Heavier horse riders told where to get off
A WEIGHTY issue is threatening to throw the genteel world of horse riding.
Under new guidelines, stables may soon ask riders to dismount if they are too hefty for their horses after a study showed animals are being injured by the excessive load.
The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and World Horse Welfare commissioned the research after members voiced concerns that horses were being damaged by heavy riders.
The study, which involved monitoring six horses with four people of different weights, found there was a “substantial impact” on gait and behaviour when the rider was too heavy.
Experts have concluded it is crucial that the rider and
Take wing
horse ratio is matched to avoid injuring the animals. There are no guidelines governing the ratio of horse to rider, although some experts believe a human should never exceed between 15-20 per cent of a horse’s weight.
Jan Rogers, head of equine development at the BEF, said: “It is a concern, because the preliminary results show that heavy riders do have an impact on the welfare of the horse.”
Dr Sue Dyson, an equine veterinarian who led the study, said: “This does not mean that heavy riders should not ride, but suggests that if they do they should ride a horse of appropriate size and fitness, with a saddle that is correctly fitted for both horse and rider.”
With obesity rates rising, it is likely that horses will increasingly be saddled with the strain of heavier riders.