Need Big & Strong Horse for Big and Strong Boyfriend.?

Question

My sweetheart has always wanted to go horseback riding but as a child his mother would never let him. By the time he was 12 he was 6'3" and 240 lbs. Now he is a martial arts black belt at 6'8" and 350 lbs. He's been waiting 30 years to ride a horse and for his 31st birthday in September I am trying to find a place with Draft, Belgian, Clydesdale, Percheron, Fresian, or Warhorses of some sort that he could ride safely without injuring the horse. We live in California but I would take him to anywhere in CA, NV, UT, OR, WA, ID, or AZ. If you know anywhere, please e-mail a response. Thanks so much.

Answer 1

hehe I have the same problem! My boyfriend is 6'6 about the same weight and also a 3rd Dan Black Belt! It's a small world!

(We're in Scotland so slightly easier I think to find clydesdales etc)

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Like the other poster said, just call or email the dude ranches, and tell them the stats on your boyfriend.  A draft cross would be more than enough to handle his weight.  Horses can carry very large amounts if they have good bone and size.  I know guys 250+ lbs that ride only average sized quarter horses.  I actually know that Bonnie Springs just 15 mins outside of Las Vegas, NV has some draft horses and draft crosses that they use for trail riding.  That might be a fun trip, play in Vegas, go on a few rides, etc.  Bonnie Springs is right next to Red Rock Canyon, its gorgeous.

I think the website for dude ranches is just:

www.duderanchassociation.com

Answer 3

I went trail riding outside Grand Teton Nat'l Park (WY) and we had a 300lb man with us with no experience.  They had a draft x that handled him just fine.  Just email around- most dude ranches/trail riders have large gentle horses for just such an occasion.

Answer 4

Contact different stables and dude ranches, see if the have any drafts avalible.  As a general rule, horses can carry 15% of their body weight, so you need a horse that is at least 2300 pounds.  Good luck!