Husband too big to ride my horse?

[S_mores]

My total new to horses beginner husband has expressed an interest in riding my 14.1hh QH type gelding. He has been on him in the arena a few times just walking around. I wouldnt say my gelding is exactly a beginner’s horse but he’s recently returned from 3 months training and my husband hasn’t had much trouble directing him around.

If he does continue riding we will need to get another saddle as mine is a 16.5 inch close contact english. Would like to get him a light weight western saddle.

Husband is about 5’10 , 185lbs. . . He does look kinda funny on horsey but not concerned about that… Just wondering if weight wise if he’s ok. Once he progresses more and takes lessons, we will probably get a bigger saint of a horse for him but for now… Can he walk and maybe trot around on my little gelding?

I worry a bit about mounting…as he’s not that agile. I have a small mounting block it’s only about a foot tall. & I hold the stirrup on the other side when hubby gets on. Maybe he should get on from the fence instead so he doesn’t need to use the stirrup.

[511]

185 is not that heavy and your cute horse does not look frail.

[Toblersmom]

There’s an awful lot of cutting and endurance horses that are your horses’ size, and an awful lot of cutting riders that are bigger than your husband (probably most male endurance riders are not larger, but probably many are similar). 14.1 is on the big side for an Icelandic and I’d lay odds that there are plenty of male riders in Iceland your husband’s size or larger. Probably not the best pair-up for Dressage or hunter competition because judges have become so used to HUGE horses in the ring and they’d look mismatched. But for general pleasure riding I don’t think there’s an issue if your horse is reasonably fit. I do think getting a taller mounting block would be a kindness, but not absolutely necessary.

[warriorhorse]

No I don’t see an issue ,you’re horse looks plenty sturdy to handle you’re husband. My husband rides my gelding who’s 15.3 hands. Hubby is 6.2 weighs 200 lbs. Horse handles him fine ,granted hubby only does walk trot.

Now far as hubby riding stud horse who’s 14 hands tall not happening. He sat on him his feet are to horse’s knees. Plus horse is barely green broke at 6 years old.

[alibi_18]

Just find the right western saddle that fits both pony and husband so it will distribute his weight correctly and everything should be fine.

I would still try to find a high enough mounting block so he doesn’t have to « lift » himself from the ground.

I believe we should all get on from tall mounting blocks anyway, it does preserve our horses’ back. I always do.

Like for everything new, be carefull and watch for any incomfort signs regularly.

[joiedevie99]

Everything should be fine given that level of work. Find a saddle that fits horsey and husband well. That is really the most important piece. A taller mounting block would likely help as well.

[PrincessPonies]

Taller mounting block is always better. I personally have a small step ladder. It was on $20 at Lowe’s and a little higher than the three step mounting block my friend has. Works great and is easier on both our backs.

[Bluey]

Mounting blocks are also better for saddles, that won’t get twisted around straining to get on.

Whatever you use as mounting block, safest is something that a horse can’t stick a leg into it somewhere, if it happens to step sideways into it.
That is why most mounting blocks are solid, without openings.

[2DogsFarm]

Get the taller mounting block.
Or at least a 3-step stepladder with a top platform that can be stood upon.

Beginner Rider getting on from a fence is not so good an idea.
Not that good for more experienced riders either, but their balance & reaction time does tend to be better & quicker to adapt to any Woopsi! like horse taking a step away from that fence - fence rail is not stable/wide enough to be a safe spot to launch from.

DH’s height & weight s/b a non-issue < side from the “picture” aspect @Toblersmom mentioned. In the Western ring he’ll fit right in - lots of {ahem} larger guys riding smaller horses.

[ReRustica]

I think it will be fine. You could look for a synthetic if you’d like to cut some weight, western saddles can be quite heavy!

[furlong47]

I’m in a similar height/weight range and have ridden and jumped sturdy large ponies. Your husband should be fine, especially just for walk/trotting around.

[S_mores]

@ReRustica

I think it will be fine. You could look for a synthetic if you’d like to cut some weight, western saddles can be quite heavy!

