How do you determine who can ride which horse?

Question

How can you tell how much weight a horse can comfortably take? ie. a very tall, overweight man, or two adults.

Answer 1

Well, what's the horse? If the horse is over 16.2 hh and has large, strong bones, he should be okay.

Also, if the horse is a QH (any height) he should be okay- they can hold a lot.

Answer 2

I cant rember what it is. But you take the horses wieght and the persons wieght and do something with it. I think you subtract them or something.

srry i really dont rember.

Answer 3

A horse should carry no more than 10-15% of it's body weight.

Therefore a 1200 lb horse should carry no more than between 120-180 lbs.

Also the length of it's back, health factors and training.  Some horses of short back aren't well suited to two people riding at the same time.  Some horses haven't the strength to carry two riders in spite of their size or weight and others haven't been conditioned to accept two bodies on their backs - there's considerations for balance and whatnot.

In terms of height - the consideration is more center of gravity and rider ability.  Of course, you wouldn't put a 6'4" person on a 14 hand horse due to challenges with the riders feet dragging the ground.

I think you have more common sense than you know - just the fact that you're asking shows you're thinking.  If a certain rider on a certain horse just doesn't seem right, there's probably a reason.

If you or the prospective rider is a very tall and/or overweight person, consider their ability to actually ride well - their response times how quick they could get out of the saddle if needed, etc.  Many now are finding wonderful mounts in part draft breeds because of their large size, general good dispositions and sure-footedness as well as them usually being easy keepers.

I hope this helps you!

Answer 4

well horses can tolerate a lot of weight but the bigger the person the bigger the horse.  a taller person should have a taller horse.  Hope that helped you.

Answer 5

A horse can carry 25% of its body weight so you do the math!

Hope This Helped! It may be a little tricky to find a horse for him but there are horses out there I promise!!!!! Like clysdales and shires and larger horses! Hope I helped and good luck!!!

Answer 6

people have said the taller the person the taller the horse thats not strictly true...a tall man may be too heavy for a tall but fine horse such as a thoroughbred.

Answer 7

well at my barn i go to for all the horses the max ponds is 170 and the horses are farely big exept some. If the rider is very tall and wieghs alot or just alittle more then they should probaolly be on a clydsdalle cross or something. But baciically if the person is short and skiny then  the horse she or he should be riding a small horse.....

Answer 8

Hello,

My input:

Horses can carry 20-30% of their body weight.  You need to get yourself a weight tape and see how much they weigh.

Then YES, you need to take into consideration:

Overall condition of the horse, is it legged up and in shape?  The amount of riding you will be doing and the terrain.

Also height is a consideration of both the horse and rider...

YOU REALLY need to consider a horses temperament and level of training.  MOST people that are "green horns" (new riders) and some novice riders, will LIE about the amount and skill of their own riding ability!  CAREFUL with this one!  You don't want to put someone on a horse with too much get up and go, spooky, leads or follows in a group, or needs a assertive rider to cross water, etc...

Taking new people out riding is fun, but it is stressful matching up horse and riders, especially if you don't have a string of dead broke horses....

Answer 9

The general rule is 20 percent of the horse's body weight.  But you also have to consider whether the horse has a long weak back or a strong short one, what kind of riding will be done, the age of the horse, and how sturdy the horse's legs are.  Most horses weighing 1000 pounds with a short back and good legs can actually handle more weight as long as they are just being ridden lighlty or for fun.  Even horse in training for Western pleasure can be ridden by a person who weighs slightly more than the %20 rule says, it's just a matter of how the horse is built.

Answer 10

it depends on the horses structure you can't but a big 16st man on a fine horse her would be more suited to a wesh sec d or a cob if u getmy drift !  

Answer 11

you will be able to see, they horses legs we look like they are about to buckle. take turns sitting on the horse and you will most likely see the difference.

Answer 12

A  horse can comfortably carry 20% of its ideal body weight, when in decent shape. This includes tack.

So for 260 pounds,riding in a lightweight english saddle needs a horse that weighs 1375 or more. Heavier saddle, (i.e. western), more like 1550.

The thing about this measurement is that it only applies to fit horses who are not overweight themselves. Horses are held up on very sensitive joints, so a horse that's say 50lbs overweight is already supporting 50 lbs of extra weight on his joints, so can carry 75lbs or so LESS than a fit horse of his size.

And clearly if you're going to be walking around slowly you can go a BIT lighter (for the horse) and if you're going to be galloping around and such you need a heavier horse.

I would recommend a draft breed. Maybe a heavy draft crossed with a lighter horse, depending on the build it ends up with.

Height wise, he'd prob feel better on a 16.2hh+ horse, but as long as it has a strong enough build, height is less of a factor.

Look for clean solid legs(strong short pasterns), fit condition, good muscling through the hindquarters and a strong short back, as an ideal horse to carry a bigger rider.

Answer 13

A 6'5 - 260 pound person that is just learning should be on a well trained draft or draft cross. The horse should be as big boned as he is! His weight is not the issue - it is his height combined with his inability (as a beginner) to maintain his balance.

Belgians & Clydes are perfect, they are solid and will not "tip" if 260 pounds is off balance, I do stress that he needs a WELL trained horse to learn on.

He will FEEL better about himself if he doesn't feel like the horse is going to break.

Healthy adult horses are strong - a 1200 -1400 pound horse will not have a problem with your pal.

Riding double with full grown 150 pound adults....buy 2 horses!

Answer 14

tell the overweight man to lose a couple hundred pounds or else he'll be liable if he causes the horse to die of fatigue.

you wouldn't want an overweight man riding you, would you?

Answer 15

Up to 20 -25% if the horse is in shape is a good rule of thumb. You are going to want to adjust up and down depending on the age and work demands, and the horse itself. Some really are stronger than others and a short back can take a bigger load. A lot depends on the rider. Do they sit like dead weight or move with the horse, helping it along? My 750 lb arab could carry me 100 miles with 160 lbs (me and gear) and still be bouncing at the finish,about 22% of her weight. The1/4 horse cross down the street (1000 lbs) is struggling with his owner who rides like a sack of potatoes (200 lbs -20%) but  when  her neighbor (6'1' 225 lb and rides like a pro -25%) uses the horse it  comes home dancing. I think he'd like to be sold.

Answer 16

I used to ride in intercollegiate shows and their rule was people under 5'7" and 140 lbs can ride ponies.  I generally think that an average built 6'0" tall person weighing under 200 lbs can be carried comfortably by a 15.3 hand, well-muscled horse.  

Thoroughbreds and Arabians can be tricky because they are finer boned, so you want to pay special attention to the people you put on these horses.  If you need a horse for a larger person, old fashioned quarter horses with lots of muscle is great or for riding English, heavier boned breeds like most of the warm-bloods are the way to go.

I hope I have been able to help.

Alex