Too Heavy to ride?!?!?! [Archive] - New Rider Message Board

Shire Monster

20th Nov 2007, 08:11 PM

I had trouble finding somewhere to ride too so I can really sympathise with you on this one. Most schools by me had a forteen stone limit and I'm 15½ (after losing just over 4 stone to get back in the saddle) One school was 12 stone and there are horses there in my opinion that could carry far more than this, I think it could be an insurance thing with some schools.
Your best bet if you havn't already is phone round all local schools, to be honest I still think you'll have trouble (sorry) but if you then call into the ones with the upper limits they may let you ride if you are not too far off, I was pretty lucky as apparantly I carry my weight fairly well and don't look what the scales say (tho I was still truthful about my weight) the lady at the yard told me she was sure they have people ride heavier than me so I was in.
Don't wanna be the bearer of bad news but you may have a similar problem with a share/loan too. I'm pretty lucky I found a shire mare for loan, but I guess thats pretty rare and as yet I can't ride her anyway as she was a rescue and is still gettin up to weight.
Anyways good luck with finding somewhere and keep us posted

titch_

20th Nov 2007, 08:18 PM

its insureance and also new riders don't know how to carry there weight (me being one of them) making it harder for the horse to carry.

good luck in your serch and weight loss

x

Ratface

20th Nov 2007, 08:36 PM

Thanks for the advice guys...

Just been speaking to my friend and she advised maybe doing a lot of in-hand training until I can get down to weight...

I'm 99% sure I will be down to 14st by March so hopefully I will be able to find something then!

Again, thank you for your advice nd kind words....:rolleyes:

Nik-n-Kia

20th Nov 2007, 08:43 PM

I just cannot believe that RS's dont cater for heavier riders!!!

I was 14st and riding a 15.2hh welsd sec D!!!!

I do think that it is terrible that RS's dont have large shire/clysie type horses that are more than capable and have the temperament to deal with heavier new riders!!!

This has been a debate that has gone on forever on this site!!

I am soo glad I learned to ride as a kid on my own ponies!!! I would hate to be in the OP's position!!!

Good luck with the wieght loss.

Nikki xxxx

Crazyhorse

20th Nov 2007, 08:50 PM

I do think that it is terrible that RS's dont have large shire/clysie type horses that are more than capable and have the temperament to deal with heavier new riders

Hmmm, well they require far more than the smaller horse be it shoes, feed, larger stables, tack etc so it is not financially viable for schools to have a vast number of weight carriers. I imagine such costs would also impact upon the clients of the school by way of higher lesson costs etc.

I think it's very positive that you have riding as a motivational goal to lose weight and wish you luck.

Nik-n-Kia

20th Nov 2007, 08:54 PM

Hmmm, well they require far more than the smaller horse be it shoes, feed, larger stables, tack etc so it is not financially viable for schools to have a vast number of weight carriers. I imagine such costs would also impact upon the clients of the school by way of higher lesson costs etc.

Well the prices that RS's charge sometimes they should be able to afford it!!!;)

I am not slamming RS's as I used to work at one years ago but even back then a few 'bigger' horses were kept for the heavier riders including male riders.

Nikki xxxx

Back2Black

20th Nov 2007, 08:59 PM

Limit at our yard was 15 due to the amount of work the horses were doing more than what they could actually carry!

Crazyhorse

20th Nov 2007, 09:02 PM

I know, prices are getting pretty insane. I got a fright the other day when I worked out how much having two lessons a week sets me back a year :eek:

Where I ride is also a Shire centre. None are ridden, but the cost of keeping them each month amounts to silly money, but it can be justified as lots of visitors pay to come and see them.

