Bigger horses pros and cons

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

Right now I am considering getting another horse. Not for definite but it's finally a possibility after a long time dreaming. I would like one bigger than I currently have (14hh) but the biggest I've ever ridden was 15'1. I don't think I would go over 16'2. My parents love how small my cob is because it means I'm closer to the ground should I fall. I like it because I can mount from the ground when out hacking and get on bareback when I want to. So I was wondering what height you would recommend for someone who's never ridden slightly larger horses (or anything sportier than a cob!) and the pros and some of the cons that come with a larger animal. Looking forward to your response.

 

[Mule]

Right now I am considering getting another horse. Not for definite but it's finally a possibility after a long time dreaming. I would like one bigger than I currently have (14hh) but the biggest I've ever ridden was 15'1. I don't think I would go over 16'2. My parents love how small my cob is because it means I'm closer to the ground should I fall. I like it because I can mount from the ground when out hacking and get on bareback when I want to. So I was wondering what height you would recommend for someone who's never ridden slightly larger horses (or anything sportier than a cob!) and the pros and some of the cons that come with a larger animal. Looking forward to your response.

I wouldn't bother going above 15'.1. The larger horses tend to be less sound. The only pro I can think of is, that jumps look smaller on a taller horse.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

If you've got your own land, then the smaller the better, although the amount the eat/poo/trash is entirely dependent on weight not height, so a super chunky 14.2 is a false economy over a finer 15.2 for example.

I always thought I preferred riding ponies, but since I've gone back to the RS I'm realising how much more comfortable big horses are! Further to fall though....

Rugging etc gets to be a pain higher than about 16hh for me (5'6")

But basically, if you're willing to be very flexible on height, then you'll have a far wider range of temperaments to choose from.

 

[JulesRules]

I have a 14hh pony and a 15.3/16hh horse.

Advantages of pony - easier to get on and off, easier to find a big enough stable, easier to tack up, less far to fall off.

Advantages of horse - smoother paces.

Disadvantages of very big horses - harder to find a big enough stable, needs a bigger trailer/ lorry, more expensive and less choice in rugs etc.

My advice - find the right horse or pony for the job you want it to do and don't worry too much about the size.

 

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

Thank you everybody for these wonderful responses! I hadn't even considered soundness as something to think about but then again I've never had to as my mare is never lame or sick or sorry. I'm 5'9 and although I am definitely not too big for my mare I do wonder sometimes if I look a little silly riding this tiny chunky cob! I will try not to focus too much on height but I think I want something at least 14'3 if only to experience being more than a few feet off the ground!

 

[Britestar]

Go small. I have from 13.2 to16.3hh.
The bigger they are the more stupid they are. Big lad doesn't acknowledge my presence, I'm below his eye line!

 

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

I think 14hh (current height) is as small as I'd ever go just because of how big I look on her. I didn't realise intelligence factored into it lol. My mare is not the brightest she can't even figure out a salt lick! It seems that the general consensus is don't go too big! Are there any advantages to a mammoth horse? Not that I want one but there only seems to be negatives at this point! I don't jump that much or compete so it doesn't really factor in. I'd like to but transport is very difficult for us

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I'm 5'11" and have a few chronic pain issues, I definitely find the paces on big horses more comfortable but the big cob is like being in a favourite arm chair lol.
I always used to go for the biggest horse I could lay my hands on ?? but these days I prefer to be lower to the ground for practical reasons. I definitely envy all of the people on here who are small enough to ride ponies. Horses cost alot so the smaller the better from a maintenance point of view I guess. I still prefer something 16- 17hh if I'm honest but they definitely have more self harming tendencies and breaking parts ???

 

[poiuytrewq]

Whilst I’ve had two bigger horses I think the smallest you can get away with comfortably is probably most sensible.
My perfect size was 15.2, after a 16.2 and 16.3. He was just right and I liked he had more space in my lorry and stable ?
15.2 is the perfect horse imo!
Current is a bit bigger but it’s fine!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

...
It seems that the general consensus is don't go too big! Are there any advantages to a mammoth horse? Not that I want one but there only seems to be negatives at this point! I don't jump that much or compete so it doesn't really factor in. I'd like to but transport is very difficult for us

As long as you're riding during the daylight, sitting on a taller horse gives you a better overview.
If you're riding the tallest horse in a hoard of other riders, you can be spotted more easily by your relatives/friends.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Are there any advantages to a mammoth horse?

