How much can a horse carry?
luv2all
Posts: 44 Member
My horses are big motivators for me becoming fit again. I feel disrespectful flabbing around on them and recently have been reading in several equine magazines, we shouldn't be asking them to carry much over 10% of their body weight. My best girl is a 22 year old daughter of Rugged Lark and would love to hear from others who have senior "babies". Just don't want to be abusing my horses weight wise.
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25 %, give or take a few points, of their weight.
Other Ideas....I use a very tall mounting block to get on and off. I literally slide my foot in the stirrup, then ask him to walk off as I gently sit. My horse is a TB and I am careful with his back.
I wouldn't sit trot unless the horse has a very gentle trot or he was correctly collected.
I ride as balanced as I can. I think of my seat as a quiet reference point for his back. No rocking back and forth with the movement. If anything I think up and down, tiny tiny movement. this comes from classical dressage, which is,just good, basic training.
Might want to feel your horses back afterwards, make sure all is good, no ouchy spots. If there are, figure out what's going on.
10% is crazy, typical a horse is 900-1000 lbs. 100 lb rider? I don't think so. I am quite certain on 25%, give or take.
Keeping Horses in some level of work is so good for them.Getting muscle back on an older horse' can be a challenge. I would just create a program like you would for yourself. start out slow. You could even hop off on the way home and walk with her. I want to start doing that with Sunny so I get my walk in too!0 -
Yes, I agree with BelleHaven above... about 20% - 25% of a horse's BW. I am a big girl. I ride a 16hh, 1100lb Paint horse (my profile pic) and although he is a senior, I am pretty confident that he can carry me wherever and however I want to go. He is also has a very coarse frame, he is not dainty at all. He is the most awesome trail horse I have ever ridden. I love a horse that loves to work!
I use a mounting block also and I am careful about how I mount and my balance, etc. I try to keep from bouncing around on him as much as possible. He has a murderous trot so I always post, even though I am riding in a western saddle.
A very well respected dressage trainer that I was taking lessons from once told me - "Riding light has nothing to do with your weight". She went on to say that a rider who is 150 lbs but who bounces all around, is heavy handed, and unbalanced will do far more damage than a 200 lb rider who knows what she is doing.
Also be sure your saddle fits well. Proper saddle fit goes a long way.0 -
Nice remark by your trainer. I thought of another thing. when you start a young horse, you often stay very light on the back. I often ride that way because I want the back to lift to my gentle seat when possible. And of course with OTTBs their poor spines are often injured from racing.0
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Thanks for the feedback.0
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absolutely. ALWAYS wonderful to talk with people who put their horse's needs first!0
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Also depends on the type of saddle you're using, and how well it distributes the weight. A western saddle, for example, spreads it out over a much larger area.
I use a treeless saddle, so I have to be extra careful!0 -
I was always taught they can carry 20% of their body weight. My 1100lb horse is maxed out at a 220lb rider. I would go over the 20% limit if you are on a shorter backed horse so going with mares wouldn't be the best idea since they have more room for foals. And a heavier breed cross would help go over the limits.0
