Re: Touchy subject rider weight

I have had to ride a 14.2h horse and the rider had to use mine as their horse was quite unsuitable for them and I was worried because of my size but the horse had no problems, I did as I had to ride without stirrups we were quite a few miles from the stables so unless you had a couple of hours to spare to walk in hand, and we had no mobile phones then.  The size we are is many times due to genetics not amount we eat as horse people with the amount we have to do would floor many normal people as we handle bales of hay and bags of horse feed plus mucking out and a horse who has got out the wrong side of the bed and this for fun, as others have said fitness and size are not the same, but saying this I am annoyed as one woman on the yard can eat and eat and not put a pound on me if I look at a chip would put on a stone.  One lady said to me she thought she was too fat I said I liked cuddly ladies, she was built for comfort not for speed,  I know this is not pc but it made her happier as she blushed like anything. Also another thing people assume things as someone who should have kept mouth firmly shut suggested that all male riders were gay, I nearly hit him with my handbag as did my son. I have learnt not to judge people. Horses are far stronger than we think but we have to be senseable  and have a horse that is capable of carrying us like my old Gypsy Cob Tonka, or the ex-racehorse Lara a steeple chaser, now Sabrina a Belgian Warmblood all are / were weight carriers, some riding schools I have used would only use a horse for 4 hours aday.

Re: Touchy subject rider weight

 I'm in an interesting position with this one. Being so small and slim myself I often get asked to take the small horses that few other people can ride out for a hack etc. However my bf is a bit of a tank - 17st and over 6ft but he's incredibly fit, six-pack etc so finding a horse for him has been a sensitive subject, usually nothing under 16hh would do. It can look like little and large when Im on something like 11hh and hes on a huge tank of a horse hehe also ability comes into it - i wouldnt like to deal with a 17st beginner.... but a competent rider is less of an issue with the right horse

xx

Re: Touchy subject rider weight

I think to a certain extent it depends on the horse but when you get to a certain weight or size it isn't safe to be riding a horse as you can't balance yourself and you certainly won't be fit enough to ride. However I am trying to lose weight after eating constantly all winter and neither my thoroughbred or ISH have a problem with me riding them as they still have their fresh mornings.

Re: Touchy subject rider weight

spanishgirl said:

- i wouldnt like to deal with a 17st beginner.... but a competent rider is less of an issue with the right horse

xx

i agree.

Re: Touchy subject rider weight

lydiarose said:

wagonsroll said:

Why is it that someone can make a sizeist remark and someone of size is not supposed to be deeply offended and why is it that when someone of size points ot that this is an unfair, prejudiced viewpoint that only the perpertrator is supposed to be offended.

 

Any viewpoint which singles an individual out for targeting as "different", "unsuitable for" or "shouldn't do that" is very dangerous. Little remarks have an insidious effect on peoples thinking and should be stopped before they have a chance to snowball into something greater. If you think that can't happen look to history and how it has treated minorities

I think that a child molester is 'unsuitable for' a job as a baby sitter.


Really, that point is invalid. Unless you feel like I'm 'deeply offending' a child molester. Obviously it comes down to certain subjects but doesn't seem like you really thought about that one.

Wagonsroll, think its time you stepped away from this. You're taking it all 'Ow, ow everyone is attacking me and my size!'. When everyone really is like 'lets discuss the topic at hand and ignore the lady having a diva fit because she can't accept the opinions of others.'

All I can add to this is that we'll never know unless horses finally learn to speak! Which I wish they would, think it would make all our lives easier! (Minus with Parsley, bet he'd be a cheeky wee bam haha!)

Then we'd know for sure if they said 'Get off me ya fat lump!', or 'Fancy getting off ya skinny rat!'.

 I bet he'd be so rude. -.-