Shire Monster

20th Nov 2007, 09:10 PM

Just a little addition to some other comments the mare I have on part loan (shire) eats soooo much she does cost a fortune to feed and though she isn't shod her owner had a price off the farrier £70 for just the two fronts, yes they do cost a fortune to keep, also as daft as it sounds I imagine it would be kinda hard to find stabling for them too, she's 18'2" her stable is big enough for her but it is bigger than most stables I've seen

Purple Hugs

20th Nov 2007, 09:12 PM

Ring every riding school you can and tell them your weight.. don't be ashamed!
I was 17st 4lbs when i first started riding! :) Get on that phone and i'm sure you'll find someone with a horse that can carry you! :)

If not.. don't give up, look further afield. I rode horses from 15-18hh's. :)
I'm still just under 14 stone.. and don't struggle at all now. :)

Go on.. don't give up that easy! :) it'll help your weight loss too! ;)

Ratface

20th Nov 2007, 09:13 PM

My children ride so like I mentioned earlier, I will just probably go for learning the "behind the scenes" stuff, maybe get a pony to lead me into things gently...

Dont worry, I am aware that it is not as easy as it sounds and would not wrecklessly get any animal without thought! I currently have 4 children and 3 gigantic dogs who live with me at any one time and so tend to make any life changing decisions very seriously nowadays!:D

Thanks again for these replies, they are very useful...

JOJOBA

20th Nov 2007, 09:21 PM

One thing to bear in mind with riding school horses is that whilst you may look at them and say the horse is capable of carrying xx stone, they work long hours, every day.
A small Welsh A is probably capable of carrying me (I could help by putting my feet on the floor!), but not if he was expected to do so every day, along with also working 2 more hours after.
So I dont think it's to do with insurance etc, more to do with the horse's workload.
At the riding school where I worked / rode / liveried there were 2 horses for the larger riders - a 16.2hh HW Clydesdale cross, and a 15.3hh VERY HW Suffolk Punch cross. But we still had a weight limit of around 14 stone because the horses worked 2 hours a day, 6 days a week. However if people went in person they often ended up having lessons even though they were over that limit - see my comments further down.

Another issue all riders face is the size of the saddle - whilst a big boned draught type is, in all honesty, probably capable of carrying 25 stone with no effort - it makes a difference if the weight is centered in one small area on the back (ie, the saddle area).
Highland ponies carry deer which weigh more than you'd think (20st or something I think!), but if you look at the harnesses they are spread over a big area so the weight isnt concentrated but rather spread across the whole back.

So, for a horse to carry a slightly heavier rider it also needs to have a well fitted saddle with the biggest seat size possible.

Im sure you will find somewhere to take you if you keep looking. Going in person may help too, over the phone someone might say '17 stone? Sorry that's over our limit', but face to face they might just look at you and think 'ah yes, she'll be fine on *dobbin*' or something. Often in person riding schools wont even ask, because people often carry their weight very well. :) Men often turn up and ride and only afterwards you find out they weigh 15 / 16 stone and are technically over the weight limit. Because men carry their weight well and also never look as heavy as they are! So I think going in person would be very useful.

If you look for a share horse make sure the saddle fits well and is a large seat size :). Probably not treeless either - a treed saddle would be best.

Let us know how you go on :)! And good luck on your weight loss too - a lot of people on here seem to have found that the desire to ride is the best diet of all! :p

xxx

Pink's lady

20th Nov 2007, 10:49 PM

Another issue all riders face is the size of the saddle - whilst a big boned draught type is, in all honesty, probably capable of carrying 25 stone with no effort - it makes a difference if the weight is centered in one small area on the back (ie, the saddle area).
Highland ponies carry deer which weigh more than you'd think (20st or something I think!), but if you look at the harnesses they are spread over a big area so the weight isnt concentrated but rather spread across the whole back.

So, for a horse to carry a slightly heavier rider it also needs to have a well fitted saddle with the biggest seat size possible.

Have you been talking to me:p;)

Thats the main reason that horses need weight limits. After about 16st the pressure under any normal english saddle starts to cause muscle damage. And that's a well fitted saddle - imagine the pressure under a saddle that isn't quite right, has poor sized panels or the flocking is poor (i.e a large number of RS saddles)

Why not ask a RS if you could help out for a while? Just working with horses is really good exercise and will help with your confidence - being confident on th ground is a massive advantage for learning to ride.

