Mumsnet Talk

In the last year I have lost 7 stone 4lb and am now 16st2lb. Am I still too heavy for any horse? I used to ride and had horses up till my teens and now I've shed some of the fat I'd love to get back into riding. As I said please be gentle with me!

Well done losing so much weight! DH was 16 st when he started riding so we got him a heavy horse (16hh Belgian Draft). As long as the horse has plenty of bone and is up to weight something along those lines should be fine with you. However, if you're looking to ride at a riding school you may have to ring round to find somewhere with a good chunky horse. I hope you find somewhere to ride, it's the best thing ever!

(ps DH now nearer 14st and I dropped 2 dress sizes since I started riding again, so next year you'll probably be looking for a smaller horse)

Thanks for the reply. I'm still shrinking so my aim for 2013 is another 4 stone and fingers crossed I can find a local school with a horse to help speed things up

If you're anywhere near us you could ride DH's horse when she's better.

Hi well done on your weight loss so far.

To be honest I think most riding schools around here have a weight limit of 14 or 15 stone so I think you might still have to lose a bit of weight. Although if you are not a beginner you will carry your weight better than a complete beginner. Might be worth phoning round a few schools.

Good luck

Oh and some riding schools publish their weight limit on their websites so you don't have to phone up if you didn't want to

Well done! I used to ride my 16.1hh TB when I was between 15 and 16 stone. She never complained.

I'm in Swindon. Thanks for replies again. Will be googling schools tomorrow

Well done for losing all that weight. Clearly as things stand you would need something big and chunky to ride. I would have thought once you are down at 14 stone you won't have any problem going to a riding school and finding something they will put you on. Perhaps ring around first and see what your local ones say about maximum weights, you might be lucky. I am rather sceptical of these arbitrary weights, but then I am used to NF ponies that round here are expected to carry a stone per hand (and do). Riding school ponies are a bit different to privately owned ones though.

Whatever the outcome, if you can't get riding just yet, it will be a nice target/goal to reach in time

Incredibly kind 50

Our local riding school has a 13 stone limit, but that is really only for new riders. They let me ride when I was 14 stone as I was returning to riding after a break to have my DD, so they knew that I had a seat and would not be bouncing around like a sack of potatoes. Tell them that you have riding experience as it might make a difference.

You go girl! Well done.

I'm 17.5 stone and my fjord horse doesn't even k ow I'm on her most of the time

Thanks again. Am very excited to get this researched

Well done on the weight loss! No you are not too heavy. You do need a horse of substance, but unless you are planning cross country or a days hunting, most cobby types or bigger horses should be able to accommodate you easily. I weighed almost 17st at my heaviest and my old horse was still more than capable of buggerin off across a field at flat out gallop given half a chance.

Well done on weight loss- I weigh just over 16stone and share a 15.3 cob and also ride 16.3 Irish when he needs exercising.

I started riding again last year after a long break and was upfront with the school that I weighed around 15st when I rang to book. They initially put me on a 16hh heavy cob, but once they saw I could ride pretty well, and have a balanced seat, I was moved onto a 14.2hh welsh x who manages to jump without even noticing I'm there! Have also lost a good stone since then so I don't worry too much

You should be fine, you just need the right horse. When DP started riding at 17st he went to a riding school that had a lovely shire mare. Then I got him an 16hh HW (true HW though, think suffolk punch looks) and they had loads of fun together (DP also lost a lot of weight from riding).

When you ring round do emphsises that you CAN ride and used to have horses as a teen. There is a big difference between a 16st beginner and someone who is a bit out of practice. Good luck

I'm 16st and ride a 16.2hh Lusitano and a 15.2hh heavy cob (we're talking VERY heavy cob with legs like tree trunks - 10.5 inches of bone!) and they seem to manage happily enough. But then, I'm not a beginner and have a balanced seat.

There is, as others say, a MASSIVE difference between someone who can ride and is just a bit out of practice but has a good seat and someone who is a complete beginner with nary a clue.

I'm 11 stone 9lbs and I won't ride my comp horse until I'm down to 10 stone as he's a delicate flower quirky bastard I won't let anyone over 10 stone ride him and even then they need to have a very secure seat as he's speshul and very high maintenance.

I'm happy to ride my others since they are slightly more chunky, I have a fairly balanced,light seat and they are not delicate/quirky. Have to say I wouldn't put anyone over 12 stone (+ tack) on them which is basically the same as the local riding school

Quick update for you lovely peeps. Randomly spoke to my old instructor today for work reasons and I asked about returning, she has a 15.2 coloured cob who will take 14st but as some of you said, will take a little heavier as I've ridden before. So, will be boot camping my arse off and be back in the saddle by summer!

I am sure the coloured cob will be just perfect - Good luck with the boot camping and a smaller arse!

What a fantastic reason to lose more! It will be summer before you know it, and you'll be riding out on lovely evenings

Great news