Follychoppins
Well-Known Member
Hello everyone, I have read lots of those threads about how big should my horse be. Sadly I am "old school" though many of you will say thank goodness someone who learnt in the days of round the world and getting on the wrong side as a part of horse-mastership! I suppose I am fortunate in that at 50 years of age and with 2 grown up children I have not blossomed since my teens (meaning I am 5 ft 4, size 8 and 52kg on a good day - 8 stone in old money). In my teens I worked at the local Riding School and was given many pointers about choosing the right horse. The phrase that sticks in my mind is " You must always be able to mount from the ground" clearly before the idea it is bad for the horses back to do such a thing, and consider the temperament of the animal and the capability of the rider - they must match. Okay that sounds easy yet so many people seem to get it wrong! At our yard there were some 80 horses and ponies ranging from 11.2 to 17.2 excluding the shetlands. I was allowed to ride any of them as I had the 2 previous qualifications and I was what my Instructor called a "lightweight". I loved having the skill and confidence to sling my leg over any horse. I used to visit a yard in the New Forest and the same applied - any horse! Now I am not blowing my own trumpet, but those words led me to now own my 14.2 and 14.3 New Forests, I am happy not to feel over-horsed, or over weight for them. I have been asked to ride my friends 12.2 Welsh Sec A I think that is a wonderful privilege! I cannot quite word the last bit without possibly causing offence to the fuller fillies when none is intended, so as tactfully as possible.... My good friend has dieted to ride her mount safely - the one she is comfortable with rather than choosing to buy bigger jodphurs and a bigger horse 