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While certainly there must be a "point of no return" here, nonetheless the "total weight carried" concept is exactly what emerged from Susan G's Tevis study as being a significant factor.  Not the ratio between horse and rider weight, not the absolute weight of the rider--but combined weight, ie total weight carried.  The significant point, if memory served, was 1200 lbs.  If the combined package was over 1200 lbs, the team had a higher failure rate.  The study dealt with rider/tack weight that exceeded 30% of the horse's weight, with no significant effect.  Bottom line--if you tack in at 250, you need a sturdy horse that doesn't weigh more than 950 himself--and even if he weighs less, at least up to the point where your weight isn't more than 30+% of his, that doesn't seem to be a factor.

 

Heidi

 I can't go with the "total weight carried" argument. An
extreme test of that would be a 100 lb. man carrying a 60 lb. pack vs. a
170 lb. man. Who is at a disadvantage?  Are all 170 pounders equal? Some
are knock kneed, 5' tall stumps. Others are perfectly built athletes.
Does the weight they're carrying feel the same to them?  

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