When you’re thinking about learning to ride or buying a new horse, it’s important to consider the type of horse that can comfortably carry you, especially if you’re a bit on the heavier side.
While a lot of people rightly say that balance and riding position are critical factors, they aren’t the be-all, end-all.
If you’re 225 pounds, it doesn’t matter how good your balance is—a Shetland Pony isn’t going to be right for you.
Although a particular breed may be built for carrying heavy riders, in general, it doesn’t mean that every horse of that type will be able to do so.
In this article we’ll look at a handful of breeds that are typically more capable of carrying heavier riders:
The best horse breeds for heavy riders have both heart and heft.
The best horse breeds for heavy riders have both heart and heft.
How to Find the Ideal Horse Size for a Rider
How to Find the Ideal Horse Size for a Rider
When trying to find the right size horse for your weight it’s important to keep these points in mind:
The ideal horse weighs at least 7 times as much as you weigh.
Horse height isn’t the key factor — leg strength (in particular, the cannon bones) is far more important.
Some horses can carry a lot more weight than you might think looking at them.
Work with a trusted trainer to assess how the individual horse acts and travels when you’re on its back.
Consider the type of rider you are too.
Being lightweight and unbalanced can be as difficult for the horse to carry as a rider who’s perfectly balanced, but too heavy.
Signs You Are Too Heavy for Your Horse
Signs You Are Too Heavy for Your Horse
If you’re too heavy for your horse, he can’t tell you verbally.
It’s important to look for these signs:
If your horse has his ears back, swishes his tail, and/or tries to buck when you’re riding, he may be trying to tell you you’re too heavy.
If your horse is normally very balanced, but struggles to maintain that balance while you’re riding, he may be trying to redistribute his weight so that it’s easier for him to carry you.
Does your horse throw a hissy fit when you approach with a saddle?
It could be an indication that his back is sore from carrying heavier weight.
Best Horse Breeds for Heavier Riders
Best Horse Breeds for Heavier Riders
The American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse
One of the most popular breeds in the world, the American Quarter Horse is capable of pretty much everything from pleasure riding to dressage.
Originating from 17th century horses that English emigrants brought over to the Americas, the breed has been refined into an excellent work and pleasure horse that’s far stronger than its height and build might suggest.
One of the most important horses in Quarter Horse breed history was a horse called Janus.
He was foaled in 1746 and was the grandson of the Darley Arabian, one of the founding fathers of the Thoroughbred breed.
You might like riding a Quarter Horse if you:
Enjoy long rides: The Quarter Horse has a great deal of stamina and is happy to spend all day under the saddle.
Want a versatile horse: Early Quarter Horses were valued for their speed, especially for western riding, as well as their ability to work cattle.
They were used as work horses during the day and raced over quarter miles distances during the evening.
Desire a wolf in sheep’s clothing: Often referred to as ‘a sleepy little critter that can unwind like lightning,’ a Quarter Horse can be calm as a cucumber, suddenly spring to life, then return to completely calm again as needed.
The unflappable natural of the American Quarter Horse makes them a perfect option for barrel racing, western pleasure, and as a trail horse.
Love to work cattle: Quarter Horses have a natural ‘cow sense’ and instinctively understand cattle.
Hold Your Horses: If you’re thinking about buying a Quarter Horse, check if they’re carrying any genetic diseases.
Some horses will carry a defective gene that will not only inhibit their performance, but will also make it harder for them to stay healthy.
Visit the American Quarter Horse Association
Considering its name, many assume the Irish Draught is a draft breed rather than a riding horse.
Now though, this breed successfully competes in many English (and some Western) disciplines at the top levels.
When you consider that early Irish Draughts descended from a Connemara Pony crossed with Thoroughbreds, Clydesdales, and Shires, it’s easy to see why they’re more than capable of carrying heavier riders.
You might like riding an Irish Draught if you:
Want a family horse: Irish Draughts are docile, have great temperaments, and love being around people.
Enjoy an intelligent horse: Irish Draughts are very intelligent and easily trained in their youth.
Like horses with strength: As well as their ability to carry a heavy rider, Irish Draughts can also pull heavy loads.
You’re a budding show jumper: Irish Draughts have a great jump and extremely tough feet.
They’ve been crossed with Thoroughbreds to produce world-class competition horses for jumping and eventing.
Hold Your Horses: Irish Draughts can be rather lazy.
If, on the other hand, they love doing a particular activity (e.g. jumping), they’ll happily do it all day long with gusto.
