Is it wort be enquiring about riding lessons if I'm over the weight limit.

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I've ridden on and off all my life. I'd like to start lessons again, looking at the local schools, they seem to have a 14 stone limit, I'm about 1/2 stone over that, is it worth my time enquiring? I'm going to try and lose the weight, but I'd like to get started if I could.

Think about the horses, and whether you'd really want to ride with a school who allows you to break the rules which presumably exist for a reason? Can't you lose the 7lbs and have the lessons as a reward?

Think about WHY there is a weight limit.

I find it unusual that riding schools don’t have a couple of heavier horses able to carry more weight. I can imagine gentlemen often exceed 14 stones... might be worth calling them to discuss over the phone?

More experienced riders are able to carry their weight in a way which puts less strain on the horse, and are therefore sometimes allowed to ride when slightly over the weight limit.

It's worth asking. But prepare to be weighed before being allowed on the horse!

No. As a novice you will bounce around horribly on a horse's back. Lose some weight first, the eight limits are there for a horse's welfare

Can I just add that my horse had a bad back from his previous loaner being too fat and heavy for him (he's a 16h cob but seems to be quite sensitive). He was off work for 2 months, needed physio, saddle adjusting and then working through all the learned behaviours such as moving away from the mounting block and napping

As others have said, imagine you were the horse...

14 stone is generous! Out local stables is 11 stone

Remember the horses have the weight of the tack etc. and yes, 14 stone can feel more like 16 stone if you're not an experienced rider.

11 stone seems low though...I thought the usual limit was around 12/13 stone?

I guess each stable will set their limit depending how many of what horses they have. A stables with a few cobs will set a higher limit than a stable with less sturdy horses.

Think if you had a rucksack on full of shopping and it was heavy with tins... add 2 more juice bottles and 2L ones at that... nah and like someone said, the horses need to carry the saddle etc.

It will vary from school to school as it depends on the type of horse available . If the limit is on the website OP, it might be worth checking in case it’s out of date and they’ve acquired a sturdier horse, or the fact that you can ride might make a difference. Otherwise, consider it an incentive...

Over here a western working saddle can weigh 60 lbs! When I bought my first horse in the US I was borrowing someone's saddle for a few weeks which was so heavy I couldn’t lift it on to my horses back. I had to ask for help. Then there’s a dense stiff 1 inch pad underneath. It’s not really riding, it’s more like sitting on a horses back and flopping the reins about the neck. Bloody ridiculous.

I echo the others about novice riders. A beginner or novice is basically a badly blacked rucksack full of tins digging and bits dangling and yanking from straps.

Now imagine the rucksack is packed with something softer and well balanced and is secure and moving with your body in time. You would be able to carry a much heavier load but still be much happier about it.

TO be fair though 14 stone isn’t that heavy for a 16hh + maxi cob even if you are a beginner. Maybe shop around for school with suitable horses, but do check welfare before riding.

Good luck

11 and a half stone limit for beginners at my local stables.

Yes actually it's 11.5 for beginners.
Owner is very unforgiving about riders being too heavy

Erm, this isn't AIBU! As I said in my first sentence I'm not a novice. I started riding when I was 7, I'm now in my forties, but haven't ridden for the last 10 years, would like to get back into it. I was wondering if some schools may have larger horses that would be OK. Thanks for those that were a little more constructive. I may give a couple of schools a ring and see what they say.

I enquired when I was just over the 14st, tbf, it was ponies.

They emailed back to say come back when I've eaten less lunches!

14 stone is generous! Out local stables is 11 stone

Most men weigh more than that though.

And did you Pippy?! That’s ratger rude of them!

A Weight limit of 14 stone for beginners or novice riders is far too generous , and I would call most people novice if they have only ridden a few hours per week .
11 or 12 stone is more than enough for a chunky cob to cope with .
Why not start an exercise regime that will help you loose the extra and become fitter and more supple for starting riding again , in the long run you will get more enjoyment from it

OP the weight limit is there for a reason, it's for the welfare of the horses. If they say 14st I doubt they have a horse that could carry more otherwise that would be the weight limit.
You could try contacting them but I would only accept it if they had a horse that could carry more not just waivering the weight limit iyswim, I would be wary of a place that said max 14st but just decided they could accommodate 14.5. You might just have to accept you need to lose a bit of weight before you can ride again.

Interesting that comments all see 11.5 stone as a reasonable weight limit! If you are a 6ft plus average build man then I'm sure you would weigh more than that!

Of course if the schools don't have the horses to carry that weight then they just don't but my OH could switch to eating only carrot sticks and would still struggle to come in under 11.5 stone!

I'm sorry but if you've ridden on and off and not for 10 years you are a best to think of yourself as a novice. At very least you will be rusty.

While losing some weight how about Pilates to get your core strength up so you get back into it quicker?

Another good plan could be to see if you can help at the school you choose. I lost 2 dress sizes running around leading mucking out etc when gd got her first pony. And you'd get lovely horse time