kskatt
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Post by kskatt on Oct 7, 2014 20:46:18 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2014 21:33:40 GMT
I have mixed feelings about this. I am larger, not huge, but not exact 120 either. According to this article, I am about 20-25 too large for Benny, about right for my former warmblood, a little big for Apollo ( but only +/- 5 pounds) and about right for my for Morgan / QH (based on his build).
I haven't done much riding on Benny given his age, but with what I have done he hasn't shown any sign of ill effect. Could I stand to loose those 20-25 pounds? Of course! but I don't think I am abusing my horse by riding him at my current weight if that doesn't happen.
Another thing to consider is rider skill. I am a balanced rider, because I have always been larger I have always been exceptionally careful to ride light and not be a burden. I don't know if the same could be said for a lot of smaller riders.
An interesting article and definitely food for thought.
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kskatt
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Post by kskatt on Oct 7, 2014 21:55:19 GMT
The article does address the fact that skill level makes a big difference. The numbers you give, for yourself, doesn't sound bad to me.  I'm going to have to do some figuring and see whet I'm doing. Considering the fact I prefer right around 14 hands and my kids don't look like tanks, I'm probably pushing if not over myself. What I picture is kinda like the guy I bought Cayenne from. Cayenne is a 14.1 (I measured him) Arabian gelding; the guy is 6'4". He looked fairly slender, but still. |
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mingiz
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Los Lunas, NM
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Post by mingiz on Oct 7, 2014 22:57:36 GMT
Well I'm surely not a little person. But I feel my horses carry me and gear with ease. JR is 15.3 and Reno is 15.2.Both over 1000 lbs. I have climbed many mountains with both and have never had any issues with either horse. Look at some of those Paso Fino riders that show. They are huge men on those little horses! I have seen bigger people than me on smaller horses. My paint mare was 14.3 but she was built stocky. Never had any problems with her either. jmo
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Oct 7, 2014 23:48:41 GMT
I think horses would be better served if their riders were only 20% idiots
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kskatt
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Post by kskatt on Oct 8, 2014 2:46:08 GMT
I think horses would be better served if their riders were only 20% idiots This is probably the biggest truth!! |
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Post by horselover4life on Oct 8, 2014 10:11:49 GMT
I didn't read this particular article {I don't think}, but have others in the past.
If that were true I would not be getting astride my sons horse...because of numbers. I would not get astride a lot of horses, period!
It does have some bearing, however the quietness and balance of a rider, the proper fitting tack and knowing when enough is enough in "exercising" the horse is more important I truly believe.
I can tell you when I worked with reining horses, the trainer was 6'3" or so, slender & muscled build, but still a big man.
Horses averaged 14.2 - 15.1....he fit them beautifully and there was no issue of difficulty carrying his weight.
Let me see, he was National and World Champion Reining Champion for years....yea, think the article has some merit and more importantly you need to have good common sense applied like most other things "horsey". 
Don't let something like this in writing discourage any of us....know your horse, know yourself and be intuitive {pay attention} to the animals body language and attitude!
jmo...
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kskatt
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Post by kskatt on Oct 8, 2014 15:09:23 GMT
I hadn't thought about it in years, but last night, while thinking about the article and this thread, I remembered having a pertinent experience.
A boyfriend of mine was heavy, not obese, but heavy. I have no doubt he was a bit over the mare's, I was letting him ride, weight range. I would cringe watching him bounce. I went to jump on her bareback once, placed my hands on her back, when I pressed she damn near went to her knees. The vet said most of her back was one big bruise. She was not ridden again until fully healed. By then the boyfriend was gone. He had screamed obscenities and threatened me once, I told him if he ever did it again I was gone. It didn't take long.
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Post by horselady on Oct 9, 2014 1:09:22 GMT
if i have to be 100 pounds to ride my arabian mare or gelding than i need to be on a starvation diet and loose 37 pounds.
i think the 20 percent rule is more realistic. and that number does take on saddle and pad as added weight. i have seen western riding and even reining where the riders were well over 6 feet tall and 200 pounds just having a fast run.
now english riders seem to be more in balance with height. weight and horse ratio. wonder why. ??
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hugs
Junior Member
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Post by hugs on Oct 9, 2014 1:41:21 GMT
Wonder what the percent rule is for riding elephants and camels?
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mingiz
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Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Oct 9, 2014 3:11:19 GMT
Wonder what the percent rule is for riding elephants and camels? Well elephants would be if you can get on go for it. Camels I guess if you can fit between 2 humps your good to go  |
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Post by diamondgirl on Oct 9, 2014 3:34:20 GMT
I don't want to think about this. I am sad about my weight right now. Too much comfort food I guess. I'm really not sure how much Diamond weighs. When the vet gave her, her wormer he set the syringe at 900 lbs. I guess I need to step on the scale, with my saddle, then do the math. As far as being a balanced rider. Shoot I'm not even a balanced walker.
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Post by horselady on Oct 9, 2014 11:15:24 GMT
Do not get depressed with the weight. no one is going to run for the roses on their horse, i know i do not any longer want to run thru the woods like a crazy lady. to me riding is spending time working the stress of my life out and that means a good walk around the farm and perhaps a few feet of trotting along the roadway.
throw the weight charts out, sure we all need to get rid of the extra weight we carry, but you know what. ? the horse does not care. love is just that love both ways.