Visit the Irish Draught Horse Society of North America
You might think that a “pony” isn’t going to be able to carry the weight of a heavy adult, but the Highland Pony is no ordinary pony.
Despite its height (normally under 14.2 hh), it has the heart and strength of a lion and can carry most adults without batting an eye.
Believed to descend from the horses that lived in Scotland after the last Ice Age, Highland Ponies display a lot of primitive characteristics, such as a dorsal stripe and zebra markings on their forelegs.
You might like riding a Highland Pony if you:
Want a pony that won’t panic: Having been used as a war horse during the First World War, the Highland Pony is a calm breed, won’t spook easily, and typically isn’t phased by loud noises.
Enjoy trail riding: Highland Ponies are very surefooted and light on their feet.
Even today, they’re used in Scotland to stalk deer, so they need to be able to move quickly and quietly over rough ground.
Want to ride and drive: Highland Ponies are just as happy under saddle as they are in a harness, and their thick manes and elegant frame makes them a beautiful sight pulling carts and carriages.
Like to feel like royalty: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is a huge fan of the breed.
Hold Your Horses: Highland Ponies are easy keepers and have a tendency to put weight on easily.
Visit the Highland Pony Enthusiasts Club of America
You might think of the Percheron as a heavy driving horse rather than a riding horse, but they can make very good riding horses.
This breed has the build and strength to carry larger riders.
Note: In some countries, Percherons have more of a heavier build, while they’re slightly smaller in America.
Percherons used to be mainly grey before being imported to America in 1839.
You might like riding a Percheron if you:
Want a horse that’s easy to keep: Percherons are easy keepers and are just as happy in the snow as they are in the desert.
Love a horse with a good nature: As any owner of a Percheron will tell you, they’re super laid back.
Don’t like feathers: Unlike most other draft or heavy horse breeds, Percherons don’t have any feathers on its legs.
Like gentle giants: The Percheron is an extremely quiet breed and is happy around children, adults, and other animals.
Hold Your Horses: Like a lot of heavy horse breeds, the Percheron is prone to equine polysaccharide storage myopathy, which means its muscles can’t store glucose properly.
This means that over time, their muscles can become damaged.
Visit the Percheron Horse Association
The biggest horse breed in the world, the Shire Horse, isn’t often thought of as a riding horse.
It can make a great mount for a heavy adult though.
During the Middle Ages, they would regularly carry knights in heavy suits of armor into battle.
The biggest horse on record was a Shire Horse called Sampson.
You might like riding a Shire Horse if you:
Like bigger horses: Not only does the Shire Horse have superior height, it also has the hefty build to match.
They’re not only the tallest, but also the heaviest breed.
They’re ideally suited to heavy and tall riders and are strong enough not to be easily unbalanced.
Appreciate calm horses: As you would expect from such a ‘gentle giant,’ the Shire Horse has a very quiet nature.
Hold Your Horses: While leg feathers are beautiful, they do require a lot of maintenance.
Visit the American Shire Horse Association
Q: Can a horse carry a 300 pound person?
Q: Can a horse carry a 300 pound person?
Some horses can carry a 300 pound rider, but your balance is also important.
If you don’t have a good balance then it’ll be very difficult for even the largest horses to comfortably carry the weight.
Q: What horse breed is appropriate for a 350 lb rider?
Q: What horse breed is appropriate for a 350 lb rider?
Very few breeds are able to carry a person weighing 350 pounds safely and comfortably.
You *may* be able to find a horse that can within the Percheron, Shire, Flemish, and Clydesdale breeds.
Q: Where can I find a horse rider weight chart?
Q: Where can I find a horse rider weight chart?
Check out this handy horse and rider weight chart.
Every horse is different and capable of carrying a different amount of weight than other horses.
As a general rule, anything over 300-350 pounds is too heavy for a horse to carry safely.
Q: How much weight can a Clydesdale carry?
Q: How much weight can a Clydesdale carry?
The average Clydesdale can carry up to a maximum of 350 pounds, but remember that every horse has different capabilities.
Q: What is the average max weight to ride a horse?
Q: What is the average max weight to ride a horse?
It depends on the horse you’re riding, as well as your tack.
If you’re under 180 pounds, you’ll be able to ride almost any average size horse.
Q: Am I too heavy to ride a horse?
Q: Am I too heavy to ride a horse?
It depends on your balance in the saddle, but also on the individual horse.
