Protecting the Equine Back

 

Rider weight is one of the most uncomfortable subjects in horsemanship.

 

That discomfort does not change the biology.

 

Horses are generous animals. They comply. They tolerate. They do not file complaints. They simply absorb the load placed on them until something gives.

 

If we are serious about welfare, this topic must be discussed without emotion and without blame, but with clarity.

 

This is not about body shaming.

This is about biomechanics.

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The equine spine is suspended between the forehand and the hindquarters. It is supported by the longissimus dorsi, multifidus, supraspinous ligament, thoracolumbar fascia, and the muscular sling of the thorax.

 

When a rider mounts, the load is not static. It is dynamic.

 

At walk, forces are modest.

 

At trot, peak vertical forces can exceed twice the rider’s body weight.

At Canter, those forces increase further.

Add poor balance or asymmetry, and rotational torque enters the system.

 

Every stride becomes a repetitive loading event.

 

This is physics, not opinion.

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The 15 to 20 Percent Guideline Is Only a Starting Point

 

Many studies reference a 15 to 20 percent body weight ratio, including tack.

 

That number is not a universal safety guarantee.

 

A fit, well-muscled horse with strong thoracic sling support and conditioned topline may tolerate close to 20 percent in moderate work.

 

An unfit horse, a metabolically inflamed horse, a horse with weak topline, kissing spines, poor saddle fit, or chronic tension may struggle well below that threshold.

 

The correct question is not:

 

“How much does the rider weigh?”

 

The correct question is:

 

“Can this individual horse carry this load, for this duration, at this intensity, without tissue breakdown?”

 

That is the ethical standard.

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What Breaks Down First

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Chronic overload contributes to:

 

• Muscle fatigue and atrophy

• Saddle pressure injury

• Thoracolumbar pain

• Exacerbation of kissing spines

• Sacroiliac strain

• Behavioral resistance mislabeled as disobedience

 

Many so-called training problems are pain responses.

 

A horse that hollows, braces, rushes, transitions, pins ears, refuses to go forward, or struggles with collection is often communicating discomfort.

 

Horses do not lack generosity.

They lack the ability to refuse.

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Compliance is not comfort.

 

The Role of Rider Fitness and Balance

 

Total weight is only part of the equation.

 

A balanced, fit rider who moves with the horse distributes load more efficiently than an unstable rider of the same weight.

 

Instability increases peak forces.

Poor core control increases oscillation.

Asymmetry increases shear stress.

 

Two riders of identical body weight can produce dramatically different biomechanical effects.

 

Rider conditioning is not vanity. It is welfare.

 

 

Conditioning the Horse to Carry

 

A horse must be progressively conditioned to carry load.

 

Topline development, thoracic sling strength, and hindquarter engagement are protective mechanisms.

 

Groundwork, long-reining, hill work, and correct transitions build structural support before increasing intensity.

 

Skipping this phase and demanding collection or prolonged schooling under significant load accelerates breakdown.

 

The back cannot compensate indefinitely.

 

 

This Is Not About Shame

 

It is about responsibility.

 

Every rider must honestly assess:

 

• Their body weight

• Their balance and fitness

• Their horse’s build and condition

• The workload being asked

• The duration and frequency of riding

 

In some cases, the ethical solution may be:

 

• Choosing a larger, stronger horse suited to the rider

• Reducing duration and intensity

• Prioritising groundwork

• Improving personal fitness

• Addressing saddle fit immediately

 

There is no disgrace in adjusting management.

 

There is disgrace in ignoring discomfort because the horse is polite.

 

 

A Welfare Standard, Not a Social Debate

 

This conversation becomes toxic when it is framed emotionally.

 

It becomes productive when it is framed biologically.

 

The horse’s back does not care about feelings.

It responds to force, frequency, and recovery.

 

As professionals and serious horse owners, our duty is to manage load the way an engineer manages structural stress.

 

Because in truth, that is exactly what we are doing.

 

The most ethical riders are not those who simply can ride.

 

They are the ones who ask, consistently and honestly:

 

“Should I ride today, under these conditions, with this load?”

 

That question protects horses.

 

And that is the only point that matters.