Arrgh Horse heights

I think a lot of folks over-estimate their horse's height, and others just think it sounds better if they say their horse is 16h rather than 15.2! E.g, there is one on my yard who insists her horse is 18h, I happened to have the stick out one day and suggested we put it on him - he was 17.3 with shoes - she said it must be 'cause the ground wasn't flat enough!

I once sold a 15.2 and the person who bought him told me he was the only real 15.2 she'd viewed.

I have also been caught out - I went to view a pony that was advertised as 14.1 which was more like 13.3 in the flesh and too small.
 
marmalade76 said:
I think a lot of folks over-estimate their horse's height, and others just think it sounds better if they say their horse is 16h rather than 15.2! E.g, there is one on my yard who insists her horse is 18h, I happened to have the stick out one day and suggested we put it on him - he was 17.3 with shoes - she said it must be 'cause the ground wasn't flat enough!

I once sold a 15.2 and the person who bought him told me he was the only real 15.2 she'd viewed.

I have also been caught out - I went to view a pony that was advertised as 14.1 which was more like 13.3 in the flesh and too small.
Click to expand...

I agree.
But in the end is size so important?

We bought Fany as advertised as 15hh We measured her when we got home and she isn't she is 14-2hh. Now we did not buy her because she was 15hh but because she was right for us. I think a lot of dealers add or round up because it sounds better, after all sellers are just that.

FDC

ETA
I am rubbish at this but my guess is:
Bay 15-2
Grey 15-2
Please tell us.
 
Last edited:
15.3hh
16.1hh

????

I don't know :p

I've had the opposite - people trying to sell me a horse that was bigger than they suggested.
One lovely chap was advertised at 17.1hh and the actual size of him was 18.2hh...didn't give me much buyer confidence
 
Yes this is really annoying. I had a coloured pony for sale some years ago, he was built like a show cob, and measured 13.2hh full up (not much wither). I advertised him as such. the first 3 people to see him all said he was too big. I had numerous calls asking if he would be the right size for a 6/7/8 yr old.

I then advertised him as 14hh even though he wasn't. I got a much more suitable response.

No idea about your horse though I'm rubbish at sizes if they are above 14hh!
 
OK- Sorry everyone, daughter hogged computer las night and tis is the first chance I've had to get on today!:)

The bay is a TB and is just 16.1 (though a very well known show producer told us he's probably be able to get him measured 15.2hh!)

The grey is an Irish TB/ID X and is 15.1. So some people weren't far away!

I agree it's difficult to tell from a piccy but did see someone say yesterday on here (with reference to a picture) He'll be full up 16.2 where I was looking thinking it looks nearer 15.2 to me!!!

We are lucky enough to keep our horses at home but unlucky enough (thanks to greedy farmer OH:)) to have liveries too.

There's a '16.3' livery that is about an inch bigger than my grey mare and a '17 hander' livery which is exactly the same height as our TB!! Why do their owners say this?? I've even had a livery tell me my grey mare is at least 16.1 despite me telling them she's had the stick on her and measured 15.1 with shoes!!!

I hope they never sell or some prospective buyer is going to be very disappointed - unless they are equally as gullible as our liveries ! :)
 
I am honest with regards to Megs height. I'd love her to be a good soild 15hh, but she isn't, so I say 15 hh on her highest tip toes. I am sure you could measure as 14.2hh, but her actaul height is 14.3hh and a bit.
Iam not sure why people think bigger is better, I guess they think it is a status symbol or something?
BTW, I like both the bay and the grey, although would have said grey is a good 16.2hh!!
 
Fany Du Champ said:
I agree.
But in the end is size so important?

We bought Fany as advertised as 15hh We measured her when we got home and she isn't she is 14-2hh. Now we did not buy her because she was 15hh but because she was right for us. I think a lot of dealers add or round up because it sounds better, after all sellers are just that.

FDC

ETA
I am rubbish at this but my guess is:
Bay 15-2
Grey 15-2
Please tell us.
Click to expand...

I think it's important if you are a tall jockey and know what height you can get away with, so if someone who is 6' goes to try an 16.2 and the seller pulls out a 15.1 they are going to be disappointed :)

It's also important if ponies are competing and for horses in showing. If I buy a hunter that is supposedly 17 hands but he's only 16.1 he's going to look like a little midget in the ring with all those big horses.

If you had bought your mare specifically to do 15hh hunter pony classes (which I know you didn't) she would look little among the up to height ponies. I don't think it is important for a leisure horse, unless it's totally ridiculous.....


mistyw.jpg


:)
 
It's lucky that none of mine are for sale (and aren't likely to be for sale either) as I've only ever guessed the heights of mine using a tape. Never used a measuring stick on them or had anyone to officially measure them. There's never been the need.

If I was selling them, then I guess I'd put them as 14'2, 15'1. 15'3 and 16'0 respectively, which I think is pretty close - but then I'd likely end up being the seller that everyone above is moaning about, because tbh I'm not 100% sure!
 
Little Cob is 15hh on a good day without shoes he's def 14.3hh....I've had comments 'god he's big???' :confused: nope he's small actually he's just heavy cos he's shire x section d. And some huge TB owners who like to call him my 'pony'...nope he's a horse...a small horse but definately a horse.:rolleyes: Funnily enough one TB owner came into the school with me the other day, her on her 18hh boy and me and my little lad!! After 30mins she asked sheepishly if we could swap and her have a go on LC cos he looked so much fun!!! I allowed her to get on and have some 'fun' jumping the nutter...but no way was I getting on her lad...jeez he scared the hell out of me just looking at the long neck and no shoulders!!! I've ridden thick necked heavy cobs all my life so not swapping on to something that skinny and that big without thinking about it!!!!

On the other hand Big Cob is 16.3hh on a good day...I think he's more like 17hh now and still growing but I really don't want a 17hh shire x so he's staying at 16.3hh..its a much less scarey number!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top