It’s important that you sit properly, don’t move around a lot, and have a good center of gravity.
Ideally, though, you should also weigh no more than a 7th of the horse’s weight.
Check out our article about what a horse weighs and why it matters to learn more.
Q: How much weight can a horse pull?
Q: How much weight can a horse pull?
Check out our article about how much weight horses can pull to learn more.
There are lots of ways to stay fit as an equestrian.
Many riders enjoy yoga or pilates as they encourage both strength and flexibility.
Core strength is another consideration and key for balance in the saddle.
Exercises like crunches or planks are staples, as is practicing two-points in the saddle.
Help out with unloading grain or hay, mucking out stalls, or practice jumping over some cross rails.
Q: What muscles do you use when horse riding?
Q: What muscles do you use when horse riding?
While some muscles, like your legs and shoulders, may be obvious candidates for use while riding, others, like your abs and neck, don’t get enough credit.
These muscles are key to your balance and stability in the saddle.
Your butt muscles are also important as they help control and stabilize your hips.
All play a role in keeping your legs in the proper position and even help give your horse cues.
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Whenever somebody new calls me wanting to book riding lessons I always ask what their weight is.
While most people are happy giving me their height a lot of them seem perplexed by being asked their weight, not realizing that there’s an upper limit to how much a horse can carry.
How heavy is too heavy to ride a horse?
The strongest horse in the world can comfortably carry a 360 lb rider (along with all of the tack) but will struggle with a rider weighing excess of that.
No two horses or riders are the same which is why there are no official rules on what is an acceptable weight for a rider.
Ask a handful of people what they think the limit should be and chances are most will give you a different number with some saying no more than 10% of the horse’s weight while others will say 20%.
If you say that the rider should only be 10% then that means the average woman (weighing 170.6 pounds) would be too heavy for a Quarter Horse.
Whereas if you take 20% as acceptable then that means the same woman would be able to ride some pony breeds such as the Quarter Pony and that a 486 pound rider would still be able to ride.
Some people even insist that a horse can happily carry a rider weighing 25% of their weight, but none of these percentages give a realistic answer to the question.
Is there a weight limit for riding a horse?
To some extent the question shouldn’t be how much a horse can carry but instead how much can they carry safely, the addition of the word ‘safely’ can make a big difference to the answer.
Of course, a horse CAN carry the weight but research has shown that anything over 20% will cause the horse soreness as well as physical stress.
This means that a horse shouldn’t carry more than 20% of their ideal body weight but that includes the saddle and any accessories too which is why many people insist the limit should be lower.
With this in mind a safe limit for any rider should be no more than 15% of the horse’s ideal body weight, this means that the horse can comfortably carry the rider, along with the tack, without suffering any undue stress.
Can you ride a horse if you’re overweight?
According to the NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), the term overweight means a bodyweight that is greater than a normal healthy weight for your particular height.
If you take this into account, along with the fact that an average American woman (5 feet 4 inches in height) weighs 170.6 pounds and a typical American man (5 feet 9 inches in height) weighs 197.9 pounds then a person weighing a little over either of those weights could ride most horses without hurting them.
The conclusion we can draw from this is that if somebody is a little bit overweight then they’ll have no trouble riding most horses.
The problem arises when they’re around double the weight of the average woman.
At this weight (approximately 341.2 pounds) they’re bordering on what’s is acceptable.
Anything over 360 pounds may, by some people, be considered cruel.
Can you ride a horse if you weight 300 pounds?
While you might think that 300 pounds is too heavy for any horse to carry, especially when you consider this doesn’t include the weight of the tack but there are a few breeds that can carry such a rider.
If you take the 15% rule into account then breeds with an ideal weight of 2000 pounds or more would be able to carry this sort of rider.
Breeds such as the Percheron, Clydesdale, and Shire Horse would all be ideal for a 300 pound rider.
Not only do they have the weight (and the strength) but they have very round backs and long strides so are extremely comfortable to ride.
How much is too heavy for a horse?
People often think that a horse is capable of carrying any amount of weight but, while horses are amongst the strongest of animals (in terms of the weight they can carry in relation to their size) there is a limit to the weight a single horse is able to safely (and comfortably) carry.
While there will always be an individual horse that is the exception to any rule, the breed with the heaviest ideal weight is the Shire Horse.
Weighing in at a staggering 2430 pounds the Shire Horse can easily carry a 364 pound rider as well as a saddle and bridle.
