As a larger person (Obese), I’ve been trying to get myself back down to a goal weight where I can go riding. So, I did some research and found there was tons of research online about horses and weight limits. (References from universities and associations listed at the bottom of this article)
Note: If you’re larger like me, and interested in riding a horse or taking lessons….this is the article for you. There is LOTS of info here you need to know if you’re larger and are interested in riding.
So, can a fat person ride a horse?
After emailing/fb messaging/calling almost 100 stables asking for their weight limit (seriously)……the most common answer was that anyone up to 250 pounds can ride most horses at a stable…..under the right conditions. Some however only accept up to 200.
So……If you’re 200 pounds or less you are almost always in the clear.
Note: The most important thing about riding a horse isn’t Your weight. The most important thing is how well you’re balanced. A well balanced heavy person will do better at riding than a light person without good balance. So don’t be discouraged if you’re larger.
Now if you want to get scientific – a horse can comfortably carry up to 20% of their weight according to this study from Ohio University in 2008. While they can carry more, it causes stress to the horse.
This study, combined with the fact that most likely the horse you’ll be riding will be 1,000 pounds or more. (Average weight of a horse is between 840 and 2000 pounds – list of horse average weights here) means……Almost all horse stables will have a horse that can carry a 200 pound person. Still, it’s best to call to make sure they’ll have a horse available for you.
You Should Know: Out of all the stables I contacted I only found 2 stables that could go higher than 250. So if you’re more than 250 pounds….. you’re going to struggle a little bit to find a stable that can provide you lessons.
If you’re larger – Here’s some things you need to know before you start taking lessons…..
It is MUCH harder than you will most likely anticipate. There are so many things you probably won’t expect. For instance – when you ride a horse, you’re going to use muscles you don’t commonly use. When you’re larger, those muscles need to be much stronger…..and since they’re not commonly used muscles it can be very hard to balance yourself. That’s not to say it isn’t doable however. Many horseback riders compare riding to riding a bicycle. It simply takes some getting used to.
If you think your balance isn’t good enough – tell your riding instructor. They can equip you with a saddle horn/grab strap. These work as sort of training wheels to ease you into the process. The saddle horn/grab strap are both placed in front of you so you can hold on to them in case you’re feeling uncoordinated.
If you’re simply interested in purchasing a horse for yourself to ride. You’ll need a horse that is 5x your weight. According to this research from Ohio State University that shows a horse can carry up to 20% of their body weight comfortably. They can go past that, but it puts unnecessary strain on the horse and can hurt it.
If you’re interested in some more scientific research behind horses and what they can carry – see my list of references at the end of this article.
What You Need To Know before you start your first lessons
You might struggle to mount your horse. – This is especially true if you’re shorter. Lots of people – even experienced riders have problems mounting their horses. For those of us that are shorter and maybe a little heavier…..it’s even harder. Don’t be nervous about this, it’s okay. It’s totally normal.
Ask for a mounting block. – If you think you’re going to have trouble, ask for a mounting block before the lesson starts. Mounting blocks are basically just stools to help you mount. Also, mounting blocks help not put so much pressure on all at once for the horse. So the horse appreciates this as well. Again, just like before…..this is totally normal. Many many people use mounting blocks, so don’t be embarrassed.
Make sure the place you’re going has good reviews. – this might seem obvious, but it will really help. This can really help you figure out more about the stable and maybe show you some things you’ve overlooked. Do you want to get the best experience after all, it’s your money! There are definitely some places online who don’t seem like they would be fit for a larger person that’s just starting.
There are different styles of horseback riding, you’ll need to know what style you’re interested in before you sign up for classes: there are quite a few different styles of horseback riding, the most common being English and Western. There are many different nuances and different approaches with each of these styles, and you’ll definitely prefer one over the others. Most likely, you’ll want to do English or Western… But you might be interested in other styles as well. If you’re interested in a good resource for figuring out the best style for you, try this link. I found it really useful.
Ask to watch a lesson, here’s why: – This will give you a better idea of how the instructor teaches. People’s teaching style can be massively different than how they carry themselves usually. Also, you might find after watching a lesson this may not be for you. You never know!
Ask for the pace of your lessons – Many instructors have their own idea of how to conduct lessons that are different than others. There are instructors that Will push you, and others that will be more laid-back and easy-going. It’s up to you what pace you want to go, so don’t get stuck with an instructor dad wants to take things at a different pace.
Pick a good instructor/stable – here’s what to look for: Honestly, a good list was simply to much to write here in one blog post. So here is an incredibly comprehensive post from the CHA (Certified horsemanship association) http://cha-ahse.org/store/blog/choosing_an_instructor.html
In your first lesson you’re going to have a lot to remember. So, it’s best to try and learn some things before hand so you feel a little more comfortable. –
videos like this will definitely help you get an idea of some basics beforehand.
Just so you know – Lots of adults do this:
You don’t have to feel weird about starting lessons if you’re older. When I was younger I wanted to take lessons, but I couldn’t……and as I got older I assumed that the time had passed and it was to late. Apparently this is not the case at all, there are literally thousands and thousands of adults that start their lessons when they’re older. Hell, check out this picture of the Queen of England (93) and still riding!
Conclusion:
(if you’re interested in more information – check out the links at the end of this article. GREAT research and articles on this topic)
Getting horseback riding lessons as a larger person, can be difficult… However not impossible. Generally, as long as you’re under 250 pounds…… you’ll be able to find somewhere that will take you. Your options open up a little bit more if you can get down to 200 if that’s possible for you. Please consider, that lessons will be harder for you because having more weight makes it harder to balance on the horse.
Thanks for reading!!
Interested in more research? These are some GREAT resources –