Following heavy rider thread, anyone worry they're too small for big horse?

Achinghips

Achinghips

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As above, interested in responses. I have changed from a light Tb to a half Shire and feel much better but worry I am a little overhorsed in terms of size ...
 
I used to feel tiny on my previous horse. I'm 5ft 2 and he was a 17.3hh warmblood. We used to get on fine even thought my feet only just went below the saddlecloth haha.

I've not sat on my youngster yet, but she's about 16hh and now I'm worrying she'll be to small after being used to such a big horse.
 
Look at the likes of Dettori and Spencer who ride these fantasticly big, fit racehorses without too much of a bother.

It all depends on your own capabilities and your own conifdence in them as to how well you would get on with a horse much bigger than you "technically" should ride.
 
I worried I was under horsed so bought a bigger one (but still smal as I am talll, she will be 15hh max!) and I feel better on her. I loved riding the smaller one but I couldn't stop feeling I was too big (I am not too heavy) so I only get on her to school her and sort her out for her new small riders.

Initially I bought the little one just to bring on for my daughter then realised I wanted to hack for 3 hours at a time and go to RC. I don't regret buying her as she will be cracking for my daughter and in the meantime I have some company to hack out with as my neighbour and another girl are riding her.

Disclaimer, no I won't be hacking my new horse out for 3 hours as she is only 4 but I will be able to in the future.
 
No, I'm 5ft1 and feel fine from 13h upto 17h or more, the only problem is getting on and off the big ones but once I'm up there it makes no difference. My horse is a 15.1 mega wide cob, I would have been happy if she had stopped at 14h but she just kept growing!
 
Im small enough to comfortably ride most ponies(5"4, about 8 stone) I dont feel very safe on big horses. I'm pretty sure it goes back to having a sit on a friends 17hh I.Dx, and him completely ignoring everything I asked of him and just charging round the tiny school.While everyone laughed, including me at first. I really dont think he knew I was there and it put me off getting on anything bigger than I am.
 
I'm 5'3". I currently share a 13.3 and feel he's perfect for me.
Tallest I feel comfortable on is 15. Then I suddenly realise how far from the ground I am!
I rode a 17.2 once. Absolutely hated it, didn't feel safe or as affective.
 
I'm tall, so fit my 17.1hh well in terms of height, but ironically, a smaller rider would find him easier, as he is very slab sided, so his sides slope away from my lower leg. A shorter person would still have something under the leg, so it doesn't always follow that tall rider/tall horse is the best combo!
 
I'm 5'4" with very short legs. In the days when I was light enough I looked fine on 13.2 to 14.2, okay on anything up to about 16h, then a bit tiny after that. I used to look after/ride an 18.2 - really felt like a pea on a drum. I never started anything with him I couldn't finish as I was not sure if he knew I was there. I am very envious of people who are light but have long legs that they can wrap round their horses. My excuse for poor groundwork, when it was all going wrong, was my short legs!
 
Yes, when I ride our Belgium draft, he's only 17 hands or just above so not enormous
But because he's my oh horse I don't ride him very often. However mine is a 14.2 welsh cob and compared too her he is so big I feel I need a seatbelt ;)
 
FfionWinnie said:
I think it would be nice to school big horses so they respond to small riders too. I don't like the thought of it being about a battle of strength or wills.
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I don't think it is! I've got a vid of Alf doing adv dressage moves with a small lightweight teenager on him. It's so sweet to watch - he's very clearly trying to second guess what she's asking him to do!
 
Achinghips said:
so do you feel you ride as well as a rider with longer legs in terms of leg aids?
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Yes of course! In some cases I think I can actually ride better :p Little legs FARRR more controllable than those long things :D

In fact, I bought a horse who was 'Made for tall, lean people' and would apparently only go half decent for said tall, long legged skinny people :rolleyes:

Owner looked sceptical of me for sure! Later said the horse has never gone better for anyone! So much for these stereotypes ;)
 
i would love to look tiny on a horse! Im 5'7 but ride long and have pretty long legs, 33inches so I feel massive on anything I ride! thankfully my 2 yr old is already 16hh and was only supposed to make 15'2 and he's got a bigger body than my mare already, so hopefully I'll look ok on him hehe!
 
Auslander said:
I don't think it is! I've got a vid of Alf doing adv dressage moves with a small lightweight teenager on him. It's so sweet to watch - he's very clearly trying to second guess what she's asking him to do!
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I was more meaning the post below.

hippo-horse said:
Im small enough to comfortably ride most ponies(5"4, about 8 stone) I dont feel very safe on big horses. I'm pretty sure it goes back to having a sit on a friends 17hh I.Dx, and him completely ignoring everything I asked of him and just charging round the tiny school.While everyone laughed, including me at first. I really dont think he knew I was there and it put me off getting on anything bigger than I am.
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And now I am not on my phone I realise I misread the title :o. I thought it said do you feel too small or too big not too small for a big horse. I don't think there is a horse I'd be too small on with my legs :o:D
 
:eek::D:D:D

little-big.jpg
 
Theres nothing quite like the feeling of security you get perched on top of a big horse, with your legs only just coming past the saddle flaps! Especially when jumping, far rather be on a big powerful horse with a good shoulder than small, narrow blood type.

