What do you think?

I've been super super morbidly obese for a long time now. The last time I went riding I was about 270 or 280 and it was on a pretty stocky tall mare. I did okay and the mare was about as laid back as could be, so it all worked out. I'm at 302 now, after losing 138lbs so far. I've made 250 as my tentative goal for going to ride my sister's paints. I think she may have reservations about me riding, then, because they are probably just under 15 hands and though stocky, they aren't used to someone as heavy as 250. What's a realistic goal for riding again? I'm just glad my sister has horses, so I will have an option for riding until I can afford lessons. One of my life goals is to lose enough weight so that I can improve my balance in the saddle, as a teenager, I always had good hands but a terrible seat due to my extra weight. I want to take jumping lessons someday! I love horses, always have. A dream horse for me would be a Friesian or some other type of warmblood! Jill

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Jill, I think that the 20% rule is a pretty good guidline, but I also think that if your sister is willing, you can start out now at 250 lbs. with just light riding in flat areas for short periods of time. Use this time to get used to being around the horses again if you've been away from them for a while. Pick a horse and buddy up with it and I bet it will even give you more ambition to drop those few extra punds so you can start those lessons. I get just as much enjoyment from grooming and just spoiling my horses as I do from riding. I have actually put my riding on hold as of a few weeks ago because of my weight. I'm having lap band surgery in 27 days, so I will be ready again come spring. . . . .yeeeeehawwwww! Happy horsin' around, Brigitte

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I'm heavier than you and I still ride four or five days a week. I think a lot of it also depends on HOW you ride. I've always gotten compliments of how good of rider I am and I take extra precautions to ensure I'm not injuring my horses' backs. My stocky QHxTWH is going to be pleasantly surprised when I start losing a lot of weight after surgery. I agree with you about Friesians... I would LOVE one!!!

Be Sure Your Horse Measures Up The U.S. Calvary published "The Cavalry Manual of Horse Management", by Frederick L. Devereux, Jr., in 1941. He recommended that the collective weight of rider and gear not exceed 20% of the total weight of the horse. These were horses in top condition whose riders' very lives depended on the horse's ability to carry them long miles, often at speed. It stands to reason that if they were to incorporate a margin of error, it would be on the side of the horse being overly capable of carrying its rider, rather than less so. Comparably, a study of 374 competitive trail riding horses compared horse/rider weight relationships. They concluded that these horses can easily carry over 30% of their body weight for 100 miles and not only compete, but compete well. As would be expected, good body condition and bone structure were found to be paramount. Bone structure was evaluated using the front leg cannon bones as representative of general structure. Measurement Test 1. Add up the total weight of the horse, rider and tack. (See TGH Summer 1998, page 37.) Our example: Damascus, Lady + tack = 1188 pounds. 2. Measure the circumference of the cannon bone midway between the knee and fetlock. Our example: Damascus, 7.5 inches. 3. Divide this total weight by the circumference. Our example: 1188 ÷ 7.5 = 158.4 3. Divide the result by two. Our example: 158.4 ÷ 2 = 79.2 Values near 75 are great, below 75, even better. Values from 75/80 are acceptable. Values over 80 indicate weaker legs and a need to train carefully, especially downhill. Values over 85 suggest you need a horse with more substance. Damascus rates near the end of the acceptable range, but should still be able to carry Lady in style, comfortably. *Note that cannon bone circumference (as overall bone substance) increases with the horse's fitness level, so if he is borderline, like Damascus, it doesn't necessarily mean you're too big for him. By "racking" up Long - slow - distance (LSD) miles, which builds up bone over time, he may measure up yet. Be patient: it can take up to three years for bone to remodel. So you see a very tall horse with small cannon bones really should have a hard time holding himself up much less a rider. Riders must also consider if the horse has ample bone size. NOT just weight and height. Hope this helps. Sincerely, Cheryl