Ideal horse height for jumping

[horseybohemian]

Yay i'm so happy! This thread has sooo inspired me, and yes i will definitely work on the striding - thanks for the advice. The main thing about him that just made me fall in love is his absolute all consuming joy when jumping... And he just loves moving, along with his big heart has just won me over. I think we can have a LOT of fun together! Its all so interesting though because there is this general craze that bigger is better and most people i know all want the bigger horses and nothing at all under 16 hands..

 

[ridefast]

What about Pheobe Buckleys mare little Tiger? And Forrest Nymph, 14.3 new forest mare currently eventing at 2* in America?

 

[Goldenstar]

The individual horse's scope and power is more important that its height. I would far rather have a well balanced, nimble and brave 15.3 than something that needs a lot of riding and holding together that is larger. As Ian Start once wrote "The most important attribute of an event horse is the desire to get to the other side of the fence."

That's a spot on quote and that was what it was with my horse she just lived to jump unfortunately she was less keen on dressage .

 

[old hand]

It is not the size of horse but the overtrack and length of stride. I was fortunate to meet Stroller and see him jump. He was barely 14.2hh but his stride was the length of a 17hh hand horse and he bounced off the ground. i had a 15.1 horse that jumped 1.60's and evented, team chased with the best of them. To jump that high you need at least a 14ft natural stride whatever the height of the horse so that you are within its comfort zone and have something to collect under you. I also rode an 18hh shire cross TB but the little horse could beat the socks off him. They must also be an uphill ride and naturally carry their back end under them. If the horse you have seen is like that then he is big enough as long as he has the heart of a lion. Itot du Chateaux was only 15.1hh and they don't come much better than that.