[Moo]

Okay I only read a couple of posts, but am very irritated by what I read. I weigh in at just under 190lbs and could more than likely outrun most of you slimmer riders. I run at a minimum 4 miles, 3 times a week. Maybe I should read the rest of the thread, but how OLDHAG put it made me angry. It's not about wanting to change, b/c for some of us we'll never be small. I eat healthy and work out. My gelding is approx. 15.2 hands and does very well for me. DO NOT call me a fattie.

I think I should add that I too am 5'9" and don't appear to weigh what I do.

[Barn_Brat]

I know really! Im just under you weight and Im 5'9" I can run ALOT faster than my smaller friend emily. I can run a mile and a half without stopping Although I still want to be a few pounds less for the show ring, Im not some slob that sits around in her house and eats all day.

It is truely ridiculous how people try to make themselves feel better by bashing on overweight or bigger people. You guys automactically assume that we are just this way because we sit and eat all day! ********. I know I have a larger frame, some people have thyroid problems . Some people like horsesjust have more or denser fat than others!

[Asfaloth]

Regardless of how sound the horse may be with a heavier rider, it's the later years that really show the damage.

Ok so explain this. I have had sever weight problems for my whole life. Ok so I was actually not all that overweight as a teen until my Stepfatehr noticed my growing chest and began teaching my baby cousin to say humongus in my presence. Of course I misunderstood and thought he meant fat and I was so upset and depressed I hid in my room and ate junk and then I really did get fat.
My parrents bought me a horse when I was 13. he was a 14 year old 14.2 hand standardbred. Nice stocky little guy but certainly not a big horse. That horse carried me for 22 years and my very over weight husband as well. The two of us were in excess of 250 pounds for a long time. I in fact hit over 300 when My husband died and I was depressed for a year. I lost some weight did not ride until I was back under 300. That little horse carried my big butt for 22 years. he was 35 when he showed signs that he was getting too stiff to carry me anymore. At 34 he was still carrying me barebadck for 2 hours and always way ahead of the other horse on the trail and quite willing to jump and run anytime I asked. I never made him do anything he was not feeling up to. he was awesome.

I still have a long way to go. I'm down 70 pounds and have 100 or so to loose but I still ride. Normally I don't ride much in the winter but this year I rode 4 days a week for 2+ hourse each week and actually lost a little instead of gaining it. It is so hard to loose and I know it certainly will make it easier for my currnt mare, A 16 hand STB. I do want to loose weight for her sake but it is a slow process and somone calling me names is mroe likley to make me gain than loose. I am much healthier than I would be if I did not ride. Ther eis no other kind of excercise I am willing to get up and go out in all kinds of weather to do. I rode a few times when the wind chill was -17 or so. I never would want to go walking in that.
I do have the balance to help my horse out and I agree that htis helps trememdously. The last time the massage therapist came to the barn she treated so many horses with fit thin riders for soreness due to unbalanced riders. My mare was in excelent shape. The therapist could not find one thing to work on. She was not sore or out in the least.

As for shows. Well I know what it is all about. My body type will never fly ther. My DD'S would certinly be hard to keep in check. So I don't show. I don't like the show world much anyway. I have discovered though that judged trail riding can be for anyone and it don't matter how prety your figgur is only how well you and your horse comunicate and trust each other.

Great topic for discussion. Perhaps it will help the less sensetive ones out there realise that we fatties do care and do want to do better and be smaller. it is just not always easy for us and those picking on us only make it that much harder to try.

[Lou3]

Originally Posted by Asfaloth

As for shows. Well I know what it is all about. My body type will never fly ther. My DD'S would certinly be hard to keep in check.

ha dont worry about that - MY DD's have won MANY a show. lol.

[buddiebreeze]

Originally Posted by Lou3

ha dont worry about that - MY DD's have won MANY a show. lol.

LMAO!!!!!


Asaloof- good on you girl! i think if a horse has a problem with your weight it will soon let you know! im sure if it was in pain it wud BUCK you off!!! your old horse sounded like such a dear friend! too many people are too quick to judge! i am 210lbs and have a 15hh 13yr old ex-trotter, she is quite fine, but a strong little girl! She takes my weight NO problem at all and can gallop real fast with me on her back, and i am sure if i was too heavy she would be slower........she is happy with me on her back- thats not to say it wouldnt be a bit easier for her if i was lighter.........just saying that it isnt an issue for her that im not. Now i have had lots of nasty comments when riding her like" look at the size of HER on that poor PONY" and people have said "why dont you but a bigger horse?" i sold her nearly 2 years ago because of all these nasty comments............i started to believe them though i knew she was fine with my weight! i regretted selling her so much and was deeply depressed! i had just sold my BEST FRIEND! so i ended up buying her back! now when people say "why dont you get a bigger horse?" my answer = cos i love her, and we are just FINE together thanks! i dont think ignorant people realise the effect their unjustified comments can have on us HEAVIER riders! so if your horse copes ok with you and you are not SERIOUSLY overweight as to cause serious health impedemends to your horse, then go for it! keep riding and ignore the ignorant!