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Post by lorddaxter on Oct 9, 2014 11:59:20 GMT
According to that article Im just on he limit for riding Dax and Im not huge, plus he's a connemara and in Ireland they were bred to carry small men, mind you I suppose over e years they screw with the breed so much it changes, complicated isn't it, I do need to lose another 10lbs which will make it better, have to say he does not struggle atall, if anything he is very forward going and osteopath says he never has back issues just the odd neck one as he used to be a driving pony but to me his head carriage has improved greatly this year.
Anyway, I think most of us aren't stuoid and would know if our horse was struggling?!
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hugs
Junior Member
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Post by hugs on Oct 9, 2014 12:17:02 GMT
Aw Diamond, you're just fine with us and your horse, you're okay.
Weight in and of itself is pretty meaningless, its the proportion of muscle and bone that matters, not merely total mass, goes for people as well as horses.
I'm with you and the comfort food, I have no answers, we all know what we need to do its just that its so darn difficult to figure out how to do it. I've figured out for myself that I can't get enough motivation to change my habits. Motivation goes out the window when I'm stressed and I'm stressed a lot all friggin' day long. So what I do is my best to substitute food for what comforts me, such as popsicles instead of bread, cookies and crackers. Its not the best substitution because I'm simply swapping a simple carbohydrate for other simple carbohydrates but the calorie count is less so I'm somewhat better off. I'm not gaining any weight but I've stayed 20-30 lbs overweight for years. Its so sad but it certainly could be worse. But I'm pretty obsessive about it, not changing it, more complaining about it. I'm a broken record, what could I do with my life if I weren't so obsessive about beating myself up? A better life that's for sure.
*sigh*
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kskatt
Junior Member
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Post by kskatt on Oct 9, 2014 15:07:57 GMT
According to that article Im just on he limit for riding Dax and Im not huge, plus he's a connemara and in Ireland they were bred to carry small men, mind you I suppose over e years they screw with the breed so much it changes, complicated isn't it, I do need to lose another 10lbs which will make it better, have to say he does not struggle atall, if anything he is very forward going and osteopath says he never has back issues just the odd neck one as he used to be a driving pony but to me his head carriage has improved greatly this year. Anyway, I think most of us aren't stuoid and would know if our horse was struggling?! Most of us aren't that stupid, absolutely! That reminds me that the people who actually READ the studies and understand the situation are already doing everything they can to take the best care of their horses. The people who should be working on riding skill, weight, horse care, etc. are the ones who don't care if the horse is comfortable or not. |
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nhg
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Post by nhg on Oct 9, 2014 15:56:57 GMT
It's all relative, I think. A person's weight, the size and strength of the horse/pony, how often and what kind of riding is being done, tack, so many factors. I have a friend that is around 250 pounds and she has good balance and rides beautifully. I once allowed a heavy person to ride my horse for about ten minutes and she has slamming into his back and rode horribly. I could see his upset face and high head, he did not like it at all. Never again.
A light trick rider will put out their horse's backs and the horses need constant chiro work. We know a few so I know that's true. |
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Post by diamondgirl on Oct 9, 2014 17:43:29 GMT
I let my (non horsey) daughter ride Chief, once. She wasn't overweight, at that time. I saddled Chief, and worked him a bit. While I was busy saddling Diamond, someone else helped her mount. Her helper really didn't help and, and she really pulled on his withers. Hard. I was mad because, I know how tall he is and I wanted to really give her a leg up. He did fine with the ride, but when I pulled the saddle off, like I normally do, he shot backward. He was so sore. I think this has been an ongoing problem with him. It sure explained why he would step away when I, or my youngest daughter got a foot near his stirrup. He is very tall, and has had a lot of novice riders. Over the years, he has been hurt.
Now no one is allowed to mount unless they get tossed up there, or they use my tall mounting bench. He has learned youngest daughter, and I won't hurt him, so he is standing rock solid now. We never put a foot in a stirrup to mount or dismount. We take extra special care of his withers too. We stand on the mounting bench to saddle, and unsaddle him also.
My non horsey daughter has mentioned she would like to come over and ride one day again. She has gained enough weight now, I have had to tell her no. I learned, the hard way, how much we need to protect our horses, from novice riders. For an overweight, novice rider, that would be a double no. Sorry. |
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Post by diamondgirl on Oct 9, 2014 17:49:33 GMT
It's all relative, I think. A person's weight, the size and strength of the horse/pony, how often and what kind of riding is being done, tack, so many factors. I have a friend that is around 250 pounds and she has good balance and rides beautifully. I once allowed a heavy person to ride my horse for about ten minutes and she has slamming into his back and rode horribly. I could see his upset face and high head, he did not like it at all. Never again.
A light trick rider will put out their horse's backs and the horses need constant chiro work. We know a few so I know that's true. I have wondered about that, but have never known anyone who does trick riding. I used to enjoy watching them and wondered how they were able to keep the saddles on their horses when they were hanging off their sides. It sounds like they are performing tricks at the expense of their horses comfort. I won't be watching that anymore.  |
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Post by horselover4life on Oct 9, 2014 22:28:13 GMT
Don't "trick horses" use a specially fitted surcingle?
As for mounting and dismounting... I no longer do from the ground ever if I have a choice.
Over the years I too have seen sore backs/withers happen when the saddle twists and pulls against the back muscles and nerves.
I am not the spring board I once was of a hop and on I was....so a mounting block it is for me and more so for my mounts. 
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