Advice about learning to ride.

[mooseisabunny]

I am 25 and would love to learn to ride.

However I weigh 20 stone. Is it possible there a horses gentle enough for a complete novice but strong enough to take my weight?

If it makes any difference I live in Surrey.

do you mean 20 actual stone or is it a saying, like 'ohmygod I weigh about 20 stone how did that even happen?'

I think/was taught very sturdy horses with lots of bone can take a stone per hand but I think riding ability must come into it too - people who don't weigh much can bounce about in a way that is not nice for the horse while heavier but experienced riders will probably feel much better to the horse

so I don't know, you do need to be reasonably physically fit to ride and that seems like a lot to ask of any horse to learn on, it could be a brilliant goal to sort of work on your fitness and health - find out what your local riding schools max weight is, but remember that is with boots hat coat etc, but that gives you a fair idea of what to aim for

Most riding schools have a weight limit, I think you would struggle to find one whose weight limit was at that level.......but as mitchey said, could you find out what your locals schools weight limit is, and set it as a target?

there is no riding school that would take a beginner of that weight.
besides it would be dangerous for you if you fell off, to hit the ground at that weight.
no offence but you need to lose about six stone before phoning round riding schools, but do phone around first to ask of course.

Try another country! Here you'll be too heavy, in the usa plus size riders are 460+lbs! Bigger, heavier horses would be able to carry you easily - the army horses manage ok, but finding a co-operative owner may be more difficult. Good luck - and I really do mean that, riding is fab!

but I thought horses could only carry 5% of their own weight inc tack etc - what kind of horse weighs 2000kg? Not even a Clydesdale

that's cruel

lbs and kgs muddled there

am sure there are 2000lb Clydesdales but probably not in an average riding school

I wanted to start riding again but couldn't until I lost 4 stone...
I'm 13st now and still have some to lose, but the riding helps with that.

yes it is fab exercise - I sometimes ride now but do not go over a walk as I am worried about my weight on the horse's back - about the same as you gobby. also I know how to hop on lightly off a mounting block which a beginner would not, again no offence.

Could you perhaps help someone out with their horse to get your horsey fix? You could learn a lot about grooming, picking out feet leading, catching etc, and put your riding ambitions on hold until you've lost a bit of weight?

If you were a bit nearer Essex you would be very welcome to come and play and learn with my gentle soul, but you would be too heavy to ride him at the moment. :)

What about driving? Any reason why the op couldn't learn to drive instead? I think that would be fab fun.