Teaching Overweight Riders

Today’s question comes from Kacy of Starline Stables in Texas:

I would like to see an article done regarding overweight riders and the challenges they face learning to ride. I’m on the thinner side and can’t relate very well. If I had a better understanding what they’re going through, I might be able to teach them more effectively.

Thank you for the suggestion, Kacy, and I imagine there are lots of riding instructors who have the same concerns. Teaching overweight riders can be a frustrating experience because physical limitations get in the way of proper riding.

Taking it Slow

I struggled with my weight throughout my childhood, and it was no different when I picked up riding lessons as a kid. Insecurity led me to try to keep up with what all the other riders were doing, when I simply wasn’t fit enough.

Incidentally, horseback riding was what led me to shed my “baby fat,” and by the time I reached high school, I was no longer overweight. However, I do wish I had taken it slower when I was learning to ride because I wouldn’t have struggled so much.

The most important thing to remember when teaching overweight riders is that everyone works at his or her own pace. Extra pounds don’t automatically mean decreased endurance or strength, but riding instructors must pay attention to their students. Encourage all riders to let you know if they need to slow down or take a break.

Treat Everyone Equally

An overweight rider knows he or she carries a few extra pounds. It isn’t something about which one can be unaware. However, no one likes to have that fact pointed out.

It’s a fine line to walk. If you need to discuss something that involves the rider’s weight, make sure you take him or her aside to speak in private. When teaching groups of riders, try to treat everyone equally. A thin rider might suffer from lack of strength or endurance as well, so create an atmosphere where your students can talk to you about how they are feeling and whether they are able to keep up with the class.

Teach Lightness

The biggest obstacle overweight riders face is the impact of their weight on the horse’s back. Learning to post the trot, for example, is a greater challenge for overweight riders because when they miss a post, their weight is coming down hard in the saddle.

My advice is to teach riders the two-point position early on in their instruction, starting with the walk. Encourage your students to hop up into their two-point positions whenever they feel off-balance, because this way they’re taking the weight off the horse’s back. It’s a good rule to follow for all riders regardless of weight.

Make Suggestions

Several years ago, I taught a girl who complained of chaffing after every lesson. She was overweight, and the skin along the inside of her thighs would rub throughout her ride, and she would suffer the entire following week.

I suggested she sprinkle baby powder in her breeches before coming to her lesson. It seemed to help, and she said she no longer had the problem.

If overweight riders are uncomfortable wearing breeches, suggest Wrangler jeans or some other brand made specifically for horseback riders.

At the stable where I took my very first lessons, we weren’t allowed to wear oversized t-shirts because they can get caught on the cantle of the saddle while riding and post a safety hazard. It’s a common rule in the horse industry, but overweight riders are often uncomfortable wearing tight-fitting clothes. When my mother mentioned this to my riding instructor, they suggested I wear whatever I like, but tuck the tail of the shirt into my pants to remove the safety issue.

There are always ways to work around problems for overweight riders, but communication is essential. Encourage your students to come to you, in private, with any problems they might have so you can work together to find a solution.

Emphasize Flexibility

I was never very flexible, and this was a problem from the beginning of my riding career. Those who are flexible don’t necessarily realize how much elasticity is required in the saddle.

Encourage overweight riders to work on flexibility at home. Stretching, yoga, and swimming are all great exercise programs to improve the flexibility of muscles in the saddle.

Don’t Sweat It

Weight is a subject with which I’m not terribly comfortable—in fact, writing this article has been a challenge—and I have first-hand experience with being overweight in the saddle. It’s not fun.

The reality, though, is that all riders face challenges, and the best virtue a riding instructor can possess is compassion. View each student as a work in progress, a complex human being with his or her own set of strengths and weaknesses. Don’t worry about whether you’re catering to every potential weakness because you’ll drive yourself crazy.

Instead, focus on providing the best instruction you possibly can while listening to what your students tell you. Overweight riders will speak up if they get frustrated, or you’ll be able to tell by their demeanor in class. In other words, trust your instincts and your skills.

You might also like:

1. Teaching Riders to Use Less Leg
2. Teaching Students to Post the Trot:
   Part One
3. Warming Up Your Riders
4. Teaching Students to Sit the Trot
5. Teaching Students Proper Balance

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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.

Tagged as: overweight riders, overweight students, riding instructors