Rider weight debate

‘It’s given me my life’: rider loses two stone to get back in the saddle

‘If I didn’t ride, I’d fall to pieces; it brings the spark out in me like nothing else ever does’

Great Yorkshire Show sticks to its guns on rider weight despite ‘fat police’ comments

‘It’s nothing to do with being fat. We want everyone to ride, but on the right horse or pony’

Royal Windsor Horse Show introduces rider rules for mini ponies

The committee of Royal Windsor Horse Show said it was felt the show could be open to accusation of poor horse welfare standards

Rider told she was too heavy to ride loses two stone to get back on board

‘It was heartbreaking to be told I shouldn’t be riding her at that weight’

'It's abuse': owner pledges not to ride again until she has lost three stone

‘You’re not suddenly two stone lighter just because you ride well’

Excess rider weight can cause back pain in horses

Heavier riders and unsuitable saddles can cause muscle tension and pain in horses according to a study by Dr Sue Dyson

Great Yorkshire Show: rider weight debate continues as several asked to dismount

Riders have been asked to dismount after being deemed 'too big' for their ponies

Heavy riders and high costs behind trekking centre’s closure

‘You can’t source big enough, safe enough, horses for these people’

The rider weight debate and why it’s not fat-shaming: H&H responds

H&H responds to the latest news on a big issue for the equestrian industry

Excess rider weight can cause lameness

Results of a landmark pilot study show the negative effect heavier riders can have on horse performance

Overweight rider has gastric bypass for the sake of her horse

A showing rider decided to have surgery to help her lose weight because she felt she was too heavy for her horse

Warning as well-meaning owners ‘make horses’ lives a misery’

Over-rugging and rider and horse obesity are among the issues affecting horses in this country, World Horse Welfare has warned

Riders’ and horses’ weight a major ‘silent’ welfare issue

A leading charity says weight is one of the biggest welfare issues facing UK horses

Landmark study takes ‘first step’ in tackling rider weight

The research found rider weight has a ‘substantial temporary effect’ on horse movement and behaviour

Great Yorkshire Show asks ‘too heavy’ riders to dismount – again

The show was ‘disappointed’ 12 riders had to be asked to dismount, a year after it first took the action

Could your horse help save others from overweight riders?

The Animal Health Trust is looking for horses to take part in its ‘ground-breaking’ study into rider weight

Overweight riders, Rio disqualifications — and more of 2016’s most-read news stories

2016 was a year full of highs and sadly, some terrible lows too. Here are the most-read news stories on Horseandhound.co.uk from the past 12 months

RoR to disqualify overweight riders at shows

Riders deemed to be too heavy for their mounts will be disqualified, and the judge's decision will be final

HOYS to crack down on riders of unsuitable weight

Riders could be asked to dismount if it is thought they may not be of suitable weight for their mounts

Rules proposed to tackle issue of overweight riders

Judges could deduct marks from anyone deemed to be too heavy, or ask those warming up to dismount