I know that this can be a sensitive subject, but can any one tell me how you can tell if a person is to heavy to ride a particular horse? The old westerns you see super big guys on these teeny horses...and I think... geez...but the horses look fine?
At shows I see quiet a few very large people on very small horses, with no real apparent issues with the horse carrying the weight.
I heard that you take 20% of the horses weight and that is what they can carry...is that true?
So a 1200lb horse can carry 240lbs???
Has anyone seen a horse who can't handle a riders weight? Do they just wobble in the legs, or ???

IMO, there are a lot of factors that go into this other than just a raw weight to weight comparison (which can definitely be helpful as well).

For instance I'd rather a 200lb rider with a good seat get on one of my hypothetical horses than a 70lb kid that refuses to even attempt a good seat. The reason? The kid is much more likely to do damage to the horse's back by bouncing around on sensative areas than the heavy rider that can move with the horse and keep a conscientious seat.

Also the horse's bone structure comes into play. A thick, stout, foundation QH with good bone, thick legs, and a good hoof can carry more than a lanky, fine-boned, small hooved counterpart of comparable weight.

Conditioning also matters. A fit horse is better able to carry weight than an unfit one.

I don't think there is really a great answer for this one...it just depends on the rider and the horse. Though the ratio comparison you speak of is supposed to be a decient guideline (I don't remember the exact percentage).

I don't believe that there is a mathmatical equation that works in all cases. There are so many things that enter into it. What is being done, the condition of the horse, age/maturity of the horse, the riders ability, the build of the horse are but a few issues that affect/effect what is safely/comfortably 'do-able' for any horse.

I asked a similar question not long ago (on the getting started??) and all who responded assured me that my 170pds would be fine on just about anything. I have been riding a 20 year old QH with mild arthritis and she carries me fine (with only mild attitude!)so you should be fine, like me!

I agree with QHallaround but, wanted to add that I have seen a 375lb man ride a 14.2H Appy and the App wasn't stocky he was of average build. He carried the man fine for long trail rides (5-8 hours) through many hills and tough rocky terrain. The only time the horse ever showed any weakness was when the man prepared to mount. What I mean is that horse really prepared himself in a braced stance when the man placeD his foot in the stirrup. I will also add that the man while still quit heafty he has lost a considerable amount of weight.

Well I may be a bit porky, but I am no where near 375lbs...
What I was really interested in knowing is that when we see really big people on these horses we all tend to whisper under our breath (especially at dressage and english events..breeches are not hot on a chubby woman or man) but I really have never seen a horse struggle under a riders weight before. I am wondering if these horses don't last as long or perhaps have other back issues per say.

If you went to buy a horse and saw that the rider who had been using it for years was severly overweight would you look at that as a pro or con?

I need to loose a bit because my gelding has EPSM, and I think it would be kinder of me LOL. I do think sometimes is he sore because of my extra lbs or because of his EPSM...I guess I wont ever really know until I shed the fluff

What are you talking about? The fluff in breeches looks hot I think! Especially white ones!

Oh yeah...very hot. I wear black as it helps to streamline the cellulite in my butt! And don't even get me going on the lack of supportive bras out there...I have seen some riders that are burned into my memory...I just dont want to be "that" person that we are talking about here...another chubby middle aged woman that all skinny young people make fun of...like I am doing now~
I guess its okay to make fun of myseld, but I don't want any one else too...you know what I mean LOL

I just want to throw this in, I know I am not svelte (click on my photo link for the proof) but I am a pretty balanced rider. There are a few people in my neighborhood who are downright petite that look like they are about ready to pitch off the horse any second! So those who want to can talk all they want about being overweight, it's more about sitting a horse properly. Can you imagine those days of armoured men and horses? Do you think that weighed a few pounds?

Very true. And the horses the knights in armor rode, according to equesterian historian Ann Hyland, were't that big. According to her, they adveraged 16 hands or less, but were big boned and stocky. Their horses couldn't be much taller than that, otherwise how would they be able to mount?

In any case, it's more about how balanced the rider is rather than the weight. Actor Dan Blocker, who played Hoss Cartwright on Bonanza, weighed over 250 pounds. The horse he rode was a 15.3 Appendix QH, a tiny horse compaired to what people currently think a rider of his size should have been riding--something around 18 hands. And this horse carried him around just fine, despite the fact that even though Dan Blocker was a Texan, he didn't know how to ride when he took the part in Bonanza.

When looking for a horse for a large rider, I think it is better to look for a heavy boned, stocky mount, rather than trying to find a big tall horse just because it will fit the 20% weight formula.

Spotted Pony

Thanks everyone...it makes me feel better. I guess I will try to be less hard on myself and try to accept my extra padding..perhaps it will act as a cushion in the event that I take a spill...

Thats the way to look at it!

I think everybody's on the right track here. There is no magic formula, just guidelines. I have seen a horse struggle with a big rider, usually it's a balance thing for the horse to carry a big heavy weight over his center of balance. And there can definately be back strain involved. But a good rider can do a lot to minimize the balance issues and the back issues.

And don't even get me going on the lack of supportive bras out there.../quote]

Jwick - I know what you mean.  I'm 64 years young, have ridden for 54 years, weigh about 165 lbs and take a size D or DD cup.  Last year I lucked into a VERY supportive sports bra at REI.  It's an underwire, which sounds awful, but it's the most comfortable as well as supportive bra I've had in the last 15 years!  I bought one to try for riding, and now have 4 which I wear daily .  In fact, the few times a month when I wear something else, I'm pretty miserable.   It's the Moving Comfort maia bra, high impact.  They apparently have a website, www.movingcomfort.com.  (I haven't gone there myself, it was on the bra hangtag).  This model is designed for high impact sports like running aerobics and soccer.  Personally, I don't think there's a sport more "high impact" than riding when it comes to bra's.  It's pricy, no way around it, but I was desperate and shelled out the $40.00 or so.  Boy was I glad.  It was definitely worth it. 

reinchick53:

I think everybody's on the right track here. There is no magic formula, just guidelines. I have seen a horse struggle with a big rider, usually it's a balance thing for the horse to carry a big heavy weight over his center of balance. And there can definately be back strain involved. But a good rider can do a lot to minimize the balance issues and the back issues.

That's for sure.  I'll bet we've all seen it.  When I was 180 a few years back, I rode my friend's 14.3 arab on 2 hour trail rides, and she never had a bit of trouble carrying me.  But since I'm only 5'4",  I look heavier on a horse than that 6'1" guy with the long legs who weighs a lot more than my current 165.  (Hurrah for riding as an aid to weight reduction - the more I ride the more I lose.)  I went to a dude ranch last summer where most of the string were ranch bred arabians, and the owner wouldn't even consider letting me ride anything but the stockiest of quarter horse types.  Oh well, they were good horses, and I enjoyed myself, but I know some of the arabs would have carried me with no trouble too.  It really is a lot more about horsemanship than weight.