What horses can carry a heavy rider?
The best breeds for carrying heavy riders are draft horses, they generally have stronger bones and a very muscular frame.
That said though not all draft breeds would be capable of carrying a larger rider after all the diminutive Haflinger (which typically stands at 14.2hh) is classed as a draft horse.
Heavy draft breeds (sometimes referred to as heavy horses) such as the Shire Horse, Percheron, Clydesdale, and even the Belgian Draught are perfectly suited to carrying a larger rider.
On top of this, they also have very gentle natures and are extremely forgiving of inexperienced riders.
How much weight can a horse carry?
We’ve talked a lot about how heavy is too heavy for a horse to be able to carry but that doesn’t help to answer the question of how much a rider should weigh and if your maths is anything like mine working out the percentage isn’t that easy either.
This is why I decided to include the table below, to give you an idea of how much any particular horse can carry.
Horse weightRider weight without tack(15% of horse weight)Rider weight with tack(20% of horse weight)500 lb75 lb100 lb600 lb90 lb120 lb700 lb105 lb140 lb800 lb120 lb160 lb900 lb135 lb180 lb1000 lb150 lb200 lb1100 lb165 lb220 lb1200 lb180 lb240 lb1300 lb195 lb260 lb1400 lb210 lb280 lb1500 lb225 lb300 lb1600 lb240 lb320 lb1700 lb255 lb340 lb1800 lb270 lb360 lb1900 lb285 lb380 lb2000 lb300 lb400 lb2100 lb315 lb420 lb2200 lb330 lb440 lb2300 lb345 lb460 lb2400 lb360 lb480 lb
https://youtu.be/UAJOQ9GMZtEVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: World Clydesdale Show 2018 Barrel Racing Finals (https://youtu.be/UAJOQ9GMZtE)
Horses can pull 10% of their body weight without any problems at all but if they’re pulling something such as a cart (ie something with wheels) they can pull an astonishing 150% of their body weight.
The record for the strongest horse goes to a Shire Horse who, in 1924, was able to pull a breathtaking 58,000 pounds (29 tonnes).
While we don’t know the horse’s name we do know that the Liverpool-bred stallion wore special shoes designed to help horses pull more weight.
If you did I’d be grateful if you could share it please as it would really help me.
Some I’ve loved, others I’ve hated but I thought I’d share with you my top all-time favorite products, the ones I never leave the yard without.
I’ve included links to the products (which are in no particular order) that I really think are great.
I’ve found that if I run a little bit of detangler through my horse’s tails every few days it stops them from getting matted up and makes combing them easy, even if they’re coated in mud.
TAKEKIT Pro clippers – Over the years I’ve tried a lot of different clippers and while some were obviously better than others I found these to be by far the best.
They are heavier than a lot of other clippers but for me, that’s a good thing, it makes them feel more sturdy and hardwearing.
I also like the fact that they come in a handy carry case but that’s not for everybody.
The company that makes them is super good and incredibly helpful too, a real bonus these days.
The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the fact that it doesn’t come with any oil, but that’s not a major problem as it’s not difficult to buy lubricant.
Shire’s ball feeder – There are so many boredom buster toys out there but I like to use these every day, regardless of whether or not my horses are bored.
Horse safe mirror – This is a strange one that many people are surprised about but I like to put horse safe mirrors in the trailers as well as in the quarantine stalls.
It helps to prevent the feeling of isolation by giving the impression of other horses being around.
Being herd animals horses can get extremely stressed when they feel that they’re on their own but with these stick-on mirrors, they believe that at least one other horse is with them.
Rectal thermometer – I know this isn’t glamourous at all but it’s vital for your horse’s well-being to be able to check their temperature and a rectal thermometer is the easiest way of doing this which is why I’ve added it to the list.
I’ve also put together a few shopping lists of essential items that I’ve found helpful over the years.
How much weight can my horse carry?Loading…
health, riding, welfare, weight, calculatorArticle posted: Posted on Saturday 21 October 2017 19:23October 21, 2017
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You know you are heavy but you want to ride.
You need a horse that is properly sized for your weight.
The fact of the matter is a persons love for horses doesn’t decrease s their weight increases.
So how do heavier riders find a horse that can comfortably carry them but still be an enjoyable ride?
Luckily, there are many breeds of horses that are naturally heavier and can easily accommodate larger riders.