JOJOBA

20th Nov 2007, 10:54 PM

Regularly ;) I like to think I learn a little something every day from someone... :p

xxx

eml

20th Nov 2007, 10:58 PM

Unfortunately very few schools will offer to take weights over 14 stone as a maximum.

There are several reasons. It is not viable to take on a customer who can only ride one horse, what happens when that horse is out of work? Equally good weight carrying horses are not viable rides for many riders as they are too wide for many people to be comfortable.

For those who think riding lessons are expensive bear in mind that not only does a large percentage of your cost go to insurance/licences/government but the owner has probably invested/borrowed a lot of money ..think say 30 horses at average of £2000 each, tack, rugs etc to say nothing of land, stables and schools.

Like ourselves running an RS makes maximum working hours look attractive ( 80 hour week is a good one!)

jumpingmad

21st Nov 2007, 10:09 AM

i have the same problem if decide to go for a few riding lessons, But i am really lucky, theres a riding school about 20/30minutes away from me that will take me, i guess it helps when i say my weight is medical? but i've seen people riding there that are over 20stone. They have a 17.3hh ID and a 17.2hh ID, which is fantastic, i wish there were more riding schools like them!

flintybaby

21st Nov 2007, 10:16 AM

Thats the main reason that horses need weight limits. After about 16st the pressure under any normal english saddle starts to cause muscle damage. And that's a well fitted saddle - imagine the pressure under a saddle that isn't quite right, has poor sized panels or the flocking is poor (i.e a large number of RS saddles)

I never knew that! Very interesting!! :cool:

karenandandy

21st Nov 2007, 10:44 AM

im 15 stone and just started to ride my daughters 14.02 fjord, he would go all day, but sadly im not that nimble:eek:

JOJOBA

21st Nov 2007, 11:30 AM

Flintybaby - also the reason why some larger riders are better off in well fitted western saddles (PL told me that, before I take credit for the information like I did for the Highland Pony harnesses ;)), as they distribute the weight over a larger area. Also because treeless saddles have little/no structure the weight is often even more concentrated on one area, hence treed being better in this case!

I love saddle talk :cool:

xxx

pineapple

21st Nov 2007, 11:35 AM

theres a RS somewhere in the north that only has shires.... i doubt you live near enough though....

Jane.A

21st Nov 2007, 12:28 PM

Great idea to start with the handling and stable management side of things whilst you endeavour to lose the weight. In the interim why not take up yoga or pilates, it is lots of stretching and balancing, no high impact, non competitive and not full off the sylph like nymphs who make me feel like an aging hippo:D. The big upside to this is you increase your flexibility, discover your core stability all of which will help your riding. It was and still is the only other form of exercise other than riding and swimming I can do with my impairment but it really has helped my riding position and strengthed my back. A balanced rider makes a balanced horse, and if you are more body aware you will ride lighter whatever your weight.:D

Shire Monster

21st Nov 2007, 01:32 PM

theres a RS somewhere in the north that only has shires.... i doubt you live near enough though....

Theres a place in cumbria http://www.cumbrianheavyhorses.com/ that have clydies and a shire I emailed her last year asking about weight limits, it said on her site that there is a sliding weight scale depending height / weight / experience but when I emailed it didn't she replied 17 stone, because although they are big and strong horses they are built to pull not carry.

It may not be anywhere near you but could be a place to bear in mind for a camping holiday or something

Pink's lady

21st Nov 2007, 07:59 PM

Saddle pressures are rarely thought about when talking about rider weight.

It's super important when you're thinking about very heavy riders - i.e 20st+. There are plenty of people who would quite happily put a 20st+ rider on a belgium heavy draught (which could in theory manage that weight) without stopping to think about how much pressure that puts under their (most likely) 17.5 inch saddle :eek: :( It's often mentioned when thinking about adults (even slim adults) riding small ponies in little saddles (15") but not when heavy riders ride in only marginally bigger saddles.

Western saddles can make a huge difference. The weight bearing surface can be as much as twice that of an english, so althought they weigh more themselves, they are much more comfortable for the horse (if you can get it to fit properly!)

Galadrials site (http://lorienstable.com/articles/z-fitting/weight/)has the actual facts and figures about pressures.

