Do I look to big ?

I think you would be better suited to something a little bigger.
As others have said, the saddle does you little favour.
 
Agh I really like this wee mare aswel !

Thanks for all your advice I have her on a 2 weeks trial pick her up tommorow so I can see if I feel too big for her !

I have no responsibility for the tack on her in the photo lol , a lot of pet hates for me too lol !
 
I think you will be fine with her sizewise.

I am 5'10ft and Millie is a 15.3hh on her tiptoes tb with a short front- the only thing you have to watch out for is if they are sharp and whip around you haven't got much to hang onto! :)

I imagine some people on this thread would have told WFP to pass on the ride on Tamarillo as he was too tall for him!
 
I think as long as you are not too heavy and u don't want to do too much on her eg showing or whatever then u will be fine,so what if ur a little tall? Have a look on the adults on ponies threads on here xX she's lovely btw
 
I don't think you look too tall, I think the horse world has got used to seeing people on massive warmbloods with their legs barely past the saddle flaps. I'm 5'1 and feel fine on my 13h pony, I've regularly ridden and schooled ponies down to 12h (I start feeling big below 12.2) and being a cob they take up the leg really well. My cob grew a good couple of inches from 4 to 6, I wish she hadn't as she's now 15h and I was quite happy with her at 14.2. If you feel comfortable and happy on her and she's everything you want then go for it! Easier to get back on from the ground too ;)
 
JFTD said:
I don't think you're too tall - though I wouldn't as I'm considerably taller than you on a similar sized pony! - and I reckon she will grow a bit and look far better with more topline.

However, I don't think she looks in better condition in the 'last year' photo - she takes up her rider's leg better as she is fatter - this is not an acceptable way to make the pairing look ok!
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Agree with this, you can't make a horse more chunky by making it fat, it's just unhealthy. Saw this so much with show cobs, grrr
I think the first picture you have of her she looks ideal weight, perhaps needing more muscle but certainly no more "condition" which is just another word for fat. Don't let her get any fatter! My cob was grossly overweight when I got her and it's taken 2 years to shift it, it is so hard to get rid of the weight and damaging for a young horse to carry extra. Cobs are late maturers, let her do it in her own time
 
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I wouldn't fatten her up at all this gets them to many problems , I would hate to be fat then put
A human on top of that , she will have a lot of condition and top line to put on tho !
 
Enjoy your trial and see how you feel. I agree with what's been said about her weight, she's great as she is, just needs some muscle. Be careful with a saddle during the trial, don't just put anything on her to make do. If in any doubt, don't buy her. Its not worth the heart ache later down the line when she doesnt bulk into what you hoped. Good luck and enjoy! x
 
I'm 5 ft 7 and have 2 14.2 criollos. It's great being able to easily mount from the ground while everyone else is looking for gates to stand on or hopping around. I've never fallen off either of them (touch wood!) but it's not so far to go if I do:D
Smaller horses are easier to groom, tack up, generally deal with, sizewise, IMO.

Look at western horses (which mine are)...you don't see many western riders on anything above about 15hh or so, and that's grown men. It's just a culture of big sports horses and thoroughbreds in Western Europe that leads so many people to over horse themselves. Ooops, I felt the hint of a rant starting there:eek:

Each to their own, horses for courses and all that, but give me a small horse every time!
 
I am 5'8 and had a 14.2hh and felt ok with him did use to wish he was bigger but never bothered me tbh now i have a 16.2hh but feel too big on my 14.2hh think it all depends on whether you feel comfortable or not i think you look ok on her
 
i am 5ft9/10 and ride a 14.2hh trotterX who is built like a credit card !!so i think you are fine
i get a lot of comments that i am to big but i am not hurting him so i just ignore them .......
i dont even look that big !!
is south africa where i learnt to ride there was no such thing as to tall , i learnt to ride on a 13hh thourgha bred pony i was 5ft8 at the time then i progressed on to a 12hh one !!so when i came back to the uk i was surprised to fine that i was apparently WAY to tall for my pony !!
 
