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I haven't ridden in so long, and I truly miss being around horses.
After college I want to get a horse, but before that I think it would be best if I take lessons. I don't necessarily want to show or anything, just ride for fun.

Anyways let me get to the point,
I am overweight. I am 260lbs and am 5'11ish
I don't look as big as I am, but that doesn't mean the weight isn't there.

I rode off and on when I was 6 years old until I was about 10. Then I took lessons with my brother until I was 13-14ish. So around 7 years give or take. (I rode english)

It had been three or so years since I rode and I decided to try going riding again at some english barn.

Basically my position sucked a**, I know that. But the lady had me just trot around this massive arena for half an hour straight. Then the second half an hour lesson she tied the stirrup to the saddle to try and help my position and had me trot around for another half an hour lol. It wasn't fun, and I was kind of miserable. After she told the person I was with that I would need to lose weight before I could ride there again.

They had me on two ex-racehorses 16hh+ thoroughbreds, and apparently they had no draft crosses. I understand that they are leaner and made for speed and tiny riders. And I understand the added weight would make us both unbalanced, especially since I was in really bad form. So that is extra dead weight. I mean I wouldn't mind just walking until I got the position right. Or do walk - trot - walk

So I am trying to lose weight, (it has been a year or two since I went to this barn - I was totally discouraged about riding. And haven't really been trying to lose weight, until this year) I want to take western lessons.


So what is your opinion on;
- overweight riders?
- My situation.
- Have you had a situation similar one?
- good horses for husky people

At my old barn my favourite horse was a draft cross razz
And yah I meant the stirrups ^^; I editted it.

-nods- I read that. And how if the horse is overweight by say 200lbs... its your extra weight + his extra weight. It doesn't mean he can carry more razz means he should carry less.

20% is a good rule of thumb.

The other thing to keep in mind is that a heavier rider that is well-balanced and can move with the horse is a lot better than a heavier rider who flops around on their back and they have to try to counter-balance. I know several male riders who are over 200lbs who are fantastic riders. They're limited in the horses that they can ride, but the ones that they do carry them effortlessly. However, I am a therapeutic riding instructor, and our weight limit for clients is 200lbs because they are usually unbalanced and unable to control their bodies and weight. The weight limit for riders needing a full-assistance transfer (wheelchair bound) the limit is 150 because more than that and we can't safely dismount them in an emergency situation. Even then, I personally can't because they would outweigh me by almost 30lbs. eek

If you really want to ride, I don't see any reason why you couldn't, you just need to find a barn that is equipped to take heavier riders. Draft crosses are awesome. I do have a few suggestions that might make it a little easier for you though.

Yoga. Yoga teaches body awareness and balance. It's also incredibly relaxing. Being more aware of your body will make it easier for you to find your balance and move with the horse to help them to carry you. I was amazed at how much my riding improved when I took a yoga class. Tai Chi is also great for a similar affect. It's also a great low-impact workout for when you're starting to get into shape. It may not change the weight (heck, training for a marathon might not change the weight. Being "overweight" doesn't necessarily mean not fit. Muscle is considerably denser than fat, so many people have a high BMI but are actually in great shape) but it will help you with your balance, which will improve your position.

Also, this is going to sound a little harsh, if do not already exercise, you need to. Like I said, this is not necessarily a weight issue, it's a fitness issue. Riding is an athletic endeavor. We expect our horses to be athletes, it's unreasonable and unfair to not have the same expectations of ourselves. It doesn't matter if you are taking the occasional trail ride or training for the olympics. The level of athletecism does correlate to what you're doing, though. If your idea of trail riding involves scaling rocky mountain passes, then you need to be in pretty good shape because that's hard. If your trail riding is a leisurely half-hour walk on a flat, developed trail, then you don't need to be in quite as good of physical condition, but you still need to have some level of fitness. Am I saying you need to train for a marathon? No. I'm not even saying you need to run. Start a regular walking schedule. Do yoga. If you're a casual rider, that's enough. If you ever do decide to get more serious, though, level of fitness needs to go with what you're doing. I don't mean to sound discouraging, and I totally think that you CAN ride, but you need to make sure you're being fair and realistic. To yourself, and to the horses.

btw, I am also "overweight" according to the BMI at 125lbs. rolleyes I don't put much stock in that, and I am a big proponent of Fat Acceptance and Health at any size. People don't fall into cookie cutter molds.

Western is also a great option for people who are heavier. The larger saddle distributes the weight better over the horse's back and offers more support. Many riders find it easier to stay in balance in a western saddle also, so that helps the horse as well.

I hope some of that was helpful, and that you don't find any of my comments discouraging or offensive. If you are honestly interested in getting into better shape, I can give you some advice on modifying basic exercises to a lower impact level until you build up more muscle. My friend Greta has run 4 marathons in her life (she's 22) and could not do a single push-up when we started vaulting. Upper body strength is crucial to vaulting. I gave her some modified exercises to do, and they made a big difference.

Yeah, there aren't a lot of english instructors who want to play games, and almost never with adults. With little kids, yes, because the idea is that they learn the riding skills through the games, but people assume that adults don't want to play games. SO not true, but then again, my friends and I are a little different. Liz said we were the most excited group she'd ever taught interactive vaulting to, and we were all (mostly) able bodied and neuro-typical. Sometimes if you're upfront about your goals and what you're expecting out of riding lessons, you can find a middle ground or something that you're both happy with, but that's a frank conversation that a lot of instructors aren't very good at.