Purple Hugs

21st Nov 2007, 08:13 PM

Personally, i don't know enough about saddles to quote on them.

But to say that a riding school only has one horse capable of carrying 17st is a bit presumptious.

I have riden at 5 riding schools in the last 3 years, for different amounts of time.. only ONE of them couldn't take a 17st rider. And that one could take 15st.

I would say not to defer riding until you have called your nearest riding schools and found out what their limits are.

If we started looking at how the saddle fits etc none of us would ever have started riding, it's too much to ask of someone learning to ride to be responsible for the horse.

I agree if a horse carries a 17st rider, it should be rested, and this happened with my first riding school when I too was 17st. But i had the choice of 3 horses along with 2 I chose not to ride (as not novice rides). :)

If you really want to ride, there is no better exercise and incentive to lose weight. :)

Waterhouse

22nd Nov 2007, 06:39 PM

Try turning up and saying "can you teach me to ride". You don't have to tell them explicitly after all. Or am I being too simplistic?

It's not just the weight and the saddle fitting but also how you move on horseback. Novice riders often resemble a sack of potatoes until they develop balance, at which point lots of stuff gets easier. I know, I'm still learning it and I'm 102kg (just multiply by 2.204, divide by 14 and you understand why the metric system works better)

Purple Hugs

24th Nov 2007, 04:05 PM

Personally i took the phone call method and being honest about my weight... I have always been heavier than i look or my clothes reflect, so people could easily misjudge my weight. When i was younger i did a lot of weight lifting etc so was heavier as my 'bulk' was mainly muscle. :)

camel

24th Nov 2007, 04:32 PM

I've had that too ..... I casually asked a while ago at some stables when I was doing some RDA work and the bloke (blokes always misjudge weight!!) asked why I didn't ride there and I said I was to heavy and he told me not to be so silly and that there were at least two horses that could carry me and showed me them.

When I looked at the website for the school it stated the weight limit was 5 stone lighter than me!!! .... nice compliment I suppose!! ... lol

xx

Hollie&Puzzle

28th Nov 2007, 12:33 PM

Were do you live?, ? A RS near me has heavy weight horses that can carry 17 stone

Ratface

30th Nov 2007, 11:08 PM

Gees I lost the link to this website!!!

I live near ilkley. I hope to be 1t the 16st mark by the end of feb so I think until then I will help out at some local stables. I am quite keen and have decided to put money away weekly in the new year which would be the basic cost of keeping a horse so that if this time next year I am riding ok etc I may buy one, knowledge pending of course :rolleyes:.

I am going to see the stables tomrow so hopefully they will be grateful of the help!

;)

Samsky

1st Dec 2007, 01:50 PM

People also tend to forget that a weight carrier could easily carry their top weight for hours on end if it was just walking (Like a pony trek for example) but in a lesson situation (trot,canter,circles etc) that reduces the time they are able to carry the weight significantly.

fishiz3434

4th Dec 2007, 08:58 AM

Maybe it's best if you dont ride till your down to 14st so that then u have something :) hope you do loose the weight as u'll feel much better(i lost 20kg and feel sooooo fit and now have my own little arab that now keeps the weight off :P )

midnightmare

4th Dec 2007, 03:37 PM

Hi,
I was lucky to gte into my riding school, the weight limit is 12 stone and I weigh 12.3 stone (please don't laugh!) What made it worse is the scales said I was 14 stone, then the other scales said i was 11 :D They were all really surprised when I said what I weighed (took it as a cmpliment lol ) luckily Misty doesn't seem to ahev any problems with me, I think she is 15/16hhm her back is way over my head adn I am 5ft4 :)

chickflick1066

4th Dec 2007, 03:48 PM

Just out of curiosity - is it common practice to weigh clients are RS now? :o

midnightmare

4th Dec 2007, 04:01 PM

they only weighed me because I couldn't remember my weight :o i wish I had, most embarrasing thing in my life! :eek:

Spoof

4th Dec 2007, 04:15 PM

I'm told with a properly fitted saddle rider weight isn't as big of an issue as many think.