I have a mammoth horse (19hh with shoes on) and there are some advantages - there's nothing quite like the power and speed at full stretch gallop, you very rarely get lumbered holding gates out hacking, picking out feet/doing up rugs are less strenuous on the back, rugs are cheaper as no-one wants a 7ft6, quite often boots etc are in the sales as XL's or XFull sizes are not as often bought, the paces are pretty comfortable, you can look over peoples hedges and fences when out hacking (and spot potential spooky things before they do) and you always have a lot of horse around you as even when he throws a tantrum he isn't fast enough to do the disappearing act that smaller horses can be good at.

Downsides: he eats a lot of hay (doesn't need much hard food), takes a while to clip, gates on my own out hacking can be a pain, not easy to dismount/mount out hacking. That's about all I can think of.. He fits in most normal trailers/3.5t as he travels really well, always found it easy to find stables to fit him etc.

All of the downsides people think of eg: syringing things into them, putting on headcollars/rugs, spacial awareness etc can all be fixed with a quick lesson in manners.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I have a 16.2hh behemoth and a compact, but robust 15.1hh. Although the 15.1hh puts a theoretical limit on my cake eating in order to stay light enough for him I can't think of any other advantages of having a bigger horse and will be sticking to below 16hh in future. I'm 5ft7 with short legs and husband is only just taller so we don't need big horses. To be fair the rhino was supposed to be 16hh but she grew up and out a lot more than one would expect of a 5 year old. Difficult to get on. A lot of horse when she's Being Silly. Needs big stuff. She's lovely though. And very impressive. But yes. Compact horses is the future for me.

(When the next horse ends up being an actual elephant you can all laugh)

 

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

I have a mammoth horse (19hh with shoes on) and there are some advantages - there's nothing quite like the power and speed at full stretch gallop, you very rarely get lumbered holding gates out hacking, picking out feet/doing up rugs are less strenuous on the back, rugs are cheaper as no-one wants a 7ft6, quite often boots etc are in the sales as XL's or XFull sizes are not as often bought, the paces are pretty comfortable, you can look over peoples hedges and fences when out hacking (and spot potential spooky things before they do) and you always have a lot of horse around you as even when he throws a tantrum he isn't fast enough to do the disappearing act that smaller horses can be good at.

Downsides: he eats a lot of hay (doesn't need much hard food), takes a while to clip, gates on my own out hacking can be a pain, not easy to dismount/mount out hacking. That's about all I can think of.. He fits in most normal trailers/3.5t as he travels really well, always found it easy to find stables to fit him etc.

All of the downsides people think of eg: syringing things into them, putting on headcollars/rugs, spacial awareness etc can all be fixed with a quick lesson in manners.

That is so huge! One day I'd like to meet one that big maybe not ride him though but holy moly that is a literal mammoth! What response do you get from passersby out hacking? Many people think mine is a large horse and in just like this is a pony it's not even a horse!

 

[little_critter]

When looking for a horse I briefly considered a 17hh horse and asked my friend what she thought (her horse is around 17hh). She pointed out that big horses generally eat more, and you also have to think about transport and what they will fit in.

Mind you horses can feel different to ride, you can have small horses that ‘ride big’ and big horses that don’t feel as big as they look.

I was looking for around 15 - 15.2hh. In the end I ended up with a 16hh. I nearly didn’t view him because he was outside of my size range. I’m so glad I did because I love him to smithereens. Unless you have a rigid reason why you can’t have a bigger horse (like you only have a small stable, or only have a small amount of land) then I’d suggest you stay a little flexible in your size requirements.

 

[Nudibranch]

Having had too many soundness issues with big horses, I wouldn't go over 16.2 again. My riding horse is 15hh but is a chunk and takes plenty of leg up.