Yes that’s what we’re hoping to get. Have not heard great things about the western wintec. Hoping for a big Horn cordura

[S_mores]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like we just need to find the right saddle and a mounting block and we’ll be all set

[Xanthoria]

I know it’s commonly seen thing in the US for big men to ride small horses, but personally if the average 14.1 pony weighs at most 900# and 20% of that is 180#, when you add in a western saddle he’s well over the max. Your pony will probably tolerate some short, slow rides but I personally wouldn’t. My 16 h TB at 1050# didn’t tolerate my 175# husband well.

[Guilherme]

@Xanthoria

I know it’s commonly seen thing in the US for big men to ride small horses, but personally if the average 14.1 pony weighs at most 900# and 20% of that is 180#, when you add in a western saddle he’s well over the max. Your pony will probably tolerate some short, slow rides but I personally wouldn’t. My 16 h TB at 1050# didn’t tolerate my 175# husband well.

The 20% rule is bogus. Why 20%? Why not 19 or 21? Or 17.5 and 22.5? Cavalry horses routinely carried weights well in excess of that for long periods successfully.

If the rider is unskilled or the horse is unfit (or otherwise compromised) or the saddle is inappropriate (for any reason) then these things need to be address before worrying about a rule that really doesn’t exist except as a common assumption.

We use the three step mounting block at home and short stepladder when out. Out is getting less and less as age and infirmity mean more difficulty in any mounting situation.* You do have to train the horse to whatever you’re going to use.

G

• I have one of these. https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Mount-Horse-Portable-Mounting/dp/B0012DQEP4 I made a leather “bucket” that attaches to my saddle and carry it when we go out. You can add a couple of inches if you put a small piece of 2 x 4 on top but no more than that or you’ll run the risk of becoming unstable.

[Xanthoria]

Guilherme because the weight of the rider and horse height are basically all we know in this situation.

We we don’t know how well the saddle fits, any underlying health issues for horse, weather, elevation and footing they plan to ride on, or any other variables that affect a horses ability to carry a person.

But it’s all moot: I wouldn’t put a 200# (with saddle) weight on a pony. Obviously YMMV.

[lilitiger2]

I realize this is a sensitive topic and people’s perspective varies a lot. Fair enough.

but i’m with Xanthoria on this one. I would not do it. Been around enough ranches and seen how careful (the good ones anyway) they are now with weight limits and matching the horse not just temperamentally but physically as well. It can really take a toll on horses I’ve never seen a ranch ask a guest how much they weigh but they do size 'em up pretty quick (and general muscle tone)

And no. the 20% thing is not a myth. you should see packers weighing out their loads! Not down to the “lemme get my calculator out” level but a general sense of not overloading. Certainly they do it for balance but also for overall weight.

but just because I can doesnt’ mean it s a great idea. I’ve seen grown men ride donkeys. I would never do that with my little mule.

here’s a quick and dirty article about how stress and physical problems occur with ratios higher than that.

https://www.horsesciencenews.com/hor…orse-carry.php

So, on topic, I’d rent or buy DH his own! never miss a good chance to augment the herd! My DH also rode my paint around the arena for a bit (walking) but he would have been too heavy and we very quickly got our Good Horse for him.

In any case, I do realize people have different views of this and around the net there is lots of discussion. And plenty of variables–fitness of horse, experience of rider, what you’re doing, etc.

Not trying to be disagreeable, just offering a view from the back benches!!!

[Guilherme]

@lilitiger2

I realize this is a sensitive topic and people’s perspective varies a lot. Fair enough.

but i’m with Xanthoria on this one. I would not do it. Been around enough ranches and seen how careful (the good ones anyway) they are now with weight limits and matching the horse not just temperamentally but physically as well. It can really take a toll on horses I’ve never seen a ranch ask a guest how much they weigh but they do size 'em up pretty quick (and general muscle tone)

And no. the 20% thing is not a myth. you should see packers weighing out their loads! Not down to the “lemme get my calculator out” level but a general sense of not overloading. Certainly they do it for balance but also for overall weight.

but just because I can doesnt’ mean it s a great idea. I’ve seen grown men ride donkeys. I would never do that with my little mule.

here’s a quick and dirty article about how stress and physical problems occur with ratios higher than that.

https://www.horsesciencenews.com/hor…orse-carry.php

So, on topic, I’d rent or buy DH his own! never miss a good chance to augment the herd! My DH also rode my paint around the arena for a bit (walking) but he would have been too heavy and we very quickly got our Good Horse for him.

