its only a hand

[Asha]

But my word it feels a whole load different.

I usually ride 16ds types, and feel very comfortable at that height. However, one of my homebreds has reached the dizzy height of approx 17hd at 4yo. I sat on her for the first time yesterday, and was a little taken aback at how high i was off the ground. Width wise she felt amazing ( i know she will bulk out in time ) She gave me a lovely feeling just walking out around the yard and hasnt put a hoof wrong .. yet !

Have any of you moved onto bigger horses and actually got around the size difference ?

ETA . Photo of her usual jockey who is much taller than me

 

[Cowpony]

Yes, I've gone from 14.2 to 15.3. I'm only 5ft tall, so the difference feels huge!

 

[Tiddlypom]

She looks lovely. And long.

Now I’m riding a variety of horses, mostly from 16hh to 17hh+, it’s how far away the ears are that I notice most rather than height - I like a good long length of rein in front of me, especially in canter upwards.

 

[chaps89]

The last yard I was at had a 17hh who felt massive and another one who was genuinely off the scale big - measuring stick didn’t go tall enough, who felt diddy once you were on. Once he got going though, blooming heck he could cover the ground! Long way down for getting off though. The 16.2’s all felt like ponies after those two (and I’m a 14.2hh rider all day long )

 

[Asha]

She looks lovely. And long.

Now I’m riding a variety of horses, mostly from 16hh to 17hh+, it’s how far away the ears are that I notice most rather than height - I like a good long length of rein in front of me, especially in canter upwards.

The lady who is doing the riding away said she feels bigger than what she is, as shes a lot of horse to hold together. So long in front and behind ( as well as up )

 

[Asha]

The last yard I was at had a 17hh who felt massive and another one who was genuinely off the scale big - measuring stick didn’t go tall enough, who felt diddy once you were on. Once he got going though, blooming heck he could cover the ground! Long way down for getting off though. The 16.2’s all felt like ponies after those two (and I’m a 14.2hh rider all day long )

thats a good point, i did have time to wonder when my feet would hit the ground while dismounting.. So, do you prefer the bigger ones now ?

 

[Titchy Pony]

I'm normally a pony rider, with my Little Madam being roughly 14.3 but I'm currently riding a 17.2 while Little Madam is on maternity leave. Funnily enough, I find Enormosaurus a rather comfortable size when sat on her, but getting off is a long way down!
Little Madam appears small now when I'm handling her.

 

[Skib]

My first "dressage" lesson was away from home at an RI friend's yard and on a 17 hands grey. I list every horse i ride and she is down as Chloe, an Irish Shire but she was a tall slim horse on whom I learned to walk small circles in each corner of the big indoor school. I am fine on tall horses. I can't sit astride broad horses or cobs.

 

[Tiddlypom]

As an older rider now it’s the dismounting straight to the ground that can be challenging without my knees buckling and me falling in a heap.

I’ve never felt happy dismounting to a mounting block, I’m sure I’d miss the step, but might that be an option?

 

[Asha]

I'm normally a pony rider, with my Little Madam being roughly 14.3 but I'm currently riding a 17.2 while Little Madam is on maternity leave. Funnily enough, I find Enormosaurus a rather comfortable size when sat on her, but getting off is a long way down!
Little Madam appears small now when I'm handling her.

i may just steal that nickname , it gets the point across rather well

So far then it appears its possible to get over the height issue

 

[scats]

I went from 14-15 h to a 16hh, but he was narrow so it didn’t feel too big.
Millie is only 15hh but rides big, I’ve no idea why. I don’t feel much different on her to what I did on the 16hh.

 

[Asha]

As an older rider now it’s the dismounting straight to the ground that can be challenging without my knees buckling and me falling in a heap.

I’ve never felt happy dismounting to a mounting block, I’m sure I’d miss the step, but might that be an option?

Yes, after having my hip replaced i use a mountain block to get off. Just to try and preserve my joints.

To be fair the getting off was actually ok, in fact id say i landed better than when getting of the chunky ones, and swinging my leg over was much much easier. Its more the oh heck thats a long way down if i was to fall off, and oh heck this feels like a lot of horse to sit on

 

[Rumtytum]

thats a good point, i did have time to wonder when my feet would hit the ground while dismounting.. So, do you prefer the bigger ones now ?

A couple of weeks ago was chatting to my instructor as I dismounted from a 16.3, totally forgetting I was not on my usual 14.2. Plummeted the last 9 inches, tipped over and landed on my bottom

 

[Pearlsasinger]

As an older rider now it’s the dismounting straight to the ground that can be challenging without my knees buckling and me falling in a heap.

I’ve never felt happy dismounting to a mounting block, I’m sure I’d miss the step, but might that be an option?

I started dismounting onto a block after breaking my left ankle, several years ago. We had a permanent block in the yard and I got my dad to put a pole in the ground, So that I could use it to steady myself. Later I used a moveable plastic 5 step block and could just step onto it while still leaning on the withers.

 

[quizzie]

thats a good point, i did have time to wonder when my feet would hit the ground while dismounting.. So, do you prefer the bigger ones now ?

Having had a series of tall horses (17.2-18hh), all sport horses so not too broad.... I now can't ride anything smaller....they just feel too short striding and pony-like!

I will admit that the ground is a long way down, but bonus is the fences look a lot smaller.....but when young ,it can feel like you are attempting to direct a double decker bus plus trailer around the corners!.

