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 Expert
Posts: 1515
 
Location: Illinois | What's everyone's opinions on how our weight affects our horses performance? Some say not at all, some say big time. Someone told me to think about it like racehorses and jockeys, there's a reason why they're small. I lost a lot of weight (50 lbs) due to a chronic appendicitis and it seemed as though my horse ran faster. After having the appendix removed after over a year of flare-ups I seemed to gain most of that weight back. We seemed to run slower. Do you think that a 40-50lb difference could move you in divisions in open races, or am I just insane?
Edited by JLazyT_perf_horses 2015-10-06 11:26 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
 
Location: on my horse | I've recently put on about 50 lbs from thyroid issues and can tell a huge difference in my riding, it takes me longer to get up and down while making a run and my reaction time is much slower. That more than anything is what I think affects my horse's ability to run with me on her back not so much the weight itself. I'm still not extremely "heavy" as before the weight gain I was underweight but its more than enough to slow me down and affect my balance/riding which results in slower times. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| I recently Lost 60 pounds, because I wanted to. My good horse clocks the same as before but my 4 year old colt really has clocked faster. I'm a guy and I was well over 250 when I started. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | WWould you run faster with a 10lb backpack or 50lb? Of course rider weight affects the horse. BUT rider stability also plays an equally important part. If you're 110lbs but go around yanking on your horse's mouth, "starfishing", getting thrown off balance in turns, etc. you are going to slow your horse down more than someone who weighs 140lbs but rides very quietly and stays balanced.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2015-09-30 1:36 AM
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Are you as STRONG as you were when you were lighter? Are you as in control of your body & balance now as you were then?
If it were all about weight the guys would clock a division lower than the girls running at the big races - they don't! I know a guy that has had girls run his horses and he's over 50 pounds heavier and he still clocks as fast they do.
I think the only time weight makes a big difference is if it's a small horse, say 1000 pounds and under. Otherwise, its more about strength and balance. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Can weight affect a horse, absolutely. Can the horse overcome it, yes. I love the old stories about Seabiscuit (who was not a big horse) frequently carrying 20 pounds or more than any other horse in the field and still winning. Sometimes it has as much to with the rider's ability, the horse's power, and the horse's own drive to win. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Absolutely........ At the end of the day - look at the girls making the NFR and any 1D winners at big shows - I'm not talking about local jackpots. You're not going to see their horses packing any extra. It's a daily battle, but thinking weight doesn't matter with all other things being equal...is unrealistic.
Same rider - in top physical shape is going to outclock their heavier self.
Edited by MS2011 2015-09-30 9:12 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Well Mike Green is around 215 lbs i'd say i'm not good at guessing men's weight and Micheal Duffie i'd say weighs 50lbs soaking wet along with the saddle. Riding BamBam the bay up at the top, lil mike is usually 3 tenths faster. Well that is when Bambam is tuned up for him LOL
Has anyone noticed thats not Famous he is riding at the top it is Bambam?
Anyways I don't think weight plays a huge factor as far as them running but it certainly does as far as your mobility, flexibility, and strength to stay with them and not get in their way.
Edited by astreakinchic 2015-09-30 9:20 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | FLITASTIC - 2015-09-30 12:32 AM I recently Lost 60 pounds, because I wanted to. My good horse clocks the same as before but my 4 year old colt really has clocked faster. I'm a guy and I was well over 250 when I started.
I always thought you were a woman LOL |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | hoofs_in_motion - 2015-09-30 7:21 AM FLITASTIC - 2015-09-30 12:32 AM I recently Lost 60 pounds, because I wanted to. My good horse clocks the same as before but my 4 year old colt really has clocked faster. I'm a guy and I was well over 250 when I started. I always thought you were a woman LOL
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 Veteran
Posts: 212
| astreakinchic - 2015-09-30 9:17 AM
Well Mike Green is around 215 lbs i'd say i'm not good at guessing men's weight and Micheal Duffie i'd say weighs 50lbs soaking wet along with the saddle. Riding BamBam the bay up at the top, lil mike is usually 3 tenths faster. Well that is when Bambam is tuned up for him LOL
Has anyone noticed thats not Famous he is riding at the top it is Bambam?
Anyways I don't think weight plays a huge factor as far as them running but it certainly does as far as your mobility, flexibility, and strength to stay with them and not get in their way.
and they have allie pictured on slick not sporty lol i wondered about that too |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
Location: White Mountains of AZ | Yes I think weight does play some part, but more on your stability and balance and strength. I notice a HUGE difference in my riding when I consistently work out. Mostly legs and core. It was amazing the difference. I felt more stable and just felt I was able to ride better. My gelding can be rough at times, and when I don't do my leg workouts, it's a workout for me to feel like I'm riding him the way I need to, and even then I feel like I'm riding crappy. But as long as I have the strength, it feels amazing and like I know what I'm doing! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1525
| I don't and haven't seen any fat girls at the NFR....and I have seen some fat girls that can ride the hair off a horse. So...Idk... (by the way, I weigh 170 and am 5'6") I am not a skinny-mini.