And I'm glad to hear that you've been working out! That's awesome! It sounds like you've got a pretty great routine going already, and if you're planning on working with a personal trainer, wow! You'll be in better shape than I am in no time! (I am lazy and use the cold and rain as an excuse not to go running. I am a bad child. BUT my new apartment complex has a tiny little fitness center, so I'm going to try to make myself use that...)
I'll get back to you with exercises tomorrow probably. Brain isn't working great tonight...

Unlike some of the others I believe a short, stocky mount would be acceptable. I'm at about 220 and I ride my 16 hh Tennessee Walker without any problems. When looking at a draft cross, they are the rage right now but are on the brink of going out of style, you have to consider both halves. Draft horses were bred to pull, and they are VERY good at pulling things. Their gait is low to the ground and they were designed to basically walk and trot. When you ride a draft horse, ask it to do more than what it was bred to do, the joints are stressed beyond what a normal horses would be. The volume of a draft in comparison to leg size is an astronomical difference, and if you were to jump a draft or do alot of canter work, it is likely he would experiance lameness issues because of the sheer shock of the immense mass on their legs. Draft horses were bred to pull, not to ride.

The breeds I would look at, if you want sound and sturdy, would be a haflinger, or possibly a fjord? I've seen some big ones, up to 15'2 lately, and they are massive all around but very proportional.

There is a gal at my barn who is probably 270 or 280 and has a big, thick throughbred mare who has never had any problems in 7 years.

Look for sturdy, and look for a horse with a thick hind end with maximum distance between the hind legs. That's what I would do.

There's no reason you cant ride, just start slow and build the right habits and muscles and you'll be off and cantering in no time.

Aria always has great answers. wink
I always think of it this way: Would you rather go jogging with 20lbs of books on your back that flop around, or with 30lbs that stay in place? Same goes with heavier riders. If you have good body controle, you can go right up to the 20% mark with no problems. Horses are most comfortable when their rider is about 15% (150lb rider on a 1000lbs horse, that kinda your average 15.3 TB and woman AA). There was a lady at the barn for a while, she must have been near 300lbs, but she rode a friesianXperch gelding, who was strong and compact, must have been close to 1500lbs, he was a major chunker! I don;t think she ever cantered him the whole time she owned him haha, but they got along great. Her tack fit him well, she always rode with a little extra cusioning, and she was stable enough in her riding ability not to hinder him or stress him too much. My friend also rode him on the side, so he was kept fit.

The best thing for you I think would be to get stronger yourself before you try out lessons again. If you do this, I'm positive you'll find body controle easier, making riding easier and more enjoyable. Also, like you said, look out for a western barn, maybe with some real stocky horses. I'm a huge fan for english because it really is more effective in teaching you your position faster, but if youre having that much trouble with it right now, you want to do whats going to be safe and comfortable for you and your mount 3nodding

EDIT: Forgot to mention, my coach is 5'9 and is probably around 210lbs, but she is STRONG and can really hold herself right up there, even on a horse that's really jacking around, so it's ok for her to ride our horses (mainly 16+ WBs).
@Aria- Lol, I'm teetering right on the edge of being over weight according to the BMI, I'm 5'10 and 160lbs. It kinda sucks because that seems to be where my body wants to be, you know? Any higher and its easy to loose, any lower and its easy to gain xd . This summer I was 150lbs (took 3 months of active summer life to drop 10 lbs lol!), and in about a month I was back up to 160, and I've been there since september. My horsey friends tease me and say that I'm "broody" because all my weight is in my butt, hips, and thighs. One of my friends actually once tagged my butt in a picture "child-baring hips" stressed . Like, I can see 3 of my ribs in the mirror, I think I'm the most pear shaped young adult I know!! Being completely flat chested doesnt help either haha. One summer I got down to 140, and people started getting worried about me because my lower legs, upper body and arms got so skinny... but alas, my 41 inch hips only dropped 2 inches!!

*Temporaily high-jacks thread*
Lol, I hear you. I tried to do some exercising yesterday, did some situps, pushups, you know, the usual. Did 15 tricept dips and today they burn!! How sad is that? sweatdrop I've actually lost a lot of muscle mass this fall though because of my lack of activity due to school, last year for some reason I stayed more active in the fall/winter. College is a biach for that. My 160lb jeans are tighter than they were last time I was 160lbs (i have summer jeans and winter jeans heehee), because of the difference in the kind of weight I'm packing. I think it's funny that the BMI calls you 'obese', because I've seen pictures of you and you look 100% normal! I have a friend here who is 5'nothing and is a stock build who is 130lbs but is a great shape, and strong!
*Returns thread*

*Feels like a thread terrorist*
Sorry, my bad. (obese/over weight thing). My friends wii fit tells her that shes morbidly obese, it wouldnt hurt her to lose some weight, shes 5'5 and 160lbs, but thats a far cry from morbid obesity!
And pffffffttt to the 100 situps... i did 70 the other day and they burned for 2 days! LOL. But yeah, when I was all skinny and fit when i was 17, I could hold 2 point for hours and sit ups til the cows came home!