This could go in plus sized riders, but I'd like to just chat in general about the horses/riders so move if necessary!
I was put in a situation today that made me very uncomfortable. I have a friend who weighs 350+ pounds. Well long story short, she was over and REALLY wanted to ride Trouble. I'm very iffy on letting people on him but she was so adamant that I succumbed. Big mistake.
I knew something was wrong as soon as she got on. He laid his ears back, curled his lip and kind of hunched his back up, so I opted to keep him on the lead, do a round and get her off. He took one step and started BRONCO bucking. Thankfully my friend landed in the snow, I was able to get him under control and everything was fine. He's NEVER EVER done anything like that ever before. My friend told her family that I can't handle my horse and threw her on a "wild animal" but I know otherwise so that's beside the point. I fully believe she was too heavy for him.
So that brings up the age old debate of how heavy is too heavy? Obviously it's what the horse is comfortable with. Obviously he's comfortable packing my 200 pounds around but 350 is too much for him. Now, she bought a slight boned Arab who's smaller than Trouble, weighs less but is more forgiving and she's riding her. I almost feel bad. I am NOT someone to say one can't ride because of weight. Heck, I'm 200 pounds on a 14.2 hand horse and I HATE getting flack for it. But her horse is uncomfortable, clearly, and I feel bad. I can't not. I can't do a thing but I feel bad.
So I just want to chat about people's experiences with anything like this. I felt awful for putting Trouble through that, and I know not all horses will protest as loudly.
I was put in a situation today that made me very uncomfortable. I have a friend who weighs 350+ pounds. Well long story short, she was over and REALLY wanted to ride Trouble. I'm very iffy on letting people on him but she was so adamant that I succumbed. Big mistake.
I knew something was wrong as soon as she got on. He laid his ears back, curled his lip and kind of hunched his back up, so I opted to keep him on the lead, do a round and get her off. He took one step and started BRONCO bucking. Thankfully my friend landed in the snow, I was able to get him under control and everything was fine. He's NEVER EVER done anything like that ever before. My friend told her family that I can't handle my horse and threw her on a "wild animal" but I know otherwise so that's beside the point. I fully believe she was too heavy for him.
So that brings up the age old debate of how heavy is too heavy? Obviously it's what the horse is comfortable with. Obviously he's comfortable packing my 200 pounds around but 350 is too much for him. Now, she bought a slight boned Arab who's smaller than Trouble, weighs less but is more forgiving and she's riding her. I almost feel bad. I am NOT someone to say one can't ride because of weight. Heck, I'm 200 pounds on a 14.2 hand horse and I HATE getting flack for it. But her horse is uncomfortable, clearly, and I feel bad. I can't not. I can't do a thing but I feel bad.
So I just want to chat about people's experiences with anything like this. I felt awful for putting Trouble through that, and I know not all horses will protest as loudly.