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Comment by Cindy Jeffery on March 18, 2010 at 4:17pm

Since we are "throwing our weight around" so to speak :) mine is 210 lbs and I ride a 15 hand Morgan gelding. Note: I do consider what they need to do to carry me, so I don't usually ride more than an hour and not everyday on the same horse, I have 6 to choose from.

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on March 18, 2010 at 8:14am

slc2
Thanks I did stretch last night thing went alot better. I ride a belgian draft/TB cross 17 hands I am 5' 8" weigh 160 Just thought I would throw this in because you are talking about weight and size of horse.

Comment by Jan Jollymour on March 17, 2010 at 8:00pm

Hi, Linda!

The extra information helps a lot. The frame of the horse matters much more than the height. I have a 200 lb client, who rides Grand Prix very well, and her horses never have sore backs or soundness issues, but she is very fit, very strong, and sits very quietly. Her horses are both 16.2, but she rides my mare (16 hh) with no problems. Many European riders, (especially the Dutch and Germans) are quite a bit bigger/taller/heavier than 175 lbs, and they ride horses from 15.3 to about 16.3, in international competition. Most of the men riding cutting horses and reining horses are 175 - 200 lbs, and they ride tiny little horses, between 14.2 and 15 hh. They have a LOT of soundness issues, but I think those have much more to do with the type of work, the general fitness of the horses, and the age at which they start the work than anything else.

Horses over 17 hh have their own soundness issues, and they already have to carry themselves around. Your friend is mistaken if she thinks height equals strength and the ability to carry. A short-backed and sturdy horse between 15.2 and 16 hh would probably do her nicely. Any rider who is unbalanced, flops, and lands in the horse's back will cause problems - I've seen skinny little 16 year olds make horses sore - how the riders control their own weight and how they place it has a great deal more to do with the horse's ability to carry without stress than the actual weight of the rider does.

Comment by Linda White on March 17, 2010 at 7:43pm

The original reason I asked about the weight thing was because a friend of mine who is not very tall, maybe 5'4", is a heavy woman and she always rides huge horses - over 17 HH because she believes she needs a horse that big to support her weight. Since she's had a couple of tumbles from these horses, and it's a heck of a long way to fall, I wondered if a smaller horse could comfortably and safely support her weight. This lady only walks and trots and is very good to her mounts. I'm guessing, but she might be 175 lbs. Would a 16 HH, solidly built horse be able to support her weight?
I especially appreciated the remarks about the distribution of the weight and the use the horse is put to - lots to think about there. And of course, a rider of any weight that sits too far back or braces her feet will cause the horse discomfort and possibly damage too.

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on March 17, 2010 at 7:33pm

Interesting discussion, learning lots :) The start of this discussion was seeking a formula and I think Jennifer gave a good one for a good base to start from. Then, we definitely need to look at a persons condition as well before they ever get on the horse. With this in mind I saw on the "telly" this woman who was over 300 lbs and was aspiring to be 1000 lbs, looking at her one definitely would not allow her to ride any horse no matter the size and width. Being pulled in a buggy.....maybe but definitely not riding, there would be far too much stress on the horses frame. As far as the Amish...I agree 'mean men are everywhere' not just Amish.

Comment by Ellin McGinley Daum on March 17, 2010 at 3:45pm

Jan, I thoroughly agree with you!

Comment by Jan Jollymour on March 17, 2010 at 3:33pm

Re: Mennonites etc.

My farrier's orthodox Mennonite, and while he's in his early thirties his is an arranged marriage. His wife is terrific, their work ethic is wonderful, and they are great parents. However, as the point's been made, people are people, and belonging to a particular culture or religion (or both) doesn't necessarily make one a good person. I'm with you, Linda, I couldn't face the lifestyle, or the place women play in it...

That aside, I think we all need to keep in mind the same precepts when dealing with horses and horse people. Different "faiths" or belief systems aren't necessarily good or bad, they're often just different, and sometimes the difference is something we can learn from!

Comment by Dawn Lambert on March 17, 2010 at 3:13pm

re: Amish
Live and let live. My husband is a liberal Mennonite (there is a broad range of factions). Though they may seem like Socialists, it is a religion and culture. They choose to use only what they need. If everyone were Mennonites, wars would be minimal—re the anti-violence directive. That is admirable in itself.

Comment by Linda White on March 17, 2010 at 3:12pm

Re: Mennonites, I always wonder if they are having a chuckle at us English who get totally undone when a big storm hits and we lose power. Sometimes their lives look simple and stress free, but then I remember - cooking on a wood stove in summer, canning, lots of children - I couldn't hack it.

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on March 17, 2010 at 3:08pm

He really is a good horse comes to the fence when I call him follows nicely, takes the bit great, but maybe you are right Spring is in the Air.
Thanks for the suggestion Linda

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