Equestrian Australia (EA) has announced a new guide stating that the maximum load a horse is expected to carry should not exceed 20% of the horse’s weight. The Equestrian Australia Dressage Committee (EADC) has released a ‘Guide on Athlete Size‘.
EA said the guide, introduced as a horse welfare move, has been adopted by dressage and eventing, and other disciplines are also considering adopting the guide. It means that the rider and equipment should not weigh more than 20% of the horse’s approximate weight.
EA said the purpose of introducing this guide — not a rule — is to “reinforce EA’s commitment to best practice striving for optimal health, safety and welfare of the athlete-horse combination”.
I know I am certainly carrying 6 or 7 KG more weight than I would like too, and this is a good reminder to do something about it. Saddles can also contribute a lot of weight, particularly some western saddles and fender saddles. Western saddles can range from 10kg to as much as 30Kg, so they can have a major impact on total weight.