'm 9st 13lb I wonder what he thinks???!!! He's jumping two foot higher than he needs to!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Any tips on weight loss??? I have 8 months to lose 2 stone (or maybe a stone and a half)

before my first 3DE.

Congrats by thy way. What an achievement!!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Well I weigh 9 1/2 stone and have decided I don't want anyone over 11 stone to ride my horse, I'm sure he could carry more but I don't want to risk it, he is only used to carrying me and did have back problems before I got him so I don't want these to start up again. I have seen much larger people riding much smaller ponies but I don't personally agree with it.

My horse is a 15.3, 8 year old, healthy light warmblood.

 

[Shilasdair]

As I've got three horses, my plan is to continue to eat, and just to lie across the three of them...like that French circus guy, crossed with Dejeuner sur l'Herbe...
S