Lessons for plus size riders

[OhMoreDrama]

I used to ride as a kid and I'm really missing it now - my boys go riding and I'd love to join them!

I'm just under 18st but tall with it - 5'10!! I used to be a lot slimmer but stated on anti anxiety meds and they made me put on loads of weight even though I was eating less.

Do you think any riding school could cater for me? I only really want to plod about and maybe hack out occasionally.

They look like lovely horses. Very heavyweight hunter types.

Don't beat yourself up about it. You don't have to lose weight to love a horse. There is so much more you can do with horses - carriage driving people are lovely & welcoming & a much more diverse group of people. Horse agility is good fun as well.
It's more important to be happy, healthy & mentally healthy than to focus on weight!
You are likely to struggle to find a riding school but most are only able to cater for a narrow range of clients anyway - mainly non-disabled white kids & teenagers.

Have a search for RDA driving groups as volunteering is a great way to learn & gain confidence & very rewarding.

Ask locally if anyone is involved in driving (it really isn't just for travellers) there's some really lovely people in the driving community & most are really keen to share their passion with others. There's no upper weight limit for driving & no one to judge you.

I'm surrey/Sussex border if that's any use to you

@crinkletits ..I rode a horse like the Teversal Trekking types- he'd come fresh off the Boat from Eire- called ''Rambo''- he was really built like a tank- he was sold within the week.

A few people have said about carriage driving - I can't find anywhere near me that offers it. I'm in Stockton in case anyone knows of something!

I'm not answering any more comments on my weight - believe me I am trying my best to do what I can physically and medically but my GP isn't interested and doesn't believe me! And at this point I just don't have it in me to keep fighting over it at the moment!

@OhMoreDrama Worth getting thyroid checked though-
I kept falling asleep 😴 and had a blood test suggested- It came back with a thyroid ( underactive) issue.
It can cause weight gain in some people, as metabolic rate slows.

My thyroid was tested in May and is fine!

My gut feeling is I have PCOS but I'm hitting a brick wall of just being told to lose weight with no real help from my GP.

Good news about Thyroid ( taking daily thyroxine is a pain)
Could possibly be PCOS
You really need a decent- hopefully female- GP.
They tend to be more understanding than men.
It could be solvable if the reason is found, as your diet is really Spartan.
Especially as you were a slim person before.

@OhMoreDrama I didn’t mean to be unsympathetic about anxiety- I used to get horrible panic attacks a s was prescribed Ativan that was so addictive .
That’s why I’m wary of drugs nowadays, having to withdraw from Ativan in my 20s

I don’t know how old you are OP but also think about your hormones. I find Hrt helpful and found contraceptive hormones unhelpful for weight gain. I guess things have to be in some kind of balance?

I'm 38!

Looking at moving GPs if I can because I'm so sick. Sick of weighing everything I eat, sick of never being able to eat out, sick of worrying about it.

I never said that to you. I replied harshly to one poster using that phrase but it wasn't you.

@OhMoreDrama I apologize, I thought you had.

Sooo...

I'm going to meet a horse today! I mentioned wanting to start riding again to a friend and she put me in touch with another friend who lives a couple of villages over. I can't decide if I'm scared or excited!

Luckily my oldest's hard hat fits me but if everything works out I'll have to get my own, and some new boots because I don't want to be slopping about in wellies like I am now!

Good for you! If the horse is of the right size and conformation, you're perfectly fine. Hope it goes well.

He's absolutely beautiful and I'm very excited!

He's a driving horse, forgot to say!

He's gorgeous! What a lovely face, is he friendly?

I love just spending time with the horse I used to ride for lessons. He lives out mostly now and loves being brought in for a groom and some fuss. Maybe you could do that too, most horses like being made a fuss of and brushed.

Congratulations he is beautiful! Driving horses tend to have really calm, gentle temperaments & really respond to your emotions etc so you'll likely develop a strong bond.
Good luck & keep us updated!

OP but that is pretty good advice! Setraline in and off itself cannot ‘make’ you gain weight. It doesn’t affect your metabolic rate. What it can do is increase appetite so that you eat more calories than you need. If you are only eating 1300 cals a day and still gaining then increasing physical activity might just tip the scales in your favour.
when i had two horses I did around 20,000 steps per day working up a sweat and I lost two stone with no dieting whatsoever.

He's absolutely amazing! Properly chunky with a head as big as my entire body. He's also a lovely person - very friendly without being pushy and very patient! We did a tiny drive, just around the farm and I'm going back next week! 😁

You are so lucky to have a friend who can give you this opportunity.

It's worth bearing in mind that a shorter woman is likely to carry more weight on their hips and thighs which can mean they don't fit the seat of the saddle correctly and that can also be an issue.

Whereas someone who is the same weight but tall and muscular is less likely to have this issue.

I think at 16st, there may be more options, I have known riding schools and shares with this as a weight limit. I appreciate that losing 2st is a lot but perhaps might feel more achievable than getting down to eg 12st?

He looks lovely , enjoy your time with him @OhMoreDrama

Glad you enjoyed going driving! It sounds like an excellent way to go for now.

I would definitely keep trying with your GP, or try a different one if you feel there are health issues causing you not to be able to lose weight!

He's such a cool horse! I do feel very lucky 😁

And yes, will go back to the GP again and push for a proper assessment.

Cumbrian Heavy Horses have a weight limit of 16 stone for taller riders and 14 stone for shorter riders.