Research conducted by Duchy College in the spring of 2013 in the United Kingdom indicated that a significant number of riders had reached a level of obesity that jeopardized their horses’ health.
The study was based on the notion that an ideal rider should weigh no more than ten percent of their horse’s total body mass. When riders heard about the research, they immediately did some quick calculations in their heads while also experiencing a heightened level of anxiety.
If an average horse weighs 1,000 pounds, then the optimum rider weight would be 100 pounds; nevertheless, this is an unrealistic goal for most people. Consider the research findings before writing off horseback riding as a pastime that is only appropriate for youngsters and professional jockeys or trading in your light horse for a Clydesdale.
The Actual Study
The study conducted by Duchy College aims to pave the way for future investigation by gathering data from riders and horses in the United Kingdom. The researchers were particularly interested in riders with a healthy body mass index (BMI), also known as a good weight-to-height ratio.
According to the study’s findings, the riders’ weights ranged from 14.2% to 16.6% of the total weight of their horses.
What The News Reported
You must be curious to know where the 10% figure they cited came from. The researchers constructed the scale because of the information provided by a “practitioner in the field.” The rider’s weight should not exceed ten percent of the horse’s weight, and even fifteen percent of the horse’s weight is considered to be pushing it. The rider’s safety is jeopardized if their body fat percentage exceeds 20%.
The big news sites went with the figure of 10% and generated some rather frightening headlines, even though the research anticipated a more realistic 15%. Nevertheless, a very significant point was brought up by the accounts. Is the rising prevalence of obesity putting the health of our horses in jeopardy?
How Much Can A Horse Carry Before It Becomes Unsafe?
There is a safe upper limit to the amount of weight that horses can carry, even though horses are muscular and capable of carrying enormous loads. The largest weight a horse can pull is determined by various criteria, including its age, size, and overall health.
The average horse should not be asked to carry more than 20% of its body weight without experiencing significant discomfort. Therefore, a horse that weighs one thousand pounds is capable of safely moving two hundred pounds. It should go without saying that this is only a suggestion. Depending on the circumstances, it’s possible that certain horses can carry greater weight than others.
Even though the rider makes up 20% of the horse’s total weight, a Thoroughbred older than two years is not mature enough to support a rider who weighs more than 135 pounds.
Horses are sturdy, energetic creatures that are more than capable of supporting the weight of an ordinary rider without any difficulty. When the rider’s gear and size are factored in, the weight that a horse can properly carry may be surpassed. Horses are only able to securely carry a particular amount of weight.
What Was The Test?
The findings of research conducted on eight mature horses are detailed in an article recently published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. The horses were required to complete four endurance tests with weights that were 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% of their body weight, respectively, during the competition.
Throughout the experiment, several indicators of a horse’s well-being were investigated to determine how heavier loads affected the animal’s state of health and happiness. Among them were blood pressure, the amount of lactate in the plasma, the activity level of creatine kinase, muscular soreness, and tightness.
The authors of the research state that when horses were asked to carry merely 25% of their weight, their heart rates significantly increased, and they also displayed substantial signs of muscular soreness and tightness. The observed alterations were considerably more obvious when the animal’s load was raised to 30%, and the plasma lactate concentrations also changed during the experiment.
According to the findings of this study, the maximum load that should be placed on a horse should not exceed twenty percent of its total body weight. The weight-bearing ability of horses was shown to have a positive correlation with age but a negative correlation with conformation in this particular research.
The Final Verdict
The carrying capacity of a horse may be described in terms of its physical weight, although this may seem to be too basic. Should the same weight be drawn by a Quarter Horse that has the same size as a Thoroughbred, even if the Thoroughbred has finer bones?
The research conducted by the Ohio State University examined this topic by considering the overall size of the horses and their bone density. The method involves calculating the circumference of the cannon bone around its center and measuring the result. In addition to that, the diameter of every horse’s loin was measured.
The researchers observed that their findings negatively correlated with the amount of physical exhaustion they were experiencing. This suggests that horses with a greater number of bones and bigger loins are likely better equipped to bear weight without experiencing any adverse effects.
So, What Can Heavy People Do?
When riding a horse, you should never force the animal to bear more than 20% of its own body weight at any one time since this violates one of the basic commandments of horseback riding.
To get the most out of your riding experience, you should look for horses that weigh 1,250 pounds or more. Because of this, the horse’s health, as well as its performance on the field, will improve significantly.
The ability of a horse to keep its balance while carrying a big load is another component that goes into assessing its carrying capacity. Riders who are both physically and intellectually competent have a greater chance of gaining the cooperation of their horses.
If you have any concerns about your horse’s ability to transport you, you should see a physician.