While this post is aimed to give you some specific breeds that should be easily able to accommodate large riders, be sure to refer to my much more detailed post about choosing the right sized horse for your height and weight for a more detailed answer and chart.
I also highly recommend you check out the book, Fit & Focused in 52 no matter your weight.
Let’s look at some breeds that are great choices for riders over 250 lbs.
While most articles of this type may start out with “draft” type horses (and we will cover them), there are some very nice lighter horses that can be big enough for heavier riders.
This breed can be a great choice if you love dressage or one heck of a nice looking trail horse.
In fact, the Friesian horse is very versatile and you may find the breed nicely suited to whatever equestrian sport you enjoy most.
The Friesian horse typically weighs between 1300 and 1500 pounds and most members of the breed will easily accommodate a combined saddle and rider weight of 260+ pounds.
Easy to handle and easy to ride.
Funny enough, she didn’t weigh more than 125 lbs but, still, he was awesome and great for even beginner riders to take out on the trail.
Big Jake, the 2010 Guinness World Record title holder for the world’s tallest living horse is a Belgian.
The Belgian is a draft horse breed typically weighs in at over 2,000 lbs.
Using a 20% value that means that the Belgian horse should be able to accommodate a combined rider and saddle weight of at least 400 lbs.
3. Clydesdale Horse
3. Clydesdale Horse
The Clydesdale is one breed of horse that is almost always recognized by just about every American citizen.
Made popular by the Budweiser company, this gentle giant is known for commercials in which it pulls carriages but did you know that they make excellent riding horses as well?
It is possible to buy Clydesdales from the Budweiser breeding program, but there are also private breeders as well that sell riding prospects.
the only disadvantage to a horse like a Clydesdale for general riding is their long feathers.
When used for general riding, some Clydesdale owners will opt to shave the legs.
The Clydesdale horse typically weighs at least 1,800 lbs and is typically at least 16 hands tall or taller.
Even at the low end, any adult Clydesdale should easily be able to handle a rider and saddle combo of 360 – 400 lbs.
This is another draft breed but, if your family loves Warmbloods and jumping horses, why not get a shire for the larger riders in the family.
If you get a mare, you can easily cross her with a variety of different breeds to make excellent jumping horses.
Shire crosses are often seen at the upper levels of show jumping and dressage arenas.
Sampson, a Shire gelding, has held the Guinness World Record for the tallest horse ever since 1850.
The Shire horse typically weighs at least 1100 pounds and they can get very, very tall.
As far as weight goes, Sampson, the world record holder, was 3360 lbs!
That means that this Shire horse, Sampson, could easily accommodate a combined rider and saddle weight of a whopping 672 pounds.
Here is another light horse breed you may not have thought of.
Some mustangs are actually very tall and wide and can accommodate a larger rider easily.
I personally trained a mare that was 15.2 but built like a brick house.
My own mare is a beautiful 16.1 hand palomino paint with a very nice build.
Me (I’m 5′ 8″) and my 16.1 hand BLM Mustang Mare Malibu
Mustang horses can range between 12 hands and 16.3 and have a wide variety of weights.
Because this breed isn’t a pedigreed breed, size and build varies widely.
A 250 lb rider with a 40 lb saddle would need to find a mustang that weighs around 1400 lbs.
This is one you don’t hear about much when compared to some of the other draft breeds listed above but, the Suffolk Punch is another great draft breed well suited for heavy riders.
Known for their beautiful red color and size and strength, this breed of horse originates from Suffolk, England.
They were developed, as were most draft breeds, to pull heavy farm equipment but they make excellent riding animals as well.
They are so popular, in fact, that they are one of the few breeds included in the video game, Red Dead Redemption 2.
The Suffolk Punch horse is usually between 16 and 17 hands tall with a weight of 2,000 – 2,200 lbs.
This means the Suffolk Punch could easily carry a rider and saddle weight of 400+ pounds.
7. Quarter Horse
7. Quarter Horse
Here is a popular light horse breed that can accommodate heavier riders.
Some lines of quarter horses are the “bulldog” type.
These heavily muscled ranch horses can be 15 – 16 hands or taller and have the muscle and mass that makes them a great option for a larger rider.
As a larger woman who is also tall, 5’8” and 275 lbs at present, there are definitely a few types of quarter horses I feel very comfortable.
My favorite horse at a friends ranch was, for the longest time, a bay roan Hancock mare.
standing 16.2, this mare was tall and unbelievably wide.
She was also one heck of a great ride.