After all, its a partnership, so the horse should compensate for deficiencies in the rider's conformation!
 
No, can't ever say the thought has crossed my mind. Found dressage on a 19hh pure clydesale fairly worrying but that was more down to the trying to contain the canter to a 20m circle :D Get plenty of comments but they don't bother me - mostly because people think I'm a child :o
 
Not as extreme as some of the combo's here! My horse is 16.2 ID x hunter type and i am 5'3. My daughter is 12 and about 5'.
We both ride him and on the odd occasion i do feel a little over horsed yes. That said if we stick to safe routes etc my daughter handles him perfectly and he has impeccable manners. He is though quite nervous and i struggle sometimes to keep him over to the side of the road if hes scared of something and we are alone (I can do its just hard work). Its as if im not even there! He can also be a bit strong at speed in an open space- luckily he listens to my voice and never uses his size against us.
I do feel more able to effectivly use my leg on a smaller horse though- however i love bigger horses and am a definite convert now ive had this one.
 
I don't feel overhorsed on mine - he's a 16.3hh hunter, but a complete plod! I also feel completely safe on him.

HOWEVER - I've always ridden ponies up until him - perhaps the odd 15.2hh riding school horse, but mainly 14.2hh types, and I am struggling to find a good stirrup length that we are both happy with. I also find contact difficult with him, and find myself putting my legs back without realising as there is just nothing there! I have bad feet and ankles which mean I struggle anyway!

I must admit, although I love the big oaf to bits, a smaller set, chunkier type is my preferred ride - I just feel so much more comfy!

However it is early days for me and giant donkey, and either way he's here to stay!! I'm hoping to get some lessons on him which will no doubt help my seat on him no end :o
 
My Mare is 16 hh & jumped a 17hh last week... Im 5ft 3 & 8.5 stone...
Tbh I prefer the bigger horses with a much longer stride ! When I was looking to buy tried a couple of horses around the 15hh mark but just werent for me...
 
Mithras said:
Theres nothing quite like the feeling of security you get perched on top of a big horse, with your legs only just coming past the saddle flaps! Especially when jumping, far rather be on a big powerful horse with a good shoulder than small, narrow blood type.

After all, its a partnership, so the horse should compensate for deficiencies in the rider's conformation!
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Totally agree with this, I spent alot of time jumping a big 17.2,Ihave never felt so safe.

My youngster will make 17hh I imagine, I am not worried about riding her (have had a sit and it felt fine) but lot's of people have revelled in telling me she's too big
 
I'm 5'10 with 36" legs, so its never really been an issue personally. But, my 7yr old has been riding my 14.2 from being a baby. Pony is very full up & takes up my leg well so very tiny on her. Although she looks tiny even now, its not a problem, pony is a star.
 
I am 5'7 so not small but ride anything from 13.2 to 17.3 (In my avatar I am riding 17.3 clydie x aged 14) and have felt equally confident and comfortable on both. I do like a good shoulder and a forward horse though :p
 
In theory I'm totally overhorsed!! BP is 18.2hh pure clydie, I'm 5'6" and normally 8 3/4stone (when not pregnant) but I never feel unsafe with it. He has previously decided to leg it with me on top but even a 13hh cob could do that with me if he meant it!
I have let 7 year olds ride him in the past and I intend to do lead rein with him when the babies are big enough.
My OH complains when he rides that I've put the "buttons" in too high up because I'm a short 4rse and that's why he can't get him to listen, nothing to do with experience and skill!
 
Im 5' and quite lightweight and riding a 16hh tb and I feel like he's quite big for me sometimes. Im used to him on the ground and ridden now but it's still difficult to properly wrap my legs around him and have to be a bit stronger with my aids!
 
I'm 5'3 and have short legs (mainly short knee to thigh ratio) on a 17hh ISH. We found saddle fitting a challenge in that I couldn't reach the knee rolls in most saddles flap lengths were too long so switched in a Bates VSD and seem ok so far.

To be honest I feel fine on him and around him. The only time I notice his height is if he's shying and his head carriage goes to something akin to a Giraffe!! But if i have him working nicely between leg and hand its an awesome feeling, just takes more to gather him up than my previous ponies.
 
Im 5ft 2 and have no problems with my 16.2 well built TB ... up there Im fine but now Im past 30 need a wall to get on him ... cant do the splits like the good old days :rolleyes:
 
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