Such as a horse that weighs a 1000 lbs, what would be considered a safe weight for him to carry? body weight and tack weight combined? and how to determin that figure.
Thanks
Happy Holidays
2006-12-21 04:10:27 · 7 answers · asked by nbell402 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
at least 130
2006-12-21 04:11:55 · answer #1 · answered by wood explorer 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The old "rule of thumb" is really an old wives tale- you need to consider several things when it comes to a horse- they can GENERALLY carry about 25% of their weight (a 1000lb horse can carry a 250lb person before really having to worry about the horse struggling at all). HOWEVER: if the horse has soundness issues_ any joint, ligament, tendon, or hoof problem, if it is older(over 20 or so can have arthritic issues) or younger (under 5- joints are still developing and you dont want to stress them), you also have to consider these factors. Breed also plays a part, a cob or draft type horse can carry more weight than a smaller, lighter breed. The amount of activity plays a role as well- a light walk-trot trail ride is very different from 6 hours in the saddle or jumping for an hour! If the ride is short and light, horses can take more. Hope that helps!
2016-05-23 05:27:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How much weight a horse can carry hinges on a lot of factors, not just the horse's weight. A tall, slender horse cannot carry as heavy a rider as a shorter, stocky horse. Also, the horse's condition is important. A horse that is in good heath and is riden regularly can carry a heavier rider than a horse that is infrequently riden, or is in not so great health.
How well the rider rides also is important. A horseman is knows how to ride well ends up taking a lot of the weight off of a horse whereas someone who sits in the saddle like a sack of potatos is a dead weight and is harder for the horse to carry.
2006-12-21 04:27:12 · answer #3 · answered by Ravanne_1 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no weight eqn- it all depends on the individual horse. Some ponies can carry 150lbs with no problem. Others can't carry over 100 lbs.
If you have a fit horse and it can carry you, saddle and all, with ease and no swaying or stumbling at all at all 3 gaits- it is no problem.
If you have a 1000lb horse that is taller, they usually can carry less weight than a 1000lb stocky QH.
I know an older man who runs poles- he probably weighs about 260 at least plus a bulky western saddle (30-40lbs?) on a stock type QH and wins pretty consistently- his horse has no problems at all.
2006-12-21 04:50:01 · answer #4 · answered by D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the horse how tall and how much it weighs. If its a 15 hand horse and weighs close to 1000 pounds it should be able to carry a person that weighs 160 to 180 pound person more or less depending on how strong the horse is .
2006-12-21 04:23:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
First, there are several different methods to calculate - very crudely - the amount of weight a horse can carry. Most commercial stables base their rider weight restrictions on the idea that an average horse can safely carry up to 20% of its own weight, and figure that the average horse weighs 1,000 pounds, which means that it could carry 200 pounds - which would typically break down to 20 pounds of tack and 180 pounds of rider. There are problems with the formula, though - and with the "measure the horse's bone" formula, and with any formula that's supposed to give easy answers to difficult questions.
First of all, there's no such thing as an average horse - there are 1200-pound horses that couldn't possibly carry 200 pounds, and there are 850-pound horses that routinely carry 250 pounds or more. Second, there's the rider's skill level to take into account - a horse can have a hard time coping with a light but unbalanced and/or inconsiderate rider, whereas a horse can comfortably carry much more weight if the weight comes in the form of a good, balanced rider. Third, there are all the usual issues of saddle fit and proper hoof care, fitness and conditioning, weather conditions, and terrain.
If you were going to design a horse to carry weight, you would want that horse to have a strong, sturdy body, good bone (in terms of both circumference and density), legs set on well to provide support, a short, strong back, a wide loin and a deep body. THIS is the type of horse that's usually described as "built like a tank" or "built like a truck". If that describes your Dandy, then I say you should listen to your husband and your trainer, and go out and ride your horse. The "fifteen minutes, every other day" isn't a bad idea at all. Limit yourself to short, slow rides on good footing until you and your trainer (and, of course, Dandy) are all sure that Dandy is comfortable carrying you. As long as he shows no signs of discomfort or fatigue, believe that he's fine. If he begins to hollow his back or take short steps or duck sideways when you lead him to the mounting block, believe that he's getting sore. He won't lie to you.
Oh, and here are three more things to think about.
First: Riding horses carry their own weight, the weight of the rider, and the weight of the tack. But there's more to this than simple addition. Two riders with different abilities and skill levels may weigh the same amount, but a horse might find it easy to carry one and very difficult to carry the other. Rider ability, fitness, balance, coordination, and attentiveness to the horse are all very important.
Second: Tack comes in all sorts of sizes, materials, and weights, but here again, there's more to the picture than simple addition. A horse carrying a 265-pound cowboy and a 35-pound saddle is carrying 300 pounds. A horse carrying that same cowboy with a 15-pound synthetic saddle would be carrying only 280 pounds... but this isn't a maths question, so what we want to know is HOW COMFORTABLE IS THE HORSE? The lightest saddle you can find may not be the best-fitting saddle you can find, so beware of thinking only in terms of numbers of pounds! If the heavier saddle distributes the rider's weight more effectively and doesn't interfere with the horse's spine or shoulders, the rider should go on using the heavier saddle.
Third: Riding horses carry their own weight... I know, this was part of my first point above, but it's important. I know that you're worried that your own weight is pushing the upper limit of the amount your horse can safely carry, even for short periods of time. But consider this: If a horse is carrying too much fat, it's carrying extra weight every single minute of the day, every day of the week. Be careful not to let Dandy become overweight. Old-style Quarter Horses and old-style Morgans both tend to gain weight easily, and since Dandy is a "tank", I'm guessing that he may have gotten the "easy keeper gene" from both sides of his family. When you ride him, he is carrying your weight and the weight of the tack during the ride, and then that weight is GONE. Carrying an additional 300 pounds at a walk for fifteen minutes out of forty-eight hours is not likely to damage a sturdy, well-built "tank" of a horse. But carrying an extra 200 or 300 pounds on his OWN body, day in and day out, WILL cause damage.
I think you should take the advice your trainer has given you. She's had the horse in her field and in her care - and in her training program - for almost three years. Dandy DOES sound like an ideal weight-carrying horse. You trusted your friend enough to have her keep and train Dandy for you - now trust her when she says that he's ready for you to ride for short periods. She KNOWS the horse. Begin by taking the precautions you've described - they're sensible and they'll make you feel better. Look after your horse, ride him sensibly, pay attention to his reactions, and I think he will remain sound and happy and look after YOU.
One more thing: If you're walking four miles every day AND doing Tai Chi, I can promise you that a lot of regular HORSE-SENSE readers are saying to themselves "Gosh, I wish I were that fit!" In fact, I'm saying it to myself, right now. ;-)
Jessica
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2006-12-21 05:55:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
under 12.2 less than 117lbs
12.2-13.2 less than 157 lbs
13.2-14.2 less than 192 lbs
14.2-15.2 less than 250 lbs
15.2 and up less than 350 lbs
*This is what is reccommended rider weight according to the United States Pony Club.
2006-12-21 05:01:38 · answer #7 · answered by hey_its_from_clare 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