Is 16.3 too big??

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Gorgeous George

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I have seen a horse I really really like but for reasons I won't bore you with I think I am going to lose out to another buyer
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But in case I don't I do have a couple of concerns, his size is ok for me (I'm 5ft 4/5 and 11st), but do bigger horses suffer with more health problems, lameness and so on?
He has slightly flat plate like feet (although they don't look wrong against his size) is this likely to cause a problem in the future (he's only 8 now and has had no probs)
I realise that tack and rugs will cost more, but is is right that his shoes will cost more as his feet are bigger?

I was quite happy about him until a chat with a very experienced horsey friend and she has sown some seeds of doubt in my mind!

So I would really appreciate some advice, especially from those of you with BFGs!
 
If you are happy on a horse that size and feel capable to handle him on the ground then I dont see why not, also I Dont pay more for my horses shoes its the same as what everyone else pays for a set.

You should get horse vetted aswell. Is he a tb?
 
I ride an 18'1 sometimes, he is a complete gentle giant.
He has had his share of foot problems, abcesses etc, but that was more through neglect at his previous place rather than a problem with his size. No more than other horses i have known.
I did used to pay more for his shoes, but they did have to be ordered, at 16'3 you prob would pay the same.
Definatly get him vetted before you buy him, and ask about any previous problems, i.e unexplained lameness etc.
Like MissTwinkleToes said, if you are happy and confident with the horse and he passes the vetting, there does'nt seem a reason why you shouldn't go for it
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Looks nice enough bit gangly infront jumping what bit is it in? I can see it got a grackle on but cant see the bit.

What type of horse are you after? Ie size what age what you want to do with it how well can you ride? Just for an idea of what sort of horse if you dont get this one?
 
Looks nice, maybe IDxTB??
Seems nice, you should prob ask the question why they seem to be selling such a nice horse?? If not asked already
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I wouldn't class 16.3hh as excessively big, so, as long as you got him vet checked, I wouldn't expect him to have any problems.
I've never paid more for tack or shoes on a horse that size and above - even the 17.2 huge shire x we used to own, cost no more to shoe, and his feet were mahoosive.
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If you feel happy on him, and enjoy riding him, then go for it.
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He looks nice , but agree he is a bit gangly over the jump . Maybe he's not done much jumping ?

As for size - you are about the same size as me & I enjoy riding bigger horses ( too many years at riding schools when I weighed next to nothing & never got to ride anything over 13.2 ! )

Good Luck .
 
I agree about the vetting and also that as long as you feel comfortable riding him you should go for him. I would recommend a try before you buy if you can and at the very least ride him in a school, maybe pop a few poles ( if you thinking of jumping and the horse has experience and the owner or you have those facilities).
16.3 is tall though and if you have not ridden anything near that size be aware of a shock lol. My lad is 16.3, a clydesdale cross and before I had him I think the tallest I had ridden was 16 hands. It does seem a long way down though for me and I am near 5ft 8. But on the other hand I am someone who lost confidence after a fall just over 5 years ago so I have a different perspective on things at the moment.
I'm getting there though and his height is not causing me so much fear as it did at first lol.
Tack should not be a problem. What breed/sort is he? You may find you need extra full depending on his breeding and head and neck size etc. You can pay a little more for tack etc but if you look around on sites like Ebay etc you can pick up some bargains. Also if he is to be in the 6ft 9 to 7ft 3 range for rugs you can drop on clearouts as they are the least popular sizes and when there are sales you can grab a bargain. Again tack shops and or Ebay good places to look.
If you can buy him with tack that would be a start but even if you do I would make sure that his saddle does fit properly. Either get a saddler out to him or create a template yourself to check against his saddle. It's really easy and there are plenty of guides and free advice available through internet sites.
I'm only saying to get the tack checked out if he comes with it because some people ( being general here) will say yes it all fits etc and then you could find out actually it doesn't it is too wide, too narrow. It pinches his shoulders, rubs withers or back etc.
As for feet some farriers may charge a little more as I pay £5 extra between the cob and clydesdale cross for shoes. Although Mcfly is now just trimmed as he has hard, virgin-like feet.
His feet may be flat but a more sloping foot could be achieved by the farrier if you were concerned he was flat footed. Again a vetting could point out if he needs any corrective trimming/shoeing in that area if you ask him/her.
So far as injuries go I would not say there is a huge amount of difference between larger breeds and smaller. Obviously there is more pressure on joints and legs with the larger breeds. But so long as the horse has enough bone ( below the knee) to support his body frame then there is no problems. If the horse is top heavy I would be wary though. If his legs are too thin for his carriage I would be a tad concerned myself.
The measurement is taken just below the knee, (e.g. 22.5cm or 9” of bone). The number of inches is a guide to ability of the horse to bear weight and stand up to work on hard surfaces, light-bones types are less likely to stand up to the rigours of hard work, especially when young.
Also a nice deep girth would be nice too in a larger horse as well as being fairly wide in the chest at the front to indicate a strong healthy heart and lung function. Something I think is very important in larger horses. Both mine have deep girths and are wide in the chest. Bigger lad is wider as you would expect for his size and he has no breathing or stamina issues that I have discovered so far.

I would say if you are happy in every other way try him out and if you like what you see and feel then go for him.
Good luck
Cazx
 
i am 5'5 & own a 17.1hh, i dont pay any more for shoes than anyone else, tack is 17.5 saddle & extra large bridle,same price as others,rugs are 6'9, same price as others
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wouldnt swop horse for the world
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I jumped him when I tried him and he was a diamond, took me gently in and popped over - big confidence giver for me. I watched him jump bigger with the owner and I would say he was very economical jumping not big or scopey but I think that would be better for me as it wouldn't frighten me, but he has happily jumped 3ft courses and x-country courses (they showed me pics).
 
I agree with the gangly over the jump, but its a very small jump for him. He would proably do better over something a bit bigger.

I'm 5ft5/6 have a 17hh irish draught x td who is built like an irish draugh, I got her as a foal, but she forgot to stop growing, she has just turned 5 and she has extra full size everything. It isn't any more expensive, some ranges don't do extra full size but there is still load of choice, though I often have to order things in. She in a 6,9-7ft rug which as Cazee34 said you can get cheap end of range rugs as they don't sell. I have no problems riding her, she is in fact lighter to ride than my 15.2hh!!

She has had no heath problems at all, she is not shod yet, but pay the same for her as my shetland! My 15.2hh in the first year alone claimed off the insurance several times, has had everthing in the book wrong with her!

People forget even small ponies are so much stronger than us, I've been tanked up the road by a shetland in a bridle, nothing I could do to stop it, certainly entertained the motorist as I went skiing up the road!! But I can lead my 17hh in head collar with 1 finger no problem. Its all about training not strength. If you like him and feel confident rding and handling him go for it.
 
My horse is 16.3hh and I am 5ft 4 and 9.5 stone! My legs reach half way down his sides but he responds and I feel good on him. I just like "big" horses! I had a 15.2hh but felt I was riding a pony, give me a 'big un' any day!!!!
 
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