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<< I am willing to concede that fat (note I do not say heavy) endurance
riders do
not compete as successfully as those that are not fat. But this is not
because of the extra weight that the horse is required to carry, but rather
because the rider is physically unfit to be a serious contender in the
sport. >>
Dear kat, interesting you point this out--my 10 year old daughter takes
riding lessons--english, hunt seat. Her instructor was recently bemoaning to
me the fact that more and more of the children who come to her for beginning
lessons are overweight and/or physically too soft to have the strength
necessary to properly ride a horse. She said it is difficult for her
personally to explain to an overweight mother why her overweight and
physically out of shape child needs some sort of excercise program before she
can ever hope to become any kind of decent rider. Plus you don't want to
hurt the child's feelings! --yet sparing their feelings will never help them
ride well.
Brandy's instructor is too soft hearted to say anything, and I probably
would be as well--but you wonder that people would need the thing said, and
couldn't figure the equation out for themselves.
Brandy's instructor said she did have to tell one parent this summer
that she was sorry, but she did not have a horse she could in good conscience
ask to carry the enourmous 12 year old who was brought to her for lessons.
She said she felt really bad--and spoke only to the parent, not the child,
but her lesson horses work hard all day, and she must consider their health
and soundness first.
I don't expect there are too many out of shape endurance riders, but it
is sad to think there are more and more kids out there too "flabby" to ride
successfully. Sad for the kids, and sad for equestrian sports in
general--all of which need riders!
Trish & "pretty David"
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