I have been asked this a number of times, especially when allowing my friends to ride my horses. Sometimes they ask me, “How much can he carry?” or “Would two people be too heavy for him?” I began to think to myself, how much can a horse carry anyway? And how much is too heavy for a horse?
How Much Can A Horse Carry?
A horse can carry quite a bit of weight, as you might have already known. But there is a recommendation for how much weight your horse should carry and you should be careful about how far you push your horse or pony.
The recommendation for the maximum weight that a horse can carry is around 20% of their body weight. Horses should not be burdened with greater weight than this as it may put too much strain on their bodies. This means that a huge 2,000 pound draft horse should be able to comfortably carry a 400 pound person, and a 500 pound pony should be able to carry around a 100 pound child.
How Much Weight Can A…
Draft Horse Carry?
Draft horses, or coldblooded horses, are huge animals that usually tower above most humans. These amazing horses were bred specifically for working which is why they are so tall, strong, and muscular. Though draft horses were not intended for riding, with the reduction of horse-drawn vehicles, more and more of these horses are being used for riding.
Some examples of draft horse breeds include the:
Draft horses, on average, weight between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds. This means that draft horses, on average, should safely be able to carry between 300 and 400 pounds.
Warmblood Carry?
Warmblooded horses are often known as the sport horses and the riding horses. These horses are seen doing most things in the horse industry including jumping, dressage, barrel racing, roping, and more!
Some examples of warmblooded horse breeds include the:
Most warmblooded horses are tall, decently heavy, and strong. They usually will weight between 1,000 and 1,400 pounds on average, This means that most warmblooded horses are capable of carrying between 200 and 280 pounds.
Hotblood Carry?
Hotblooded horses are light horses who are often fiery in temperament and lightly built. These horses are usually fine boned with narrow features.
Some examples of hotblooded breeds include the:
Most hotblooded horses weight between 800 and 1,000 pounds making them the lightest horses on earth. With that being said, these horses can carry between 160 and 200 pounds on average.
Pony Carry?
There are so many different pony breeds ranging in shapes, sizes, and colors. With the average pony weighing between 400 and 800 pounds, they can’t carry much weight. This is why they generally are used for children’s riding.
Some examples of some pony breeds include the:
- Shetland
- British Spotted Pony
- Pony of the Americas
- Haflinger
- Fjord
- Welsh Pony
Because of their light weight, these ponies can’t carry much weight at all. The average amount of weight that these little horses can carry is between 80 and 160 pounds depending on the pony’s height, size, and strength.