I am a plus size rider at 5'10" and 260 lbs.  I have worked with horses for over 25 years, riding bareback, english, western, hunter-jumper up 3', dressage and trail riding.  I have personally worked with many different breeds from arabs and quarter horses to holsteiners and sweedish warmbloods.

 

Is there a weight/height recommendation that would legitamently prevent me from participating in equestrain activities at this time?

  There is not, ride away!

Take a look at some of the heavyweight riders riding and winning endurance rides.

 

There are no rules that I know of... but the general rule for horses is the horse can safely carry 20% of his body weight.  This does not apply to all horses though.  I would think that a nice stocky QH, warmblood or draft cross would have no problems.  Good luck!

At 5' 6" and on the good side of 200 lbs (barely), I know what you're saying.   As far as I know there are no weight restrictions, although I know that some judges in the hj/ type competition may dock points for "appearance".  They won't admit it of course.

My guy is a 16 hh, 1200 lb Standardbred, built like a tank.  I wouldn't ride one of the fragile looking 14 hh, 800 lb Arabs, but the Icelandic or Fjord breeds wouldn't bother me a bit unless my feet dragged the ground. .

All i can say is your lucky that your tall though. I'm short 5'4 or maybe 5'3 1/2 and i weigh more then you. So it looks like i'm 350 but I'm really not. My problem is i love big horses but its getting on them that causes the problem. I'm not as flexible as i once was.

Yeah, that flexibility thing can be a b****... I can't believe I used to mount 16+ hh horses from the ground!!  I can't even get my leg up to the stirrup now! LOL

And I hear all you sweet, young, skinny things laughing!!!  Just wait...

LOL I hear you! I used to get on a 16.3hh Trakehner stallion without any help and now I use a block to get on my little 15hh mares. I can still get on little Tickin without any help though - thankfully!

Here is a similar discussion:

http://forum.equisearch.com/forums/p/9029/9029.aspx#9029

I think most of us have agreed that even a larger rider on a small horse that rides balanced and well is better than a more petite rider that flops all over the place.  The 20% rule is a rule of thumb but the horse itself has to be a factor as much as the rider's weight.

I used to work for a college horse barn that had to put weight restrictions on our horsemanship classes due to a 410lb. 6'+ guy that thought he could still ride at a walk-trot-canter-gallop. None of our horses could move easily under him (we don't have anything draft-cross, just stock breeds). They used to stagger around at the walk. He would pick up whips, branches, or a piece of hose and try to get them to trot or canter with him. A good indicator of the severity of the problem was the he could not get on from the ground without the already too tight saddle slipping under the horse's belly. We ended up making a special mounting block for him. If you are concerned about how your weight affects your riding have a friend tape you riding and see if the horse has difficulty traveling with your weight. If it does you may need a different horse. I work with a lot of plus sized riders that are not fully aware of how their weight and carraige affects the horse. Video taping their riding and then pointing out the areas that are troublesome does tend to help. No matter what, always be considerate of the horse and wisely choose a suitable discipline for you. (i.e. A 410lb. person does not need to take up jumping, eventing, or barrel racing.)

The comfort and health of the horse should always be the top priority.  At a place I rode, the was this wonderful mare - she'd do anything for you. And I loved riding her but then one day the owner of the barn told me that she wouldn't be ridden for a while because a plus sized rider had ridden her, broke the tree of the saddle and had rubbed her back raw. No one has the right to inflict such pain and suffering to an innocent animal. They give so much so willingly that it could be easy to take advantage of that.   

Sorry, but that sounds more like a crappy cheap saddle than a rider weight issue.

Tickin:

Sorry, but that sounds more like a crappy cheap saddle than a rider weight issue.

Amen for the cheap saddle comment. I am not a small person; far from it. I bought a bob marshall treeless saddle this year and I have no problem hauling my big butt up into it without it slipping from the ground (I'm 5'4 and Dancer is 15.2, and like I said, I'm a HEALTHY girl, my friend's refer to me as "country strong" when discussing size). Anyone that knows anything about treeless saddles know they are known for slipping; the fact that I bought a good one has made all the difference! HOWEVER, I see no reason why to put the extra stress on Dancer all the time. When I ride at the barn, well, its usually bareback, I use a block, chair and whatever is handy. BUT, I make sure I have no issues going up or down because we trail ride... And there is no worse embarassment then having to dismount on the trail and not be able to get back up!

The horse's frame and strength have everything to do with what he can handle. My daughter's little 14.2 900lb pony can drag my fat butt around all day long, and so can my beautiful boy, Dancer. On the other hand, our Paso, who is the same size as Penny, height and weight, well, I would not even attempt to ride him; he's just not in the same shape as the Pen-Pen and it wouldn't be fair. And I think I would look absolutely stupid on him

 

I definately appreciate the in-put.  I ask because I attend a university program that has recently told me that everything from my dust allergies(which I've had forever & at most require over the counter antihistamine) to most recently my weight in an ever changing list of reasons I am to be excluded from the program I went to that school for.

 Though I have never read any specific guidelines and have no desire to encumber a horse with to great a weight load, I wanted to see if anyone else knew of general rules...

I suggest that you might want to talk with the appropriate department at the University - the program you're interested in, and maybe Dean of Student Services for a start - starting politely with the substance of your problem and as necessary discussing discrimination, exclusionary actions, and as a last resort legal action (it won't usually go that far).  Keep everything calm, respectful, and in writing, and keep a journal and a file of all interactions, including any unofficial actions that have happened to make you come to this point. If you can keep your parents out (assuming you are that age group) as long as possible that helps.  A mature student coming for assistance with a problem is frequently better received than one who immediately resorts to mommy and daddy whenever things are a little rough.

I worked at a major University and it can be a cold, impersonal environment.  Your job is to put a personal face on it - yours and the people in charge.  Just keep steadily working toward your goal and let the people you talk to know you're not going to go away.

What?? I'm sorry but that doesn't seem right to me. I think ho you ride should be the deciding facter here. I'm mean we have all hear this line before. A bigger balanced riding is better then a small rider that plops around in the saddle. I don't think weight should matter as long as you have the right horse.