How Big Is Too Big?

Surely at the level you ride at you have an instructor or coach whose advice would be far more appropriate than advice from a bunch of strangers on a forum, most whom have not competed and do not aspire to compete at the levels you are enquiring about and also have no idea what is considered the norm in SA.
 
There is a warmblood at work with incredible huge paces but he is approaching 18hh. I am 5ft6 and petite and I find it extremely difficult to ride him. I love riding my 15hh horses as I can get my legs around them and influence their way of going through my seat more. With the bigger horses I just feel like an irritation as I'm not strong enough or have enough leg to influence the horses way of going. He is also pretty strong which I struggled with as well. He is such a sweetheart though.

I will always stick to the smaller horses but that's my personal preference. I wouldn't get a horse bigger than 16hh.
 
My boy is 17 and I'm 5'4, he was ridden by a professional man before me at top level. I can ride him (ie I don't fall off all the time) but I'm not sure I am strong enough/ long legged enough to get the absolute best out of him (but hey ho I love him to bits and we have a great time - even if not at the top of his abilities)
Of all the boys I've had over the last few years the only one two walk all over me was the 14hh rescue while he was in 'training' not sure size was an issue there just willingness to work!
 
Way, way too big. I wouldn't go for anything bigger than 16 hh at your size. You will get a much better 'tune' out of a smaller horse. Sorry, but I can't stand seeing tiny women on huge horses. Looks ridiculous, and half the time they can't ride them well.
 
*hic* said:
Surely at the level you ride at you have an instructor or coach whose advice would be far more appropriate than advice from a bunch of strangers on a forum, most whom have not competed and do not aspire to compete at the levels you are enquiring about and also have no idea what is considered the norm in SA.
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Her advice was to go see him regardless of his size. But still a 4 hour trip is quite a long way to go if we get there and I can't even tack up the horse :o:o:o. I had hoped maybe someone on here was about my height and owned something of the same size - but it seems as if even taller people are weary of buying a horse of his height (for all the practical reasons like tacking up)
 
That's a hell of a lot of horse to hold together I'm 5ft 10 and I find my 17hh alotto hold together as had a 16hh before.

When you see tiny riders on large horses they just look silly and totally inadequate of riding them with legs barely past the saddle.

That's just my view anyway but I'd say far too big.
 
He looks like a lot of horse at 18hh- my Vinnie is 18hh but much finer than the horse in question.

If he is as wide as he looks, you will really struggle to get your leg around him.

If your options are really limited though, I would ring the owner and discuss your concerns but imo, you look a little overhorsed even on the 17hh horse pictured and he looks a lighter build than the potential purchase.
 
My friend has an 18hh black WB mare from the Henriech lines I think, this horse has struggled to stay sound and has only really 'come right' at 8 years old. Now unfortunately is too told to start with my friend (who is a dressage rider and prefers to start with her horses young)

He may school nicely to EM+ at the minute, but you also have to think of when he gets up to Inter 1 and GP - will he be light/ collected/ pingy enough on his feet to manage passages, piaffes, and tempis WELL? Assuming this is where you would eventually want to go? 18hh and that build is a hunk of a horse to ride and control, let alone training it to hold itself and be light and collected.

I'm 5"9 and with long body and long legs and although I like a horse of around 17hh, I'd say no bigger for a dressage horse before you encounter soundness issues, and there height begins to compromise their ability.
 
I am just 5'1 and weigh 8 stone but I've never had trouble riding massive horses, worked on a hunt yard where nothing was below 17h and had no trouble riding them at all. I do have long legs though which could be why I'm comfortable on giants. See how you feel when you ride him. I've felt "over horsed" on a 13.2 pony before
 
ridefast said:
I am just 5'1 and weigh 8 stone but I've never had trouble riding massive horses, worked on a hunt yard where nothing was below 17h and had no trouble riding them at all. I do have long legs though which could be why I'm comfortable on giants. See how you feel when you ride him. I've felt "over horsed" on a 13.2 pony before
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There's 'riding' horses and then there's 'RIDING horses' though - no offence.

OP wants to do dressage, when her weight, her feel, and her aids will be needed much more than they would be hunting. If she hasn't got enough 'presence' over the horse they could both be wasted.
 
