17.1hh for a 5 foot 1

I'm not sure, well trained horses tend to stay that way because of their riders. I think you're not awfully confident, would you be more confident with a 15.2 trying you out or a 17hh? IME the bigger horses when they decided to have a strop, it's a worse strop than the littles. JMO though, and I am about 5"4 and ride a 17hh!
 
Bailey is about 17.1hh and quite chunky, he is really easy to handle and do but he is a lot of horse when he does'nt want to do something (im 5'8"). It is also quite physically demanding doing day to day things like rugging up and putting his saddle on.
 
my YO just bought a 17.1hh warmblood x shire showjumper. he's big but surprisingly, not too chunky! YO is only about 5ft4 or 5. he seems big when you stand beide him, but not when you're on him!
i tend to see the difference in stride length and bounciness rather than height from the floor! but it depends on how you feel. its worth a look and a ride and then you can decide whether its too big
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This is a 5 year old German warmblood, who is really very sweet, but who is way too much horse for his lady owner.

He ditched his owner on Saturday morning whilst I was recovering from a major hangover, (4 ambulances and an eventual trip to hospital later) and I am left carrying the can, in looking after him, so to speak).

He's 16.2 and I'm. 5 foot 4. It would be ok if he were in a livery yard where his movements could be controlled, but we are DIY and I am struggling to get him in early so that he won't be completely manic (close shave yesterday!)

Big boys are bad news (in my book - see my post in the Soapbox) but I wouldn't advise any shortarses (no offence intended) to go for it. I feared for my life yesterday, and that was just leading him in!
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well i'm still waiting to find out more about the 17.1 mare. the reason i am looking for a bigger horse is (you probs all jump down my throat at this lol ) i have always felt more confident on horses due to there bigger stride i don't know why just have. and i am probibly wrong in sayin that

and yes i kno every horse is different thats why i am not just taking the first thing i see.
 
i have also made it clear to the owner already than it she is a bigger horse than i was looking for but if she still wants me to look i am happy to as she is trying to find her a really good home
 
I really think it depends on the horse. Big doesn't always mean unmangeable. A naughty horse means unmanageable.

Mine is 17hh and still growing, I'm 5'7". Molly is well behaved. She puts her head down for her bridle once the bit is in. Stands perfectly still for her saddle.

It is a long way to fall, but it depends on how you land as to whether you hurt yourself or not. You can hurt yourself falling from a 15hh just as much as a 17hh.

Molly is a dream to catch. She sometimes digs her heels in and refuses to move. All I have to do is unclip the lead rein and walk off and she will follow me, head down with a "I'm sorry" look on her face. The only time she is a pain to catch is when her smaller friend is doing her loopy, rearing, head of the herd, lets tank off act. Moll joins in for a short while until she remembers which side her bread is buttered on
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Any horse/pony can be hard to handle, size doesn't make it a certainty.

Keep an open mind until you see the horse. If you're uncomfortable in anyway, as would be the case in any horse, then walk away.
 
I *think* (this is my personal view...) that from your posts about theHighland you don't have much confidence in handling. Once a horse (any horse) gets the jist of this they'll take the pee. A big 17hh horse will just drag you over and be gone.

I speak from personal experience. I am a 'pony' person. In the summer I was asked to hold two 16hh (approx) horses and they just walked off with me lol. no matter what the size, or the temperament you need to be 100% confident in all aspects of handling. They're all heavy buggers and will all use their weight and size against you if they think they can.

If I were you I'd not even go and see her. I would be looking at something more the 14.2hh size....
 
FWIW I've got to say that big horses can be sweet and little 'uns can be b*stards.
Yes a 17HH horse is stronger than you, but guess what? So is a shetland. Trust me No 2. daughter has one!!!
My main concern would be how you feel on the ground, are you happy tacking up, rugging up etc - as a midget who used to be a dressage groom, I know it can be done, but if you're going to get in a dith about it, don't do it.
I've handled 17hh+ *stallions* who've given me less grief than Number One Daughter's Section A Screwball, but I think it all depends on the relationship.
 
i actually handle the 2 other horses on my yard, who are 16.2hh and 17hh i have never had any problem with them, the only pony i don't have confidence with is poppy, i'm fine with other horses. poppy is being very well behaved just now too thankfully. i think the reason i get scared of poppy is i have seen what she can do and she knows what buttons to push with me. the 17hh gelding was rearing about all over the place the other day nothing dangerous just out of excitement the sweethearts only 4
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but i didn't bat an eyelid myself, but if poppy has a certain look in her eye i kno to watch out.
 
as some other have said i do think it completely depends on the horses itself, myself i am happier around horses than ponies now a days. but maybe i won't be good enough to go an try her. she did sound lovely but oh well. i value what u guys say so i'll not bother
 
I have to agree with the majority that say go and see him. Often the bigger ones can be the easiest if the temprement is right. I would rather ride a sensible big horse than a very, very sharp small one. The phrase ' the shorter they are the closer to hell' was not invented for nothing!
Things to consider:

If you need to get off hacking you won't be getting back on unless you can find a gate/log etc to stand on

Get rugs that are very lightweight (so generally not cheap)- putting a muddy, wet rug on a big horse can be impossible unless its very light to begin with

Check he is the height advertised before you go to see him! Some dealers advertise the size on the passport. My horse advertised as 16.2 turned out to be over 17hh as he was measured as a 5 year old. 18 hh might be a bit too big!!!!!