My friend is an assistant riding instructor at an acedmy - she weighs 17st and is 5'4, and has ridden everything there over 13h. Her hubby is closer to 20st and 6'1 - and he rides their 15'2 h QH and the drafties.

Good luck, and don't give up looking. :)

chickflick1066

4th Dec 2007, 04:17 PM

I'd like to think I was a light rider, and at 14.7 stones (I'm guessing here), the only things I don't like doing excessively, is jumping!

teddypony

5th Dec 2007, 09:59 AM

My riding school recently limited its weight limit to 14stone, this was due to the vets recommendation and now has weight limits on all the horses and scales so you can weigh yourself just to check. I think most of it is bigger horses costing more to maintain, like someone has already said. However im sure i have heard of somewhere which just has heavy horses. . .not too sure though may be making that up. :o

coblover26

5th Dec 2007, 10:05 AM

I think my RS has a limit of 15stone.
It really just depends on the horses build. RS horses do work really long hours, but I'm sure there are places that are open to everyone, no matter what height or weight you are.

Good Luck in your weight loss :) x

KAB

5th Dec 2007, 10:32 AM

I think a lot of RS have a limit of 14 to 15st. I am sure there are plenty of good horses out there that are weight carriers, but its finding a RS that allow it.

Also you have to think of the saddle size too - I am not knowledgeable enough to discuss saddles. Would anyone know what sizes they come in?

gingeremmie

5th Dec 2007, 02:53 PM

It's not so much about the sizes the saddles come in but what size will fit the horse. You can't put a big saddle on a horse if his back isn't long enough or you will be putting weight over the weak areas of the back. I would really like an 18" saddle (the biggest standard size) as I am a big girl (14st 11.5 at last weigh in - down from 15st 13 so I'm pleased) but my cob is short coupled so we compromised on a 17.5" - not that he's in work now anyhow! The problem with that though is that as a bigger rider if the saddle isn't big enough you end up sitting on the back of the saddle and putting too much pressure down through there. So there's quite a lot to think about. I'm hoping to lose some more weight yet and then be able to bring my cob back into work and I'll be able to fit in the saddle nicely!

Ratface - if I ever get my cob back into work you can come and have a sit on him, maybe next spring time, I'm not a million miles away!

Most saddles come in 15-18" seat sizes. You can get tinier ones for small ponies too, like the cub saddles.

Ratface

6th Dec 2007, 05:25 PM

Thank you for the offer!!!

However I have just this evening found a riding centre which will take me in as the lady who owns it is the same weight as me and says she has 3 cobs who she thinks would be perfect!

Am going to see her Saturday but cant wait!!

Thank you guys for the replies posted, it has been an interesting chat. Will let you know how it goes. ;)

chickflick1066

6th Dec 2007, 06:06 PM

Best of luck :)

bexj

6th Dec 2007, 06:31 PM

Excellent, where are you going Ratface?

Ratface

7th Dec 2007, 06:01 PM

A place called Silver Mill in Otley

I am only going for a look around but am hoping I can book a lesson for Sunday. Knowing my luck it will be too last minute but if not i'll be there!!

I cant wait!!!!

;)

camel

7th Dec 2007, 06:43 PM

Glad you got sorted out Ratface - good luck, keep us posted on how you get on.

Were off to the Highlands for Christmas, OH wants to go for a hack so I ring up the local riding centre (Borlum in Drumnadrochit) had a chat with a lovely lady and booked him in for Christmas eve. She then asked if I wanted to ride and I declined saying that I would be over the weight limit ..... She said 'Are you sure? we have a 12stone limit' as if it was a generous figure!!! ..... Lol

Poor OH had to even have his lesson cancelled as he is 13st9ib (and fit as a flea, with a perfectly 'normal' BMI)

To be fair the lady was lovely and was even apologetic but 12stone at a large riding centre ..... C'mon!!!!

xx

-x-laurrie-x-

14th Dec 2007, 06:49 PM

At my riding school we have no weight limit as we have bigger horses who are capable of carrying heavier weights. Infact when a group of very overweight adults wanted to ride we were the only school in the area who agreed to have them (was filmed for Channel 4 - "Too big too walk" - if anyone saw it :-) ) unfortunately it wasnt put on air.. but i think it was great they were given the chance.
Well done for finding somewhere... wish you all the very best of luck!!
:D

CER1389

14th Dec 2007, 07:03 PM

Good luck! Hopefully you will keep us all updated with pictures :D

Could you try advertising locally, or get some contatcs through the riding stables? See if you can help someone with the ground stuff? This would help your confidence and help you lose the weight? Also be good knowledge for if you do get your own horse.

