My trainer told me I am too heavy for a horse...and that was ok

[ToN_Farm]

[QUOTE=skydy;8736145]
Exactly. Your post was in regard to rider weight and horse size and that your trainer noticed something that was not obvious to you. [/QUOTE] Going back to the original topic. This is a good example of a caring, intelligent woman who thought she would not be too heavy to ride her friend’s horse. According to the trainer, she was too heavy. I think this is the case with many people who think they are not over-burdening their horses with too much weight. I often read “he carries me just fine”. Just because the horse hasn’t crumbled beneath them doesn’t mean he isn’t working harder than ideal.

Another point is that I wouldn’t necessarily trust the opinion of all trainers on this topic, because I know a few that are too heavy themselves to be riding certain horses.

[Kolsch]

[QUOTE=exploding pony;8736139]
Did someone really post that exercise isn’t for everyone? I’m sorry but that is just … ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

Well, not really ridiculous. There’s been a growing list of studies that are confirming what runners already know- exercise in itself doesn’t really make one lose weight. The majority of the time the body adjusts the appetite and unless dietary changes are made there will be little to no weight loss. Runners also tend to unknowingly spare calories at rest to compensate for the workouts. (Animals do this as well, comparing zoo to wild)

I once ran two marathons and an ultramarathon within three months and easily gained fat every day. For me personally it’s easier to not run while losing weight. I feel weak and i get rungry. I’ve also easily lost fifty plus pounds while not running a step- diet modifications only. (Low carb/Paleo)

I don’t tend to view any particular food as healthful or not. I eat sugar and do not apologize for it… What I look at is my whole diet and basically keep my macros in line. Protein/carbs/fats. Simply, not too many carbs works for me to control appetite and keep me feeling good. I don’t really count grams, I just watch my servings, but it amounts to an average of 200g a day.

[Kolsch]

And as fer as the original topic, I’d be interested to know if there’s an ideal weight for a rider. It’s easy to think that lighter is better, but I’ve also heard some riders say that they felt they could influence the horse more after they put on a couple of pounds. I once commented about how heavy baseball players tend to be (verbal jousting with family about their.sport*) and was sternly educated that for the most part they weigh what they do for a reason- the mass helps them.

*being family, I fact checked the lecture and did find it to be true at the time.

[mp]

[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8736098]
Right, you know you are doing this and it’s potentially a hindrance. This is what I mean by people not really doing everything to be healthy as BM thinks.
There is something weird in the American culture about bragging how we eat. I’m not so much picking at you Moogles as you are illustrating a common point. Sugar is bad, but you don’t care and laugh it off.

I keep thinking of the Strict Germans vs Independent Americans. We have by and large very poor seats and don’t advance much. Always a reason why something didn’t work and why someone can’t get their horse on the bit.

People who are happy staying at TL and getting 62%.

Yeah, I think Americans lack discipline, in training and in diet. Just look around or watch commercials. Show me an actually HEALTHY vegan, vegatarian, and meat dish at your local restaurant…Right, doesn’t exactly exsist. We love our junk food and TV.

How many of us actually work out and really do eat well? 1%?

Why are we so unhealthy, fat, and not progressing in dressage? We don’t really try. We know what to do but the culture wants to blame something- genetics, our horse, our job, etc.[/QUOTE]

Who knew America’s problems can be traced to TL and 62% scores?

This has to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I’ve read in a long time. :lol:

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=mp;8736630]
Who knew America’s problems can be traced to TL and 62% scores?

This has to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I’ve read in a long time. :lol:[/QUOTE]

Not exactly. Read it again and think instead of just making a joke.

This thread is proving my point! Couldn’t ask for more, really! Let’s just make it all a joke!

[ladyj79]

Sendenhorse, a little out there. But really a lot. Maybe start your own thread about lazy fat people destroying American dressage cause I’m sure you’ll get a lot of activity without makin the crazy on someone else’s thread that isn’t about that.

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=ladyj79;8736841]
Sendenhorse, a little out there. But really a lot. Maybe start your own thread about lazy fat people destroying American dressage cause I’m sure you’ll get a lot of activity without makin the crazy on someone else’s thread that isn’t about that.[/QUOTE]

This is a thread about weight on a dressage thread, so talking about weight and dressage didn’t seem that off the wall!~ Dressage is an athletic sport, and I am really amazed just HOW MUCH effort it takes to ride well after training level.

