Weight Limit for 2y/o filly?

Hard to tell if you have a chubby 2 year old by just looking at yearling pics...but she looks like a solid little girl. I wouldn't worry about her being overweight unless it's an obvious hay belly or it's affecting her feet...at such a young age, growth spurts happen over a matter of weeks. She could shoot up 2 inches and spread whatever extra weight she has into looking like she's a little slender.

As for riding 2 year olds, I personally see nothing wrong with asking them to accept a rider and walk around the yard after long reining is done and they understand whoa, turns, and voice commands for walk and trot. I think worry comes when you just jump on a 2 year old that has never been worked with. No ground training or long rein work - getting on a 2 year old that doesn't understand these things, it's way more likely for them to pitch a bucking fit out of frustration and not understanding and THAT'S what's going to damage their joints. Bucking with a rider with open joints will cause ALOT more stress on their bodies than a calm couple laps around the yard with an extra 140 pounds on them. It depends what you've done with her so far to help her understand what's expected once the rider's on her. If she's only worn a saddle once or twice and never seen the bridle or long reins, I'd say hold off and do the leg work first...that being said, most of my youngsters were introduced to ALL the tack and equipment as yearlings, long reined since and into their 2 year old year, so when I stepped up on them as 2-2 1/2 year olds, it was naturally the next step and they accepted me gracefully and calmly. It's really a judgment call.

EveningShadows said:

As for riding 2 year olds, I personally see nothing wrong with asking them to accept a rider and walk around the yard after long reining is done and they understand whoa, turns, and voice commands for walk and trot. I think worry comes when you just jump on a 2 year old that has never been worked with. No ground training or long rein work - getting on a 2 year old that doesn't understand these things, it's way more likely for them to pitch a bucking fit out of frustration and not understanding and THAT'S what's going to damage their joints. Bucking with a rider with open joints will cause ALOT more stress on their bodies than a calm couple laps around the yard with an extra 140 pounds on them. It depends what you've done with her so far to help her understand what's expected once the rider's on her. If she's only worn a saddle once or twice and never seen the bridle or long reins, I'd say hold off and do the leg work first...that being said, most of my youngsters were introduced to ALL the tack and equipment as yearlings, long reined since and into their 2 year old year, so when I stepped up on them as 2-2 1/2 year olds, it was naturally the next step and they accepted me gracefully and calmly. It's really a judgment call.

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This is pretty much how I raise my youngsters. Here is a picture of Lillie as a yearling with a saddle. She was driven pretty much all around the farm last fall. So just like ES said..come this spring/summer, getting on her should be the next natural step. I plain to do some light riding with her this summer/fall.



and here she is this winter..



She's appx 13.2-13.2 and weighs (last time I checked) appx 650 lbs.

I'd love to see current pics of filly.

As for riding 2 year olds, I personally see nothing wrong with asking them to accept a rider and walk around the yard after long reining is done and they understand whoa, turns, and voice commands for walk and trot. I think worry comes when you just jump on a 2 year old that has never been worked with. No ground training or long rein work - getting on a 2 year old that doesn't understand these things, it's way more likely for them to pitch a bucking fit out of frustration and not understanding and THAT'S what's going to damage their joints. Bucking with a rider with open joints will cause ALOT more stress on their bodies than a calm couple laps around the yard with an extra 140 pounds on them. It depends what you've done with her so far to help her understand what's expected once the rider's on her. If she's only worn a saddle once or twice and never seen the bridle or long reins, I'd say hold off and do the leg work first...that being said, most of my youngsters were introduced to ALL the tack and equipment as yearlings, long reined since and into their 2 year old year, so when I stepped up on them as 2-2 1/2 year olds, it was naturally the next step and they accepted me gracefully and calmly. It's really a judgment call.

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I've been putting a saddle on her since she was a yearling in those earlier pictures. She gracefully accepts the bit (actually, she loves it!!) I deffinatly wouldn't be getting on her without her knowing the basic commands (all of which you have mentioned). I'll be working on that stuff all this summer/fall and more!!! This summer I'm taking her up to my friend's house whom use to be a profesional English trainer! I wouldn't be jumping her really at all however. Maybe later down the road (like in a few years? She would definatly be fully matured before I started.) She'd be used mostly for trail riding, although she probably will ride english aswell!

