Long ago and far away in Vermont the ratio of rider weight to horse weight
was established during the US Cavalry endurance tests. There is much history
there and has been documented in several publications. Also data was
gathered on the consumption of feed and things associated such as time miles
condition weight carried horse weight the whole thing to determine the best
horse for the army.
I do not think any of our horses exceed 900 lbs and I ride them all. I even
rode Peeco (750 lbs wet and 14 hands streching) in several rides. I weigh in
at 215 with tack (or did before this lazy winter) I believe the final
concensus of the Army Vets was the arab could carry up to 27% of its weight
with out detrimental effects.
Just a bit of arcane trivia I was not really there
Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID