Horse riding is a great way to get outside, socialise and get some exercise. When looking to buy or ride a horse, the height and stature of the mount should be seriously considered. Ill-informed horse owners may believe they have the best type of mount due to their height and size. Important factors are considered below.
Taller Doesn’t Mean Better
It can be a misconception of some that a larger rider needs to have a taller mount. Some of the more sturdy breeds are indeed taller, but their depth of bone and conformation should be considered before the height in hands.
Choosing to place a rider on a taller horse because they are larger isn’t always the best way to go. Thoroughbreds often end up in riding schools after retiring from racing, whilst standardbreds are commonly found in trail riding businesses after racing. Either of these breeds if long in the back in their conformation can struggle, particularly with larger riders.
When considering a mount for the heavier rider, it is worth instead looking for a horse that has a short, strong back, rather than focusing on height. Horses built in this way can cope much more effectively with a greater weight load than a tall horse that has a long back.
Heavier Doesn’t Mean More Burdensome
It may be assumed that because one rider is heavier than another, that the horse will be affected detrimentally by the heavy rider, rather than the person who is lighter in weight. This is not the case.
Horses are largely affected by the balance of their riders. It is possible for a heavier rider to have a lighter seat than someone that weighs less than them. This is why it’s important for all riders to learn to have a balanced seat and be aware of how much their body can affect the horse’s movement.
A basic riding position should have any rider balanced over the horse’s centre of gravity whilst the horse works at a walk, trot or canter. Being positioned in this way allows for the horse to carry it’s rider in the easiest way possible.
For anyone that is going to ride horses or provide horses for other individuals to ride, an awareness of the rider’s weight and balance should be evident. Knowing about a horse’s conformation and how this can affect their carrying capabilities is also important. A horse that is well put together and a balanced rider can achieve great things, whether or not the rider is larger or the horse is smaller.
Source
- Weight, Your Horse Magazine, United Kingdom, September 14, 2010.
- The British Horse Society Instructors’ Manual for Teaching Riding, Islay Auty FBHS, Kenilworth Press. ISBN 978 1 872119 56 4.
Chris Thomas - C. Thomas has studied and worked with horses since 2001. She teaches horse studies part time and is undertaking an Equine Science ...
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