Submitted by Deb Zito: Here is to all the plus size riders and their horses!!!!
July is Plus Size Rider Month on YourDressage and we recently asked our social media followers to share stories, photos, memories, goals, and accomplishments of dressage riders who consider themselves “plus size” or who have once been “plus size.” And boy, did they deliver!
Follow along all month as we share and showcase their favorite riding partner, go-to brands for the best breeches and boots, and training routines to get that last medal score! We have also teamed up with SmartPak to offer three awesome prizes for readers and writers of our celebration of Plus Size Riders month! Check out how to enter here!
I’m not sure why this is still up for debate, but weight doesn’t equal health. Period. The BMI scale was never meant to be used how it’s used now, and to think you can tell how “healthy” someone is just by looking at them is ridiculous. Inclusivity is just that- inclusivity. Look at the Olympics and see how many shapes & sizes athletes come in and then get back to me. I almost lost my life to a rare & severe chronic illness this year after four years of health issues (none of which had anything to do with my size). Before that, I successfully produced an event horse and my chestnut mare in this pic through 2nd/3rd level. Every day I have is a gift after my diagnosis and I’m sure not going to spend my time worrying about my looks or how much I weigh when I’m just as competitive & tactful in the saddle as anyone else. Equestrians are equestrians and that’s it. At some point the industry will catch on to the fact not all of us are size 2’s or 4’s and there’s nothing wrong with that. – Chloe A. Read Chloe’s story, Different is My SuperpowerMe and my Righ, JC: Brolic! – Erica H. Check out Erica’s journey with Righ inRigh’s Our Guy!My best boy and I did our first ever dressage test recently, and I am so proud of us for the effort we made! We had two decent tests that had lots of room for improvement, but lots of really great moments as well. I’ve brought this horse along since he was 3, and this is an accomplishment I’m most proud of! Proud to be a plus sized rider, out there holding my own with the others! – Hannah M.Riding is hard!! Being a plus sized dressage rider is hard. I’m a size 12 now after losing 127 pounds. I still consider myself plus sized. I enjoyed riding and did very well even earned my bronze before losing the weight. This was from my 4th level debut. I so happy USDF supports all body sizes. – Shannon L. Read Shannon’s story, The Unbreakable SpiritAlways struggled and lately it’s been even tougher. Still fighting the good fight. – Stephanie S.Every body is a dressage body! I wasn’t always ‘fluffy’ but have been very lucky to have amazing trainers & instructors who support me in my horsemanship journey. – Anne M.I’ve always struggled with my weight, making me plus size the majority of my life. I recently sold my mare I bought as a weanling because she didn’t get as big as I had hoped. That’s a sacrifice and decision that had to be made to be fair to her and myself. Here is a picture of her and I at our last dressage show together, showing 2nd level 🥰🥺 – Morgan D.My Gypsy Vanner Sir Kingsley! We dabble at some low level dressage . 🦄😍 I am a two time cancer survivor and my horse is a recent Canker survivor! 🙌🏻 We keep going til we can’t. – Heather N.think it’s important to love our bodies no matter what they look like. Those saying we can’t celebrate being plus sized don’t understand how self love works. We can love our bodies as they are and still want to improve them, or not! We should support each other no matter what our bodies look like. Riding horses is a fantastic way to move our bodies and let’s be honest, our horses aren’t looking at us and judging us by our weights. -a plus sized rider that loves their body. Ps. Thank you USDF for making any effort to show that everyone deserves to be in the equine world, no matter their size. – Hans L.-B.On my home bred KWPN, Galileo, at First Level in 2022. We are working our way up the levels. – Molly S.As a “plus-sized” beginner it is nice to see and hear others experiences. However, I feel awkward and out of place enough it feels worse to have a dedicated “plus sized month”. I just want to feel like I belong in the horse world and accepted for who I am. It’s a hard enough world to get into in general… I have dreamed of riding and owning horses since I was a little girl. Now that I do all I can focus on is my weight and how big of a horse I need to match that. – Steph J.I feel like I’m the only one, sometimes!!!! Since others are being vulnerable and posting pictures (thank you!), i’ll step up and do it, too. I was the fat kid who wished for a pony with every birthday candle I blew out, and every letter to Santa I wrote. Living in a big city,it wasn’t an option. When I was 40, I bought my first horse, Daniel. He was a 17.2h Percheron. I had him for about 15 years until he passed well into his 30’s. Now I have this guy! Kedar is a 16.2h Friesian/Percheron cross who is about to turn 20. I was very lucky to get him in February of 2020. Then Covid shut the world down. Working in healthcare as *essential staff*, I can truly say having him kept me sane through it all! – Lisa S.I am 6.2 feet and a size 12 shoe size. Trying to find size 12 equestrian field boots are like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I recently gained a lot of weight due to medication I take for fibromyalgia and Lupus. It is hard to not over do any exercise or physical activity as it will cause a flare up and leave me bed ridden. I keep riding, even if its for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. – Dijani D.This is me with my new horse Ouro, a 6 year old Lusitano – Alison K.I have two parents who are tall and “big boned”, so no.. I’ll never be tiny. I’m 5’9+, and prefer to ride the horses under 16 hh… preferably the Arabians. Pictured is my now 19 yr old Arab gelding that we’re working towards Grand Prix.. just need those one tempis to come together!! 🙂 – Kayla S.Plus sized and 70 years old. Began my dressage journey 13 years ago. Self conscious of my size and confidence but found my dance partner Abby and have never looked back. Just earned our bronze medal! – Julie W. Read Julie’s story, Buy The Horse!
