Riding and weight

While its true a horse can become accustomed to any wieght rider, a thicker bodied stock type horse will carry a larger person more comfortably, and of course you should keep in mind to make sure you post during trotting, and expect that your horse may suffer injuries easier with increased weight , The general rule of thumb is any horse can carry any rider without additional conditioning, up to 250. lbs, more than that, and the horse should be accustomed to it , and interestingly enough , geldings/stallions can of course carry more,but are prone to back strap muscle strains but mares are more prone to leg injury carrying larger weights, if you ride trails, and cross country its a lot easier on your horse, than riding hard packed dirt or roads which makes sense , right I am down to 259 now and ride as often as possible, its great fun , and have missed not having my own horses for some time .... but when i did have my own horses , i rode them at 300-320 and they adjusted, because of my weight and comfort, i didnt trot or run much , because it hurt me I am currently trading free riding time on some great roping cutting horses for training a sweet 9 month old bay QH studcolt they arent painted, but hey its a horse Beth

I always heard a horse can carry up to 20% of it's own weight. As a general rule of thumb it makes sense I guess. I have two, a 14 yr old bay QH gelding named Sam, and a 13 yr old double registered sorrell overo paint-pinto gelding named B.R. Use them to team pen, trail ride and parade. Thery are a couple of good boys. Wish I could get the surgery approved so I could ride like I want to.

Hay there! I rode my Spottie mare when I weighed about 350. She weighed between about 1400 - 1600 pounds, so I was about 25% of her weight. I was very very easy on her, and we only trail rode, and at a walk. Gradually got up to trotting a little, when both of us were in better shape. I weighed 322 on the day of surgery. I'm 9 days post op now, and am so looking forward to this spring and riding at a better weight and with less knee pain. However, my mare is fatter than ever and it'll take a while to get HER back into shape. LOL! We have 2 Spotties and 2 Paints, so I have the best of 2 worlds. I can ride my giants while I'm big, then switch to our Paints as I get back to a normal weight. Our Paints are just 2 year olds this spring, so they're just babies in training. We'll be ready together!

Thank you, Beth, for the wonderful information you provided! I have a Morgan mare that I just love to death! I bought her as a "rescue" 3 years ago, and have yet to ride her. I was always so self-conscious about my weight, that it held me back from working with her! Now (3 mos.) after surgery, I am finally getting down to a more comfortable weight (235 lbs., down 63!) that I don't feel so guilty about getting on her back. I have always loved horses! I had 2 as a child that my parents boarded. I always said I would own another one someday, but it had to be on my own property. Now I have that, and I am ready to get back in the saddle. Any tips for someone getting back in the saddle at age 35?!

Stef, honey getting back in the saddle at 35 isnt much more than getting into any other sport, walking for endurance, and leg presses for thigh strength , abdominal exercises for proper posture ... its a lot like getting into any other sport, you need to condition yourself, but you can luckily do most of the conditioning you need right from the saddle, but if you feel you need more help in that arena , there are things you can do you know one of the greatest conditioning tools ever invented for horseback riders was that old suzanne summers "thighmaster" those were the same exercises i used to do with my team mates in 4H when i was a kid, i laughed when they first came out, now i comb rummage sales for them . When i had the stable up in North Dakota, and had students, i used to give them to them to get in shape and prepared for the "feel " of a horse, it really does help them become more concious of thier leg cues and aids so am still looking for them , because i know i am going to get another traiing stable going down here in missouri in the next year or so , probobly do a horse B and B but that enough of my prattle for this morning, i have to go ! happy valentines day all ! Beth

Being new to the site, I wanted to see what people were talking about. I have been riding & showing all of my life. The only times I didn't ride was during my pregnancy when I was having some problems. Then after for a little while, but have always been active with them, or helping at shows & the 4H kids. Now that my daughter is 11, and the "baby" weight never went away, I am going thru all the pre-surgery b.s. for RNY...I had gained over 110 & other health issues -including thyroid disease- have hampered every other attempt at weight loss. Although my weight hasn't gone over 275 at my very worse, and after a hysterectomy that took off 30+ #'s really quick. My horses have been my sanctuary, and from what I have read at all your postings you are quite biased on your "breeds" (or maybe it just reads that way). I grew up in the "political field/showing" and had the best horse, equipment, trainer for lessons, etc. that my family could afford at the time... and have found it's not the breed that makes the horse.... it's how they are raised (in the ring it's who you are & who's your trainer). Now on my own, I have always looked for a horse that has a brain, FIRST! Not it's color, & took all the heat from others for no longer being in the "breed" any more, I am not a follower... I want a horse that suites MY needs, as should anybody really. It's body/build, second... for somebody that is larger, should not be on a 14-hand (800#) horse...stock horse or any.... for that matter, just for common sense reasons. If they were, the Arab is one of the best breeds, for one reason, the have a denser bone & an extra set of rib(s) {13-in an arab}, than a stock horse (other than that they were bred for "more" & to endure. (They are also he foundation of almost every breed in the US, by the way! inculding the Morgan, AQHA, Paint, & Appaloosa, among may others.) I have now an Arab-cross, and he has more brains, endurance, stamina than any stock horse I was ever on. For a person with extra weight, I have found myself fatigued long before my horses are. But I do things with my horse, and the neighbors think I'm a bit strange; ie... we go for bike rides...He trots along side of me, all saddled up & with side reins on, just to strengthen his neck and back muscles. I take him for walks, more often than my dogs (****ers can't handle 'round the block -80acres- trip, and to the lake so he can go play in the water at the boat landing! Having a horse with a strenghtened top-line will not only help them, but will make your ride much more comfortable, his/her collection will reduce fatigue on your body in any & all gaits. I guess also having a horse that I DON'T have to post his trot is a blessing, since its so soft & gentle. Just this past year, I went on a "cancer ride" and I was actually suprized at how many plus size women I had met, one had even offered to buy my horse, because of the ride he gives me, and after 8 hours of trail riding he wanted to keep going (we did have 2 breaks). Our other big ride was the "Colorama" held in the fall, it's a 3-day event and I was amazed at the people/breed combinations, of true horse people. They came from MN, IL, MI, OH, Canada, & more I'm sure... living in the Northwoods of WI, is the best for trail riding with all of our state forests! Usually it's always the men who are 180-300#'s out riding and they never make any issue of their weight, but if there is a woman riding over 150#'s we get looked at with strange eyes (& comments) - why is that by the way?

It's nice to see other "big" riders here. I am having RNY March 26th and can't wait to be a loser so I can ride again. I haven't been riding my 17hh TB since he tossed me off more than a year ago. I find that when 300+ lb****s the ground things tend to break. I have been riding my small QH a little just walking around, I miss my big guy, I have had him for 12 years and miss riding him. As far as size goes it depends on the horse and the rider. My big guy carries me around like I am as light as a feather, he is just a strong horse. My little QH carries me as well, though I think he has to work a little harder. ;). A 300 lb rider who knows how to ride and keep their weight off the horses back is better for the horse than a 250 lb rider that sits on the horse like a sack of pototos. ;) I can't wait to be a loser and hit the trails again with my equine buddie. Rachael