Is 14.2hh too small for me??

[Charanne]

I have found the perfect Arab X trakehners who is an unbroken 4 year old mare. Good to do in all ways... but she is smaller than I thought.

She measures 14.8hh so would classify as 14.2/14.3hh and that really bothers me. I’m 5’3 and around 100 pounds so I know I’m not too big but I’m worried about pony strides and pony jumps (you know that pony feel), when I really wanted a 15-15.2hh.

I’m annoyed at myself as to why I can’t shake off this feeling that she’s small. What’s everyone else’s opinion?

 

[BaronSamedi]

You mean she measures 148cm or 14.2hh. And you are tiny in eight and weight of you have worked that out right so no 14.2hh is not to small

 

[ester]

With that breeding I wouldn't expect her to feel particularly pony.

But just from reading what people put up on here if it is something they worried about pre-purchase they also seemed to have worried about post-purchase while hoping they would grow.

 

[Wishfilly]

I don't think arabs and their crosses tend to ride like ponies as such (I've ridden quite a few around this size) but I don't think they have the traditional "horse" way of going either.

If her height really bothers you and you want something taller, might it be better to keep looking?

 

[Charanne]

I have found the perfect Arab X trakehners who is an unbroken 4 year old mare. Good to do in all ways... but she is smaller than I thought.

She measures 14.8hh so would classify as 14.2/14.3hh and that really bothers me. I’m 5’3 and around 100 pounds so I know I’m not too big but I’m worried about pony strides and pony jumps (you know that pony feel), when I really wanted a 15-15.2hh.

I’m annoyed at myself as to why I can’t shake off this feeling that she’s small. What’s everyone else’s opinion?

I don't think arabs and their crosses tend to ride like ponies as such (I've ridden quite a few around this size) but I don't think they have the traditional "horse" way of going either.

If her height really bothers you and you want something taller, might it be better to keep lo

I don't think arabs and their crosses tend to ride like ponies as such (I've ridden quite a few around this size) but I don't think they have the traditional "horse" way of going either.

If her height really bothers you and you want something taller, might it be better to keep looking?

I’ve been looking for a very long time and everything has come up lame. Because she’s unbacked it’s hard to know what she feels like, so considering her price, we wondered about backing her and if she feels too small, then sell her on. I also may have fallen for her temperament and looks!

 

[Charanne]

With that breeding I wouldn't expect her to feel particularly pony.

But just from reading what people put up on here if it is something they worried about pre-purchase they also seemed to have worried about post-purchase while hoping they would grow.

Also concerned about her ability to jump. Aiming for at least 90cm showjumping and probably 80cm XC?

 

[Charanne]

You mean she measures 148cm or 14.2hh. And you are tiny in eight and weight of you have worked that out right so no 14.2hh is not to small

because she measures 148cm, I thought that translated to 14.2hh? I may be wrong

 

[windand rain]

not sure why you think she is too small to jump my 13hh highland competes at 90cm x country and 100cm showjumping she regularly wins, The connie I sold was a 100cm working hunter at 143cm both not conventional breeds for those jobs. So no you are not too big and yes you are underestimating the pony you won't know if she has the talent until she is doing. The highlands mum is also a jumper she jumped 80/90cm courses and never touched a pole in 20 years, she also free jumps 6ft over the fencing.

 

[Lois Lame]

She sounds lovely.

Let's assume you get her, break her in and get her going nicely but she doesn't like jumping. You get to pass on a really nice horse.

Although I don't think she's too small for you for one second, I wonder if you will always feel she is, like Ester says. but I love the idea of you doing the work on her and giving her a good start. True, I don't know you from Adam, but I have a good feel about it.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I have a 14.1hh connie who can easily jump 90cm+ (I just choose not to!). Mine also has a lovely long stride rather than choppy pony.

Ponies are cheaper and way more fun than horses ?

 

[maya2008]

She is four, she will grow an inch or two yet. Then she will be the height you wanted!

 

[Marigold4]

I thought the same about my youngster at 4, but he has grown an inch this year, filled out and muscled up and is now 15hh, the height I wanted. Last year when backing him, I felt he was not enough horse for me, but now he's perfect. I'm just under 5"4'. Plus it's really fun to have a young horse to back!

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

If she were perfect in all the ways you wanted and also she were 15.2hh,then you could probably add a zero onto the price! There's always a compromise-height, age, athletic potential, education, temperament, price (colour, sex, pretty face etc etc!) you just have to decide what you can compromise on, and what you can't.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I say go for it she will fill out which will make her look bigger and possibly grow a bit in height, I have an Arab his barely 15h and looked like a weed even at 6 his like a tank now and I am 5'6 and I don't feel big on him, I actually prefer riding him to my 15.3 Arab so I would certainly buy that height again.

 

[ester]

Also concerned about her ability to jump. Aiming for at least 90cm showjumping and probably 80cm XC?

Don't see why that would be a problem!

 

[ihatework]

Also concerned about her ability to jump. Aiming for at least 90cm showjumping and probably 80cm XC?

