What is the ideal body type to be a successful equestrian?

Question

Like:

Height, weight, tone... things like that.

Answer 1

I would think that as long as you are in good shape and strong that the actual body type wouldn't matter. A short person looks better on a smaller horse and a tall person looks great on a larger horse. I have seen chubby people ride at the shows and they look ok,but the leaner ones look more elegant.  

Answer 2

well my rideing instructior says i have perfect lines with my body i am 56.5 or 57 and i am 110 pounds at the most i have really long legs and arms and torso and i ride gracefuly my horse is really tall and i have pretty big muscles i guess but my legs are like really small so the musles stick out so it looks kinda bad but oh well i guess my body is pretty ideal!

Answer 3

There is no ideal body type for horse back riding.  You will find successful competitors of every shape and size, the key factors are keeping yourself in shape and gaining the experience to reach the upper levels of competition, I am 5'4" and weigh 140lbs.  One of my major competitors is 6'7" and weighs a mere 180lbs.  One of my best students is 4'10" and weighs about 90lbs, and yes, she is an adult.  We all compete in the Open Jumper Divisions over fences up to 4' and we all win some and lose some.  I am heavier in build than either of them but I compensate with my riding style by sitting back as I approach a fence to free up my horses front end to take off and staying in two point longer after landing so that I don't knock their hind end out of the out of the air to clip a rail.  My student uses an aggressive voice to make up what she lacks in the leg department and my competitor jacks his stirrups up to make sure he doesn't pull rails with his feet.

Answer 4

Any weight as long as your fit,,

Now if you weight 200 and is just plain fat It wont work

You have to be fit ,,

But if you ride long enough that weight will come off

If you ride proper



Not to many RATED shows have Open jumper class's Up to four foot

all are over 4 ft Matter of fact the only fence in Open Jumpers that  is four foot  Is the first one,