Am I too heavy for my horses? **PICS**

[ronnierio]

Ive just been reading a thread where someone thinks that 160lbs is far too heavy for a 13.2 pony and its started me thinking.I have 4 horses/ponies one is a rescue (pet) and the other 3 I ride the smallest being around 14h ish she is around 18 years old this is a pic of me riding her

My next horse is 14.2 and 8 years old

The third is 15h and around 14 years old


Do you think Im too heavy for them? I ride each one maybe 5 times a week for about 1-2 hours mainly hacking with short trots and canters. I know Im jumping in the pics but I only jump maybe 4-5 times a year. Please be honest

[2006reswc]

The rule of thumb, in the cowboy world, is your weight should not exceed 20 percent of the horses weight. Your horse looks pretty thick, but the best way to tell is use a weight tape on the horse, then get on the scale. Now the exception to the rule is when riding the tough ones, which require more weight to get the message across.

[BeavisKali2]

No you are not too heavy. All of them look like Gypsy Cobs to me, and since they have such thick legs they can carry more weight than 20%. Those horses can carry 25% of their body weight. And looking at the horses, all of them probably weigh at least 900lbs. So they can carry with the saddle and you at least 225lbs. Looking at you, I think your and your saddle(s) weigh way less than that.

[Circle C]

It goes by the horses weight, not their height. A 14h cob/draft type horse is going to be able to carry a lot more weight than a 14h arab.

The 14h arab probably weighs 700lbs: 20% = 140lbs

The 14h cob/draft probably weighs more like 1,000lbs (at least) : 20% = 200lbs

Height has NOTHING to do with it.

[BeavisKali2]

Circle C- There is no Arabs up there. Just Cobs and Gypsy crosses.

[Baboo]

I think you are fine - the horses look to easily be up to your weight and appear happy and healthy! Beautiful too...love the type!

[Circle C]

Circle C- There is no Arabs up there. Just Cobs and Gypsy crosses.

I was simply making a weight comparison.

[magicsdoublepla]

i honestly think that a lot of it is how effective a rider you are. you could be the skinniest person on the whole world and be totally useless and flopping around on the horse and it would be way harder on the horse than a heavier rider who knows what they are doing and are riding effectively, not slamming on their backs or anything. I weigh a fair amount more than i look like i do because of muscle.. does that mean that i can't ride the smaller horses because i exceed the weight % ?? i am also a fairly effective rider, so i know that helps, but i'm not going to stop riding my horses (15ish hh and 15.2ish hh, so not nearly as small as yours, but i don't think its entirely relevent..) just because i might weight more with all my western tack than the 20% says i can do. (i have been at a way higher weight too and still rode each horse and didn't feel bad about it...)
so all in all, i think you are totally fine to ride all 3 of your guys! you don't look too heavy for them, they don't look at all like its hard work to have you as a rider, and you look like you would be a pretty effective rider from these few pictures.

and ps, i LOVE your little blue roan! (the 8 y/o) i want to take him home with me, he is SO cute!! don't come looking in my field if you find him missing all of a sudden

[WBhunterjumper]

You look great. The horses are chunky and have solid bone to carry weight. (: you can always double check, like stated above (the 20% -25% rule) . I wouldn't worry. (: all the best with them and your horses are super cute.

[countrycowgirl2]

Your horses a beautiful !! I love the roan stunning . They are big boned and thick so they can carry more weight than a little thin pony can . How long have you been riding them ? If you have been riding them for a long time and they haven't had any problem carring you yet its got to be fine . I have seen huge men 6'6 and 200 pounds ride 14hh horses with big 30 pound saddles and those little horses never had problems with them on their backs at full speed runs so i think your good .