At my age, I should be more sensible, and latest young horse was only 16.1/16.2 when I bought him...but, guess what....he is now north of 17hh. Friends have suggested I stop strapping grow-bags to his feet!

 

[ihatework]

You get used to the height very quickly. Thats generally not the issue. It’s more how big they ride, as in how much in front and behind the saddle needs connecting up.

She looks lovely btw

 

[SEL]

My littlest cob is 13h high and about the same width - if I get on the 14.2 after her he feels like a 16h skinny warm blood!

 

[Asha]

You get used to the height very quickly. Thats generally not the issue. It’s more how big they ride, as in how much in front and behind the saddle needs connecting up.

She looks lovely btw

Thanks IHW, shes a gorgeous mare to be around too. so perhaps with time and schooling and a little help from my instructors then it could work.

 

[Birker2020]

A couple of weeks ago was chatting to my instructor as I dismounted from a 16.3, totally forgetting I was not on my usual 14.2. Plummeted the last 9 inches, tipped over and landed on my bottom

I did that when I went to view a horse but my friend was more embarrassed tbf.

I've spent the last 20 years getting on=off at a mounting block, I never dismount straight onto the ground. It hurts my joints too much.

 

[AppyLover1996]

I've gone from a 14.2hh pony and my next riding horse who is 2 years old currently is 15.3 and still growing!

I'm 5ft 1 for height reference and I weirdly enough prefer riding the big horses - never really got on with anything under 15 hands, although with my retired lad who is said 14.2hh pony mentioned above, I made it work, however one thing I always hated was how little neck I had in front of me and how easily the little sod could dump me and spin round.....

I ride with some friends who have a variety of larger height horses - one is a lovely 16.1 TB who doesn't feel like a TB at all - it's certainly do able getting over the height difference, but it's also worth factoring how much more horse there is to hold together/how big they ride - especially when they're younger - I once rode a 17.3 ID cross who rode more like a 15.2 cob and conversely also once rode a 16.1 who rode more like a 18.1 x

 

[Goldenstar]

I ride all sizes 16.1 was always my favourite size Sky is 17 hands he’s perhaps bigger but I refuse to accept it
It does not trouble me at all for riding except it makes opening gates more difficult .
It’s the handling that’s a pest I have to use a stool to groom properly as an example.
They are also more expensive to buy medication for .

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Gorgeous looking youngster OP.

Its surprising what a difference it makes! My mare is 15.2ish and have been riding a friends 16.3, its more putting the saddle on and getting off (must bend knees) I notice it the most!

 

[Alibear]

I'm only 5ft 3 , 16-16.2hh fine over tht just too much horse to gather together.
Now I'm older I prefer smaller 15hh.
As others have said horses of the same size can ride so differently, also babies take a bit more help so it may get easier as youngster gains strength and balance?

 

[Red-1]

H is a shade off 16hh and is an ace size. Rigs is 15.1 with a dipped back, he feels too small and always has done. I was used to riding mainly 17hh plus and yes, you just become accustomed to whatever size you generally ride, I think. The only issue is if they are too wide or if the paces are too big. I am older and cannot cope with huge WB type paces any more. I like smooth paces with less amplitude in them!

I dismount onto a block, but a military dismount, so dismounting like you get on with one foot in the stirrup until your other is on the block. As my block is big, it isn't putting much strain to one side of the saddle, especially as one hand is on the off side and I keep my weight central. I can do a dismount this way with the girth already loose and the saddle doesn't move. It means I can't miss the block!

 

[Asha]

As others have said horses of the same size can ride so differently, also babies take a bit more help so it may get easier as youngster gains strength and balance?

Thats what im hoping ! Thanks

 

[Skib]

I’ve never felt happy dismounting to a mounting block, I’m sure I’d miss the step, but might that be an option?

Me too. I dont want to aim for a mounting block. I slither to the ground. I have only once tumbled over backwards. (I wasnt hurt due to hat and bp, but a shock all the same) So I put a grab strap on the front of the saddle and I have one hand on that and the other on the seat of the saddle as I slither down.
However, I prefer to have the horse held and the groom ready to grab the off side stirrup in case the saddle slips.
Since I failed to mount this week and came home without riding, my dismounting is theoretical at the moment.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I went t'other way from riding big horses to a 13.3hh native But yes, you absolutely do get used to the height and size difference in time

Good luck with her!

 

[eggs]

One of my homebreds was supposed to be about 16:3 / 16:3 but I stopped measuring him when he hit 17:3. He is the most comfortable horse to sit on and at 20 years old has also been the soundest horse I have ever owned. As others have said, it is the dismounting that is the issue at it is always further down to the ground than I expect (you would think that by now I would have worked that out !!). I do a sort of very ungraceful hang around his neck and slide down his leg dismount as I certainly do not want to be hitting the ground hard as I have had a broken right ankle and a ruptured ACL in my left knee.

My other horses are all around the 16:2 mark.

 

[SpotsandBays]

My littlest cob is 13h high and about the same width - if I get on the 14.2 after her he feels like a 16h skinny warm blood!

You need to have a sit on Nug!

 

[Tarragon]

I normally ride a 13hh pony. When I rode a long-striding tall warm-blood belonging to a friend, it was the huuuge trot that had me in giggles! It was a case of Up...up...up and down...down...down, instead of the up-down-up-down-up-down I was used to.
I also don't like riding horses that have long skinny necks that stretch out forever in front of you.
Other than that, once you are on board a tall beast, I don't think it makes much difference, other than you can see over walls that you couldn't before