Big horses are not as good over rough terrain either, which we have a lot of here. I can go places with my 15 hander that would have been downright dangerous with the 17.3 job.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Right now I am considering getting another horse. Not for definite but it's finally a possibility after a long time dreaming. I would like one bigger than I currently have (14hh) but the biggest I've ever ridden was 15'1. I don't think I would go over 16'2. My parents love how small my cob is because it means I'm closer to the ground should I fall. I like it because I can mount from the ground when out hacking and get on bareback when I want to. So I was wondering what height you would recommend for someone who's never ridden slightly larger horses (or anything sportier than a cob!) and the pros and some of the cons that come with a larger animal. Looking forward to your response.

Going by livery history, the bigger the horse the more the issue, feet, joint etc, so many come and people do too much with them and too young an age as they act as if they are mature knacked and disregarded by 10 or 11. This is based on my experience on horses coming in not as a whole.

Need outsize rugs
more feeding
some yards don't have big enough stables for them or enough grazing
big hole in the wallet that comes along with it.

I would never buy anything over 16.2hh. MY largest is 16.1hh and my smallest is 12hh currently

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

That is so huge! One day I'd like to meet one that big maybe not ride him though but holy moly that is a literal mammoth! What response do you get from passersby out hacking? Many people think mine is a large horse and in just like this is a pony it's not even a horse!

If you ever find yourself in West Sussex you're welcome to come and meet him! I get lots of compliments when we go to clinics or out hacking, it really puts a smile on my face; every now and again we get people who look at him in horror though (usually when he is throwing a tamtrum, it's a lot of horse to handle at that point in time)

 

[JulesRules]

Go small. I have from 13.2 to16.3hh.
The bigger they are the more stupid they are. Big lad doesn't acknowledge my presence, I'm below his eye line!

My 15.3 is much cleverer than my 14hh although thst could also be a mare/gelding thing

 

[Spanny]

I used to ride a 17hh who didn't feel that big when you were on him (I'm 5'6). That was lovely until it was time to dismount and I forgot how high up I was... Nearly landed on my bum a few times and my knees definitely used to protest at the impact when my feet eventually hit the ground!

 

[RHM]

It completely depends on what you are wanting. I have a 13.2 and a 16.1 and I personally wouldn’t go taller.
Pony pros- easy to do gates and get back on, cheap to keep
Pony cons - fatty so more work keeping him trim. No neck to keep you on during emergency breaks, spinning and f***king off home certainly feels faster!
Horse pros - jumps look tiny and feel more effortless. Cars respect you more on the road. Much harder to fall off, speed or spooks much slower than pony. Don’t have to stress about waistlines.
Horse cons - more things terrify the horse. Eats an inordinate amount of hay. Bloody kills jumping off when I’ve forgotten which one I’m on, my knees might not survive the winter ?

Good luck horse shopping!! I would just go in with a open mind! I was looking for one around 15.2 but once I saw her beautiful eyes there was no going back.

 

[Tarragon]

Find the smallest one that matches the athleticism that you need to do the job you want.
As a rider of small ponies - bigger definitely doesn't mean better!

 

[skint1]

My first horse was 16.3 ISH and she was the most intelligent, sensible, kind horse I've ever had the privilege of knowing, but when I got my boy (15.3) I did find getting on and off easier but he is by far the cheekiest horse ever, he's like a giant pony in some ways so generally not as easy a ride- but fun. My newest horse is also 16.3 a full ID and on a completely different scale from my first 16.3. (though not currently ridden) but she is very gentle and peaceful on the whole which is why I bought her. I wanted something smaller ideally but she ticked so many boxes as a sensible hack I took the chance on her.

When I was riding her in the school I often forgot she couldn't turn on a sixpence like my boy and 2 strides of her trot ate up the whole school (or so it felt) so i often felt unprepared for corners or pole exercises. I guess it must her stride length and the elevation in her stride or something, because it just felt like she was flying along, yet she is not particularly forward going, though certainly not a plod. I'd look at video, you could see her doing the most gentle trot she could but to me it felt fast and huge and very smooth. I only rode her consistently for a couple of months before her health issues began to show, so didn't have enough ridden time with her to really get to grips with the trot and only had 1 short canter on a hack with her which was amazing but I imagine galloping her on open country would be like flying. Hopefully one day I will find out.