See if someone would teach you to muck out? Lunge? Long rein? Even if it was someone close to you from NR? Just an idea, would all be benficial.

In the mean time it might be worth waiting and seeing how saturday goes first!

Lora

14th Dec 2007, 07:48 PM

At my riding school we have no weight limit as we have bigger horses who are capable of carrying heavier weights. Infact when a group of very overweight adults wanted to ride we were the only school in the area who agreed to have them :D

This seems very sensible. Our barn has a 150 pound weight limit and I secretly wonder if it's meant to keep out men. When you think about it, alot of men are over 150. If it is truly just a weight issue, why is it that we have one 1 male rider but loads of ladies over the weight limit?

I'm not saying this is any real reason or maybe providing beefier horses is a cost inhibitor. Just thinking out loud about our weight limit imposed.

thor

19th Dec 2007, 08:46 AM

im 15 stone and just started to ride my daughters 14.02 fjord, he would go all day, but sadly im not that nimble:eek:

i can belive it! i weigh a lot as well, and my fjord still goes liek a train!

molly34

19th Dec 2007, 04:05 PM

How did you get on Ratface?

interesting comments about weight limits in different places - round here the norm seems to be 12 stone, and I weigh around 14. I went through all this about 6 months ago as I was looking for a new RS - definitelty for regular lessons and maybe to get my own horse and keep it there, so potentially a nice steady source of income for someone! I made a point of mentioning the weight thing as early as possible whenever I contacted schools and although a couple were fine, a couple turned me down flat. They were polite about it, so fair enough I suppose.

One particular school really p*ed me off though - they were great on the phone, lovely when I went to visit and booked a lesson..... then rang me the night before the lesson and left a voicemail saying they were concerned about my weight and it would all depend how I rode etc so they'd postpone the lesson and could I ring them again...... I figured if they couldn't be bothered to pay attention during our first phone call or when I was stood in front of them, I couldn't be bothered to call back :mad:

noodle

19th Dec 2007, 10:54 PM

Its so nice to see other people who are heavier than others, how pants did that sound.
I am 12.5 stone and was honestly worried when it came to riding that I was too heavy.
My only question is I have been looking to try and find a couple days riding on someones horse, now I am a novice but a compitent novice, know what I SHOULD do but my body dosnt always allow it, what type and size horse should I look for when replying to an advert.
I am embarresed that someone will say I am too heavy.

gaz deluxe

25th Dec 2007, 04:44 AM

im gettin really scared now i weigh 12 stone and people say i look alot lighter , im worried now that if i ask my rs what the limit is n im over it i will have to leave, ive rode there 4 around 5 years now.

Stella2

25th Dec 2007, 09:57 AM

Well don't ask :) If you have been riding there that long, they know your riding and will be able to tell if you are too heavy when riding a particular horse. I thinks its unlikely that there weight limit is 12 stone anyway. Some have a limit of 12 and a half, even then its to protect the horses from absolute beginners who sit very heavy and move around a lot due to being unbalanced.

Now go and have a couple of nice chocolates and Merry Christmas!

vieshot

25th Dec 2007, 03:11 PM

I just cannot believe that RS's dont cater for heavier riders!!!

Nikki xxxx

I CAN! Riding school horses do enough work as it is, let alone expecting then to carry 17stone on their backs! New riders bounce all over the place, i personally think a fifteen stone limit is acceptable!

Ratface

31st Dec 2007, 10:27 AM

Just an update as I have seen that this post has taken off without me realising it!!!:eek:

The riding school I go to has 3 big sturdy cobs, all capable of taking my weight so I am told.

