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What is it like in your boots?-experiences as a plus size rider

24K views 118 replies 53 participants last post by  Hailey1203 
#1 ·
Hello all!!

I am a plus size woman and I am SO EXCITED to see a forum deditacted strictly to us "fluffy" riders! As a plus size rider I find that the equestrian world can be less than supportive of us at time, and resources are few and far in between. It's time we all ban together to form a "Big Girl Cowgirl Club" and let the world know that we are here, and that we aren't going anywhere!

My question for all of you is:

Are you embraced by your fellow riders, or do you feel judged by your size? Do you have a particularly good or bad experience as a plus sized rider? What is it like to be in your boots?

I'll go first...

I'm 5'10 and I weight 260 pounds. I'm very lucky because I have a strong and supportive Cowgirl Club behind me every step of the way. I do find being a bigger girl and a rider difficult because it's hard to find things that come in my size, especially english apparel and saddles. It took me 16 MONTHS to find my 19" saddle, how RIDICULOUS!? And one time, while talking about trail riding with my arab a woman said to me "YOU ride an ARAB?!?!?!" in a SHOCKED and disgusted tone. It was embarassing, but believe me when I tell you I put her right back in her place (In the nicest way possible, of course). Now I may never jump 6" fences or ride the Kentucky Derby, but I have a good seat and I am responsible, educated, and aware of my horses health. I deserve to me up in that saddle as much as all those skinny chicks out there!

xoxo

~Lizzy
 
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#104 ·
I love this forum!! I always felt like I was the only one. I am 20 years old and deffinatly not the skiniest. I am right on the border line of regular and plus so I find it very difficult to find western show show clothes that fit me properly and look nice when Im in the saddle.

The other thing I had the most trouble with as a younger rider was always being around girls that were half my size! Even though I did well competing I felt like the skinny girls always had one up on me.

I think it would be great to have plus size western/english show clothes! Anyone know where they could be found tho!??
 
#105 ·
I love this forum!! I always felt like I was the only one. I am 20 years old and deffinatly not the skiniest. I am right on the border line of regular and plus so I find it very difficult to find western show show clothes that fit me properly and look nice when Im in the saddle.

The other thing I had the most trouble with as a younger rider was always being around girls that were half my size! Even though I did well competing I felt like the skinny girls always had one up on me.

I think it would be great to have plus size western/english show clothes! Anyone know where they could be found tho!??
There is some information on the other threads in this section on riding clothes. Check out the other threads.
 
#106 ·
I am 5'7" and currently 245... My top weight was 303... I work hard to maintain my weight where it is and want to drop more. My weight seems to be more my issue then anyone else. Years ago I bought a 2 yrs old dun QH that I raised and broke... I was very proud of him. When he was 5 someone took a picture of me on him... I never rode him again!! He was ridden by others but I could never bring myself to ride him again. A year later I gave him away to someone who would love and care for him like I did.
 

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#108 ·
That is sad that you gave your horse away :( because of your weight.

I am to heavy for my pony currently she is having the winter off ridden work but I still work with her on the ground. I am losing weight slowly till I can ride her again. But I am keeping her :)
 
#109 ·
Yes I gave him away because he had so much potential and deserved to be worked and trained to his full capacity. I loved him enough to let him go. My daughter was heading off to college and my husband had a horse of his own and was a novice rider so couldn't really teach Tana. He's a reining prospect now and doing amazing!!
 
#110 ·
Those reasons are fine, sorry I thought it was because you didn't like how you looked riding him in the picture. You look just fine to me riding him.
 
#111 ·
It was about him not me... It wasn't how I looked, but the picture made me realize I was too heavy to be riding him and working him hard. I guess I felt sorry for him having to carry me around lolol. I still don't like how I look on my big boy... I am a big girl and have to work on it... But I know he can carry me without issues and we can work together well.
 
#112 ·
I'm a 19 year old, plus sized jeans wearin', horseback ridin', woman. Sitting at size 16 jean, and tipping the scales at just over 200lbs - a little more on a bad day.

Finding cute clothes, is near impossible. Finding cute riding clothes IS impossible. But at the end of the day, my 190lb fiancee, and my two TB geldings love me - not because of my size, or charming personality (lol), but because I know where alllll the good treats are :p

Show barns, have been terrible to me. Lesson barns have been a little better, but private barns are where it's at! There's plently of full figured riders out there waiting to find their trail buddy!

