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.

Read this thread as I want to lose weight to get back to riding i’m 1.5 stone over and was wondering if heavy horses could carry more. I’m going to use it as an incentive to try and cut down and get fit again.

That’s a really good tip about working on your core.

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!
Reasonable for the horses. They should not have to accommodate everyone at the expense of an animal's wellbeing, whether they are a healthy weight for their height or not!

Debates about the weight horses can carry do tend to raise hackles, OP.

I realise you're not a beginner, but what standard were you riding to before you gave up? Was it mainly riding school horses you rode? Can you control a fit hunter out hacking? Can you ride a reasonable prelim dressage test on a well-schooled horse? Are you used to competition horses? How balanced are you? People can have quite different interpretations of what it means to be a novice rider. It's not so much the length of time you're ridden for, as what you've done.

I think it would really help you, and any horses you ride, to make sure you're fit. Cycling, yoga and swimming are good forms of exercise that help with riding fitness. As PP have said, make sure you have a strong core. That will help you stay balanced and help the horse.

You may well find schools he will take 15 stone riders. You will find many people who think it's acceptable to weigh more than that. Personally I think that if we're going to ask horses to carry us, our part of the bargain is to make sure we're an easier burden to carry.

There are obviously horses around which will take over 14 stone, and clearly men over that weight do ride. However, any school has to look at what is commercially viable. A bigger horse eats more, requires bigger rugs, tack and shoes, more wormer, all of which cost more. Each horse has to earn it's keep and suit enough riders, it is no use having a big horse which is not doing enough work. Also, some, not all , heavier horses may not do the jumping etc which the school needs its horses to do. A school will make a decision as to the type of riders which will be the majority of its custom and choose its horses on that basis. Going and helping out is a great idea, you will get fit, have fun, get to know the horses and staff and be ready to go when you hit the magic number, toned and confident! Remember they will weigh you with all your riding gear on as that is what the horse is carrying. Good luck!

You are too big for local riding schools.

Please consider how unkind it is to ask the horse to work under your weight.

Blimey, 11.5 stone though! I can think of several Badminton riders over that

Appreciate the difference with a novice rider though

Ffs the world has gone mad. Eventers used to have to carry 11 st 11lb and they are blood horses going around a demanding course . I am 5' tall and until recently weighed 75 kg. I ride 13.2 section c's. If they can't carry me they aren't true to type. OP just ask . Worst that can happen is they give you an assessment to see how balanced you are

Op people on here are talking rubbish!!! Ring them and ask you've got nothing to loose! People talk utter rubbish when it comes to horses ability to carry weight. There is NO scientific studies on the subject at present all of it is based on a poll of people's opinions.

A well built, fit health con would happily carry you all day. In my experience (and that includes working for a riding school) a lot of people are not honest about how much they weigh and so if you are honest and talk it through with them they may well be able to accommodate you. Especially as you are already a rider not a novice! There is a big difference for the horse!

@oakthorn you can't compare an eventer with a riding school horse!Event horse are top athletes, toned, strong and carry equally fit and toned, balanced riders. Riding school horses especially the cob types used for novices are generally far removed from that.
It's like comparing how far an Olympic strong man can carry a certain weight compared to the average Joe who goes to the gym 3 times a week.

My dh is 15 stone. His horse is a Belgian Draft because she's big and strong. You won't find many of them in riding schools. He's a big bloke so has a big horse. She's getting older so strictly walk these days.

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,

Added to the fact that you want to ask the rising school to break their own weight limits, I would say these things are a good indication that you are indeed, a novice.

I would use the riding as a lose weight incentives

Eventers used to have to carry 11 st 11lb and they are blood horses going around a demanding course . I am 5' tall and until recently weighed 75 kg. I ride 13.2 section c's. If they can't carry me they aren't true to type

If that was total weigh-in, the rider would have been a fair bit lighter. Racehorses sometimes carry 12 stone total but a fair bit of that isn't jockey weight. Plus as Cariad points out, you're talking about a very fit horse. Thoroughbreds are often good weight carriers because of their conformation. If a horse has a good power-weight ratio, which they do, they may well be a better weight carrier than a heavy horse whose frame is supporting a large amount of its own weight.

Likewise with smaller cob ponies. They are bred to carry weight and things like the short cannon bone make it easier for them.

