| By Heidi
J. Potter
It can be difficult to determine
how much weight a horse can comfortably
carry. We know to consider age, breed
and physical condition. There is also
the well-known statistic of horses
being able to carry 20% of his body
weight for tack and rider. However,
another big consideration is the rider’s
physical ability. The feel of the
weight the horse receives can differ
greatly when you compare a rider with
good balance and correct posture,
who supports herself, with a rider
who does not. A large, well balanced
rider can be easier to carry than
a smaller, ill-balanced rider.
A couple of analogies may help with
this. For example, consider the 40
pound dog that turns into 80 pounds
when you carry him towards a tub full
of water. It’s a pretty amazing
transformation. Not only do they feel
heavier but the difficulty increases
when they begin to squirm and struggle.
You may feel like you need four arms
and a lot more muscle to get the job
done.
Another analogy is the act of lifting
and carrying a child. The willing
and/or awake child reaches up to you.
Effortlessly, you swing them up and
onto your hip. Compare lifting and
carrying that same child while asleep
or in full blown temper tantrum mode.
One supports their own weight and
maintains their own balance. The other
does not support their own weight
and may also be creating additional
movement. Even though their actual
weight has not changed, the feeling
of the weight you carry is very different.
In therapeutic riding situations
instructors often deal with a student
who is unable to support themselves
and who struggles with balance. This
puts an extra burden on the horse.
It is important to consider this when
determining the right horse for the
job.
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