Edited by MOTIVATED 2015-09-30 1:09 PM
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| MOTIVATED - 2015-09-30 11:08 AM
I don't and haven't seen any fat girls at the NFR....and I have seen some fat girls that can ride the hair off a horse. So...Idk... (by the way, I weigh 170 and am 5'6") I am not a skinny-mini.
Without naming names, there have been a few very hefty girls run at the NFR. If you want names, PM me. |
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Expert
Posts: 1525
| FLITASTIC - 2015-09-30 1:15 PM MOTIVATED - 2015-09-30 11:08 AM I don't and haven't seen any fat girls at the NFR....and I have seen some fat girls that can ride the hair off a horse. So...Idk... (by the way, I weigh 170 and am 5'6") I am not a skinny-mini. Without naming names, there have been a few very hefty girls run at the NFR. If you want names, PM me.
Pmd you |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | MOTIVATED - 2015-09-30 1:08 PM I don't and haven't seen any fat girls at the NFR....and I have seen some fat girls that can ride the hair off a horse. So...Idk... (by the way, I weigh 170 and am 5'6") I am not a skinny-mini.
There have been some that were bigger than others, but none that I would consider BIG. There haven't been any bigger girls at the NFR for several years now, unless you want to call FT big. (and if you do I suggest you go stand next to her and see) I've heard rumors about her supposed "weight" but I think that the numbers are exaggerated to help a few girls egos. |
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 Peecans
| This is my im not a size 0 thoughts LOL
Not a whole lot, rider ability means a whole lot more. Even a small gal hanging off the side of het horse and banging its back and face is going to slow the horse down. If you can move with your horse, and not throw it off balance you dont need to be tiny, you need to be fit. Not everbodys structure is like thoes really skinny girls, I mean CJ is a tiny tiny lady waste wise but she is very fit too. I could never be that size ever its simply not possible.
Barrel racing is NOT track racing. If we didn't have to , rate, position, turn our horses weight could be a bigger deal, but its not for what we do.
I struggle with my weight and personal image a lot, I've stressed I've cried I've hated my self for my outward appearance. And I still struggle with it. But you know what, at my smallest weight size, I was also the weakest id ever been, I could not ride my horse nearley as well, I did not have the strength or energy to keep up with them.
Weight is not the be all and end all.
Edit to add - im not talking obesity, clearly a person needs to be healthy, but theres a lot of diffrent weights that are healthy.
Edited by della 2015-09-30 1:35 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
| With all other factors being equal, the more extra weight you carry the slower you go. Period. F=ma, the greater the mass, the greater force of gravity that is acting on that object. So the heavier something is, the more it has to work to overcome gravity and will go slower over time.
There is a reason sports that have a time factor involved spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to have lighter and more streamline equipment to go tenths faster (NASCAR, track events, etc)
At the end of the day, the heavier something is, the harder it has to work and the slower it goes. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | rachellyn80 - 2015-09-30 2:25 PM MOTIVATED - 2015-09-30 1:08 PM I don't and haven't seen any fat girls at the NFR....and I have seen some fat girls that can ride the hair off a horse. So...Idk... (by the way, I weigh 170 and am 5'6") I am not a skinny-mini. There have been some that were bigger than others, but none that I would consider BIG. There haven't been any bigger girls at the NFR for several years now, unless you want to call FT big. (and if you do I suggest you go stand next to her and see) I've heard rumors about her supposed "weight" but I think that the numbers are exaggerated to help a few girls egos.
If FT is considered big, then I'm a beached whale compared to her. |
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Peecans
| 3 To Go - 2015-09-30 12:26 PM
With all other factors being equal, the more extra weight you carry the slower you go. Period. F=ma, the greater the mass, the greater force of gravity that is acting on that object. So the heavier something is, the more it has to work to overcome gravity and will go slower over time.
There is a reason sports that have a time factor involved spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to have lighter and more streamline equipment to go tenths faster (NASCAR, track events, etc)
At the end of the day, the heavier something is, the harder it has to work and the slower it goes.
Unless its roleing down a hill ;-)
I personaly feel, that I have an ideal weight thats personal to me, where you are fit and can ride your best and it might be heavier than suzzy sally next door, and if I went to her weight I would slow down because I could not ride my horse effectivley. |
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