There is NO scientific studies on the subject at present all of it is based on a poll of people's opinions

Not sure where you get that from. Scientists estimate when horses were domesticated partly on changes in the skeleton which indicate whether or not they were ridden. Horses have undergone physiological monitoring to see how they respond to weight carrying. A very quick search reveals articles like this www.j-evs.com/article/S0737-0806(07)00413-3/abstract

Plus, it's not whether or not they can carry the weight - it's whether or not they should be carrying it, given possible long term effects. They didn't ask for this.

Give them a ring and explain. They know their horses and will either say yes or no.

Whereabouts in the country are you OP?

Half a stone isn't very much and horse riding is very motivating, why don't you lose the weight and then you can book a ride when under the weight limit?

What a lovely thread I've stumbled on by accident. I used to ride as a child, done little as an adult. My dream has always been to ride on the beach. Found out last year that there is a riding school just down the road where we stay and meant to find out about it. Told my lovely supportive teenage son who poo pooed it and said I was too fat. Last year I started the year at 14st 10 (a little Christmas weight included).

I joined weightwatchers Sept last year and have so far managed to get down to just over 11 and I've been looking today at how to book beach ride. I am a bit of a scaredy cat so the smaller the better as far as I am concerned but of course the horse's welfare is crucial to me too! I've had a slight blip Weightwatchers wise but this thread has given me just the incentive I need. I go away in 2 months. If I try hard I reckon I can get down to around 10 stone. Won't I feel gorgeous swishing along the beach - and the horse will thank me too!!

In the nicest way possible, OP, if you haven't ridden for 10 years, you will be rusty and not able to balance your own weight as well as you used to, even if you know how to in theory. By all means ring the school, but be prepared to be told no. Half a stone isn't too much to lose, and getting a bit fitter may help you get more out of your lessons.

I do think 11st is very low for a weight limit- but some stables cater mainly to children and have mainly smaller horses and ponies. If that is what is safe for the stock they have and they are making a living from their business, then they don't have a duty to cater to heavier riders.

Most riding schools post their weight limits a little lower than what the horses can actually carry, as they know people will lie and round down- and they know that beginners do not usually carry their weight as well as an experienced rider.

As well, it can be harder to find weight carrying types that are really suitable for a beginner rider- they are out there, but they are pretty rare. Plus, they will often cost the school more to keep, in terms of feed costs etc. They can also be more destructive to fencing etc. Equally, many clients may find them uncomfortable to ride (e.g. too wide) so it is a balance for the school as to if it is commercially viable to keep such horses.

Heavy horses are not usually the answer to weight carrying- they are build to pull, not carry weight and many will have weak backs due to this. Also, they may struggle in the standard 40x20 arenas that many riding schools use for lessons.

True weight carriers are often things more like maxi-cobs, with short backs and a lot of bone or a true hunter type horse. However, good quality horses of this type that are happy to take a novice rider are in high demand, and the purchase price may put a riding school off.

The place I ride has a 17-2 hunter type for the larger rider. They go (begrudgingly) up to 16 stone if experienced 14 stone if beginning, but reckon he only pays for his keep by encouraging little girls fathers to keep taking them. This is the only school I have been at of four that cater at all for that size. Big weight carriers just dont seem to be commercially viable.

Cheese, that is amazing, you put me to shame as a rider, I could definitely lose a bit more! You will be fab, riding on the beach is the best!

Give them a ring and ask. Sometimes websites aren't always up to date as well if they've got new horses etc
I'm 15 stone and ride a IDxTB

I am not sure if riding school would be able to take volunteers in these days of blame and suing businesses. People have to have experience of looking after horses not have to be reminded all the time. Even docile ponies can drag you off after food and having your foot trodden on can lead to broken bones.

Their, doubtless already expensive insurance, might not cover inexperienced people.

A lot of riding schools can still offer the chance to help with stable management- many around here also still offer all-day pony club type sessions for children/teens (usually 10+).

There may be limits on what you are allowed to do set by insurance e.g. not going in fields with horses, wearing hats while handling horses etc.

I'm sure this varies from area to area, but it's certainly possible. Working on the ground with sensible riding school horses isn't that high risk for serious injury- I think there are other things that push their insurance up more. Also, some riding schools want to be able to educate people about stable management as well- otherwise how do people learn before having their first horse?