If I followed a typical american lifestyle, diet, and mindset I would NOT be successful at much in dressage.

Excuses don’t get you far, enjoying the journey is important but I want to make progress. It’s too much work to stay stationary and be ok with that.

That is why I’m not ok with 62% TL. that is a minimum, Germans would laugh at that.

the good news is I am responsible for myself, you do your own thing. Dressage has a lot to offer everyone where they are.

The most important thing is we are doing what is best for us, horse is happy and fit, and are happy with our progress!

[Dee-Vee]

Double post.

[Dee-Vee]

[QUOTE=ladyj79;8736841]
Sendenhorse, a little out there. But really a lot. Maybe start your own thread about lazy fat people destroying American dressage cause I’m sure you’ll get a lot of activity without makin the crazy on someone else’s thread that isn’t about that.[/QUOTE]

Diversity in points of view is…healthy.

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=Dee-Vee;8736905]
Diversity in points of view is…healthy.[/QUOTE]

ok now you guys are just being jerks, really? I’ve spent a lot of time to try to help others here.

I guess I should expect some backlash, it’s not the popular opinion to be more self-critical.

I think those who have ridden seriously for several years past training level will see how these relate. It’s not popular to say people need to work out daily to ride well. If you plateau sometime, remember what I said. The key lies with you and your ability to evaluate the situations. Blame doesn’t get you much progress.

I didn’t make this up, it’s just common sports psychology and mental training. But I suppose if you haven’t had any training in that or nutrition like i have it might seen foreign hence the reaction.

Talk to me in a year those of you who think this isn’t important. We’ll see where we are all at, ok? Dresage is a ton more work than I ever thought, and I’ve been at this awhile.

I don’t have 5 years to learn to ride my horse on the bit. I have a very talented horse so I have to ride to his level. Being overweight isn’t going to serve me well. I have to toughen up , shut up, and ride. If I don’t want to, fine, but I can’t complain if I’m not going to work harder today than yesterday.

Its a sport, not a trail ride. that is all

[BigMama1]

Am I ever relieved I got 68 and 69 in TL at my last show. Phew!

But seriously, lots of people are very happy with 62 at TL because riding is a hobby for them, not a sport. With jobs, families etc. many riders can’t or don’t want to ride more than 3 days a week, which makes it hard to progress. That’s neither bad nor good, just a matter of different people having different priorities.

It’s not dissimilar to weight I guess. For some people being thin is enough of a priority that they are willing to restrict their calories and devote substantial time and energy every day to exercise. For others it’s not.

Either way, the danger lies in assuming that other people want what you want or worse, that other people should make the same choices that you do.

[Dee-Vee]

[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8736923]
ok now you guys are just being jerks, really? I’ve spent a lot of time to try to help others here.

I guess I should expect some backlash, it’s not the popular opinion to be more self-critical.

I think those who have ridden seriously for several years past training level will see how these relate. It’s not popular to say people need to work out daily to ride well. If you plateau sometime, remember what I said. The key lies with you and your ability to evaluate the situations. Blame doesn’t get you much progress.

I didn’t make this up, it’s just common sports psychology and mental training. But I suppose if you haven’t had any training in that or nutrition like i have it might seen foreign hence the reaction.

Talk to me in a year those of you who think this isn’t important. We’ll see where we are all at, ok? Dresage is a ton more work than I ever thought, and I’ve been at this awhile.

I don’t have 5 years to learn to ride my horse on the bit. I have a very talented horse so I have to ride to his level. Being overweight isn’t going to serve me well. I have to toughen up , shut up, and ride. If I don’t want to, fine, but I can’t complain if I’m not going to work harder today than yesterday.

Its a sport, not a trail ride. that is all[/QUOTE]

To clarify…not intended to be a jerk, but to support diversity of views…such as yours and others…where there has been a tendency to preach to the choir. Sorry that was not clear.

Yes…dressage is hard work and requires a commitment to excel if that is what one’s goal are.

