[harli36]

Originally Posted by luvs2ride79

You are quite wrong here... It is MUCH easier to carry "live weight" then "dead weight". Live weight moves with you and HELPS you go forward and move correctly. Dead weight drags on you, it works against you. Try it yourself! Pick up a 50lb sack of feed and put it on your hip and walk around. Then pick up a 5-7yr old child that ways about the same and put them on your hip. BIG DIFFERENCE!!

You are right though, a bouncy rider of ANY size is a pretty difficult burden on a horse. 10% of 1000lbs is only 100lbs, 15% is only 150lbs, so you have helped prove my point there

~Barbara

I have to disagree w/ you on your first paragraph. It is MUCH easier for me to carry the dead weight of a bag of grain then it is for me to carry a child of the same weight who may or may not be trying to move with me. The bag of grain can't suddenly turn and make me lose my balance.

And the 10 and 15% of the lead shot in the study wasn't bouncing around on the horses, even the researchers commented on this and said that less live weight would result in the same effects. It's the same concept in horse racing. The less the jockies weigh the more lead weight is put on the horses so all the horses in the race are carrying the same weight. But all jockies know that it's easier for a horse to carry the lead then it is to carry live weight, thus why they work so hard to keep their weight down. It's easier for a horse to carry a 110lb rider w/ 10lbs of lead weight, which doesn't move, equalling a total of 120lbs then it is for the same horse to carry a jockey weighing a 120lbs.

I will whole-heartedly agree with you that a horse carrying 15% of it's weight w/ a rider who bounces all over would be much better off carrying a rider who is 25% of it's weight but knows how to ride. However it is also much easier for that animal to cary 15% of it's weight w/ a good rider then 25% of it's weight w/ an equally good rider.

The study wasn't taking into consideration "riding talent" what it's purpose and what it proves is that very little weight can negatively effect the horse and his body over a period of time. Now do I think that someone who weights 30% of the horses weight shouldn't ride. Of course not but maybe if that rider is riding a horse who is a little bit out of shape should take their weight into consideration a little bit more then someone who does only weight 15%.

The study proved what we have known all along. A horses body just isn't made to carry weight. That is why carriges and wagons were developed.

[cowgurly02]

Originally Posted by ThisIsMe
Like it or not, showing can and does make you fit into a certain mould. Depending on the judge. Whether its your gear, colour of your horse, your weight or how much bling you've got on you will have something against you.

This is why I like barrel racing. It's not somebody's opinion, the clock doesn't lie.

[Lindsayanne]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

These are pictures of Regal, a few months apart. Rider #2 (me) is 75-100 lbs heavier than rider #1, but in which pictures is he taking shorter strides? In which is he correctly using his body? And which rider does he look like he's carrying easier?

I can't believe 0 people commented on these photos. Seems pretty good proof that it's the WAY a rider rides, not how much the rider WEIGHS, that determines how a horse moves, and thus, how gracefully their bodies age.

[stephanie]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

I can't believe 0 people commented on these photos. Seems pretty good proof that it's the WAY a rider rides, not how much the rider WEIGHS, that determines how a horse moves, and thus, how gracefully their bodies age.

well i was about to comment i agree that th second picture (you) your horse looks much more content and is moving more freely.

[luvs2ride79]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

And lead shot can't ask a horse to lengthen it's stride and move correctly.

These are pictures of Regal, a few months apart. Rider #2 (me) is 75-100 lbs heavier than rider #1, but in which pictures is he taking shorter strides? In which is he correctly using his body? And which rider does he look like he's carrying easier?

Very nice examples!!

[luvs2ride79]

Originally Posted by HappyJoy

This is a diffacult issue. I worked at a public stable for a while, and I can't imagine if we had to turn away the father or mother of a family that was looking forward to a fun ride because they were over the weight limit. They solved this problem by keeping several drafts. The drafts were highly trained, and were used for lessons as well, even low jump courses, so that riders of all weights could ride.




I hate when people think that you must be thin if you are in shape. I'm not overweight, I'm well within my weight bracket, but at 5'7 and 140-145 lbs, I'm much larger than most of mine stick thin peers. This becomes painfully obvious when clothes shopping, as I bypass the hundreds of 0-4 items and go all the way to the 9 and 10's. I run 20 miles a week plus the normal physical labor of riding, chucking hay bales, putting up fences etc. I'm walking a half marathon on the first of april, and in the fall I'm running a full marathon. When playing sports or an active game, I don't have trouble, but many thin girls have a terrible time with it, yet people automatically assume they are in better shape than me. There was a recent study that actually said that overweight fit adults are healthier on average than underweight to normal adults. This didn't mean 100+ overweight, but a little extra padding does wonders for bone strength and such as long as you excercise plenty(5x a week).


As for the soundness of horses, sometimes people do have to be offended for the sake of the health of the animal, but overweight people can ride without any trouble if they take the precautions to learn balance and to get a suitable animal for themselves. That goes the same for all riders.


While there is certainly bias when it comes to overweight riders, they are not the only ones biased against. The world is riddled with inequality and prejudice, and sometimes we just have to roll with the punches.

Very good post!

[TrickPony]

Okay - my opinion.
If anything, I believe that heavier riders are often more self concious about their weight (in relation to the health of their horse), and thus will generally work harder to achieve balance and a proper seat.
Meanwhile, people in the average weight range (or below) don't think about it as much and sometimes won't devote the same energy to being very centered before starting jumping (or any other high-impact sport).

