am i a suitable height for my horse?!?!?

C

Chlo123

New User
Joined
8 September 2014
Messages
1
Location
norwich
Visit site
ive owned my 14.2 arab for nearly 2 years now. im 14 and just over 5ft7 and weigh around 9 and a half stone. my feet hit my ponies legs as we canter and im just tall on her in general. im still growing, is it time to get a bigger horse?
 
whilst you're not heavy, you've got to think about your legs and your height as well. If you can't use your legs effectively in a correct position to keep her going etc then I would be looking for a taller horse. I'm only 5 ft 4 so I find 14.2 to 15hh is a good height for my legs.
A 15 - 16hh horse will be better, you could go for any type really considering you're lightweight.
 
Are your stirrups the correct length for you, as in you're not riding too long. My daughter has a 14.3hh Connemara and she is 5ft8 but he is quite chunky so takes up a lot of leg. I've had quite a few people say she is starting to outgrow him but weight wise she is fine and think too many people are hung up on the height issue. Is your pony quite finely built? I wouldn't have thought at 5ft 7 you would be too big.
 
I'm 5'10" and ride a 14.2 hh part bred Arabian no problem. If your feet are hitting her legs, you may wish to check your saddle, riding position and stirrup length. I certainly don't have this problem.
 
I dont know why you have this problem, i have a 5,9 rider for my 13.3 and she doesnt have this problem and she has long legs as well.
 
If your feet are hitting your pony's legs when you canter then yes I can imagine you're too tall I'm afraid. I can imagine as your pony is an arab she is very slight, a 14.2 with a bit more bone and a heavier build you would probably be absolutely fine on for years to come, but a slighter horse won't be so accommodating for future leg growth! You aren't too heavy by any means but if you feel your legs are a little long and you feel uncomfortable in any way then you probably are a little tall. Yanking stirrups up won't help in the long run if you really are too tall.

That said my friend is 5'9 and regularly rides a 14.2 lw cob up to BE100 and her legs don't even come below his belly really on the flat!
 
I'm 5'7" and would feel too big on a 14.2hh Arab, but I'm also a fair bit heavier than you. Do you have a picture of you on her? I was always taught that it's height above the saddle that can unbalance a horse rather than leg length, but obviously there does come a point where your legs are just too long to be effective.
 
I am 5ft8 and I ride a 14:2 Arab. My Arab is crabbet rather than Egyptian so is a little more chunky but I have no problem at all riding him. I also have long legs, my instructor once commented that I looked like a spider as my legs were so long and I have a short body!
 
I think weight is the important factor and your not too heavy. If your a balanced rider there is no reason to rush out and get a bigger horse. If your happy and your horse is happy that's all good ;)
 
I am 5'8" and had a 14.1hh purebred arab - I never had a problem and actually never felt too big on him. However, I am quite a balanced rider. Even when I have ridden very much smaller ponies, I have never had my feet bang their legs - my feet are back and in line underneath my seat bones!

Generally, arabs will have much deeper barrels than many types of horses, which is why a 14.1 arab was able to take my leg up (I am mostly legs and not much in the body).

Weight is an important factor, but the balance to control your body while you are riding is vital. However, the OP does sound as though she has already decided she's too big for the pony and is looking for people to agree with her - I think when I was 14 I wanted a bigger horse too. I did quickly decide that the smaller horses were far easier to get on and off and much easier to keep though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top