Question about being in shape vs being bigger built?
Okay I'll get the messy work outta the way. . . 1. if your not going to answer the question, then don't bother unless you can make me laugh, then fe...
Okay I’ll get the messy work outta the way. . .
1. if your not going to answer the question, then don’t bother unless you can make me laugh, then feel free to rant about whatever you want.
2. If your going to insult me, please come up with someone more original then the others who have tried today.
3. do you think I should keep these things attached to all my questions for the random people who can’t get over themselves?
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Real question:
I was reading again, (shock of ages I can read). . . And one complain of a top trainer was people being out of shape and riding. Now my question is : Is that everyone who is bigger/fatter/heavier/whatever term you choose to use, wrong for riding horses? or is it just for people who are out of shape no matter what their size (yes you can be out of shape and be smaller size).
The reason I ask is cause yes I am bigger (shoot me I have a chest), and I am not hugely heavy. Do I have to stop riding and go to the gym more before it’s considered safe for me to ride? Or can I say heck I work on a farm, live on another farm, work and go to school… so I should be safe to ride because I’m not totally out of shape?
one last question/thought: Is anyone else who is bigger framed and not a striaght line tired of people telling them they’re hurting themselves and their horses? I mean isnt riding exersize and they don’t want us to exersize, and shouldn’t bigger framed people (trying to be P/C and not say fat…) get out more anyway? cutting off that form of getting out/moving seems counter productive.
(note: I’m not talking about those huge people who ride smaller horses, or those huge people who ride in a cart behing mini’s. I’m talking about a bigger rider who fits the size of the horse)
I am a bigger woman and get looked down upon all the time for my size. I’m 5’6" and about 250, but my horse is 16hh and about 1200. His conformation is good, and even though he is just getting started, I know I can ride circles around some riders who are smaller than I am (my friend is one of those people who is about my height and maybe weighs 110 soaking wet) but she’ll admit that I’m a better rider than she is. I’ve always been bigger than the other girls around me so I don’t really know anything else.
I am out of shape because I had back surgery and have to be careful about the kinds of exercise I do. Riding is the one thing that gets me back into shape and keeps me in shape. I’m always in terrible pain after a hard ride, but it’s well worth it for me.
Take a look at the Arabians that Wayne Newton rides. He’s a pretty big guy, but rides smaller horses. Granted Arabians are generally more capable of carrying more because of their shorter backs, but still.
I look better on my bigger horse because I’m bigger, we fit well. We still get looked down upon when someone sees me riding, but I take every precaution to make sure I’m not overstressing my gelding. He’s a good solid youngster and I go slowly with him, but that does not mean I can’t ride him because of my weight.
The really fun thing is trying to find show clothes that don’t cost a fortune but still fit well, and saddles with big enough seats that don’t rub my horse the wrong way.
ABSOLUTLEY NOT!!!!!!!!! just because one top trainer that thinks they know everything says one thing about weight does not mean you have to change yourself! Your horse doesn’t love you because of your weight, he loves you because your you!!! Im built with a taller with broad shoulders and long legs but im not obese, and neither are you, But i don’t let people get away with people telling me that i can’t do things or that i shouldn’t. I just turn and laugh and say "thanks for the tip" and walk away. Gets em everytime. SO DON"T CHANGE for anyone! love yourself for yourself!
I think it is really silly of anyone to criticize someone for being out of shape and riding. That is ridiculous. I’ve never really heard anyone say anything like that, but I live in the middle of nowhere and don’t get out much LOL.
Like you said, as long as someone does not weigh more than their horse can comfortably carry, what’s the problem? Any person with a poor fitting saddle, or really poor riding posture can really hurt a horse. But as long as a person is within the weight that their horse can carry, and they ride correctly, there shouldn’t be anything anyone can say?
My aunt is a REALLY big gal, and always has been. But that lady taught me about half of what I know about horses, and can outride me any day of the week at the age of 56! She is really a excellent horsewoman. She only rides for pleasure, but she does it well.
Not to mention that the simple act of horsekeeping is HARD work as we all know! I don’t know many little dainty girls who could handle a full days work on a farm.
Now, I do believe that getting into shape can be beneficial if you are really working to improve your riding skills and advance in a discipline, but it isn’t necessary to ride and ride well.
I think the only way to settle this is to have a ride off! Skinnies VS. us "healthy" gals! First one around the Oak tree and back wins! YeeHaw!
I never saw anything that requires riders to be anorexic or bulimic (or just look like it) Thank God!
There was a guy at our barn that looked completely out of shape. On the ground. On a horse, all that was said was how he ‘could sit a horse.’ Remarkable transformation.
Someone svelte can flop around on a horse and be unbearable to watch, all sympathy to the horse. Then there are those who need to shape up but know how to sit a horse i.e. know how to ride. (and need to)
Years back I was helping a friend train two of her horses for endurance. The area we trained in was laid out in a grid. N – S was intersected at half mile intervals E – W. all dirt roads.
She and I shared a trait.
