Does size matter?

[hotluca]

I have been lucky enough to fulfill a longheld dream to move to the country - proper country, with a massive field all my own! I fully intend to procure a horse in a year or so, and thought I would 'get back in the saddle' whilst waiting, by going to a local riding school. However, I am not the lithe young teenager that I used to be when I used to ride a lot, and I'm rather embarassed about going riding when I am on the large side - larger than a size 16 (ok, more like a 20!) Should I worry? I keep thinking that they'll laugh and say they don't have shire horses for lessons. I also can't find any jods big enough in the online catalogues that I have found - is this another subliminal message to tell me not to ride? Help!

[Alison+Rio]

Hi, dont worry im bout the same size as u and i own 2 horses. Neither of which is a shire! I have a dutch warmblood and a cob. My cob is only 15hh but is a heavy weight with good bone so she carries me without thinking! Even manages to misbehave at times! They will have horses that are bigger boned to carry slightly bigger built clients.

I have found a place that does johdpurs for the fuller figure. I cant remember what the address is though! sorry! im sure someone else could help with that?!

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[Horsey Bird]

I wouldnt worry, most schools can cater to most people. Dont forget, most places can cater to fully grown 14st - 15st men. But some places do have weight restrictions, simply due to the kind of horses they have, so when I used to ride at new places, I always told them my height & weight as it gave them some way of gauging which horse is most suited to you.

You might want to call around a few places and see what they say?

Have fun
M.

[Cathy Reynolds]

Don't fret. You won't be the largest lady that ever rode. AND, guess what, as you get fitter the weight will drop off (I have gone from 18 to 14!).

[janet hakeney]

Hotluca....don't worry. Many of us are 'larger ladies'.Go for it. Try the Mountain Horse johds....I think it is the Isolade style go up to 36 waist. They are cotton mix and very stretchy. I am size 20/22 and the 34'' fits me.They are designed, as it says diplomaticaly in the catalogue, for ladies with a 'fuller figure'.

Horses are up to a lot more weight than most people give them credit for provided you can sit with balance. The horse I ride most is onlt 15.2hh and middleweight.....so don't get thinking you have to look for an elephant.

[Debby Riley]

Nope you are not alone !! I too am a size 18/20 and no lightweight either, i have found a great stables that will cater up to 17+ stone, i ride a brilliant safe cob who i have fallen in love with, the advantage in this is that they tend to be more laid back horses and ideal for the more mature heavier clients like me that are also so nervous, as for the jod's i had to buy a mans pair, they are so comfy !! don't know what the difference is no obvious bulge at the front anyway;)

As someone mentioned before some stables have weight limits due to kind of horses they have ask around By phone to save embarrasement of face to face if they have a weight limit. Been there !!!!:o

I am still waiting to lose weight because of riding i have lovely thick muscley legs, great for riding not so good for shorts, but hey i would wear shorts anyway !!

I seem to be adopting the attributes of horses at the moment i want to graze all day but not hay that is for sure !! ;)

You go for it !! I started with group lessons and i now have private to improve certain areas, my old group was all kids under 12 and i am 32 that didn't put me off and neither did my size, good luck with finding a riding school.

Ps i am so jealous of that field you have, i keep trying to get my parents to move to the country ( not that i live with them but they could afford a place with fields and may be a stable too ( not that they like horses !!!! ) but they could keep an eye on mine if i ever get one !! Got it all worked out just need to pursuade parents that country life is better for them LOL

[Wally]

We are not all the size of Victorian ladies any more! Had a shock in our local museum when I stood next to a display of Victorian dresses, looked more like dolls clothes, ;)

I am not a petite shrinking violet, We have lots of clients about your size, very few supermodel sizes.

People are getting bigger and taller. The Isolde johds are generous, so are the dublin sticky bum breeches....they make 'em big enough to get my backside into!

[sarahh]

i can well remember the terror at about size 24 18stone being convinced that i would squash any horse. i rang the stables and said did they have anything i wouldn't squash. i did get a real gentle giant, and they said if she could carry an 18stone man all day hunting she could carry me for a half hour private lesson.

stretchy fleecy jodpurs are great, i have some musto ones which were incredibly expensive but boy did i need the stretch across my ample thighs!

as long as you tell the truth about your weight on the phone its not a problem, but my goodness it is embarrassing to start with, UNTIL you see other riders who are not sticklike. as someone else said the weight does come off, i'd still like to be lighter but i'm around 13stone now which puts me in the realms of middleweight rather than heavyweight carriers i think.

go for it, it's the best thing i ever did and my only regret is starting in my late 30's rather than being able to do it as a child

[hotluca]

Thank you thank you thank you! I have rung the local riding school - they didn't laugh and I'm waiting for a pair of LARGE jods to arrive in the post.

Really appreciate all of your support, and I'll let you know how I get on!

[ali cat]

hiya

also in the 'ample' size bracket here

or as the hero in my fave books would say---in possession of a ''fine wide arse''

i love the isolde jods--and harry hall go up to a 34 that fit me fine--dunno the style but they're cotton stretch with 'suede' knee bits-and they look good!!!

go for it !:)

[Kezzabelle]

Im a size 16 and found Saddle Master jodphurs really generous and stretchy.

Kez x

[Kezzabelle]

Sarahh, I really envy you! I'd love to lose the amount of weight that you have lost through riding. I didnt think it would be possible! Could you tell me how often you ride and what you do during your lessons?

Thanks, Kez x :)

[Debby Riley]

Sarahh yes please do tell us how you managed to lose that much weight. i am sure that hard work came into it too, not just the riding.

I have lost 5.5 stone already (pre riding ) and i was hoping too that riding would help me lose the extra couple of stones i wanna lose too

[ravenin]

Can anyone give me some rough idea of the "english stone" to "american pound" ratio? I'm always wondering! I've no idea how big any of you are, my family having ceased knowing these things when they got on a boat and sailed west around the year 1856!

[Anne G]

Does size matter? Im a little lady but my good friend is a size 20 and has ridden all her life and has never been below a size 18. She is an exceptional lady with a large personality, superb sense of humour and the strength and character to ride a Fresian stallion who you wouldnt get me on if you paid me a LOT of money.

She competes and wins, is an excellent cross country rider and has never had any qualms about her size. It is only a problem if think it is. I would love to be as confident and exceptional a rider as she is.

Please please please start riding again, all you have to lose is your lack of confidence.

Best of luck.

[Debby Riley]

There are about 2.2 kilo's to a uk pound,
there are 14 pounds to a stone,
therefore a stone is 14 pounds,

there are about 35 kilo's to a pound

does this help ? Hope this is right;)

[helen1h]

Hello

Just thought i'd agree with everyone else, size isn't a problem. I'm a 5' 3 size 16/18 (13 stones) and ride a 15.3 hh horse.
Horse riding is fantastic and i've never come across a school that couldn't cater for me yet.
I think that if you want to lose weight horse riding is a great way to do it- it's the fun kind of exercise that i've been looking for all my life!!!
Good luck in finding a school and don't be worried telling them what you weigh, i've seen riding instructors twice our size!!! Take a deep breath and make the call!!!

Helen