All my life, based on what I learned decades ago from the old-timers of the last century (and the century before that!), I've gone by the policy that a light horse can comfortably pull 1/2 his weight on large wheels, 1/3 his weight on little wheels, and 10% (or less) of his weight on a dead-weight pull (such as a harrow). I see the 10% being used in the Work Horse Handbook (L. Miller) but can't find a general weight pulling description in any driving book, old or new, for light horses. I so often see light horses being horribly overloaded--little mini-horses pulling two fat people to a cart, for example. I'd sure like to show 'em something in writing about light horse weight ratios. Do any of you know of any source that would mention light horse weight pulling? What are your opinions... depending on the individual horse, of course?

If you are asking this question to assess your own draft potential, you can't go wrong with using the Work Horse Handbook. Percentages of horses' weight to load are just as valid for light horses as they are for drafts.

If you are asking this question to police your neighbor, consider this old saying: "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig."

Humm! Ya know, I have no idea. I'll look into what I have and see what I can find.

A horse isn't overloaded until he has traction problems, overheats, or refuses. Two fat people behind a pony might be a easy load on hard ground, but two little kids on the same rig could be overloading in loose sand. Anyone who can give figures on how much a horse can pull only figures and doesn't work a horse or they would know you can hardly compare capability.

These figures you mention were probably stating what a horse could pull all day long. And probably just general figures to give somone a starting point to be adjusted with common sense. So I'm with Dale here. Leave the fat people alone.

First time I hooked a little 32" donk I had to a little wagon I bought, just for him. He ran off with me and my son. Finally got him turned into the side of the horse trailer. Could have used a couple of heavies. No wreck. Just a commotion!!

There are just too many variables.
Some of the most useless horses I have seen have been the biggest in light and heavy horses, and some of the best workers little more than ponies.
And then there is the vehicle, and the way the horses are harnessed.
A pony with heart, well set up, in an appropriate vehicle will often do better than his leggy mate, poorly set up.
I have a Canadian friend who drives mini horses, and she has taken the time and energy to really set them up to advantage, in collars and all, and is doing very well with them.
It's a matter of reading your horses, and setting them up right. The results will differ between horses.
Rob J.

Generally speaking, pound for pound, ponies are STRONGER than the cold bloods. Go by the same percentages and it should work for any horse.
ed

Not so much of the size of the horse in the pull, but the size of the pull in the horse.

Goldpony, don't look at the load, look at the horse. How the horse or pony is behaving will tell you if it is overloaded or not.

When it comes to refusing a load, you need to figure out when the animal is saying "I don't want to" and "I don't believe I can" and "I KNOW I can't!" These communications all require a different, accurate response from you or otherwise your animal will lose "faith" in you. So, the only way to learn this bit of language, really, is to spend time with your animal. Start with a light load, experience adding to that weight in increments and pay attention to the animal's response and willingness. At what point does it start to hesitate or refuse? You'll learn a lot right there.

There's an old saying- "A wise man always listens to his mule." My pony's weakness is heat--probably b/c of her age. On a very hot day, at best she can pull a fraction of the load she could for a fraction of the time as on a cool day. So on a cool day my 22-year-old 800 lb. draft pony will happily pull me on a forecart with a loaded ground driven manure spreader on rolling terrain (about 700 lbs of weight when loaded, I'm guessing- ?) with no problem - and that's with me holding her back for the first 1/2 hour or so. But on a sunny day when the temps are in the 90s, she might only be able to spend half hour on a pony sized cultivator in the garden if I'm lucky- no way we could spread manure. Sure, I could really get on her and make her, but one has to ask oneself, "How important is it?"

Figure out what's "normal" and pay attention to your animal's respiration. In most cases, it will tell you all you need to know.

Consider this old saying:
"Never try to teach a pig to
sing. It wastes your time
and annoys the pig."
Hey, that's pretty funny. And very wise too.

"Leave the fat people alone."
As an active equestrian fat person myself this is a subject of which I'm very aware. And, yes, I'm just seeking a reasonable place for people to start thinking about it. As a mentor, people ask the questions of me and I would like to present a reasonable place for them to start. I'm not policing the general public, although it breaks my heart to see people whipping and abusing the overloaded critters. Once saw 7 people in a spring wagon being pulled uphill by a wispy little Arab (with a heart as big as the Pacific). They whipped him and whipped him, but he still couldn't pull that hill. Yes, I suggested they get out and walk. I believe one should not turn one's back on abuse of people or animals and I certainly try to be tactful when offering suggestions.

"When it comes to refusing a load,
you need to figure out when the
animal is saying "I don't want to"
and "I don't believe I can" and
"I KNOW I can't!"
Figure out what's "normal" and pay
attention to your animal's respiration.
In most cases, it will tell you all
you need to know."
I suppose that's the approach to take. I'll stick with the general rules I've learned as a starting place. My passenger(s) get out and walk if I think my horses are overloaded under certain conditions. One thing I've learned over the years is that some horses are very emotional and an overload can pretty much ruin the sensitive ones. I bought a little Haflinger mare that leaped, plunged and threw herself sideways in terror when she was hitched & was asked to start the load (no exaggeration). It took me quite a few drives with her own special light cart to get her past that fear. It was amazing to see her leap and plunge forward with the light cart and stop in surprise when it moved so easily. Now we are happy driving partners and she'll never have to be afraid I'll ask her to do more than she's capable of doing. Yup, there are a lot of variables, yet I think it's worth pondering. Thanks for the input for sure.

Stop over thinking the issue. The question is average Horse. Ok average is not specific, so average horse is 1000 pounds. Average load is 500-800 pounds. Small horse smaller load, Bigger horse bigger loads.
However, Each horse is different, so read you horse.

Wow, 5 year old post rises from the dead! Gotta be a record.

have a 1000lbs horse that pulled a 3/4 ton ford 4 wheel drive pickup & 16 ft horse trailer, to start it battery was almost dead it was on leved ground. with 50 ft nylon rope. It is just what they think they can pull at the time. Never hook them onto something solid they cant pull, they will then think they can pull anything you hook them to

I'm still pretty puzzled after reading this. I've had horses most of my life but just recently decided I want to get a carriage. Does the load include the weight of carriage? Or the weight of whats being carried? Sorry for the ignorance.

They weight you need to be worried about is actually the force that it takes to pull the load. A carriage loaded with people on solid ground will pull easier than a couple hundred pounds on a stone boat or dead pull. You have to worry about stopping the load also. I have an Amish spring wagon that has at least 36" diameter wheels about 1-1/2" wide that I can hook my one mule to with myself, dad and neighbor which will weigh 700lb total and when I climb the big hill down the road he will dig in but not be over loaded. If I take my wagon with a 6'x8' bed and 15" car tires and hook both mules to it with the three of us and same hill they both have to dig in to pull it. I can push the spring buggy in the barn by myself but need help to push the wagon in. I hope that makes a little more sense to you.