How big do you like your horses to be?

How big would you like your horse to be?

  • Total voters
    0
I can't really answer!

From a practical POV, 14.2 - 15 hands is perfect for me. I am only 5' and not heavy. Small horses are generally easy and cheap to keep, easier to travel as you can put them in just about any size trailer or lorry, they are generally more sound and last longer.

But, I have been out hunting a few times recently on a friend's 17 hander and I have to say I quite like being on something bigger! He's so solid and well balanced, more comfortable and in some respects, easier to ride. Jumps look small from his back and it's no effort for him to jump them which is really helping my confidence. I feel so safe on him, I feel I'd have to throw myself off to fall from him!

In a perfect world I'd have a biggie and a littlie! One thing is for sure, my next one will be a bit bigger and/or chunckier than my current one (I'm really wanting another ID!)
 
Faracat said:
I agree but - the taller the horse, the further it is to fall if everything does go tits up. ;)
Click to expand...

Yes but....

marmalade76 said:
But, I have been out hunting a few times recently on a friend's 17 hander and I have to say I quite like being on something bigger! He's so solid and well balanced, more comfortable and in some respects, easier to ride. Jumps look small from his back and it's no effort for him to jump them which is really helping my confidence. I feel so safe on him, I feel I'd have to throw myself off to fall from him!
Click to expand...

^^^ :D

I was just picking up on the "over"horsed thing as I see people on here quite frequently saying about how someone might be over-horsed because they've got a biggie, and it's misleading.
 
I was just picking up on the "over"horsed thing as I see people on here quite frequently saying about how someone might be over-horsed because they've got a biggie, and it's misleading.
Click to expand...

:D Sounds like a fab horse.

Can I have a winch to help me mount the 17hh confidence giver though? ;) :p
 
I'm 5'2'' and 16hh is plenty big enough for me to want to own. It's nothing to do with riding, I've ridden some big buggers and I've felt happier on them than I do on ponies, it's more to do with slinging on tack and rugs. BH is 15.3 and Nits about 15.2 but the difference in them to ride is enormous. I look big on her and titchy on him and feel fine on both!
 
I prefer them bigger. I have a 17.1hh TB
I also have a 15.2hh Arab. I ride the TB but not the Arab as I am 5'10" and weigh about 13 1/2 stone :eek: (I'm working on that)
My horse of a lifetime - Henesy was 17.2hh
I prefer a bigger horse as I find them effortless confidence givers. My TB is a much calmer/ more easy going soul than my naughty Arab.
I also like riding a bigger horse as I hate knocking poles off with my feet ;)
I have very long legs so it's nice to actually feel the sides of my horse rather than having my feet dangling in fresh air :D
 
I prefer riding big horses, my boy is 18.2hh the only thing i hate is 1) falling off and 2) actually getting off :-) its such a long way down. I didn't intend to buy a horse so big, i had a limit of 17.2hh but i was persuaded to see him and fell in love with his temperament, that was 11 years ago. It's great being nosey as i can see over all the hedges :-)
 
Cleveland bays, full stop.. Although I have owned other breeds..

So usually 16-17hh and CB shaped :)

I've been riding horses since I was 15-16 so don't like smaller at all and like my horses to have good bones and substance.. No spindly skinny frames.. Also like ID..
 
My horse is 15.1hh perfect size. I can do gates, get on and off easily. Put rugs on without wearing them myself :rolleyes:

Rode a friend's big horse once and it felt horrid. Too much neck and I felt like a pea on a drum. I'm assured I was not small on him (am 5ft7) but have stated I won't ride anything of 16hh :D

My Youngster is rising 4 this year and is already pushing 15.2hh. He was only meant to make that! I'm now concerned he's going to go over my ideal height. But he rides like a pony and isn't big, so I think I'll live. Not that I could let him go anywhere, love him to bits. :D
 
I'm 5'4 (maybe 5'5) and my mare is 15.3 and perfect for me. I don't really like huge horses as I look like a pea on a drum :D
But I my next would either be the same as my mare or something smaller that I could have fun on as my mare is quite tempremental and sensitive.
 
I'm 5ft 2 and weigh 7 stone so I feel comfortable on anything from 11.2 - 15.2hh

I don't like anything over that cos I feel like I can't collect them up and everything becomes too difficult for me, I'm more comfortable on the slightly shorter ones like myself ;)
 
I do not care what size they are as long as they can do the job that is required of them.

One thing I have learned is that horses that are over 16.2 (and a genuine 16.2 which most people think is 17.2) are more likely to get leg and/or wind problems.
 
Mine is bang on 16hh, and I'd like him an inch taller simply because I do feel a tiny bit tall sometimes (5'8"). He can carry me fine, and it doesn't create any problems, I'd just prefer a tiny bit more height!
 
I couldn't really answer as size is fairly low down the 'wishlist' :) I'm 5'3" and under 8st so can ride anything from the littlies up. If it was something to buy and compete I wouldn't get below 14hh but I wouldn't set a maximum height at all; I am currently riding a 17.2hh ISH and have competed dressage on an 18hh+ before. Ginger horse is 15.3hh :D
 
Ive had a 16.2hh in the past then I had highland ponies of 14.1hh but i felt fine on them (im 5"4 and ten stone. I currently have a chunky tb of 15.2hh and I am happiest on a bigger sporthorse type
 
17hh+ for preference, although I'd go to 16.2hh if it took up my leg. I'm tall and I ride long. I'm also built like a brick outhouse, and have no desire to look like a gorilla on a space hopper - so big horses all the way for me!
 
I am 5ft3 but I am quite long in the leg and I am not skinny so I like a good 16hander.

My current mare is 16.2ish, but she isn't wide. But she rides reasonibibily big. I am good on a 16-16.3hh big moving horse that I can get my legs around. 17hh or bigger is just too big :p

I have ridden a 17.3hh and that was just ridiculas, I needed twists in the stirrups! Anything remotely ponyish, say smaller than 14.2hh and I really struggle with how small they ride..
 
im 5ft 9 and weigh around 11 and half stone, my horse that i have at the mo is a 15.3tb and i do feel a little big on her, my youngster should grow to about 17.2 ish and im looking forward to riding a bigger horse but to be honest i think my ideal hight would be 16.1 :-)
 
im 5.9ft around 10stone and 15hh was my favorite to ride even tho i was too tall i felt most comfortable on her :D my current one is now 16.1hh and its nice to ride something that suits my height but smaller the better :D:p
 
i'm greedy and like to have one of each size!! currently have a 15hh welshieX who is rather barrel shaped so feels bigger, also have a 16.2hh TB who feels just right and a 17hh TBX who is fab for when i want a nosey hack and can look over all the hedges:D I'm about 5'6'' and don't feel at all overhorsed by the 17hh girl but that moment of freefall when you dismount can be disconcerting;)
Find riding anything smaller than 15hh odd now, theres just not enough underneath or infront of me to make me feel safe!
 
For me, either a a full up 15hh gypsy cob built like my baby, or a 17hh 7/8 TB LW type, or a 18hh+ proper true heavyweight hunter type.
 
Im 5'10 and 8.5 stone ish - have had my 15.1 Irish cob (chunky fella) since I was 14 and have to ride short on him but i dont feel big on him - if that makes sense! Had a lesson on him within the first week I had him and my instructor told me I had to ride like Franke Sloothak - havent been able to ride him any different since!
However I would love a 16 to 17hh - have tried and tested up to 17.2hh I dont feel uncomfortable on anything over 15hh. My little tb is a year old next week - desperately hoping she will make 16hh!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top