15hh Dressage Horses

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Jo C

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This is just a general query as I am really not ready to look for another one yet, but are there many 15hh dressage horses out there? All the ones I have seen advertised are 16hh+, now I really don't want or need anything that big (I'm 5'2
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) but there doesn't seem to be an option if I want to seriously go into dressage. Am I just looking in the wrong place?
 
I'm the same don't really like to go over 16hh although mine is 16.1 and pretty chunky but have decided I would like to make life easier for myself with the next one so interested in what people have to say.
 
They just don't seem to be out there as people are going for the over 16hh. I wondered if there was somewhere I didn't know about or if there really are none of that size about. I wonder if any of the breeders on here can help?
 
I'm 5'2 and I went from a 17hh dressage horse to a 15.3 one. He has grown now and is nearly 16.1, but I bought him specifically because he was smaller.

It was difficult to find a nice moving warmblood under 16.2, but they do exist. I saw a lovely smaller mare by Painted Black a while ago. My horse never seems small due to his large paces and presence and even if I go into the arena after something over 17hh he never looks out of place. It is so much easier for me to ride effectively on a smaller horse - I struggled to get the bigger one through and to anchor my seat.
 
I have been keeping an eye on the market but have no wish to change at present. Probably will look into it seriously in the next couple of years. My post arose due to a conversation at work really and my own observations/wants.
 
Now that's interesting regarding movement, I hadn't considered that. I wonder why though I mean surely there is a market out there for 15handers with good movement?
 
There is a market and some breeders are aware of it. I know that the Sheepcote stud breed some very nice smaller horses, for example. The problem is that the most popular warmblood stallions tend to be very big as that has been the fashion in dressage for the past few years. My horse's sire is well over 17hh - he tends to throw them small for some reason! Perfect for me.
 
She came to me but origionally came from a dealer.
The smaller horses tend to be cheaper as everyone wants big. I read somewhere that on the continent they only want big horses so all the smaller ones get sold abroad.
Small horses are fantastic, they are so much easier and if you get a decent one they have no problem keeping up with the large horses.
Have you thought about a pony? There are loads of 14.2's on the market.
 
I was just going to agree with Nat,
April (in my sig) is 1/2 Warmblood and she's only 14.2

She always gets nice comments from DR judges about being well made
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I saw a stud advertisement for one - cant remember the name of the stud but the stallion was Aimbry Chester, Im sure he was only 15hh. I was looking for a suitable husband for my Sec C mare ....
 
I have a pony at the moment (Connemara) so would not object to a pony at all but would really prefer a 15.2 to be honest. As I said though I am really just looking at the market as I am not in a position to buy at the moment. I would like to look out for breed lines that throw smaller horses but don't really know where to start as everything I see is huge.
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