At the end of the day - we're all beautiful - as cheesy as that sounds. But it's true. And nobody ever forget that.
 
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#113 ·
Randella : I have recently posted a page on my blog with photos of the riders all 100 of them on a two day trek. it seems to me you people are hung up on your size and in that, attract attention to your selves.

Have a look at some of the ladies and men in the blog and no one dares comment on size. If one did the result to the one making the comment from the others would not be nice to witness.

We are there for the ride, not to pass comment on weight. Whats the difference between a person 6 ft tall and 230 lbs and 5ft and 230 lbs. My point. Have a look at those making the comments, the shapless string beans, imagine them with no clothes on and have a chuckle to your self. Bones are not attractive curves are.
 
#114 ·
Am I considered a plus size rider? I am 5'1" and a 170 lbs. I had just bought a clydesdale/quarter horse on craigslist that has yet to be ridden because of past abuse. He looks heavy maybe around 1200 pounds and is approximately 15hh.
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#115 ·
As some others mentioned...people don't say things to my face but behind my back that is another story. I have heard others talk about overweight riders and how they feel so bad for their poor horses. I just stood there thinking OMG, they are talking about all these different heavy riders , what do they say when I am not around?
I would love to lose weight but it is easier said than done...I also love my horses and want to be a better rider. I love to learn as much as I can. My balance is off due to being heavier and it really shows when I canter. I have almost fallen off a few times , so I havent cantered for a long time :(
It still amazes me how snotty most horse back riders are when it comes to weight or appearance of a person..it is sad.
 
#116 ·
Dont take any notice of others just enjoy your self. You mentioned ballance, my ballance is off. Its a combination of to much weight in the upper body and the additive in my water bottle. However it makes the landing much softer and the embarrassment of the fall easier to take. :shock:
 
#118 ·
I can't believe I have been coming to this forum for so long and only just found this section. I love it!!

I too am a big girl, like all big girls I have been at both ends of the spectrum. I did manage to loose all my weight and keep it off for some time about 7 years ago. Ironically enough, even at my thinnest, wearing size 10 and 12 clothes (USA size 4 to 6 I think) I weighed 70kg and was still classed as obese by the BMI. Muscles weigh more than fat and I have a very strong build from hard physical labour.

Anyway I put a lot of weight back on after a still born child, which left me too scared to do anything during my next pregnancy as we didn't know why our first daughter passed away before she was born. While I was pregnant the first time I behaved as if nothing had changed, I was even Thar hunting in the Southern Alps when I was 5 months along. I didn't really put on any weight in my first pregnancy because I remained so active. With my second pregnancy I was too scared to walk to the mail box and gained about 30 kg.

I have been very fortunate, I have a very supportive husband and friends and have never come across any negativity directed at me for being a big girl. On the other hand I deliberately went for a plus sized horse and my weight was a contributing factor when I sold my young QH x 3 years ago.

Unfortunately a very good friend of mine has not been so lucky. She is also a big girl, she rides a very pretty 15hh buckskin station bred. He is not a massive horse but he certainly has no problem carrying her and is always a prancing, dancing **** when it is time to go home. One day she noticed some lameness in his shoulder. She always worries about being too heavy for him at the best of times so when another acquaintance of hers told her she was too fat and probably caused permanent damage to him, she was absolutely heart broken! I was so angry at the other woman I wanted to maul her! My friend was on the verge of selling EVERYTHING! Even the property she worked so hard to get so she could keep her horses.
Thank god her father was able to talk some sense into her.

It turned out that her horse was fine and just needed a good farrier.

I am also in agreement that weight is less relevant than riding ability, heavy people can ride very light in the seat and hands. In Karate the best fighters had "belly", weight at the center of their gravity it creates great balance. All I can say is "Go the fatties, eat long and prosper!"

P.S. Stan, I've done the lemon detox diet, done it, lost the weight, put it back on again, worn the t.shirt. It wasn't a long term solution for me unfortunately.
 
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#119 ·
I'm 5'6, 205lbs, and EE36 chest. The bmi scale says im obese, but im fine with my body. If i was to loose the 50 pounds i need to be "normal" i would be ridiculously top heavy! My horse is a 17.1 Warmblood, who ways about 1300lbs. Bu ive ridden ity bity ponies who have no problem with me!
 
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