I think there's a huge difference between riding horses to go hunting, and competing with them dressage. Many small women can safely ride and control huge horses, but being able to hold them together for more advanced dressage is a completely different kettle of fish.
 
me (5'3 ish) on a 18.2hh- okay I know he's a shire and nothing like what you are going to try but height wise it might give you an idea.
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I am 5'3 and prefer riding horses to ponies (I look fine on my 14hh pony, but I prefer the bigger, smoother ride of a horse as my pony is quite choppy in his stride). My maximum, though, would be around the 16hh mark. 15.2hh is usually a dream for me depending on the build of the horse.

Any larger and I find that although technically I can ride them, as someone mentioned earlier, I'm not strong enough to hold them together and get them working through from behind. My seat aids are non-existent and the potentially huge movement of a large warmblood like that makes it hard to sit to the trot / canter, although I have a good core. I'm a very petite 8 stone 5'3 BTW. Also, if anything larger than 16hh decided to mess me about I'd be stuffed.

So in short, although I don't mind riding large horses, that's on the basis I can hand them back... I wouldn't own anything over 16hh or thereabouts.



Sorry - I had to edit to add please excuse the accidental pun above!
 
It's up to you at the end of th day - but from the pics he looks quite large in build to ride. I've ridden an 18h who would be the same build as yours and he felt MASSIVE to ride and keep together, I'm 5f6.

I own a large horse at 17h but he doesn't feel big to ride as he is a LW and is compact - which makes all the difference in how you cope!
 
C&C said:
Does it really matter how big the horse is........surely rider capability and confidence for that horse is what is more important?!
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it is- to a degree. but a smaller person on a big horse who's feet don't come much past saddle flaps will find it VERY hard to ask for technical movements. Small person hunting / hacking or even jumping a big horse may manage, but in dressage where your seat and your leg aids play a MASSIVE part of all the movements, being short is definitely a disadvantage.

Think of the aids for a flying change, especially in a young horse. You must fist collect the horse UP whilst keeping it forwards, lift the seat bone from the leg you want to go onto and bring your leg far enough back onto the flank whilst changing the bend to ask for the change. Now that is going to be a damned struggle if your legs aren't long enough to wrap round and give a subtle enough implulsion aid, or long enough to move them back and down enough to ask for the change.
 
I'd say it's too big for you. Not only is he tall he's hefty for a WB too, and that's going to take you up width ways. For hacking about you'd probably be fine, but for riding a technical jumping course or holding together for dressage you are going to struggle IMO.

There are plenty of nice 16 -16.2 horses out there and that's still pretty big!
 
My daughter has a18h shire x TB. She's 5'4'' and a size 8. He's got huge powerful paces and a massive jump - or he did have until his health problems. She never had any trouble controlling him, although our farrier ( a powerful man) did - it's all about relationships I think. Health problems are an issue with big horses - he broke hos navicular bone, possibly because he is so haevy, and now has very severe atrial fibrillation, so he's not supposed to go out of a walk - though he's turned a deaf ear to that advice.
 
millitiger said:
If he is as wide as he looks, you will really struggle to get your leg around him.

imo, you look a little overhorsed even on the 17hh horse pictured and he looks a lighter build than the potential purchase.
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Agree with this, sorry, if I were you I'd keep looking :)
 
I'm 5ft 11 with very long legs and I wouldn't go anymore than 16.3hh personally.
When I was looking for a new horse I tried a 17.1hh who was a lovely horse but really didn't know I was there! Even he was difficult to keep together!

I have a 16.1/2hh now and to me that's my ideal height. She may grow an inch though!

You have to remember transport - if you have a trailer you would struggle at his size! Not just with this but what about leading/groundwork? I would find that too much for me!
 
I bet you will need to spend the difference buying ridiculously big things for this horse, and possibly never be able to ride it effectively. Far better buying something green the right size which has potential and youth on it's side and school it yourself, or spend the difference on getting someone to school it for you.
 
Hello OP :)

As someone who is just under 5'11" tall and rode a 19 hander I would say that the horse will be too big for you.

My friend who is only 5'4" rode him and he never went as well. That is not to say I am a better rider as I am not! It was just that with my friend he couldn't really feel the leg aids, and neither could he really feel her in the saddle as compared to me she was a feather.

Here we are and this is the only horse that made me feel insignificant and small:

picture.php
 
OP I see what you are saying re limited choice in SA but i have a 17.3/18.hh ID HW and I struggle to hold him together, yes, for out and about hacking/hunting not a problem but the horse in your picture looked fairly chunky, he may be a light ride you dont know until you try. I am 5'8" with long legs and weigh about 10.5 stone so I would think the horse would be far to big for you for the type of competing you are hoping to do
 
I think he's too big. He looks very wide as well as tall, which would create a Thelwell type effect (your legs sticking out before they go down...)

all our horses are 17hh++ and I hunt them all, including the 18hh Irish Draught.