I would agree with the poster saying the bigger horses tend to have a lot more physical issues, and when they do, they can be a lot more difficult to manage. Again, with my current horses, both draft types- 16.3 has hock arthritis, as does my 15.3 boy, his is "worse" but he's still more nimble than her if that makes sense.

 

[Cob Life]

I will Happily ride anything from 13hh to 17.2.

The only thing I’ve really found is I struggle to ride the bigger movement of anything over 16.3 (like skint1 was saying with the trot) but I haven’t had a huge amount of experience on these bigger horses and I am only 5’1 so quite a bit shorter than you.

 

[mini_b]

Pros -
You can see into people’s gardens

Gasps of amazement “look at that horse, that horse is amazing” and you feel all smug.

when you are cantering, if you close your eyes you feel like you are heading into an ancient battle.

trim branches around gates and pick apples and sloes with ease.


cons -
If you drop something, no one really wants to hold them for you.
also if you drop your phone out in the middle of the field during a schooling session it’s an eff on to get back on.

they break everything

if they trip, you have a week off with whiplash.

You can’t take a good selfie together cos their head doesn’t fit in. Always chop ears Or nose off.

if you’re not in their eye line, you’re not on their radar.

 

[scats]

I’ve only had one horse over 16hh, the rest have all been 15.2hh and under, but then again I’m just under 5ft 4.

Pros-
fences look smaller when you are cantering towards them!
It’s quite nice being sat up high

Cons-
Further to fall
Short people like me have to try and hoist a saddle up there!
They eat more

I’m sticking to 15hh and under nowadays.

 

[Orangehorse]

If you do a lot of hacking, then getting on and off becomes quite an important issue. Also doing gates when mounted. I went from a 15.1 hh to 16.00 and definitely noticed the difference.

 

[mini_b]

I’ve only had one horse over 16hh, the rest have all been 15.2hh and under, but then again I’m just under 5ft 4.

Pros-
fences look smaller when you are cantering towards them!
It’s quite nice being sat up high

Cons-
Further to fall
Short people like me have to try and hoist a saddle up there!
They eat more

I’m sticking to 15hh and under nowadays.

im a bit taller than you and i agree it is quite tedious having to lift a saddle that high.
You do not fall off, you cling onto that oh sh1t strap like your life is depending on it.

 

[palo1]

I think there is some scientific evidence to suggest that for soundness, longevity and the best balance between stride length and metabolism needs 15.2'' is the best possible size for a horse. The bigger the horse the harder their system has to work as heart and other organs don't necessarily increase in size and in evolutionary terms a horse's physique is not particularly well adapted to be as large as many contemporary breeding programmes produce. This is why, probably, larger horses may be more prone to more physical issues. Most people can find a 15.2'' horse to suit them so it's a good size on the whole! However, you really need to like what you have to look after!! If a ginormo-horse steals your heart then you have to take on all the things that come with it. The 'average' size horse is easy to cater for in rugs, tack, feed etc etc and in my experience my smaller, less athletic horse is slightly easier to cope with in a hairy situation. My taller, more whippety horse can be a real handful tbh and I certainly wouldn't want him over 16.2. But you will know if you find the right horse whatever their size and realisitically most of us cope well with what we have. Happy hunting

 

[lannerch]

If the horse is tall enough the prices of rugs goes down my 17:3 had a whole range of rugs I bought for around £12 in the sale.You could argue everything for the bigger horse is better value , full livery prices are usually the same for bigger horses, shoeing likewise. It amuses me Some if you think 16.2 is particularly big. I’m 5ft 10 and would not consider a horse under 16.1 I prefer riding bigger , IMO any size can go wrong and there is a lot of factors but obviously size is one of them particularly as a taller horse when young needs to be given more time to strengthen , that contributes to the long term soundness of a horse.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Many of the big horses go wrong because people won't give them the time they need to mature.