Retraining of Racehorses new weight rules are right: Why isn’t it being enforced by Treo Eile in Ireland? There are lots of topics that our industry would rather scoot around and not talk about. Rider weight is one of them. I believe that we need to stop being so worried about making other people feel uncomfortable, particularly when it comes to horse welfare. I entirely support the Retraining of Racehorses renewed focus on horse to rider weight ratio. I feel it is long overdue and should be expanded into other areas of leisure horse competition. I say all of this as a very average sized person myself. Where would I fit within the new rules? I am 38 years old, 5ft 4in tall and weigh 9st 10lb. Approximately 61.7kg. Under the new ROR rule, the rider weight including tack should not exceed 17% of the horse's body weight. 20% being the absolute maximum. If I weigh 61.7kg. You add a saddle, bridle and other tack, the total load being carried by the horse could quite reasonably be around 70kg, depending on the equipment. That would mean the smallest Thoroughbred I would be entitled to compete would be 410-420kg. That’s a pretty small horse! An average Thoroughbred being around the 450-500kg mark would comfortably put me below the 17% guideline. Put me on a lighter framed horse and I’d be struggling somewhat. This is why I fully support what ROR are enforcing. I sit comfortably at my current weight. If I had a lighter framed horse I wanted to campaign I would have no problem dropping half a stone to do so. This rule is entirely about the horse. It is not about the rider. There is obviously a need for sensitivity when enforcing rules around weight. But people do not need to take this rule as a personal attack. No one is body shaming. The world has enough of that. Walk around any competition and I guarantee you will see numerous combinations which will make you question whether they are appropriately matched. Thoroughbreds deserve the extra consideration A Thoroughbred coming out of training can vary dramatically physically. They can be small and ratty, big and raw, light and narrow. Some can leave training in peak physical condition while others can need a number of months of careful conditioning before they can begin ridden work again. The idea of treating them all as though they can carry the same weight, purely because they are the same breed makes no sense at all to me. The Uncomfortable Truth In our industry we are so worried about offending people. Quite possibly because everyone is connected to someone, somehow! We need to be able to have conversations without seeing them as personal attacks. If that means a rider needs to be told that his or her horse isn’t suitable for them then so be it. The rider has a choice, the horse does not. My Weight I included my weight and height in this to make the conversation tangible. They have no bearing on my riding experience and certainly don’t make me a better rider. At 5ft4in, 9st 10lbs and 38 years old I am probably average for my age in height and size. And an example of a rider who is trying to make sure that the horses I am riding are physically capable. Welcome the conversation We should view ROR’s approach as another tool for responsible horse ownership. We should also ask why it isn’t being enforced by Treo Eile here in Ireland?
