Do I look to big on him?

[Ladybird L]

I’m admittedly a bit paranoid, but I’m a little worried that I’m too big for my gelding. He is rising 6, about 15.1, and I’m 5’4ish and weight a bit over 60kgs. I feel fine on him, but when I look back at videos and photos I wonder am I too big? We’re also having trouble finding a saddle to fit us both at the moment as I apparently I have very long legs…
When he goes nicely through the back it looks ok, but in our less nice moments or when jumping I think I look too big on him? What do you think? Thanks

 

[Kirstd33]

No you look fine and in proportion. I’m a smidge smaller at 5ft 3 and 58kg and ride anything from stocky 13.2 upwards

 

[Lucky Snowball]

You look fine.

 

[smolmaus]

You're fine. Just because social media/ advertising would make you think even teeny tiny women need a 16.3h horse so they can look and feel like a little bird perched on top, that is not real.

The only thing too short in the pictures are your stirrups

 

[HaplessHorse]

You look fine to me height-wise! I’m 5’6 and my pony is a 14hh trim cob, I’m about the same weight as you as well. We feel fine, I look a tiny bit disproportionate sometimes, but I’m within 20%, so we’re happy!

But yes, I do agree about the stirrups being a smidge too short, but I was taught on a very traditional yard, and I haven’t used stirrups for 6 months now (so anything looks too short to me, god forbid I’ll ever have to use stirrups again, I can’t ride with the bloody things getting in the way all the time! )

 

[KikiDee]

Nope. I'm 5'7 and my horse is 15.2hh stood on his tippy toes! Saddle does make a difference, I have long legs and always look bigger on him riding short in my jump saddle than I do in my dressage saddle that takes up my leg more correctly. I weigh 62kg but before me he was hunted by big, heavy men for a few years so I'm not sure he actually knows I'm up there half the time!

 

[Trot_on]

You look fine - and as his body develops he will become 'bigger' too so you will feel better. I'm 5'9 and have a 14.2 who often feels bigger that a 16.2 because of how muscley and upstanding his front end is x

 

[IrishMilo]

Not in the slightest. Your saddle looks too wide though, it could be an illusion but that's why it looks much higher at the back and drops at the front.

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

You look perfectly fine to me! He will more than likely grow a little more. I dont think women need big horses!

 

[Melody Grey]

Not in the slightest. Your saddle looks too wide though, it could be an illusion but that's why it looks much higher at the back and drops at the front.

Agreed- horse may grow into it more at the wither as they develop shoulder and top line…still room for growth at 6. Might be possible to shim up the front in the meantime.

I think you look nicely in proportion OP and lovely horse!

 

[I'm Dun]

Not even a little bit. I didnt need to look and weigh it up, it was an instant no, thats absolutely fine.

 

[Widgeon]

Not at all. You look like you have long thighs though - does your saddle fit you properly? If it's not quite right for you (even if it fits your horse) that might contribute to a feeling of being "slightly off". Apologies if that's way off the mark and you love your saddle!

He's a beautiful horse, too.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I never reply to these posts because, in general, the person does, indeed, look too big.
However you look absolutely perfect so crack on. xx

 

[New Forests Rock]

You are perfectly fine in all respects, and speaking as someone who won't ride anything bigger than a chunky 13.2 NF please just enjoy your lovely horse

 

[Exasperated]

I’m admittedly a bit paranoid, but I’m a little worried that I’m too big for my gelding. He is rising 6, about 15.1, and I’m 5’4ish and weight a bit over 60kgs. I feel fine on him, but when I look back at videos and photos I wonder am I too big? We’re also having trouble finding a saddle to fit us both at the moment as I apparently I have very long legs…
When he goes nicely through the back it looks ok, but in our less nice moments or when jumping I think I look too big on him? What do you think? Thanks

No.

 

[dottylottie]

you look fine! you could even grow an inch, if you fancied?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I think you look fine. I’m 5ft 1 but I look ride/taller or shorter depending on the horse/pony. Faran is a big built lad but I don’t seem too small on him yet I was riding a 13.2hh a few weeks ago and I didn’t look big on him in fact I looked fine and about I’m about 64/5kg. I honestly think it depends on the horse/pony as to how you look.

 

[Highmileagecob]

I was taught that your stirrups should never hang below the horse's elbow, and if you need to lengthen them, then you need a bigger horse to take up your leg. You look nicely in proportion.

 

[Ladybird L]

Thank you everyone I’m so glad everyone thinks we look good! He’s the best boy and I absolutely adore him!!

About the saddle/stirrups - so that saddle was one I had on trial (now gone back) as it was definitely too low on his withers when it was girthed up. We thought if when he fills out it would probably start pinching him too as it didn’t seem to have as much room as it would need in some places. I wasn’t very impressed with that saddle fitter tbh. Saddles are a terrible problem for me because yes, I do have a very long thigh so I feel like nothing takes up my leg well and I’m squashing myself into everything I have only looked at GPs so far, I’m wondering if dressage/jump saddles would be any better in that regard? Problem is I’m doing a good bit of jumping and flatwork so I might need both? And unless they’re very cheap my bank account is not going to be impressed

 

[Red-1]

I have found 2 solutions to where your leg is too long hip to knee for the saddle/shoulder of the horse.

1. A dressage saddle is more forgiving than a GP, if fitted with a thigh block rather then big knee roll.
2. A true jump saddle with no knee roll at all in front of the knee, again relying on a block at the top of the thigh and good saddle balance.