Plague of the overweight riders who are too heavy for their horses

Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | March 24, 2013 | Emine Sinmaz

[DogByte6RER]

Plague of the overweight riders who are too heavy for their horses

• Only one in 20 riders are within the optimum weight for their horse

• A heavy load can mean back pain, lameness and bad behaviour in horses

• Vet guidelines advise that riders weigh less than 10 per cent of their mount

• Weighing more than 15 per cent of horse's weight poses health risks

• Research is published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour

Horses are the latest victims of the obesity crisis as they take the burden of their overweight riders, experts have warned.

A study found a third of recreational riders were too obese for their mounts, leaving the animals at risk of health problems such as back pain and lameness.

They can also develop behavioural problems, such as bucking, rearing and problems following commands.

Hayley Randle, one of the scientists behind the research, said: ‘People tend to think horses are such big animals they must be okay, and not to take notice of the weight issue of riders. But the health impact on the horse can be quite extreme, quite quickly.’

Published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, the study assessed 152 horses and their adult riders from stables across Devon and Cornwall.

Guidelines set by vets state that riders should weigh less than 10 per cent of the weight of their horse. But researchers from Duchy College in Cornwall found that just 5 per cent of the riders passed the test.

[knarf]

America’s greatness because of our goodness (DeToqueville) was no less the result of our opportunity and freedom to act on our thoughts and invent and manufacture the neatest stuff on earth.

[1rudeboy]

He gave me a mule to ride.

Now this thread needs music! Mules are awesome, btw.

[Harold Shea]

Used to walk behind one like that plowing tobacco

when I was young,up one side of the row and back

down the other side.

Remember him passing methane every now and then.

Have to move over about 4 rows for a bit.

[Inyo-Mono]

Mules and Mustangs (captured wild horses) are both pretty surefooted and are best for riding on mountain trails.

[shove_it]

Thanks for your comments. Before today I knew absolutely nothing about the subject of this thread, so I did a little research and got some input from both of you. Now I know more than I did yesterday. That’s what I like about this forum and what keeps me coming back.

Cheers,
Otter

[Daffynition]

I thought she wrecked a mechanical bull.

[Dysart]

[redhead]

"Percherons are magnificent beasts."

Amen! We had a team of half-brother Percherons in MN. Wonderful, intelligent, powerful animals! We called them "Da Boys" (the chickens were called "the girls"), and named them after our sons, Joe and Doug. Lovely, lovely giants.

[JoeProBono]

[knarf]

As I said, I had never been behind a team before, but my friend trusted my (then) intelligence and ability to obey instruction and my youthful strength ... taught me what to do and (under his watchful eye) turned me loose.

To see those animals dig in and pull is a sense as powerful as being beside a lightning bolt.

OK .. maybe that's a little much but obviously, Those guys made an impression on me.

I had been up on the hillside with my friend at other times watching them skid logs out of the woods ... now THAT was power I had never witnessed before.

All you hoss folks (we Bostonians say hoss, not horse .. ) are blessed.

[Daffynition]