This is obviously a generalization, but while I gave lessons (a couple of years) I never once had a smaller girl ask me if she might hurt my lesson horse's back. He was pint sized too - 14.3 and maybe 950 lbs. He had a rougher trot, and they constantly bounced all over the place without thinking about it.
On the other hand, the larger girls that rode with me did ask, did care, and would put more work in at the walk and trotting on a lunge line to ensure that they were balanced. He would often stop trotting with thinner girls bouncing around, but never had a problem with a 200 (or so) lbs woman who was a very good rider.

So yes - I believe that heavier riders are often better riders because they put more concious thought as to where they are on their horse.
Yes - it is easier for a horse to jump (or run) with less weight, but I believe horses will chose heavy and balanced over thin and sloppy any day.

And to the girl who posted that big riders detract and look bad - no more so than bad skinny riders. A bad rider is a bad rider. Period.

[Shannon]

Just a few quick things...

Like Honeydoozy said, our local barns have weight limits. One's website states that they have a limit of 180lbs "for the safety of their animals." Not only is that statement degrading to those over 180lbs who read it, but it cuts out much of the male population entirely.

I'm by no means fat, but I am also by no means skinny. (odd, I can hear a commercial for Hydroxy Cut playing in the other room as I type!) I guess you could call me "healthy" though I am, again, by no means in shape (practically lifelong knee condition prohibits me from running and jumping) at 5'3 and 130lbs. I DO have very low thyroid and am seeing a ridiculously expensive thyroidologist (or whatever ) in hopes to correct that. (Anyone know that low thyroid can make you exceptionally dizzy? Lunging is FUN) I don't like my weight but that's because I was the fat kid my whole life. Either way, whatever. I'd look retarded if I lost 20 lbs...I'm all hips and no bust . I bought an expensive saddle that was 1/2" smaller than ideal to force me to at least stay at my weight.

Back on topic... on the cover of a recent issue of a popular magazine was a fairly overweight, high-level dressage rider (think: monstor thighs ) and inside, the article was nothing but praise. Granted, her WB mount was huge and probably did not "bring out" her size as a smaller horse would, but there was no disguising the fact that she was not skinny.

Overweight riders CAN ride effectively. If they are concerened about whether or not they are too heavy for their mounts, a vet can surely help. If a horse does not develop a sore back after a significant amount of work (and we ALL know how easily sore backs will develop ) and the horse does not sour, in my eyes that horse is comfortable.

I agree with what I believe Jess said: a good judge will recognize harmony, not how wonderful the rider looks separate from the horse. I highly doubt judges' criteria consist of, "how many rolls of chub can I see?" or, "how much celulite can I find?" or, "what size breeches are those?" No. If a judge is truly distracted by an overweight rider, then he probably shouldn't be there.

Great thread Barbara

[Barn_Brat]

My old trainer Hill had a horse that had a more sensitve back then other jill is probably 170 pounds, well she recently sold this horse to a 13 year old girl weighing lalot ess than her. I was watching there lesson the other day and well the horse was bucking alot, and jill said it was because of the way the girl was riding himit was hurting his back , (that and he decided to be grouchy about it) Jill got on him, not a single buck too him over fences, everything was fine, Of course this girl was still learning to ride her new horse, this is proof that it doesent matter as much yur weight, but the way you ride your horse.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

I can't believe 0 people commented on these photos. Seems pretty good proof that it's the WAY a rider rides, not how much the rider WEIGHS, that determines how a horse moves, and thus, how gracefully their bodies age.

These pictures are very different. In the first pic, the rider is bareback and the horse is in a halter...it looks like more of a leisurely ride, where as the 2nd picture is a competion, so you are putting your training to the test. You are obviously trying much harder and working the horse harder...so its not the same as the first pic...just my opinion.

This is my thoughts. I've never been really skinny, always been about avg, i'm 5'5 and weigh 130pounds. BUT with every horse I ride, i will do a calculation to make sure he/she can carry my weight...so its not only overweight riders that do that.

The ppl that are saying overweight riders do not look nice (i'm assuming) are refering to OBESE riders...I think riders that carry a bit of extra weight still look fine, but I must admit that really big, obese riders (man or woman) do NOT look pleasing to the eye.

Of course a big rider who is a good rider, balanced etc will help the horse to a degree, but IMO, a really big rider (and i'm not talking 10kgs overweight, i'm talking 50+) does not only do the overall picture no justice, they affect much more than that.

ThisIsMe is from Oz, as I am, and when she was talking about show judges not liking the look of big riders, she's right. Showing (over here) is not dressage, we call dressage - dressage, showing is hacking over here...eg, led classes, hunter, maiden, novice, open hack classes etc...and I have yet to meet a judge that isn't biased when it comes to weight. Obese riders do not get a look in here...its TRUE.

For those of you that are overweight, that have had physicals ruled out (or have thyroid probs etc affecting your weight) that exercise and eat healthy then good on you...I highly commend you all. However, people that complain about being big that don't exercise enough or who eat bad fatty foods have no right to complain...its a personal choice. Yes, ppl can be cruel and can name call, and i'm sorry for those of you who have medical reasons why you cannot lose weight that have to put up with cruel remarks, but I'm with OldHag, for ppl (not specifiying ANYONE on here...just a general comment) that make no effort to improve their health, fitness and general well being, I have NO sympathy.

Just my 2 cents.