Weight of rider and height of horse

[ChoccyJules]

I'm sure you will have discussed this before on here but is there a chart or theory anywhere which states size of horse/pony required against weight of human?

Am wondering just how big a horse I would end up with if I ventured to the local stables to restart riding after, ooh, 27 years.

Thank you.

i think its a horse/pony can comfortably carry 20% of its bodyweight
cobs and some native ponies are exceptions due to their builds

Really depends on the body type/build/breed of the horse more than height. And also your height as well as your weight. If you are worried about getting vertigo ask if they have something shorter and stocky rather than tall and elegant. They should ask your weight and height when you book.
Have fun

As I've just said on another thread, if you ride them, and they can still mess you about, then you aren't to big!
I heard somewhere, a stone per HH for a native. They can carry plenty. Thats probably not far off! That's what they were bred for! There used to be classes in Shetland shows, for a pony that could carry a man and his wife to work!
As for height, if your feet don't touch the floor, you'll be fine!

Guide is roughly a stone per hand for native ponies such as new forest's.

Fine build ponies a bit less

The 20 % rule can be a rough guide but much more depends on the type of horse / pony and how old / fit it is, as well as its conformation.. eg a short backed native cobby type with take more weight than a leggy show pony or long legged thoroughbred.

It will also be a factor how fit and experienced the rider is...... its not the actual weight thats is the issue its just that an inexpereinced or unfit rider will bounce a bit more and or be more unbalanced.

Some riding schools have a blanket weight limit of 14 stone on any horse. If you are this weight ( or under) however you could be on any height horse from a 14.1 reasonably fit welshie like mine to a 16 hander lol

When my welshie was endurance fit she could carry 15 stone ( me plus all the tack) for 20 miles plus and still canter with enthusiasm lol

Thank you for all the info. Am not looking forward to declaring my weight at the stables but having worked out the height of horse I may be matched with, am not quite so terrified now!

I'm 5'11 and weigh about 10 stone. My horse is a 14hh Fell/cob because I'm not very brave (or I wasn't when I got her, she's been so kind to me that I'm contemplating having a bigger horse as well next year). Not only is she a great weight carrier, she's also really wide so my legs don't dangle. It was a lovely 13.2hh Highland pony that got me riding again after more than 30 years out of the saddle.

Have a great time, and let us know how it goes. You'll soon be horse shopping!

ChoccyJules I am also restarting after 25 years and am terrified of going on the big ones as the riding school has quite a few that are 17 hands plus! I would be nuch happier on a small pony given the choice. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

I don't ride anything smaller than 15hh at my riding school but that's to do with my height, not weight. There's a lovely strong little cob who could easily carry my weight, but my feet would be trailing along the ground! He could carry more weight than one of the 15.2 horses I ride easily.

My personal favourite, though, is a 16.2hh Irish draught horse - he's wide and comfy to sit on but a bit of a git really