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Ok Dolly,
Just for the fun of it, what is <the> definition of "The rider size should match the horse
size." ??? If you use the dressage people's definition, we should all be out there on 17 Hand + horses, even if you are only 4'11" and 100 lbs. The hunters would want their horses 15.3H to 16.3H. I sometimes think that the reiners and folks on cutting horses could dig their feet into the ground to stop! What about the Icelandic pony being used in endurance, or he Arab Belgian endurance mare from Vermont some years back. Which is the right size for a MW or HW rider? The right size horse is the one that gets the job done!
What we ask our horses to do IS un-natural for them. Is it fair that they should work so hard that they risk metabolic & lameness problems if their rider & the vets are not alert? That happens as easily for a little rider & a big horse as vice versa.
Look from a perspective turned 180 degrees - maybe the lightweights are UNDER-utilizing their horses!!! The HW are on the right horses & the LW should move down to tinier horses yet!
I ride HW - my tiny mare did well with me - lots of middle to top of the pack finishes. When a LW rider got on her she flew since she was trained & able to handle the additional weight. Rosie was trained to her potential, but I certainly didn't break her down or abuse her. A lot of the ability of a small horse (or any horse for that matter) to compete successfully is in the skill of the rider.
Linda Flemmer
HW - North East Region
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim & Dolly Miller [mailto:poquito@flash.net]
Subject: RC: Re: rider weight horse weight
I don't think that it's fair. The rider size should match the horse
size. Arabians are strong but why push a small horse to their limit with
your weight. Aren't we asking enough of them by riding the miles that we
do.
Dolly
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