[HappyJoy]

One thing I've noticed is the differance between western and english. It is more acceptable for a western rider to be overweight, yet that saddle adds a good amount of weight, whereas the english saddle is so light.

[cowgurly02]

Other than that, I have never seen a heavy woman hurt a horse due to her weight, I think that most women are concerned about the animal. Men seem not to be as concerned.

All the great big steer wrestlers/calf ropers I know (who are really the only huge men I know who ride) are very concerned about their horses. These animals are professional athletes and are taken very well care of. These men are more finicky about their horses than some barrel racers I know.

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by HappyJoy

One thing I've noticed is the differance between western and english. It is more acceptable for a western rider to be overweight, yet that saddle adds a good amount of weight, whereas the english saddle is so light.

A well-fitting Western saddle is also more likely to distribute the weight a bit more than a well-fitting English saddle.

[morgan21]

[quote=realitycheck]

It is also true that some people just are not intended to be thin, and nothing short of starvation will make them be that way. As long as someone is healthy and happy, that's what matters.

quote]

This is me...lol. I can try everything to lose weight, nothing beside starvation works. I have tried the crazy exercising, the crayz food diets, pills, perscriptions, health plans and all that jazz. Even in HS when was a competative cheerleader, dressage rider, and volleyball player I was still overweight. Always have been, and have realized I always will be.

I do wish i was thinner but it has never affected my horse ridding. Horses make me happy and even though I understand I may not want to be jumping over five foot fences I can get down and ride just as well as a thin ridder when I put my mind to it. To me, size doesn't matter, to me it matters if you are willing to learn to become a balenced, effective rider on top of that horse. Cus even the smallest of ridder can do damage if they are not effective and balenced.

This is a touchy subject at times and in america today you see many more overweight riders then in the past. I think this is exceptable and will hopefully will be more excepted in years to come. I am not saying that us overweight riders don't have our challenges, or aren't sized up to the smaller competition. But I do we believe we can do it just as well and in some instances better.

[giddyupgal73]

Reading this made me remember a funny situation I was in. I am also overweight, I had lost weight but dang it if it didn't find it's way back into my life and smack right on my behind. I haven't been able to ride much in the last couple years, due to varying reasons. But this year it's back in the saddle for me. But I have gained a considerble amount of weight in the last year, anyway.
My motivation to lose weight was a video of me riding my poor horse who is 15hh and weighs 1100#. I was practicing for a pleasure show coming up and I asked my husband to video tape me so I could see my performance. AS I am trotting on my precious girl, my backside was facing the camera. I almost fell over dead. Last time I got a view of my behind I swear it was NOT THAT BIG!! I asked my husband why he never told me butt was so big..LOL. He said "I didn't notice" (Good MAn)"I don't think your butt is big" (really good man..LOL). I replied with "look at the video my behind is wider than my horses". He laughed and said I was being hard on myself, during that sentence he looked at the TV and the sentence slowed down and broke up. I was like OMG why didn't anyone tell me I was soo huge. I had thoroughy convinced myself that I was a size 5..LOL. Anyway, I think it is time to once again watch the video. I had lost 50# after seeing my bootie on TV screen......WISH ME LUCK GIRLS!! All for the sake of my horses. You all caN LAUGH.....I DO!! My fat really loves me.

[No1Dazy]

Giddyupgal--I did the same thing. I was at one of regional dressage championships when the local photographer snapped some really nice pictures of my horse, but I couldn't understand whose B.UTT that was on her back! (Although white pants are not flattering for ANYONE, but still...)

[Jess!]

Originally Posted by oldhag

Therefore I have no sympathy with fatties. Self-control will cure you.

It's all about how much you want to change.

Excuse me? That is about the most ignorant, RUDE thing to EVER say to anyone. People struggle with weight because of various reasons, a LOT of them being HEALTH reasons. Overactive thyroid, underactive thyroid, among many, many other things. SOmetimes the medications we are on for other health reasons cause us to gain super-amounts of weight. It's not like we WANT to gain weight. But hey...why be healthy when we can starve ourselves, and be super skinny?

I am 5'11. I weigh 157 pounds. I used to be very overweight in my teenage years, especially from years 10-13. I was absolutely tortured about my weight in school, and went YEARS with being called a cow, and moo'ed at when I walked by. That has permenantly damaged my self-image/self-esteem for LIFE. It sent me downward into a spiraling fight against EDNOS [eating disorders not otherwise specified], and a HUGE battle with my weight that I have even today.

Have some compassion.

[giddyupgal73]

I would also like topoint out to the others who are in the same boat as I am in. I too know the pain of always having to stress about what I eat and knowing certain foods will have consequences. I excercise until my tongue is dragging on the ground. I lived off salads and tofu. I'm telling ya, weight loss is a hard journey for some people. It's discouraging to be so loyal to a diet and excercise plan and feel like you have gotten nowhere. And feel like your starving to death. I have always been a heavy girl in high school as a 9th grader I weighed 140#. I could play any sport I so desired, but I was always a big girl. I was miserable, my friends were all size 2 and 5 and I was twice or three times that size. It was very frustrating being the big girl. I have learned with the fact that I will NEVER be a size 9 or less. I have accepted that my build requires me to be a size 10-14 at the smallest, but I will still weigh approximatley 150 to a 160 to be that size. I'm just built like a darn QH....BABY GOT BACK!!...LOL

[giddyupgal73]

Originally Posted by No1Dazy

Giddyupgal--I did the same thing. I was at one of regional dressage championships when the local photographer snapped some really nice pictures of my horse, but I couldn't understand whose B.UTT that was on her back! (Although white pants are not flattering for ANYONE, but still...)

Yeah, it's those cute little breeches english riders wear that keep me from ever riding english.....DEER LORD!! nobody needs to see all my "Hail Damage"...LOL

[oldhag]

Whoa here! I do realize the British sense of humour does not always swim across the pond - BUT -

My cracks about loss of weight and self control were quite clearly backed up with my own failure to quit smoking.


All I was trying to point out was that we are all only human beings - all of us have our own strengths and weaknesses. ALL OF US!

It would be great if those of you who missed the self-deprecating nature of my post could try to understand.

I mean, look at my user name!