It wasn’t long before we had an entourage of boys on bicycles "training" with us. Has anyone ever considered duct tape as riding equipment?
My personal belief is, you don’t have to be ripped to ride. If that’s a requirement, there’s a bunch of us ought to be turning in our saddles.
Ride on!
OK, a few years back I was a fit and healthy 11 stone (or thereabouts).
4 years on I now weigh around 13.5 stone. What happened? Well, I have 3 kids aged 3, 1 1/2 and 10 weeks and for the obvious reasons I have not dsone a lot of riding over the past 4 years. All this is about to change, yes, I am overweight, my bust has gone from a B to an E and I have gone up several dress sizes but I am certainly not unfit, in the last 2 weeks alone I have done a lot of physical building work on my land, so far 3 new stables, fenced a new paddock, began a sand school etc and I am about ready to start back riding too.
Providing the horse can carry the weight of the rider and the rider can control the horse then there is no reason why a person of ‘larger build’ should not ride.
To those skinny waifs in the hipster jods that say the bigger framed riders should stop….. Get a life, it’s not a fashion parade, it’s a sport, and like horses, people come in all shapes and sizes too. Don’t judge til you know the facts!
Oops, Sorry, went on a bit of a rant there but think I hit the point
No, it DOES NOT matter. Just because some jerk with his nose in the air thinks he can say that it very immature and rude. Of course, you can’t be too big to ride a horse (like 300 or 400 pounds), but you don’t have to be sticks and bones either.
Horseback riding IS a sport, and it gives you a good workout. But, just tell people to get off their back about riding horses. If it’s your hobbie, then do it. You have the right to ride horses. No one can tell you otherwise.
Shawn Flarida is pushing 230 or heavier and rides small little reining horses….I think what matters most is your ability to be a balanced rider to be a help to your horse not be a hindrance. I know bigger riders that can ride circles around so called ( tiny, skinny people )
I believe it’s all in the way one carries themselves and the picture they present when mounted. It’s in the equitation.
If riding correctly, you actually use more muscle groups together than going to the gym and working on 10 different machines. Plus you’re not in some stinky enclosed room with a
If your legs are proper, it works the muscles, if you have the proper balance and posture, your core is worked. I’ve seen heavyset people that just bounce around and don’t concentrate on proper body position. I’ve seen the opposite too. The same goes with thin people. they can be like a long stringbean or have the proper seat and look great. it can go both ways. It’s all in having good equitation and showing that confidence that says "I’m a rider and take my riding seriously". It’s all in the "attitude" exuded…for all body types.
Also, dressing properly and having properly fitted attire for whatever the discipline also helps to create a prettier picture and a certain confidence and look no matter what the body type. Not only on show days, but schooling days as well.
As far as people saying that people are hurting themselves and their horses because of having a bigger frame is not right but, are they saying it to be mean or is there perhaps some truth to it because of the way they ride and the presentation they make. In that case, perhaps having someone take a video of them riding might be in order. I have all my lessons taped to critique and see what I really look like and need to work on. It’s a great tool!!
Anyway, DON’T stop riding..if anything, ride more and work your muscles!!!
EDIT~~ I also agree what was said below in that being matched with a conformationally correct horse for the body type also helps to make a proper picture. Big or small!!!
No… a horse would rather carry a heavy balanced rider than an unbalanced light one… it’s like would you rather carry 10 pounds of bags in one hand, or 10 pounds of bags in both hands so you’re balanced? I wouldn’t let anyone tell you that you’re too fat to ride (unless your weight is so much that it is a hazard, which I doubt it is).
I understand what the trainer is saying and I agree. To be able to hold your body responsibly and have good control and balance over yourself which intern will affect your horses performance does matter. Now if you are just riding for pleasure and not asking your horse to perform a reining pattern or go over jumps for example then riding is a good way to get in shape. But when it comes to more strenuous riding on say a performance horse you do need to be in shape much like an athlete just like you expect your horse to also be in tip top shape and an athlete.
Here is were I am at. I am currently working on loosing weight do to recently having my third child. So I have been working horses and doing the farm work in order to get back in shape. But I am not going to deny that having extra weight on me and lacking some muscle tone is like night and day in my ability to perform to my top potential. It is alot harder to sit a green horse and stay balanced to take what ever they may through your way when you are out of shape. I can’t wait to get back into tip top shape because it makes things alot easier. So yes it does matter and if you are serious about riding like any other sport you should strive to be in great shape. After all we expect that of our horses as well.
Jenny
I think it’s a matter of your ability to maintain strength and balance.
Being "out of shape" does not refer only to the large.
I can’t stand the "frail and delicate lil flowers" that want to ride a 6 yr old 17hh horse that they keep in a stall 6 days a week so it won’t get dirty…
No trainer can make that horse safe for that person. Ugh. This type also does not groom…they flick at the horse with a dandy and then whine.
Riding a horse is only as much excersise as you want it to be. Grooming and mucking helps build the muscle required to ride. An active lifestyle helps.
That said – a person shaped like a beach ball simply cannot ride a horse.