If you have a car/trailor - can you tow him

Check his confirmation and whether he wil be light and easy to ride. You don't want something that size that is v heavy in the hand and hard to keep together.

Thats' it really - good luck!
 
I haven't read all of the replies (just the first couple), but I am a novice rider and I am currently riding a 17.3hh gelding and a chunky 17.1hh mare. I am 5ft 8 and am a size 8, and I do feel small on them but they both have sensible, friendly temperaments so I feel safe with them. However, I do need a leg-up to get on the gelding at the moment!
 
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I *think* (this is my personal view...) that from your posts about theHighland you don't have much confidence in handling. Once a horse (any horse) gets the jist of this they'll take the pee. A big 17hh horse will just drag you over and be gone.

I speak from personal experience. I am a 'pony' person. In the summer I was asked to hold two 16hh (approx) horses and they just walked off with me lol. no matter what the size, or the temperament you need to be 100% confident in all aspects of handling. They're all heavy buggers and will all use their weight and size against you if they think they can.

If I were you I'd not even go and see her. I would be looking at something more the 14.2hh size....

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Well I have a 14.2 (actually he's my daughters) and I'm 5ft 7, and if he wants to he can set his neck and piss off with me (or without me...!!). At our yard we have a 17.2 BFG that a 5 year old can bring in from the field without a problem.

It's got nothing to do with size - if a Shetland put its mind to it a 6ft 3 bloke couldn't hold it to be honest. It's to do with manners and temperament - and in that repsect every horse is different.

Go and see him - he may be your once in a lifetime horse.........!
 
The best horse I ever rode and handled was a 18.3hh 3yr old BWB mare, adn the worse was a 13.2hh Haflinger x.

I do not think that size makes that big of a difference - so what if you are 5ft1 and its 17hh+ as long as it is calm and sane and well to handle you should be fine. Hopefully the current owner would have installed some decent manners in such a big beastie.

Although I am a woose and my fear of heights stops me from getting on anything over 16.2hh without crapping myself, I have never fallen from a big horse - only small ones, I have never been bitten or kicked or injured by big horses - only little ones, and I have been trampled by numerous ponies!

The bigger the horse the closer to heaven and therefore tis taught by the angels - the short ones are just too close to hell
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, but I like the devils!

And like my dad says, if the brains are all the same size, then its more of a thought process and effort for a big un to do u harm than a little un (random not totally horsey parent beliefs) as there are less brain cells per square inch!
 
I am only 5' 1, and Eric was 16.3.. Didn't feel small on him, and never came off, felt safer really as there was more horse. Couldn't get on from ground though!
I love big horses! Ditto Beau, have fallen from 13.2's and more often than not the smaller ones trample and spin and generally are little terrors!
 
i'm starting to doubt myself now after what some people have said :S thats not to good lol. but it not other horses that i am not confident it is the one and only poppy. handle all others fine, but maybe i'm kidding myself thinking i could cope with a bigger horse
 
Don't doubt yourself, trust your instincts - I think that is what everyone is saying
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As you know from handling large horses, big doesn't necessarily mean unmanageable.

There is no harm in going to see the horse, see how you feel, see if the horse intimidates you or if you feel comfortable.

There is a 16hh horse on our yard that petrifies the life out of me and several others, yet no one is afraid to handle my big youngster.
 
I have 2 big horses, Beau a 17.3hh who is still growing and is just reaching 18hh now, Im 5ft 5 and weigh nothing LOL!

He is a lovely boy and very well behaved and well schooled, however like previous people have said, if a big horse tries it on it can be more intimidating than say a 15hh doing so.

Beau isnt good with strangers and he has terrified a few vets be rearing vertically at them and trying to bite etc (genuine fear).

He is a poppet with me BUT I know if he ever tried anything with me I am confident enough to deal with it all, that is what you need to ask yourself.

Espec as I think part of the problem with Poppy is she dominated you and being so intelligent totally took advantage of that.

Confidene plays a big part, Lance is smaller than Beau but has terrified more than a few people because of how much of a sod he can be, and he is a big powerful horse.
Size doesnt matter IF the horse is right in other respecs, but if you have any doubts over your capabilites then I would make sure the horse REALLY does fit the bill in any other way, the last thing you need is for your confidence to be eroded further, you deserve to have some happiness with a horse now!

Luckily my two are angels for me, and I feel so safe and comfortable with both of them, size wise here we are, luckily i have long legs so 'fit' them both, that is important too:


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Remember to think about things like tacking up and putting rugs on though!

Slighlty trickier than usual when you have such a height difference!

