Is There a Weight Limit for Riding Horses?
There really is not anything more exhilarating and calming than riding a horse. The problem is, many of us have heard that people that weigh more than the average weight should not ride horses.
There is a weight limit for riding horses, although that does not mean exactly what you may think.
Each specific horse has a weight limit for a human riding them; there is not an overall general weight limit for riding horses.
Too much weight on a horse can cause the horse issues, so it is vital to know how to calculate each horse’s rider weight limit. Learn more here about how much weight a horse can carry and what the weight limit is for each horse.
What is the Weight Limit for Riding Horses?
The weight limit for riding horses can vary depending on the size and health of the specific horse in question. A healthy adult horse can safely carry about twenty percent of their own body weight.
This means that a healthy horse that weighs about 1,500 pounds should be able to safely carry a human rider weighing 300 pounds or less. A 2,000 pound horse can easily carry a rider that weighs 400 pounds or less.
Are There Any Horses This Rule Does Not Apply To?
An injured or unhealthy horse should not be carrying any excess weight until they have healed completely. It is not safe for a rider or the horse when the horse is not completely healthy.
Horses that are too young or too old do not necessarily fall under this same rule. Horses that are not fully grown or are well into their senior years typically cannot carry adult humans easily.
How Do I Calculate the Weight Limit for Riding a Horse?
To calculate the rider weight limit for a horse, you must first know how much the horse in question weighs.
Once you know the horse’s weight, multiply that amount by 0.20 (20%) and the number you get is the maximum rider weight recommended for that horse.
- Horse’s Weight x 20% = Safe Rider Weight
How Do I Know How Much a Horse Weighs?
There are several ways to find out how much a horse weighs. Horses can weigh anywhere from 840 to over 2,000 pounds depending on their breed, so getting a close to accurate weight is vital.
While you do not have to know exact number, it is important to know about how much the horse in question weighs. Here are several ways to determine your horse’s weight.
Consult with a Veterinarian
If you are taking your horse to the veterinarian, ask them if they can weigh your horse on a scale, or provide an estimated weight. If you have taken your horse to the veterinarian recently, call them to see if they have your horse’s weight on file.
Find a Large Scale
You can take your horse to a facility that has a large scale on-site. Most livestock sale barns have large scales that will fit a horse but you should always call beforehand to see if they will allow you to weigh your horse.
Call around to local farms, especially larger operations, to find out if they have a weight scale on-site that they would be willing to let you use.
Ask an Experienced Equestrian
Many experienced equestrians can simply look over a horse and give you a shockingly close weight estimate. They have been around horses so long that they know about what a horse weighs just by looking at it.
Calculate the Horse’s Weight Manually
If you need a weight estimate immediately, then manual calculation is the quickest option. All you need is two measurements and a phone or computer to find out about how much your horse weighs.
The calculation determined by this method is most accurate for healthy, adult horses that are not overweight or underweight.
- Using a horse measuring tape or equivalent, measure the circumference of the horse’s heart girth. This is the area on their body that sits behind their front withers and elbows.
Photo from https://thehorse.com/tools/adult-horse-weight-calculator/
- Measure the horse’s body length, from the front of their chest, right under their neck, to the farthest point of their behind.
Photo from https://thehorse.com/tools/adult-horse-weight-calculator/
- Plug the numbers into the weight calculator on this website to calculate your horse’s weight.
Can Carrying Too Much Weight Harm a Horse?
Carrying too much weight can harm a horse physically over the long haul. Horse owners may not notice any issues immediately, but over time, they may see physical issues that were not present before.
When a rider’s weight is slightly over the twenty percent rule, it does not tend to cause any significant issues. The main problems arise when rider’s weight far exceeds the recommended twenty percent, especially over long periods of time.
7 Horse Breeds That Can Carry Higher Weight Riders
There are larger horse breeds that are best for carrying higher weight riders. The following is a list of horse breeds that naturally weigh more than smaller breeds and therefore can carry riders with larger weights.
- Friesian
- Clydesdale
- Shire
- Percheron
- Belgian Draft
- Boulonnais
- American Cream Draft
Why Do Tourist Trail Rides Ask for Rider Weight?
Tourist trail ride facilities almost always ask for the weight of riders to make sure they have horses available that can safely carry each person. They often specify an overall weight limit for their horses, only because they do not have any larger-sized horses on-site.
If the operation you are looking at online has a weight limit that prevents someone in your group from being able to ride, consider looking at other facilities. There may be one that offers larger horses that can more safely carry riders with higher weights.
Final Thoughts
Horses can carry riders that weigh up to twenty percent of their own weight. There is no specific amount of a rider weight limit for all horses; it really all depends on how much the horse weighs.
Luckily, there are several ways that riders can calculate the safe rider weight limit for each of their horses.
Resources:
It was an eye-opening experience learning about horses and the amount of weight they can safely carry. I used the following sources to research this article.
