Delicate Question on Horseback Riding

[IcarusSomnio]

I'd rather put a 250lb rider that can RIDE on my medium built 15.2hh Foxtrotter then a 120lb person that can't!

If your looking to buy, I'd suggest a old-bred Tennessee Walking Horse. I rescued one (sold him later on) and he had more riding power then a draft. He was HUGELY built too, just a massive engine of a ride. Only about 15.3hh, but stocky! He could easily carry a 250-300lb rider without a problem that boy was built.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Self-edited because everybody else's comments were much more knowledgeable than mine.

 

[Hound]

Quote:
I had to read this a second time to make sure I hadn't misread it the first time

I'm sure the OP is sensitive enough about his weight (not that he sounds enormous by any stretch) without having digs made at him. I hadn't realized horse riding was reserved only for those few examples of human physical perfection.

To answer the question, there is a point when someone could be too large to ride, but it would be more a case of being so large it is physically very difficult to even mount. However I don't see why you should have any problems at all. I wouldn't recommend a 14h small-footed QH, but then I wouldn't want one myself either. If it's something you want to do, go for it!!

 

[desertdarlene]

There's a riding stable near where I live and I think they said that you can be up to 250 pounds before they will put you on a draft-horse. But, I knew a family of stable owners who were probably a lot heavier than 250 and were riding "regular" horses. You might need a taller one, though, because of you height. Some individual horses seem stronger than others. If you find that the horse is buckling a bit when you try to mount him, then he might not be strong enough.

**edited due to typo

 

[EweSheep]

Well all in all, riding is the best exercise for a big or obese person with a weight loss program. You do not want a horse too long of a back because it is like a hammock, too much weight would put a strain on the ligaments and muscles of the back.

Like me, I don't think I could ride a Paso Fino anymore, I'm too big. So a wide barrelled TN Walker or Foxtrotter or Peruvian Paso might help otherwise I would have to put up with the non gaited breed.

 

[welsummerchicks]

I'm not sure any comment about weight and health represents a 'search for perfection'.

We all know that excess weight has been proven to not be good for us. It's connected with a lot of health problems such as knee injuries, heart problems, even some cancers. We all realize that. An effort to slim down a few excess pounds is always great. Maybe by some twist some wording in that earlier statement could offend someone, but the idea that it's good to lose excess weight should not.

For many people, they have issues of mobility or health problems that make losing weight tough. For some it's a sedentary job, a long commute, and a 'burn out job' that means when they come home at night, they park in front of the TV and spend a few hours in total shock, too burned out to exercise, until they go to bed. I know a lot of people like that. They come home and basically sit there and try to mentally recover to go face it all again the next day! For others they're battling heredity, eating habits (also 'inherited'!) Some are fighting poverty - yes, cheap food is often fatty and starchy. Eating well takes both money and effort.

For a lot of people, riding can be just one more part of a new healthy lifestyle. As long as the person is appropriately mounted, I see no problem with that.

If someone is so heavy they can't get on a horse, and I've seen people like that, they might consider driving - again with a horse appropriate to that vehicle-driver weight.

Driving, done properly, is a nice little workout too. But so is briskly grooming, cleaning hooves, carrying bales of hay and buckets of water.

The main thing is to have something that gets a person out there, moving around, burning off excess pounds and having a great time.

 

[EweSheep]

Never thought about driving!!!! Neat!

 

[welsummerchicks]

Actually more and more lesson barns are offering driving lessons. It's getting more and more popular.

I think the heavy woman I mentioned was right on the money when she said she would absolutely not be able to dismount or mount in an emergency, a big horse that would be appropriate for her weight. She was much, much more comfortable with the idea of driving. It takes some agility to get out of a non easy-entry cart, it's true, but at least you're closer to the ground. When a person is really overweight, they're far more likely to get badly hurt if they take a fall off a horse.

For that reason...As much as I love riding, I disagree that riding is good for the very heavy.

I don't feel it's really the best exercise for a very heavy person, to be perfectly honest. Too, I don't think riding, just sitting there walking in a Western saddle, like most people do on a horse, walking down a trail once a week or once a month, provides much exercise at all.

To lose weight, the best exercise is walking. Plain old walking. Because it's cheap, easy and accessible. No gym memberships, no coach, no lessons, no special equipment, nothing except a good fitting pair of shoes and socks. If the legs aren't 'walkable', then swimming can be the answer.

 

[EweSheep]

I do alot of swimming jogging in the pool at the Y last year until I crippled myself with plantar facisitis. Painful to walk and yesterday went to the foot doc and gave me some steriods and proper foot inserts (sorry Dr Schrolls, you did in a pinch but failed at the staying power). Now I gotta get back into shape LOL! I love to walk but hate hate hate the cold.

Time for me to renew membership at the Y.

Our riding stables do not offer driving lessons. It would be neat!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Welsummer - [ahem]....SOMEone's PM box is full.