Buying horses for a new mummy

I think you need to find something that is already doing the job you want. Good, safe, confidence giving horses are often expensive because they are desirable. I wouldn't personally want a green horse if I had panic attacks when riding, I'd rather have something that knew what it was doing and stayed calm if I had a moment.

I have two thoughts about tall horses that do put me off them (as someone who's had a bad riding accident) and that is that they break more often IME and that it is further to fall when it does go wrong.

'Gold dust' horses are out there. I managed to find one when I came back to horse ownership after my accident and the one thing that I will say is that mine has never scared me. Yes things have gone a bit tits up on occasion, but I was not overhorsed and that is vital I think to get over those bumps without it denting your confidence.
 
Cluelessblonde said:
Unfortunately I'm 5'7 it's not really weight but my leg length I squeeze on a heavy ish 15.2 but my horse I fit perfectly was a ish 16.3hh and I'm happy to ride over 17hh (horse before than was 17.2hh)... It's not actually the schooling work that is an issue I can handle quirks in an arena it's the hacking that I have panic attacks because you are in a very open space. I was talking to hubbie last night and I explained yes a youngster has no experience so everything is new but at least you know that going in. A older quirky horse is actually scarier because they know what they are doing rather than a younger horse just uneducated
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Smaller is so much less scary! My husband and my friend are both 5ft 6/7 and she has v long legs. Both fit fine on our NFx who is 14.3hh now. I am only 5ft4 but I can ride a 13hh pony no problems. In fact I find her much more entertaining when she is cheeky cos she is small and the ground is near!

Friend has a 16hh horse who takes up her leg about as well as my 13hh pony does - it is all in how they are built!

14.3hh is an unpopular therefore cheap size - not a pony but not really a horse. A good native or native cross that size would give you a lot for your money, take up your leg and potentially fill you with confidence too. And when your child starts riding and you need to ride and lead, smaller is better so your arms stretch and you can reach the child to help them if they need it.

And my 13.3hh mare jumped 1m20 in her prime - no restriction on competition ability for size!
 
Meowy Catkin said:
I have two thoughts about tall horses that do put me off them (as someone who's had a bad riding accident) and that is that they break more often IME and that it is further to fall when it does go wrong.
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This. I've already mentioned my 17.3; he was pts by 7. My farrier is adamant anything over 16.2/3 just isn't meant to be that big in evolutionary terms and they generally don't have a long working life. I'm inclined to agree.
 
Leo Walker said:
I've never known anything over 16.2hh stay sound!
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M's 17hh, 24 and still doing 80cm xc courses with a very gentle novice rider (i.e. he could easily stop if he wanted to but doesn't). He's had two significant periods of lameness - one fractured cannon bone at 15 so some sort of accident and an arthritic elbow which was medicated 2 1/2 years ago. He's been sound ever since. *touches wood* Having said that, A's 16.3, conformationally more correct than M who is like a cut and shut horse, and been pretty much crocked since 12.

OP I'm 5'7" (almost) and rode a 14.1 section D for years. They seems to particularly good at taking up the leg.
 
I’m 5’4” and am hoping to loan a 13.3/14hh Highland, having seen the owner who is maybe 2” shorter than me ride her with her feet finishing nearly halfway up the mares barrel I’m sure my legs will fit even if I look a little tall!
 
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