overweight rider | Naturally Gaited Horse

If you, like me, weren’t born with “skinny genes,” but still have a deep love for your horse and its well-being and a commitment to responsible riding, then this post is for you.
Here are five myths commonly associated with round-shaped riders.

What is an “Overweight” Rider?

By Jennifer Klitzke

A University of Minnesota extension study states that a light riding horse is able to carry an average of 20% of its ideal body weight. That’s roughly 200 lbs. for a 1,000 lbs. horse. This study indicates many circumstantial factors and considerations, such as the horse’s confirmation, fitness level and bone density; the rider’s fitness, balance, and riding skill; the duration of the ride and how strenuous the ride is for the horse; saddle fit; and regular farrier and vet care.

Sadly, there are many individuals out there who take pleasure in shaming riders who don’t fit the mold of thinness. I’ve encountered them. Their focus is misplaced, with the attention directed towards the round-shaped rider, when in actuality should be on the concept of being “overweight” from the horse’s perspective. Let’s delve into this topic further.

Just what is an overweight rider?

Let’s explore this question while debunking five common myths associated with riders, like me, who didn’t inherit skinny genes.

Myth #1: All overweight riders are fat.

False. Overweight means the total weight on a horse’s back that exceeds the amount the horse is able to comfortably carry for the duration of the ride.

Overweight means exceeding 20% of the horse’s ideal body weight even if you are thin. Being tall and/or muscular can put your weight over the 20% thresh hold
Overweight means exceeding the duration your horse is able to comfortably carry you, whether you are under, at or above the 20% thresh hold
Overweight means riding too small of a horse for your load bearing capacity with saddle and tack
Overweight means over taxing your horse beyond its load-bearing ability, whether you are thin, heavy, tall or muscle bound

Basically, all riders are equally responsible for the horse’s welfare.

Myth #2: All round-shaped riders are too overweight to ride horses.

False. Just because a rider isn’t “thin” does NOT mean their load bearing capacity (body weight plus tack) exceeds 20% of their horse’s ideal body weight.

Heavy riders can be under the 20% of their horse’s ideal body weight. Thin riders can exceed 20% of the horse’s ideal body weight. The point is, thin or heavy, are we being mindful of the horse’s well-being and comfort?

Myth #3: All round-shaped riders are unbalanced.

False. Just because a rider isn’t “thin” does NOT mean the rider is uneducated and unbalanced. Conversely, just because a rider is thin, does not make them an educated and balanced rider.

It’s a common misconception that a rider’s weight directly correlates to their education and balance. However, this is far from the truth. Have you ever ridden a horse that was used to teach children how to ride? Did you notice the hard mouth? Horses develop hard mouths when riders pull on the reins to maintain their balance. These children often weigh only 5-10% of the horse’s weight, yet they inadvertently cause harm to horses by using their mouth to steady themselves.

The key takeaway here is that an unbalanced rider, of any size, can cause harm to the horse. Instead, the goal needs be to becoming a conscientious, educated and balanced rider, making it easier for the horse to carry the load. So, let go of the misconception that a rider’s body shape defines their riding ability, and focus on developing riding skills for the benefit of the horse’s comfort and well-being.

Myth #4: All round-shaped riders are abusive towards horses.

False. Abuse towards horses is not exclusive to round-shaped riders. If your horse is struggling to carry you, whether you are thin, round-shaped, tall or muscle-bound, and you continue to ride without considering the horse’s well-being, this is abusive. Being a responsible rider means you prioritize your horse’s well-being and comfort above your riding pleasure.

As responsible riders, we need to ask ourselves important questions:

Is my horse comfortable being ridden? If not, am I exploring all possible solutions to increase their comfort, such as veterinary care, dental care, chiropractic care, hoof care? Am I checking saddle fit, making bridle adjustments, making bit changes, considering my horse’s fitness level, age, diet, and need for supplements?

Am I putting my horse’s needs ahead of my riding wants? Am I adjusting the length of my ride to the fitness, age and ability of my horse? Am I offering plenty of rest breaks through each ride and rewarding my horse for every good effort? Is my horse as refreshed at the end of the ride as my horse was at the beginning of the ride? Am I riding my horse hard on the weekends when my horse isn’t in shape? Am I riding my older horse with expectations that my horse should perform like it did as a five-year-old?

Am I taking my horse out for hours on the trail without considering whether my horse is fit enough? What about the next day? Am I doing it again without considering how sore my horse is from the day before? This has nothing to do with a rider’s body shape and everything to do with a lack of awareness and/or respect to the horse.

Does my horse come to me or walk away when I show up for a ride? This is a telling sign of how comfortable a horse feels.

Am I an efficient load for my horse to carry? Do I take regular lessons from a professional instructor to learn how to be a balanced rider, developing core strength, and use my thighs to distribute my body weight instead of sit on my horse’s spine?

Is my horse relaxed during my ride? If not, do I help my horse find relaxation before I continue riding?

Does my horse understand the language I speak through the use and timing of my rein, leg, seat and weight aids? Am I consistent in my communication with my horse so that my horse knows what I am saying? Am I willing to take regular lessons with a professional instructor to improve our communication?

Being round-shaped or thin doesn’t determine whether a rider is abusive towards their horse. It’s our actions, consideration for our horse’s well-being, and commitment to their comfort that truly define us as responsible riders.

Myth #5: All round-shaped riders are unfit.

False. This is far from the truth. Being thin does not automatically equate to being fit, just as being round-shaped does not automatically mean being unfit. Fit and thin are not interchangeable terms. A round-shaped rider can possess excellent balance, core strength, and distribute their weight effectively along their thighs, making them an efficient load for their horse to carry during a responsible and humane ride. A thin rider can be unbalanced and an inefficient load for the horse to carry.

Whether thin or not, all riders need education to become fit for riding and a balanced rider.

Me? I am fit to ride horses, yet I am not thin or tall. Would I like to be thin? Of course! Would a genetically thin person want to be round-shaped? Thin isn’t in my DNA, just as tall isn’t in my DNA. I come from a short and stocky Scandinavian heritage. Does this mean I shouldn’t responsibly ride horses while thin, tall, muscle-bound overweight riders do?! I think not.

Skinny genes just don’t run in my family’s DNA.

I have gone to great lengths to be thin. Fifty-plus years later, nothing has made me thin (or tall).

But I am diligent to change what I can: pursue education, become the best rider I can be, and be mindful of my horse’s welfare and our happy partnership.