However, compare me on him
huntingfromGadfieldElm.jpg


to my partner who is 6'4
VWHLedburyjointmeet.jpg



I am 5'8 and have ridden at PSG level btw. The last horse I competed was a lightweight 17hh warmblood You could buy him instead if you like?!

I love small horses - I'm very lucky to get to hunt and compete a 15.hh XC machine who is awesome and she's such fun. Our big boys make me want to jump up and down and shout "I'm HERE!!" sometimes as while they are generally brilliant in hand, they can just ignore me (and sometimes do)

A 5'3 friend of mine used to come and ride out with me - and I had to tack up for her as she couldn't get the saddle on (and sometimes the bridle too) Our guys are great as I also have the backup of my 6'4 partner (who can reach a lot higher than me!) and he is why we have such big horses.

Given the option, I wouldn't have anything over 17hh because I don't need to.
 
I'm 5'7 and lightweight, have a 16.2 warmblood and a 17.1 tb x irish draught that moves like a warmblood and is hefty! (Bigger build than the horse in question) and I really struggle to hold the bigger horse together.

I would say at your size/weight you will massively struggle to keep the horse together in higher level work! I struggle sometimes with the 16.2 and he's a very compact little machine!
 
My daughter is 17 and slightly taller than you but built the same and she struggled to hold my large built 18.1 together. She rode him well but struggled if he got strong or misbehaved in any way. He has now gone on loan to a 6"3 chap who is doing really well with him.
I suggest going for something smaller even if it is a bit greener for you to train how you want it.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
I'm currently in contact with the owner of the horse in question and making an appointment to go view him. I feel that if I don't go see him I might spend years wondering if he wouldn't have been suitable (as he does look like a lovely horse). I agree with the struggling to give aids and keep the horse together part of the discussion - so I think I'll go out with the intention to try some more advanced movements with him and see how capable I am with communicating what I want. Apparently his one time tempis, canter pirouttes and half passes are all very good - so maybe I'll go test them out (keep your fingers crossed that his owner wasn't exaggerating about his abilities. I've gone out to see so many horses before only to find out that they're not training at the level they were advertised at)

I'll keep everyone updated so I can receive a stern "I told you so" if it flops, or many pleasantly surprised congrats'es if it works out. Either way I feel its worth a shot

I know it might look outrageous, so I'll get a few pics for a couple of giggles if I do end up looking like a mosquito on him. I'm hoping I hit a miracle growth spurt or something a couple of days before I view him :o

For those of you interested, this is his sire - http://sporthorse-data.com/d?i=10551127
 
QueenOfCadence said:
I'm currently in contact with the owner of the horse in question and making an appointment to go view him. I feel that if I don't go see him I might spend years wondering if he wouldn't have been suitable (as he does look like a lovely horse). I agree with the struggling to give aids and keep the horse together part of the discussion - so I think I'll go out with the intention to try some more advanced movements with him and see how capable I am with communicating what I want. Apparently his one time tempis, canter pirouttes and half passes are all very good - so maybe I'll go test them out (keep your fingers crossed that his owner wasn't exaggerating about his abilities. I've gone out to see so many horses before only to find out that they're not training at the level they were advertised at)

I'll keep everyone updated so I can receive a stern "I told you so" if it flops, or many pleasantly surprised congrats'es if it works out. Either way I feel its worth a shot

I know it might look outrageous, so I'll get a few pics for a couple of giggles if I do end up looking like a mosquito on him. I'm hoping I hit a miracle growth spurt or something a couple of days before I view him :o

For those of you interested, this is his sire - http://sporthorse-data.com/d?i=10551127
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Great, the quote 'If you don't ask you don't get' springs to mind. Looking forward to the update :)
 
Blimey, he's a BIG b*gger isn't he? Not just tall, but built like a brick lavatory (several lavatories, actually). Honestly? I think you look tiny on the 17h warmblood; you'll be titchy on the big guy, and it's very hard to influence a big, broad lump of a horse. I'm tall (5'9", long legged) and never used to ride anything under 17h, including an 18.1h behemoth, but much prefer smaller horses now I'm not competeing.
 
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