[luvs2ride79]

Okay guys, let's settle down!!! I don't want to see this thread get shut down. I haven't read all of the posts (last time I was here there was only 3 pages!), but I can tell things are getting a bit strained.

Let us all just agree that slimmer people do NOT know first hand when it comes to heavier riders and their horses. You cannot make assumptions just based on reading things. Yes, those reports are a good starting point for evaluation, but every person is different, every horse is different. I have seen more harm done by "normal" or small riders/trainers who ride the "P" out of horses too young and they end up crippled because of improper conditioning. A horse should NOT require hock injections or joint meds until well past middle aged, no matter what event they compete in... Those "larger" riders I know take very good care of their horses and keep a closer eye on their health and soundness than the "average" horse owners that I know.

This thread was only meant to enlighten some people and help those of you understand what it's like to worry about these things. I don't know if it has accomplished it's intended task, but I hope it has at least had some positive impact.

~Barbara

[freedom32]

Ok, I am not a heavy person (but my sisters are anxiously waiting for the day) That being said, so long as you are not bouncing around up there, or you don't have a butt cheek enveloping the saddle on either side --- just humor there!, more power to you. I agree this is majorly sex.ualy biased, people comment on women who weigh just as much as an average man, how fair is that? And what sort of horse should an average sized man be riding then?? hmm? There was an article in either HI or H&R about riding for heavier people recently.

Also my sister is a heavy woman. She has been riding for longer than I have been alive, and I am no teenager. Her horses are always healthy, no sway backs or any of the sorts, and she trail rides extensively, I mean the weekend campout ride till its dark sort of rides too.

As far as showing goes--yes there is a bias, but it is not fair. Sooner or later, not matter what size we are, we all have things that bouce or sit where they shouldn't. Some of the best showers we have are not dainty little things, and they have qualifed many times for our state shows, hate to think how much more they would have won if they were sticks.

Its bad enough that the unitiated think riding is just for the rich (hardy har har) Now its only for the rich, thin and beautiful???

[stephanie]

Originally Posted by ThisIsMe

Showing is all about image and looks. It's a simple fact that some judges cant see past larger riders not looking tidy in the saddle.

You rarely see a larger eventer. Not only does the horse have to be fit, so does the rider. An unfit larger rider bouncing around is going to have bad effects on the horse and the ability for it do XC.

i just wanted to say 2 things in response to this. A judge judges based on riding ability (or whatever is being judged) and sure, they will notice the riders physical appearance, but a good judge will not judge based on weight. they will not let it alter the results. they can tell if a horse is having difficulty or not. As long as the saddle fits the rider and the horse correctly, any rider (assuming they are balanced and know what they are doing) will look tidy in the saddle. if someone shows because they know they will do well because of their physical appearance, i believe they are missing the whole point of showing. People show to have fun. ThisIsMe- you say showing is all about physical appearances and that overweight people will not do as well, but in eventing (which you might do? i don't know, but you have referenced it and you have a nice picture of an up bank so im guessing that you know how it works at least) the rider is only judges in dressage, and even there, there is only one collective mark that has to do with the rider. yes, muscle matters in eventing, but physical appearance does not.

There are many eventers with weight issues. This does not mean they are not fit. there have been people on the olympic team and competing at rolex and other 4 star events who are a bit over weight, but they are fit. they have to be to compete at that level. i personally know many very capable and good eventers who are a bit on the heavier side.

i have had issues with being over weight, not to a large extent, but enough to be conscious of it and to have comments made behind my back. i have a larger body type and can't be skinny, so i just stay at a healthy weight for me and my horses have never had an issue with my weight.

please do not take my comments personnally, i was just posting my opinion and i apologize if i offended anyone since i know this is a very touchy topic
~Stephanie

[Evening Heiress]

From my experiences with shows etc...I have yet to see a "heavier" rider place below a "skinny" rider just because of their weight. I am a "skinny" but don't look down on people who are larger than me who ride. My sister is about 60lbs heavier than me and 4 inches taller and my 15hh arab gelding carried her with just as much ease as myself on his back.

I have seen more horses get sore from a thin rider with terrible balance than a "heavier" rider with excellent balance. My trainer breaks babies english, but ALWAYS uses a western saddle as she said the western spread the weight on the horses back unlike an english saddle. I was using my western and riding in it english style on my arab until his back muscles built up enough to use my english. I do the same with any horse I ride that has been pastured for some months without being ridden.

Whoever posted about white breeches: YES! They DO make your **** look 10 miles wide on video no matter how small or big you may be. My video taken of me at a show made me cringe as my hiney looked massive and in reality its small.

[manesfarm]

I think we all need a big group hug......come on now.......all of you