The influence of rider:horse bodyweight ratio and rider‐horse‐saddle fit on equine gait and behaviour: A pilot study
Authors: Dyson S., Ellis A. D., Mackechnie‐Guire R., Douglas J., Bondi A., Harris P.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education
Summary
# Editorial Summary Dyson *et al.* (2020) investigated whether rider bodyweight affects equine gait quality and pain-related behaviour in ridden horses, recognising that welfare implications of weight-carrying remain poorly characterised despite widespread concern amongst equine professionals. Six sound horses in regular work were ridden by four riders of varying bodyweights (60–142 kg, representing 10–27.5% of horse bodyweight) in standardised 30-minute ridden sessions; lameness and behavioural pain markers were assessed objectively using inertial measurement unit (IMU) data and predetermined criteria for test abandonment. Tests were discontinued in 12 of 13 sessions with heavy and very heavy riders (primarily due to lameness) and one moderate-weight session, whilst all light and moderate-weight sessions were completed; importantly, all horses trotted sound within 45–60 minutes of test abandonment and showed no residual issues, suggesting weight-induced gait changes were temporary rather than structural. Bodyweight itself proved more relevant than BMI as a predictor of adverse response, implying that absolute loading rather than rider composition determines impact on equine musculoskeletal function. For practitioners, these findings suggest that heavier riders (>90 kg or >17.9% of horse bodyweight) may compromise welfare in horses of typical riding weight, though the authors acknowledge that improved saddle fit, enhanced horse fitness, and gradual adaptation protocols remain untested variables that could potentially modify these outcomes.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Heavier riders (>91 kg in this study) risk inducing temporary lameness and pain in horses even when they move soundly at other times—assess your weight relative to the horse's size and fitness level
- •Absolute bodyweight appears more relevant than rider BMI for determining weight-carrying capacity; focus on total load rather than rider body composition
- •Saddle fit becomes critically important with heavier riders, and may partially compensate for increased load if optimized—have heavier riders prioritize professional saddle fitting assessment
Key Findings
- •All 13 tests with heavy (H) and very heavy (VH) riders were abandoned due to lameness (n=12) or pain behaviours (n=1), compared to only 1 of 12 moderate (M) rider tests abandoned
- •Rider bodyweight percentage of 15.3–27.5% (H and VH riders) induced temporary lameness, while 10.0–15.0% (L and M riders) did not
- •BMI was not predictive of weight-carrying capacity; riders M and H had similar BMI (28.0 vs 26.3 kg/m²) but markedly different abandonment rates (8% vs 100%)
- •All horses recovered to sound trotting and completed the study moving well after test abandonment, indicating weight-induced lameness was temporary and reversible