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Well I have a 14.2 (actually he's my daughters) and I'm 5ft 7, and if he wants to he can set his neck and piss off with me (or without me...!!). At our yard we have a 17.2 BFG that a 5 year old can bring in from the field without a problem.

It's got nothing to do with size - if a Shetland put its mind to it a 6ft 3 bloke couldn't hold it to be honest. It's to do with manners and temperament - and in that repsect every horse is different.

Go and see him - he may be your once in a lifetime horse.........!

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Totally agree with Bedlam...is got nothing to do with size when it comes to overpowering!

My last horse before Beau was 14.2hh and she was a really handful, rearing, napping, so strong, the worst horse Ive ever sat on! I never had ONE nice ride on her!

Yet Beau, although being 17.3hh, has hever given me one second of trouble in any way, and has never said no to anything ive asked of him while riding, despite being young and having had a year off when we got him.

Size means nothing when it comes to temperment and overpowering!
 
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I have recently experienced all this on behalf of a friend at 5 foot 4 with a 16.2, and believe me, it's no joke.

Let alone falling off. It's a hell of a long drop before you hit the ground. If you're in any way nervous, I would definitely recommend you to go for something smaller. At 5 foot 1with a big bugger you would be seriously overhorsed. (Sorry)
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Sorry but that REALLY made me laugh!

The drop from a 16hh to a 18hh isnt that much of a difference!! It hurts either way, an extra 20cm is nothing when falling, we arent talking another 2 storeys or something!

5f 4 with a 16.2hh sounds perfect to me....if she is overhorsed its because of the HORSE itself, not its size!

I have big horses now but was overhorsed with an evil 14.2hh, and am NO way overhorsed with my big lads!
 
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No, definitely don't do it. Sorry to be so negative, but you have to think about what actually entails in feeding, rugging, handling (when horse is being piggish), etc..

I have recently experienced all this on behalf of a friend at 5 foot 4 with a 16.2, and believe me, it's no joke.

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This is a 5 year old German warmblood, who is really very sweet, but who is way too much horse for his lady owner.

He ditched his owner on Saturday morning whilst I was recovering from a major hangover, (4 ambulances and an eventual trip to hospital later) and I am left carrying the can, in looking after him, so to speak).

He's 16.2 and I'm. 5 foot 4. It would be ok if he were in a livery yard where his movements could be controlled, but we are DIY and I am struggling to get him in early so that he won't be completely manic (close shave yesterday!)

Big boys are bad news (in my book - see my post in the Soapbox) but I wouldn't advise any shortarses (no offence intended) to go for it. I feared for my life yesterday, and that was just leading him in!

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To be honest though, this is a matter of manners and competence in handling - I don't think size even comes into it really except that a bigger horse has more strength than a smaller one. However even a pony is much heavier and stronger than any human and if they decide to go, you can't stop them.

Case in point. My first pony was a 13.3hh NF. He'd been spoilt in a Riding school home and when I got him was bargy and awful. He knocked over full grown men on more than one occasion!

I am 5ft2, but my horses after that were 15.3hh, 16.2hh and then 16hh, and I've ridden and handled big chunky 16.2-17.2hh on many occasions. I've never had a problem because all of those horses have been decently well mannered [no naughtier than the average horse].

The fact that your friend got injured by her 16.2hh wb certainly suggests the horse is too much for her, presumably because she is not very competent or the horse has never been taught manners - however I strongly disagree that it has anything to do with size. Provided somebody feels confident and capable in riding and handling a horse I don't think the size of the horse matters at all.

ets: despite that, I personally would not want to own a horse bigger than a finely built 16.2hh ish, because above that, although I can ride them, it is more difficult for me and less comfortable.
 
You should deffo go and see the horse, and just see what you think
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My sister is the same height, and she hunts an 18hh, and they have no problems.
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Good Luck.
 
it could be dangerous if the horse isnt 100% right for you, but if it is then what does size matter (apart from the problem of mounting!
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im the total opposite from you, im 5'10 (and still growing) and the only horse i feel comfortable on is the 17.1hh draft breed mix that my riding teacher owns/events.

i loan a 14.2 cob and a 15.2 thoroughbred (well he's a crossbreed unsure of exact breed but he is alot like a TB) but he feels smaller than the cob! but i've started sometimes riding a westphalian/cob/? for his owner and he is 15.2/3hh yet he is very 'full up' and feels about 16.2!

i think its best to stick to what you feel comfortable, but if you like the sound of the horse its worth a look
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i'm sooo confused now lol!! this mare sounds great and she's not far away, she's been a great confidence giver to current owner was bought for eventing but due to an injury she can't do it, but she can still do all pc and rc activitys so i could get to do dressage and try more jumping. she hack perfectly but not a plod or anything and is to say the least absolutly stunning!!

the mare in manchester is 15.1hh is great on the ground but is very lively in the saddle which i don't mind. she does jump but can get very strong and i have been told she would be no good for dressage as she is too excitable (but thats something i could work on she's not done much schooling) she just a very good fast forward hacking horse. still don't kno what she looks like yet pics are being sent in the post

awww i hate looking for horses lol!!!
 
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