In fact, if you pay attention to western competitions like roping and steer wrestling, you will typically find more men that are larger in stature competing just fine on the Quarter Horses and Appendix Quarter Horses that carry them.
Quarter Horses typically range from 14 hands to 17 hands with taller (and shorter) members of the breed as well.
Weight is typically 950 – 1500 lbs, with again, lighter and heavier horses being possible.
A 1500 lb Quarter horse should be able to easily accommodate a combined rider and saddle weight of 300 lbs.
Just as with Quarter Horses, it is possible to find larger and wider American Paint Horses.
When the Quarter Horse registry was being formed, paint horses and those with white markings that were too high were excluded.
The horses chosen as the founding members for the American Paint Horse breed were stock horses capable of carrying a cowboy on the ranch for hours a day.
The horse needed to be able to do whatever asked including hold a steer, gather cattle and check miles of fenceline.
Because of the similarities in type, the APHA registers breedings between registered Paint Horses and registered Quarter Horses.
Thus, the size and weight ranges of this breed is the same as with the Quarter Horse.
American Paint Horses are typically between 14 and 17 hands tall and weigh between 950 – 1500 pounds.
The larger representatives of the breed should be able to easily accommodate a combined rider and saddle weight of 300+ lbs.
While most breeds of horses are technically “Warmbloods”, what I am specifically referring to here are the common Warmblood breeds you might see in the show jumping or dressage arenas.
These horses are typically tall, large-boned and most are definitely suited for the larger riders.
Easily reaching between 16 and 17 hands or taller, these giants of the horse world are a great option for larger riders.
Think about it, not every warmblood horse bred is suitable for jumping or dressage.
That means, even if you just want to ride trail or chase after some cows, you may be able to find a warmblood on “discount” for that purpose.
While high performing members of the various breeds sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, I personally have owned a few in the more reasonable $1,500 to $3,000 price range that made excellent low-level English show horses or just nice horses to pop down the trail on.
What you are looking for, in this case, is a horse with the right size and muscle tone to carry a larger rider.
Warmblood horses can easily weigh 1,500 lbs or more depending on the specific breed, height and muscle mass of the horse.
This means that a warmblood horse could potentially carry a rider and saddle combination of 300 pounds or more.
The Andalusian horse is very popular in many countries due to their beautiful, Spanish look and their versatility.
This breed comes in a wide variety of colors and is known for horses with muscular, compact bodies.
Originally bred for battle, the Andalusian horse had to be able to carry a knight with all of his gear but yet still be agile and quick on his feet in battle when needed.
Andalusian horses are usually at least 15 hands tall and at least 1200 lbs which means that larger members of the breed are excellent for heavier riders.
A 1,500 lb Andalusian horse would be able to easily carry a combined rider and saddle weight of 300 lbs.
Mules are another, often overlooked “breed” of horse that can be great for heavy riders.
OK, I do know that they aren’t a breed of horse or even a horse at all.
The truth is, depending on the size of the Jack and the size of the mare, some mules can actually be quite large.
In addition, their hybrid vigor makes them fairly long-lived and their intelligence makes them suited to a wide variety of disciplines.
The current world record mammoth donkey is 17 hands tall and lives with his owner in Texas.
(source) Since mammoth donkeys can get quite large, their resulting mule foals can be quite large as well, depending on the size of a mare.
Draft mules, like the one pictured above, are not altogether uncommon.
The reality is, you could cross a donkey with any of a number of breeds of horse to get the size and color horse you desire.
Draft mules, and mules produced by breeding mammoth jacks to large mares could easily reach 17 – 18 hands and weigh over 2,000 pounds.
This means that, depending on the actual weight of the mule, a draft mule could easily carry a rider and saddle with a combined weight of 400 lbs and possibly more.
Remember that the weight of the horse is only a guideline for the estimated weight a horse could carry.
There are a variety of factors involved including fitness of the horse and conformation.
Rider experience also plays a big part.
Think about how carrying “dead weight” like a 50lb sack of flour, differs from carrying a 50lb child, for example.
Beginner riders are harder for horses to carry and experienced riders have the balance and self-awareness that makes carrying them much easier for a horse.
This is why you may sometimes see a horse doing just fine with a rider that looks a little too large based on the rider weight to horse weight recommendations.
Ultimately, it is our duty to be aware of the recommended guidelines but also to treat each horse and rider combo as an individual pair instead of relying solely on a weight to weight ratio.
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