is 11 stone too much for a Section C 14 hh

[SunnyBaudelaire]

I finally lost two stone in weight and me and and the daughter decided that I should finally ride the beast that we have had now for three years.
It was so much fun even if all my thigh tendons are screaming, we even went for a little canter. I used to work with horses so know how to sit but am well out of practice!
But I do worry about weight! do you think it is OK?

I'd say its an absolute max. It'll be more like 12 stone with clothes and tack. His legs won't buckle but just because they can doesn't mean they should. I personally wouldn't. How old is he?

she is 5 and her synthetic saddle is very light.....

like I say I am not bouncing around on her back

I think that as long as the horse is fit and if you are going for a gentle hack it is fine. A welsh section C is pretty strong. You are more likely to have problems if the horse isn't fit or is also carrying too much weight. I suggest slow work for short periods to build up both your fitness.

But I would make sure you use a mounting block as getting on from the ground puts a great deal of strain on the back

oh yes I always use a mounting block of some description these days, hehe, to be kind to the horse and to me.
What I was thinking of doing was long fittening/maintaining walks as these dark days dd can only ride her at weekends...

I wouldn't want anyone over 10 stone riding my 14hh cob to be honest. As pp says tack and clothes are heavy too.

I would probably let an 11 stone person ride her as a one-off provided they were a decent rider and not a novice banging around on her back. Only for a plod though, I certainly wouldn't want them galloping or jumping her. She is only ridden by me (9 stone) and kids so is not used to carrying much weight.

I thought this was in 'The staff room' topic for a second then!

That's one way of getting pupils to behave!

yes banana I also had 10 stone in my mind!
back to the diet it is then.....
Actually losing weight is easy, you just have to wait until you are really hun gry before you eat. I feel like one of those jockeys desperate to maintain a riding weight.

they are all different aren't they, that is the thing. She was bred for the show ring but has really filled out in the last year or two and is quite stocky now.

oh and thinking about it, I guess she is nearer six now

Sunny I am also on a riding diet....I think I am at the top end of what my stupid non weight carrying 5yo TB can take weight wise.
At the moment we are just plodding around trying to harden his legs up a tad and get his fitness back but come summer!

He doesn't feel for a second like he struggles with me certainly not when he flies through the air away from pigeons and he hasn't been sweating up much at all despite his coat....I just have it in my head that he could do with a stone less on his back .

We could start a new thread .

I honestly think its down to the horse and rider...for instance...if someone else was the weight I am banging around on my tb's back then I would be flinching....I however and fairly light when I ride I think. No banging!
Also if he seemed tired, unhappy to work, looked like he had worked harder than he had then I would be thinking its not good but he seems fine.

See what you think, only you know for sure if she is coping or not and if you are comfortable riding her. I imagine for a bit of light hacking/fitness building etc over the winter you would be fine. :)

I saw this in most active and thought it was about having a c section if you were 11 stone.

As you were

Long reining is a good compromise. Gets you and the pony fit and helps to shed the pounds in the interim.

lol I am not running around the country long reining!

I leave the daughter to do such strenuous things
here is the pony - this is the best pic that doesnt show dd's face but shows the pony best.

and that was a good couple of years ago so she does look chunkier now.
The pony not the dd that is.

I've got a welshie who is the same height as yours. I'm about 9st 10. I wouldn't be comfortable riding him if I were any heavier.i did lose about half a stone last year specially for him, because I felt like a pony squisher.

A welsh C only goes up to 13.2, after that they are officially classed as a sec D and can be reregistered as such. My sec D who was 14.3 could carry 14 stone without batting an eyelid. Rough rule of thumb is a stone per hand for a well put together solid fit native.

no I really do not 'have a Section D' omg dd would go mad if I suggested such a thing!

Just go with it, it's no use fighting it!

I seem to remember dpony was bred as a section C but got re-registered as a D. He was 14hh too.

The amount of weight a horse can carry isn't based on height or breed, it's based on the horse's weight, age, fitness, amount of bone and length of back- a short backed, well muscled cob with a lot of bone can carry a lot more than a tall, skinny tb.

She looks like a nice pony, but at 5, I wouldn't want 11 stone on her if she was mine. Just because she can physically carry it, does not mean it won't cause her back problems or lameness in the future. It seems like she was backed fairly young as well, which can also cause future problems. The occasional ride probably won't cause lasting damage but I wouldn't jump her or be riding her regularly.

I can't really see the pic as on my phone.

However, if she is well built she will have no trouble at all with 11st. One of mine is a 13.2 very chunky sec C. I am currently nudging 13st (usually a stone or so less) and I cause him no issues whatsoever. He is short coupled and has plenty of bone. He's not ever so fit actually but is fine with me and his Ideal show saddle.

I assume if your pony has been out of work, you will be building up gradually. In which case, go for it and enjoy!

What a gorgeous pony