I for one think you look fine. :)

I second the comment from Landcruiser, look at western riders! I am one. I am 5ft 8, my mare is a 15hh Quarter Horse. My husband is 6ft 4 and his mare is 14.3hh although she will probably mature to 15hh. Height isn't everything, I like small horses! :)
 
I think you look fine and if she ticks the boxes for you then enjoy her and have fun. My boy is rising 4 and just over 14hh I am 5.7". I don't give a hoot about what others think, there are a lot of riders out there that perch themselves on horses too big for them!
Good luck with him and have fun!
 
OP - I have a 14hh New Forest x cob - she is only just touching 14hh and will probably make 14.2hh as she is not 4 till next month. I'm 5'6" and I look too big on her, but I feel fantastic. Go with what you want, not what other people think. As long as you are happy and not causing the horse any problems , then that's what's important.
 
Shannenm99 said:
Yes I was questioning this myself as my old horse was a 17" inch and it fitted me great !
I think she has a bit of bulking out to do , personally do you think I look big ?
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I think you are definitely right to question the saddle seat size,pretty sure you *should* be fine in a 17" so doubt that one in pic is actually a 17".

Regarding other pic you posted of old owner on her and the bulking out thing.She wasn't bulked out in that pic she was overweight,big difference.Maybe she will fill out in the correct way,but be prepared for the fact she might not.Far better to have a slighter built healthy weight pony than a 'bulky' fat one though.

I think you are long in the leg,which does make you look a little tall on her.With a better saddle though it might not be such an issue or as noticeable.

TBH it doesn't matter a jot what you look like on her if you are happy on her.She can carry your weight easily which is the main thing.

I would just worry that you will feel like you don't have a lot in front of you (common problem riding native of cob type ponies!!),and that if you like to ride with a longer leg you will find your legs hanging a bit rather than on her sides.Only you can tell is these things are a problem or not,and if not crack on and enjoy her:)

Just out of interest my appy x native is around 14-14.1hh,and i ride him fine and am bit taller and prob little heavier than you.I ride him western and english and have no problems other than feeling I don't have a lot in front of me.However I am not that long in the leg,and he is quite wide so takes up my leg well,so *if* your little mare did chunk out a bit you might find you fit her far better,as said before though it should never be because she's allowed to be overweight.Does her breeding imply she might be more stocky eventually??
 
OP, I don't think you look big at all, you're certainly very light, but if you've got some growing still to do and come from a tall family, maybe review. The key issue is how you FEEL on her.
Maybe you could get more pics next time you ride her, I'd be interested to see. She looks lovely.
 
Hard one. My biggest regret about my horse is that I'm too tall for him (5"9 on a 15.1 cob) I'm always wishing he was a hand taller.

Try not to fall in love over the next two weeks and think really hard if she is 'the one'.
 
you do seem to look a little tall for her but she will be able to carry you just fine. FWIW i'm 5'2" and ride a 13.3 section D. The pony may well bulk out a bit and take up your leg slightly better once she is a little older. Our other horse took a 5'9" rug at age 4 when we first got her but within 2 years she was in a 6'6" rug!!
 
Like some of the others I think your leg is a bit long for her but your position could well change in a different saddle. She looks very sweet though so as you're not too heavy, if you love her you could take a chance on a bit more growth and muscle to take up your leg.

FWIW I'm 5'4" but I have 33" legs. I looked fine on a 14.1 fell pony because of his muscle, but was really right on the cusp with my lad (15hh Arab). I bought him and he's grown an inch, so we look fine! Also my stirrups are shorter on my saddle than the one I tried him in, and my position is better; it made a huge difference. Now I look comfortable and don't worry about it at all.
 
Ok guys pick us the wee mare tommorow !
Got a new saddle to try on her just to see how I look before I get fitter out ! Will take some more pics to let you's have a look !
Thanks for all the great comments :)
 
I also think you look a tiny bit too tall, but it's how you feel that matters :)

The one thing I would say is that I'd be wary of relying on her bulking up in order for you to feel comfortable on her. Horses have a habit of being a bit disobliging if you want them to achieve a certain height / put on a bit of bulk! I think if you feel too big when she's more streamlined, don't buy her hoping you'll feel comfortable when she's bulked up. If you feel comfortable on her now, that's fine, but I wouldn't rely on her changing shape to make you feel comfortable :)
 
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