Equestrians and eating disorders

[cleozowner]

[QUOTE=Cowgirl;8641009]
Every top rider I have been around has been on a constant diet to stay thin. It is amazing to me that some of them can ride 10 horse on only a yoghurt and tea, but they do![/QUOTE]

But if we want to treat ourselves like the athletes we are (and like we want the public to view equestrians), should we not start fueling ourselves like athletes? I know when my RD finally convinced me to start adding healthy carbs to my diet, for example, my energy noticeably increased and my excessive hunger noticeably decreased. There’s a reason RDs make these recommendations–because they know how bodies process fuel for optimum performance, far more than lay people do (despite all those internet “gurus” selling the latest shake diet).

[Palm_Beach]

I agree that being thin with long arms and legs predisposes a person to look elegant on a horse. And I also agree that a good judge can see past body type when judging.

Having said that, I am small but normal shaped, and did great in eq and hunters when I showed. One of my main competitors was a large woman on a nice big horse that were perfectly proportioned for each other - she was a beautiful rider and he was a big strong horse and they were just stunning together.

[UnlacedDreams]

I live in a more rural area that is just outside the periphery of actual horse country (as in, a few hours drive away). The vast majority of riders here are on the larger end, from “slightly chubby but not quite plus size” to clinically obese. No one, not trainer nor fellow rider, would so much as think of commenting on a rider’s weight. If a trainer did that they’d quickly lose a lot of their clientele.

[candyappy]

[QUOTE=cbv;8640804]
I don’t believe body image and related disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are sport or discipline related. They exist throughout society. Just being a teenager is enough. Now probably a pre-teen.

Back in the late 60’s/early 70’s when I was a young girl a family member died from anorexia. She was a young mother. A well off family with a successful husband (before women worked outside the home if not financially necessary). Never participated in any sport I knew of.

It was before anyone ever heard of the disease. We are all more educated now but I don’t know any more successful at understanding or treating the disease.[/QUOTE]

As a person who battled this from the time I was 14 until I was in my late 20’s it had absolutely nothing to do with my riding or how I looked to others. I don’t know if it is the same for all who suffer from it, but it was 100% how I saw myself. People could tell me I looked great but that is not what I saw.

Looking back now, at pictures of myself from 14 on, I was never even overweight. I didn’t even know what anorexia or bulimia was.

I am not saying that the constant pressure on young girls doesn’t trigger something and that it shouldn’t be stopped. If you are going to pursue an athletic sport you owe it to yourself and your equine partner ( or teammates) to be fit.

That doesn’t mean thin. Many thin people are completely out of shape.

[amm2cd]

Oh, and an aside on the dressage trainers tend to be thin… most of them can’t afford to eat out like their clients. That makes a difference!