Let's face it, everyone out there who rides isnt a size 0. . . a question about horses/sizes?

Question

okay, i'm sure someone is going to have a snarky comment about heavy riders, have at it. . .

now that that's over. . . question:

i'm bigger. . . but i'm also working out and not all fat, alittle muscle mixed in from riding and swimming earlier in life.

i'd like to do endurance riding/train for an endurance ride. i am not comfty with riding an arab due to most of them are smaller and not a good fit.

i would like to have a draft cross. . . that way i'd get a size good for me. but can draft crosses compete in endurance rides?

i just want to train and do rides(shorter ones), i'm not looking to win em. (there is a difference)

Answer 1

My Polish Arab is 15.3 hh and his sire was 16.1 or 16.2.  The Arabians are not all so dainty...mine is a purebred, and he is big enough so that a larger, taller rider looks fine on him.  You could check out the breeders in your area...Arabians are superior endurance horses...I'm not sure how crossbreeding affects that.

Answer 2

they use arabs for endurance for a reason. their stamina is amazing. at those vet checks it's a lot easier to get an arab's pulse down to an acceptable rate than a heavier horse's. if you flunk the check, they'll hold you or pull you depending on how badly you fail it.

maybe competitave trail? i've done that and it's a blast.

Answer 3

hey! thats cool your getting into endurance riding! me too!

have you heard of  ride and ties?? they look really fun!

www.rideandtie.org

and yeah i feel like a monsteron arabs too lol so i'm getting a mustang.. they are thicker and heavier boned..and come just a little taller!

you can rescue one basically from anywhere lol so yeah

Answer 4

Arabians are beautiful, but they aren't for everybody. Some of us need a taller horse. I would suggest a TB maybe for endurance. Draft horses are strong, but they don't have the endurance of a lighter horse. I'm really thinking a TB. You can get good ones off the track for a decent price. Plus, they are very easily trained to do other things than race. They love to go without a doubt.

Answer 5

i would recommend a thoroughbred or quarter horse (or anything along those lines).  those breeds can come tall, and are very strong and sturdy horses.  they are also fast if you ever decide to get competitive.  they may not be as good as your fellow arab but they can be close.  and it shouldnt matter if they are as good as an arab if you dont plan on competing right??

Answer 6

you want a cob ignore the people talkin bout thourough breds they are small boned trust ME u want a cob :)

Answer 7

I would suggest a gaited horse. They have endless ammounts of energy and can get up around 17hh. They have sweet dispositions and are the smoothest ride you will ever have.

Ha! And not one snarky coment from me!

Good luck!

Answer 8

THOROUGHBRED'S DONT HAVE ENDURANCE!!! JUST CUZ THEY ARE FAST DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE ENDURANCE! THEY ACTUALLY WEAR OUT VERY QUICKLY WHEN IT COMES TO ENDURANCE. THAT IS WHY THEY ONLY RACE FOR A LITTLE WAYS i dont know for sure but i would say that if the horse is really fit, the endurance should be fine.... (and i just want to say that i have been riding for almost 9 years and i am size 0...but i am also 14 so....)

i doubt i helped that much but i just wanted to say that

Answer 9

I would suggest an appendix (thoroughbred and quarter horse cross)

If you are doing endurance or any sort of jumping, an athletic hotter horse would be ideal.

The draft mixes I have ridden are bomb proof but total dead heads. (like riding a slug)

Apendixes have the energy of a jumper, but the big butt and strength of a quarter horse. I LOVE THEM!

If you are concerned with whether the horse will carry you comfortably, all I can suggest is a really good vet. He/she will be able to advise whether the horses joints and back are capable/strong and whether you would be a good match.

Personally, I think it is up to any sized rider to ride responsibly. Over riding or pushing a horse will cause damage no matter how much weight they have on them. A little extra weight will not cause damage if you are aware of your horse's limitations.

Answer 10

If you are not out to come in first place, it doesn't really matter what breed of horse you use.  I think you should stay away from really heavy draft crosses, though, because they just won't feel like doing that much work.  I used to have a great TB/Percheron cross who I did two 15 mile rides on, as well as evented through Training level.  She was not very heavy but definitely more solidly built than a typical thoroughbred.  I did a 25 mile ride on an Arab/QH (my best guess at his breed).

Yes, any breed can compete in endurance.  Many times, they'll have specific breed categories requiring registration, like Arab, 1/2 Arab, TB, etc, but will also have a category called "grade" which is where anything else goes regardless of whether they're registered as something or not.  Both of my horses were grade, since they are/were not registered as anything in particular.  In my experience, the breed categories were further divided in to Jr. and Sr.  I guess it depends on the number of entries.

Answer 11

a good type of draft cross is the warmblood sport pony (watch out though, there is a "class" and there is the breed) they are belgain shetland cross, have THE BEST personalities, and are very well built.

Answer 12

I don't know about endurance rides but I know that draft crosses can event.

I think if the horse is fit it should be fine.

Answer 13

I know the perfect breed that does endurance and competing and are strong. Australian Stock Horses are such good horses, they are obedient and not to flighty, they build up quickly and are always eager to go but are easy to control.

I own one and have him in training at the moment with me and he has the most beautiful nature i have ever met in a horse.

If you do buy a thoroughbred make sure they have good hard rock hooves. I owned a thoroughbred that was shod, 10 km on the trail he was lame.

anyways hope that helped :)

Answer 14

I KNOW THE PERFECT HORSE FOR YOU!!! :D

.. i have a Norwegian Fjord Horse and they look like they are a draft horse.. but they are actually a light horse! they are very muscular and can out pull the heavy horses pound for pound! my horse, ariel, is 4 years old and she has been to the calgary stampede twice! last year and this year!

they can do everything. I do gymkhana, english and western riding, i am jumping her 3 feet!  they arent that tall either. they are usually around 14 hands!and they dont have to be ridden everyday. in fact i hardly ever ride my horse in the winter and she is good to go in the summer!! they have a great personality! I WOULD RECCOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE!! they are fabulous horses!! i think they would suit you really good! they can also go for LONG rides, and trail rides!

they hardly ever spook at anything either!!! i have a story! i was at the okotoks parade (sorry if you dont live in alberta, canada) and a train went by and all the quarter horses and every other breed of horse that was there started to bolt and run away! my fjord just stood there and was like "them horses are really stupid! its a train!" it was quite funny!

they are really quiet and learn very easily! I got her when she was 2 and she has already been in shows and everything! and i am only in my young teens and i trained her!! i actually bred her to a tennessee walker this year!!

i hope this helped you out!! just look them up on google images!! they are the greatest horses i have ever seen!!

GOOD LUCK!! :D

Answer 15

I am too a heavier set rider, but i ride a well built quarter horse. Every once in a while ill get on my sisters arabian, and it is so uncomfortable for me. I think a quarter horse or a thoroughbred would be a good fit for you.

Answer 16

I'd agree with the person who suggested Mustang.  My husband is a bigger guy and he rode a Mustand at the barn where we met and both worked.  I've heard Mustangs make good endurance horses.

Answer 17

Ummm.... TB have amazing stamina! They race longer than any other breeds bred to race. QH have no stamina. I would look for a stockier TB with good bone and a deep heart girth.