Do Western Riders ride smaller horses? Weight related..can of worms!

FfionWinnie said:
I don't see how you are too big for her at all Montyandzoom.
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Thanks :) It's weird, I don't feel big at all. We can go out hunting for 3 hours and she doesn't seem to be bothered by how massive I am. In fact, when she was on loan to a very slight 14yo Zoom was terrible as I don't think she's ever had LESS than 12 stone on her!

It's just everyone's blanket 'anyone over 12 stone is a fatty and should only ride a 17hh mega-cob' comments really get to me (I know I'm generalising and not everyone feels that way but hey ho!).

Now she's getting older I'm only going to hack her rather than jump etc
 
MontyandZoom said:
Thanks :) It's weird, I don't feel big at all. We can go out hunting for 3 hours and she doesn't seem to be bothered by how massive I am. In fact, when she was on loan to a very slight 14yo Zoom was terrible as I don't think she's ever had LESS than 12 stone on her!

It's just everyone's blanket 'anyone over 12 stone is a fatty and should only ride a 17hh mega-cob' comments really get to me (I know I'm generalising and not everyone feels that way but hey ho!).

Now she's getting older I'm only going to hack her rather than jump etc
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I don't think anyone has said 12 stone is a fatty. There was a this is what 12 stone + tack thread recently and everyone was commented on to look skinny. You don't look massive at all, you are tall. You must be ok BMI wise?
 
I'm 6'1" and around 12 1/2 stone, Lottie my 3 year old Rocky Mountain is 14.1 and will likely not make any more than 14.2 when all done. She is slightly smaller than I hoped for, I bought her as a 2 year old and she hasn't really gained as much height. My ideal would 14.2-15hh which seems to really shock a lot of people but has other have said when you are on and off a lot and opening gates etc a large horse is just too awkward.


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http://youtu.be/Rwu2CZD7n60

I've no photos of me riding Lottie just this video of her first ride as I'm only in the process of starting her under saddle, from what riding I have done she really doesn't feel too small for me.
 
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She's beautiful! I have a photo of hubby on his girl who we've just got home. She's 14.3 and a hair and he's 6ft 4. She looks a bit dozy as he just got on for a little walk and she had gone to sleep!
 
In the Uk and Europe, fullgrown adult men used to ride pony sized horses all the time.

I agree smaller horses have less soundness issues and also a heap more agile. The right horse for the right job.

However, at our pony club, the fashion seems to be to get your kids on the bigger horses as quick as possible, usually a TB.
 
Okay being very dumb.......are paint horses a breed? :o will go away after the answer........oh and my brother is 6ft and his horse as a 15.1 appy. They both have no problems at all.
 
slightlyconfused said:
Okay being very dumb.......are paint horses a breed? :o will go away after the answer........oh and my brother is 6ft and his horse as a 15.1 appy. They both have no problems at all.
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Yes they are, basically coloured quarter horses. The one on the right in my sig is an American Paint Horse. Her sire is too and her dam is a QH.
 
I have never felt the need to move on to bigger horses. My late mare was a perfect 14.2hh and my current mare is 14.1hh, I was told she would make 14.3hh but she has not grown upwards only filled out in the last 10months, she may go up a little which would be great but at 14.1hh and built like an absolute tank anyway and will carry me fine. I am currently 11 stone and 5'6, me on her the other weekend

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As long as the horse is strong enough, small or not, and the rider is decent I do not see the problem with riding smaller horses.
Perhaps western riders do tend to ride smaller horses, but plenty of others who do not ride western happily ride ponies :)
 
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