The lady running the yard is the same weight as me and knows her stuff so I trust her when she says not to worry!

I have had 3 lessons now - 1 in the arena, which after one lap I was on my own without being lead and learned walk on and whoah! The 2nd we went out on a hack and I was being lead then the 3rd and 4th I went out on a hack without being lead and people thought I had been riding previously because my posture was really good!:o

I think each riding is different for many of the reasons mentioned here and I respect all of the reasons. There are bound to be some places which cater for bigger people it depends on how much the horses are worked and what they are capable of!:rolleyes:

I am so happy I found somewhere and have since found another place but I am happy with where I am at the moment....:p

I plan on getting a Shire/Clydey foal late next year so things have really moved on a lot since I last posted:D! The lady who runs the riding school is used to bringing on horses etc and my cousin and a couple of friends also have offered their services too so I am all excited now and am taking in as much info as I can like a sponge!!:cool:

Stella2

31st Dec 2007, 10:58 AM

Good to hear, sounds like you are going to be having fun in 2008 :)

King Solomon

5th Jan 2008, 07:38 PM

What does like 14 stone mean and all that? I weight 160lb and I'm 16. I'm overweight and I know that and I ride a 14.2.3/4hh Morgan Gelding who carries me great. I don't look too large on him and we have no problem moving, jumping or anything else. Where I take lessons we have no riding limits. We ponies and minnies and a three Perscherons and everything in between from paints, to quarters horses to Arabians and racking horses. I didn't know places had limits like that.

bexj

5th Jan 2008, 07:42 PM

There's 14 pounds in a stone, so at 160lb you would be 11 stone 6 lb:D

King Solomon

5th Jan 2008, 11:17 PM

I'm guessing the use of the term "Stone" is in other countries? I'm from the US of A so it threw me off a little! Thanks for clearing that up!

titch_

5th Jan 2008, 11:20 PM

Yeah its how us brits weigh ourselfs:p

darrenadamsshaw

24th Jan 2008, 12:59 AM

i can empathise with new riders not being able to find a riding school.... although i've been fairly lucky... i'm a (cuddly) 15st 6, and the horse i ride will apparently happily take up to 20st...... I am actively losing weight, cos i have a trek weekend booked for the end of march and i need to be less than 13 1/2 st.... no chips/choc/beer for me for a couple of months :( but it'll be worth it when i'm going like stink!!!

burness_21

24th Jan 2008, 01:09 AM

we had a huge ardennes mare in our old yard, and had someone who was 18st, even though she only had a light work load she struggled to carry this person for a whole hour

CER1389

24th Jan 2008, 08:09 AM

Myself and my mum used to ride at a local riding stables. I'd been riding for a few years before my mum started riding, so the owners knew her and her weight. My mum began riding (she used to ride when she was younger) and roe at the stables for about 3 years. One day in conversation they said their weight limit was 13.5stone..and my mum goes "well I'm a few pounds heavier than that?" to which the YO immediatley goes "well you can't ride here then because you're too heavy. If you lose weight we might be able to find you a space, but I can't promise" :eek:
So my mum left that day and I left a week later! I'd been there 7years and used to recommend the place. So they lost 2 clients that day.
Mums now not riding, but is hoping o take up carriage driving, so could be perfect comprimise!

Stella2

24th Jan 2008, 08:23 AM

Grining_cat

24th Jan 2008, 12:16 PM

Well im just under 21stone and my welsh gelding carrys me fine and hes only 14hh, due to make about 14.3-15hh (hes only two).

Stella2

24th Jan 2008, 12:38 PM

Well im just under 21stone and my welsh gelding carrys me fine and hes only 14hh, due to make about 14.3-15hh (hes only two).

May I ask where you are from?

This is likely to open a whole can of worms. Generally in the UK, the thinking is that a horse shouldn't be started until aged 3 or 4 to give them time to physically mature before carrying the weight of a rider. Even at that age most would feel that it should only be asked to carry a rider somewhat lighter than its potential carrying ability when fully mature.