According to research, our equines are the latest victims of Britain's obesity crisis because their riders are simply "too heavy".The recent study has found that almost a third of riders were too obese for their equines, leaving them at a greater risk of ailments such as back problems, lameness and bad behaviour.
The study comes after the first saddle designed for the plus sized riders went on sale earlier this year.
Around 150 horses and their riders were assessed from stables in Devon and Cornwall.
According to the research, only one in 20 riders are the correct weight for their horse and have warned an increasing number of animals are suffering health problems as a result of this.
It was found that nearly two thirds of riders (63 percent) weighed between 10 and 15 per cent of the weight of their horse, which is only considered as "satisfactory".
One researcher, Dr Hayley Randle, said: "the findings should trigger alarm bells among horse owners."
Randle added: "People tend to think that horses are such big animals, they must be okay, and not to take notice of the weight issue of riders."Dr Randle and fellow researcher, Emma Halliday found that just five per cent of people weighed less than 10 per cent of the weight of the horse - which is the recommended weight ratio.
Forty-nine of the riders (32 per cent) weighed more than 15 per cent of the weight of their animal; a ratio which states there is a risk to the equines welfare.
As well as all the obvious issues such as back pain, an obese rider can cause lameness in horses and the overuse of certain muscles. Not to mention behavioural problems such as rearing, bucking and refusing to go forward.
According to researchers the problem needs to be raised in the equine community and riders need to be made aware of the implications of riding a horse too small for them.
It clearly begs the question of what is the correct weight for a rider to be and what if you don't want to over-horse your self?
Do you agree with the recent study or what researchers are saying? Let me know by tweeting me @FurryMane.
even the lightest people can ride heavy behind the movement etc good balance is the key to all weights !!
ReplyDeleteWe must not forget that horses spine can not bend
ReplyDeleteWhat about the horse's age, breed, build, bone, fitness levels, muscular development etc? Does this also mean that if I allow my (slim, fit & healthy!) pony to become overweight, then she can carry more weight?? By this reckoning I am 2 stone too heavy for my pony, which means that I would be referred to as 'obese' in this article - I weigh 9 1/2 stone, a healthy weight for my height & age, and certainly no issue at all for my very chunkily built, ,fit, strong highland!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Age, breed, fitness needs to be taken into consideration.
ReplyDeleteThere is a difference between a heavy cob at 14h and an arabian of the same height.
And yes, if it only goes by weight -- what about all those overweight, obese horses? They can carry more weight, because they weigh more?
I'm sure they took it into consideration, but there is also a difference between the workloads to be considered on top of all that.
An easy hack vs a rigorous eventing routine?
Yes overweight of horses may be risk.
ReplyDelete