I was able to get pics off my phone (finally!!) They were just real quick shots because I wasn't sure I could even do it! I'll get you guys more pictures of better quality tomorrow! Note: She is standing on a bit of a hill! Also, her head is kinda cranked around because I had treats in my had haha. I was going to post 3, but I have to load them online then resize them and I need to go to bed. I'll post more tomorrow!!!! Just to give you an idea! I took these day before yesterday! Also, do you think she'll dapple?

This is pretty much how I raise my youngsters. Here is a picture of Lillie as a yearling with a saddle. She was driven pretty much all around the farm last fall. So just like ES said..come this spring/summer, getting on her should be the next natural step. I plain to do some light riding with her this summer/fall.

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Oh, she's a cutie! Looks like she's going to be a stout little thing, judging by her winter pic! What breed is she? I'll be doing a ton of driving this summer with her too! By the way, not sure I mentioned this, but her name is Sasha!

She is about the same size as my 7 month old colt but I wouldn't dream of riding him.

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Well, yes I wouldn't dream of riding a 7 month old horse of any size either. He must be a bigger breed of horse (or had bigger parents), if he's only 7 months old and that size. Sasha is a Quarab, we own both parents. Rebel (the father), my QH is only 14.2-14.3 hh and our Arab mare, Dandy, is the same size maybe just a tad bit taller. Sasha is almost as big as them, and as I said I wouldn't be getting on till late summer probably late fall. She might even be 3 by the time if I wait till next spring. It depends. Also, even though not fully developed, she is more developed than a 7 month old. (sorry that sounds snooty, I'm not trying to be honestly!!!:shock

I think the equation says that a horse can carry 20% of their body weight comfortably. If she is at most 700 pounds, that would be a total combined rider/tack weight of 140 pounds. I don't know about you, but my saddle weighs about 45 pounds so that would leave me 95 pounds for a rider.

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That's a very good rule, I believe I'd heard of it, but it really wasn't imprinted in my head. Thank you! I'll definatly take that into consideration!

penylove8 said:

im not an expert..but from what i understand and had herd from a few horse loving friends that have been around horses and baby horses all there lives the weight limit for any horse is half there size...so if it is a horse that is 1000lbs then the weight limit total with tack,saddle,rider,etc would have to be around 500lbs....byt like i said im not an expert...maybe try and walk into a local vet office and ask them..good luck!

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Oh jesus, half their size? That is grossly over estimated! If you put a 450lb person and a 50lb saddle on a 1000lb horse, it would be under EXTREME strain. Especially a young horse.

Like someone else said, 20% of their weight. For an 800lb horse, it would be about 160 lbs, and that includes tack and rider.

Then again, it all depends on how proficient the rider is. I'd rather see 200lbs of excellent balance that can move with the horse and not slam on their back, than even 120 lbs of horrible balance that moves against the horse and wrenches around and balances on their mouth.

Either way, both of the young horses that were posted on here still *look* very young and baby-ish. I wouldn't ride either of them until they evened out. Like one person said, while the knees close up between 2 - 3, that is the least of your worries with a young horse.

Also, like it was mentioned that horses can practically grow two inches in a week, it puts strain on the horse. Just like a gawky kid can have growing pains, it hurts to grow that fast. I wouldn't ride a horse while they are growing so sporadically, either. Depending on the breed, between 2.5 and 3.5 they even out and their growth happens more overall, instead of teetering between butt high and whither high.

Dartanion said:

Yeah this is a fear of mine since I am 228 and my horse is 1300-1400lbs I'm in the clear but I always worry but I felt a lot better when an old trainer old me the same thing about how a heavey balanced rider can be better than a feather with no balance

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Aw I hate it when riders that are a little heavier worry about their weight! You are FINE for your horse! It is harder for riders that have a little more cushion to maintain the balance they need, but the more you practice the easier it gets. And, the more you practice, the less cushion you end up having.... which is fantastic in my book.

I'm not really fat, but I'm 6'2, and I weigh between 175 and 185 at any given time of the year, but I have good balance so I don't worry about getting on lighter breed/smaller horses. If you look in my pictures, there is one of me showing a QH pony from last summer. He was just between pony and horse, and he's a little dude... pretty muscular though. He had no problem carrying me because I could move with him. I've ridden arabs, standardbreds, etc with no problems.