In any case, I do realize people have different views of this and around the net there is lots of discussion. And plenty of variables–fitness of horse, experience of rider, what you’re doing, etc.

Not trying to be disagreeable, just offering a view from the back benches!!!

I read the link. First error: No U.S. Cavalry manual EVER postulated or promulgated a 20% standard. The Remount standard was a TB-type horse, 900-1100 pounds, 15-16 hands. The standard load (soldier, tack, equipment, weapons) was 225-250 lbs. Do the math and you bust that 20% rule real fast.

Clearly a heavier weight will make the horse work harder. That’s not a surprise. But will the work cause long term issues? The article is silent. The annals of the U.S. Cavalry are not. Nor are those of the other major cavalries around the world.

As an example, the Prussian Heavy Cavalry (they had four types) used horses averaging 16 hands and 1100 pounds (small rounding, there). Riders weight averaged 185 pounds.* Add to this the weight of tack, weapons, ammunition, equipment, etc. and you will again quickly break the 20% barrier. This continued until the end of the German empire in 1918. I’ve not research the Weimar standards or the Nazi standards so I don’t know what they said.

One caveat is that the cavalry horse was usually in very good physical condition as they were regularly trained and exercised and fed IAW a very set standard. They would have been closer to the modern endurance or evening horse than most other horses today. The average cavalryman would have stood head and shoulders above the average casual rider of today in terms of skill and condition. A 15% load rider who sits a horse like an old sack of wheat is a much greater strain on the animal than a 25% rider with a solid seat and balance and skills. So for a commercial operation the 20% rule might make sense but only because the commercial operator has no control over the skill level of various riders.

G.

*The Prussians selected men of large stature for this arm as they wanted a high intimidation factor on the battlefield. Most cavalries had weigh limits on the riders and those usually topped out around 150 pounds for troopers (somewhat higher for officers). But equipment loads, at least in the modern era, ran in 80-100 pound range so, again, you push and break the 20% limit on a regular and frequent basis.

[lilitiger2]

Right, G, This can be a tough topic and you raise good points.

My grandfather, US Cavalry (chasing poncho villa around the Southwest) was absolutely meticulous about his horses. they obviously taught him solid horse management skills! My point is/was that people who are concerned about load weight and horses are not wrong and the article, short as it was, pointed out some (potential) problems. You are, quite rightly, introducing other variables–fitness and build of the horse, fitness and experience of the rider, purpose, etc. Very much relevant considerations.

There is, though, a reason why outfitters and ranchers and so o n have weight restrictions. for packing, there are plenty of outfitters who keep it at 10-15% of body weight, again depending on a number of variables. People tend to have their ideas of how much weight to put on each side (depdngin on their system) but will agree that 200# total is usually max

Yes, a live rider is easier than a dead load, but most guests are not toodling around the arena and they (outfitters) have an investment in keeping their livestock in good shape. The Park service and other commercial operations do indeed have weight restrictions. A ranch my family used to work on told another family member (250 lbs or so, probably a little more) he wasn’t riding other than a slow, flat walking ride on a very large drafty horse, but again a) he was NOT in shape and b) was a novice rider.

I know from all your posts you take excellent care of your horses. People can disagree on this topic and still have healthy horses!!! I was just pointing out that I agreed with Xanthoria.

Interesting topic, lots of view points!

[ThreeFigs]

I don’t like the synthetic Western saddles. IMO, the skirts are not as rigid as the ones on a good leather saddle, and the skirts are part of what distributes the weight of the rider. Yes, the Western tree is larger than an English one, but those skirts also help distribute the weight. They integrate with the tree in a way the synthetics cannot.

Things may have changed, but I’ve never ridden a synthetic saddle that put me in the right place. Get your husband good equipment, or he’ll be fighting the saddle while he’s trying to learn to ride. Not good.