A correct, athletic, well trained pony should be able to jump those heights with a blindfold on.

Now the gamble is she is unbacked so you aren’t going to know what she feels like to ride. Some ponies ride much bigger than they look. There might also be another inch or two to come given her age.

If she is ticking all your boxes bar the height, then given you are tiny, I’d take the gamble. You can always sell on at a later date if she isn’t what you want, but in terms of size I find you just get used to whatever you ride daily, even if it feels a bit alien at first

 

[sbloom]

A further thought, will she take the saddle you need? She'd have to be pretty short backed not to, but for adult riders on ponies it's one of the most critical things to check https://www.ahsaddles.com/post/2019/04/30/horse-shopping-saddle-length-part-1

 

[Prancerpoos]

Look at her stride, does she have a big overtrack at walk? That usually indicates a good 'horsey' ride.

I also imagine she will grow, given her breeding. My trakehner grew nearly 3 inches between 4 and 6, but even at 14:2 she is no way too small for you. I regularly used to ride a 14:3 and I am 5'9". As for jumping...I think we have all seen ponies going over jumps that look bigger than them, and for us oldies, remember Stroller?

 

[cauda equina]

Also concerned about her ability to jump. Aiming for at least 90cm showjumping and probably 80cm XC?

Karen O'Connor's Theodore O'Connor was 147cm and finished 3rd at Kentucky!

 

[Annagain]

My just 14hh Section D, Ebony, rode so big that I barely noticed the difference when he died and I bought Archie, a 16.3 ID.....Except when I got off. It took me an age to land! I also jumped exactly the same heights on Eb as I did on Arch - or higher if anything because I was braver back in the day and I had total faith in him to get me to the other side (which I didn't with Arch). I also rode a friend's New Forest a few times. He was the same height as Eb but felt tiny in comparison - he looked a lot more ponyish though. Eb looked like a small horse. I think if they look quite horse like they tend to ride quite horse like. I'm just over 5'6" though, I think you'll be fine on her and there's always the chance at 4 that she's still growing. My friend's Trakhener grew two inches between 5 and 7.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Remember Stroller. He jumped as a 14.2 then graduated to horse classes and competed at the Olympics. If the talent is there height is no barrier.

 

[maya2008]

You won’t know if she likes jumping or is any good at it until you have her backed and she is old enough, with enough training, to show promise (or not). That is the risk you take in buying unbacked. Equally, some problems do not show until horses/ponies come into ridden work.

 

[Leandy]

It depends how desperate you are to have a horse! IMHO if you have doubts about something before you have bought it then it is not the one for you. On the other hand if you are willing to take the chance and then sell on if you still have doubts later on then just go ahead, have fun with backing and schooling and see where it leads. It really depends exactly what you want the horse for which you don't go into detail on. You are certainly not too big for her and those jumping heights are not an issue at all. I also don't know what you mean by 14.8hh?? There is quite a difference between 14.2hh and 15.2hh and I would keep looking if the horse was really a full hand less than I wanted. On the other hand there is very little difference between 14.3hh and 15hh and if you are really happy with a 15hh one then I don't see that height should put you off this one. As others have said she still has a little maturing to do - although I don't think you should assume significant extra height at this stage even if it does happen occasionally.

 

[canteron]

Remember the lady who won Badminton in a 15hh horse !!
Strangely I think it depends on your age - under 40 don’t buy - your friends will all be on huge horses and you will feel Self conscious.
Over 40, go for it, you will feel the clever one for having a small pocket rocket!

 

[Wishfilly]

I’ve been looking for a very long time and everything has come up lame. Because she’s unbacked it’s hard to know what she feels like, so considering her price, we wondered about backing her and if she feels too small, then sell her on. I also may have fallen for her temperament and looks!

Sounds like you should go for it, then!

Also concerned about her ability to jump. Aiming for at least 90cm showjumping and probably 80cm XC?

I've ridden 13.2 ponies who could do that with ease. 90cm is well within the ability of the average 14.2!

 

[BaronSamedi]

Sounds like you should go for it, then!



I've ridden 13.2 ponies who could do that with ease. 90cm is well within the ability of the average 14.2!

Exactly, look at the tiny tots on 12.2hh’s jumping fences as big as they are! All horses have the ability to step over anything that comes up to their elbow and that’s before jumping. ?

 

[[139672]]

I owed a 13.2 Fell Pony and we used to compete in and win Open Showjumping classes against 15.2 to 16.2 horses. We also did Puissance classes. He could jump a 5ft plus Puissance wall. ?

 

[windand rain]

Have also met some 16.2hh that cannot jump a 30cm course I used to think it was either because the jumps were too small or that was the limit of the rider until I met a few that stopped with the pro trainers on board

 

[Errin Paddywack]

As regards what length of stride it will have, just observe it moving loose in the field. You only have to watch my sister's 14.1 pony to know she would be an uncomfortable ride. Very short striding but would be ideal in harness no doubt. If a horse can't move loose, it won't under saddle.
She sounds a lovely cross, just go for it.