[ladyj79]

https://youtu.be/Qcx3fcNlnSM

What sendenhorse sounds like to me.

[Sticky_Situation]

I’m all for riders being athletes and all that goes with it, including additional training when we aren’t on our horses. I do cardio and strength training in addition to riding most days.

However, I don’t think the average Training Level 62%-scoring adult amateur who’s a bit overweight and rides for a hobby is going to be competing against too many German team members, and our international team riders and hopefuls ARE serious athletes and are not likely to be satisfied with scoring 62s at TL for the rest of their lives.

So I don’t think that the overweight adult amateurs are holding us back too much in international competition.

[cnm161]

[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8736923]
ok now you guys are just being jerks, really? I’ve spent a lot of time to try to help others here.

I guess I should expect some backlash, it’s not the popular opinion to be more self-critical.

I think those who have ridden seriously for several years past training level will see how these relate. It’s not popular to say people need to work out daily to ride well. If you plateau sometime, remember what I said. The key lies with you and your ability to evaluate the situations. Blame doesn’t get you much progress.

I didn’t make this up, it’s just common sports psychology and mental training. But I suppose if you haven’t had any training in that or nutrition like i have it might seen foreign hence the reaction.

Talk to me in a year those of you who think this isn’t important. We’ll see where we are all at, ok? Dresage is a ton more work than I ever thought, and I’ve been at this awhile.

I don’t have 5 years to learn to ride my horse on the bit. I have a very talented horse so I have to ride to his level. Being overweight isn’t going to serve me well. I have to toughen up , shut up, and ride. If I don’t want to, fine, but I can’t complain if I’m not going to work harder today than yesterday.

Its a sport, not a trail ride. that is all[/QUOTE]

Failing in one area (i.e. I’m still chubbier than I want, and caloric reduction is a daily struggle) does not necessarily correlate to failures in others (even given the fatness struggles above, I’ve trained and shown through GP).

I would caution against conflating physical appearance with ability.

[stoicfish]

[QUOTE=Sticky Situation;8736966]
I’m all for riders being athletes and all that goes with it, including additional training when we aren’t on our horses. I do cardio and strength training in addition to riding most days.

However, I don’t think the average Training Level 62%-scoring adult amateur who’s a bit overweight and rides for a hobby is going to be competing against too many German team members, and our international team riders and hopefuls ARE serious athletes and are not likely to be satisfied with scoring 62s at TL for the rest of their lives.

So I don’t think that the overweight adult amateurs are holding us back too much in international competition. ;)[/QUOTE]

Oh come on. I was planning on kicking someone off the team this year. Lmao.
I just ate right and worked out and made the team. Lot’s of broccoli.

Ps. I think people that work for a living and don’t have a sponsor or trust fund are no threat to the teams. Very few people can afford to ride against the best in the world. So much more then being a talented rider. A good dressage foal is 10 to 15k.
90% of riders are hobbyist. They ride for all sorts of reasons.
This reminds me of the ultra competitive guy playing beer league baseball that berates everyone. And hasn’t come to terms with the fact that he ain’t in the big leagues. Get some perspective.

[jdobbs64]

I’m a hobbist? Do fries come with that? Hmmmm.fries.

[mp]

No.

You’re a hobbit. You’re short, have hairy feet and eat all the time.

[Tanny98]

Yea I get it. I could stand to lose a few pounds for those I ride as well. It wouldn’t hurt. Although I do workout, and stay in shape, I just have too much insulation and would benefit my pony if I dropped a good 20 lbs. There are a couple of larger ladies who ride at my barn. I’m sure they are not unaware of their weight problems as most over weight people aren’t. Thankfully their horses don’t seem to be in any kind of immediate distress and actually move quite well for their riders. I will say that even an overweight person who is balance and poised upon their horses back still has to be better than a tiny person who flops around and has no balance In regards to how the horse feels.

It sucks being an easy keeper, I know how my ponies feel when they are rationed for their weight. Sometimes I think life would be easier if I didn’t have thumbs and someone could just take away my food dish too…

[stoicfish]

[QUOTE=jdobbs64;8737678]
I’m a hobbist? Do fries come with that? Hmmmm.fries.[/QUOTE]

Y are you doing this to me?