Horses Recommended For Heavy Riders
Riders that weigh more than 250 pounds are advised to go with a horse that belongs to a larger breed. Although a horse does not need to be very tall, it should have a strong build.
Horses with more body mass will have a greater carrying capacity than those with a more refined physique. When determining the level of a horse’s durability, the size of its cannon bone is sometimes taken into consideration.
Because the cannon bone is responsible for bearing weight, horses who have bigger cannon bones often have the ability to keep greater mass on their bodies.
Clydesdale
Since they may reach heights of 16–18 hands, Clydesdales are ideal horses for taller riders. Their use in competitions and for pleasure riding is on the rise. Their sturdy builds and pleasant dispositions make them ideal for riders of all abilities.
The typical Clydesdale can haul anywhere from 1,600 to 1,800 pounds, with a maximum load of 320 pounds. That’s the same as having a 280-pound rider on a 40-pound saddle.
Although Clydesdales are most known for their use as driving horses, they are equally popular as riding horses. This cold-blooded horse breed has a reputation for being social and easy to ride.
Friesian
The Friesian is a beautiful breed of horse that is also strong and makes a good riding partner. They have a fearsome reputation because of how quickly they move, how beautiful they look, how long their hair is, and how feathered their hooves are.
The average height of a Friesian horse is between 15 and 17 hands. A rider who weighs 250 pounds and is wearing a saddle that weighs about 20 pounds will be safe on a Friesian that weighs about 1,360 pounds.
They are flexible because they do well in different horse show disciplines like saddle seat, hunt seat, western, dressage, and driving. A big part of why black horses look so beautiful is because of their rich coats and long, flowing manes and tails.
Percheron
Few breeds have the reputation of the Percheron when it comes to working horses. Although these gentle giants are mostly used in the fields or on farms, some make excellent saddle horses.
A normal Percheron weighs between 1,800 and 2,000 pounds and can carry 360 pounds. That is equivalent to a cyclist weighing 320 pounds and a saddle weighing 40 pounds. These big horses have kind attitudes and are simple to train.
Even though they aren’t often associated with horseback riding, many larger riders have learned that they make dependable mounts.
Shire
The Shire horse breed is one of the biggest and most placid of all the horse types. They are not often thought of as riding mounts, despite the fact that they might make for wonderful riding partners.
The average weight of a shearling is between 1,700 and 2,000 pounds, which gives them a carrying capacity of 340 pounds. That’s the same as a rider who weighs 300 pounds riding a saddle that weighs 40 pounds.
In spite of their size, they are rather sporty, making them an excellent choice for riders who want to stay active.
Irish Draught
An Irish Draught horse’s typical height and weight are 15-17 hands and 1,300-1,400 pounds, respectively. An Irish Draught must weigh at least 1,360 pounds to carry a hefty rider weighing more than 250 pounds while utilizing a saddle weighing around 20 pounds.
Because of their robust physique and lively attitudes, they make excellent partners for riders of all sizes. Because of their ability in dressage and jumping, they make excellent show or pleasure horses. Because he is calm and robust, the Irish Draught makes an excellent riding companion. They are known for having strong wills and cool minds.
Spotted Draft Horse
The average American Cream Draft weighs between 1,500 and 1,600 pounds, stands 16 to 17 hands tall, and can pull up to 300 pounds. It’s the same as having a rider who weighs 260 pounds plus their gear, which could add another 40 pounds.
Even though the Spotted Draft Horse is an unusual breed, it has made a name for itself as a top-level horse athlete. The different patterns on their coats make it easy to tell them apart. Spotted Drafts are more agile and loving than other well-known draught breeds. So, they are good for bigger riders who want to do more than just ride around for fun.
Final Things To Remember
There are more things to think about than only the measurements and the species. Young or inexperienced horses who haven’t been ridden much are comparable to a sedentary person who decides to start going to the gym.
After any form of exertion, it will take a few days for them to stop hurting. In a similar vein, an older horse or one with a history of diseases will not be able to carry the same weight as it did when they were younger and in better condition.
On the other hand, mature horses that have been taught to reach their optimum physical condition have the potential to pioneer new ground in terms of their athletic abilities.
- When you put too much weight on a horse, there are several things that could go wrong:
- When horses are overloaded, they become unbalanced while walking, have back pain, and become unstable.
- The horse’s muscles hurt because it has to work harder than usual, so it can often be in constant pain.
- Overstressing a horse on a regular basis can make it act strangely and make it hard to control, especially for new riders.
- Horses whose owners don’t care about their health will never be able to do as well as they could.
Conclusion
The carrying capacity of a horse refers to how much weight it can carry. Current horse owners and those looking to buy one should be aware of this. Check that the weight of the persons you want to carry on your horse does not exceed the maximum weight capacity of the animal. You might harm your horse’s health if you don’t.