{"id":250,"date":"2020-10-09T11:26:55","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T11:26:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/horseycounsel.com\/?p=250"},"modified":"2020-10-09T11:27:40","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T11:27:40","slug":"what-size-of-horse-do-i-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/horseycounsel.com\/what-size-of-horse-do-i-need\/","title":{"rendered":"What Size of Horse Do You Need for Your Weight and Height?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When picking up a new horse, there are a few things to take into consideration, including the horse’s breed, height, weight, and special affinities. It all depends on the kind of horse you’re looking for, and what kind of activities you had in mind for it. When it comes to horseback riding, it’s important to choose a horse that’s just right for your own height and weight.<\/p>\n

So what kind of horse do you need for your weight? Generally speaking, a horse should be able to carry between 20 to 24% of its own body weight on its back, but these figures can sometimes be lower depending on the horse’s fitness levels. This weight includes both the saddle and the rider.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For instance, a pony weighing in at 600 lb would be able to carry around 120 to 150 lb, while an 800 lb horse will most likely be able to carry up to 200 lb. If the horse weighs in at 1000 lb, it will be able to carry up to 250 lb, while a 1500 lb horse can cope with a carrying weight of up to 370 lb.<\/p>\n

Experience and fitness are very important.<\/h3>\n

And I’m not just talking about the horse’s fitness. You should take into consideration your own fitness, as well as your experience as a rider. If you’re not very good at horseback riding, you’re going to make things difficult for your horse. If you won’t know how to distribute your weight properly as you ride, you will make the horse uncomfortable even if you fall into the right weight category.<\/p>\n

For instance, as the horse shifts between its main gaits, you might be tempted to grab the reins or the horn of the saddle in order to balance yourself. This will, in turn, cause the horse to compensate for your lack of balance. Your horse will compensate for your lack of experience in the saddle. If you know how to ride properly and are able to maintain your balance between gaits, your horse will have a much easier time carrying you around.<\/p>\n

How to determine how much weight a horse can carry.<\/h3>\n

Say you already have a horse but you’ve never ridden it. Say you want to figure out if that horse can carry you and the saddle without any issues. In order to figure that out, you’ll have to figure out the weight of the horse, but not everyone has access to an accurate scale for horses.<\/p>\n

Instead, you can use a relatively simple alternative that will give you the information you seek. I’m talking about weight tape. While not 100% accurate, weight tape will give you a good enough result if you use it right. The process involves wrapping the tape around the horse\u2019s girth area and around its back.<\/p>\n

If you don’t have access to a weight tape, you can use a measuring tape to get a general idea of your horse’s weight. In this case, you’ll need the tape itself as well as a calculator if you’re not very good at math. That’s because you’ll need to input the horse’s measurements into a specific formula. Here it is:<\/p>\n

Heart Girth X Heart Girth X Body Length \/ 330<\/strong><\/p>\n