Jumping/ eventing - does size really matter?

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I don't think it's the height of the horse that really is the issue. Bigger tracks aren't necessarily the problem, it's the distances in combinations and also making the time that can be a problem.

There are several smaller horses that compete at top level and they do phenominally. However, these horses are, in my book, utterly exceptional and by no means 'the norm'! Also, unfortunately, *sometimes* they can have a shorter competing career due to the strain.

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I have to say, I think this is nonsense - sorry
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Loads of small horses have plenty big enough stride for the combinations, and/or can alter their strides to suit when necessary (they are often more adjustable than big horses and if you ask many top riders even very tall ones they'd rather ride a talented smaller horse than a bigger one for this reason) And as far as making the time is concerned, speed has nothing to do with size - most flat racehorses are under 16 hands. Finally, small top horses having shorter careers - to my knowledge there is no evidence to support your theory, indeed if you ask many vets they will suggest smaller horses often stay sounder and have less problems than large ones regardless of the level they are competing.

You get scopy, fast, athletic, sound small horses - and the complete opposite too. But if a horse is good enough, size is no obstacle at all!
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Why is it the smaller the pony the longer it stays alive? Most horses get to around 25 on average where as a pony will hit late 20s early 30s if all is good.

If you look at Aussie eventers they all tend to be smaller type TBs that handle the hard ground better.
 
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I lost my 16.2hh because his huge movement caused issues strain-wise, so I guess you could say the same about any size horse, for different reasons?

Can understand why you'd say this though.

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True, that's why I said 'sometimes'!!!
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Height has nothing to do with it -

http://www.clevedonridingcentre.co.uk/About_Us.htm

scroll to the bottom and you will see Clevedon Merry Lady who was 15hh.

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If it's the horse I'm thinking of...(I think it is!!) the commentary on the video of her Badminton run said that she was 15hh soley because she had a very predominant whither...and she was actually more like a 14.2 to ride!!!
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To go against the trend - there are lots of examples of good little horses, but everything is more effort when you are smaller

I think in general the jumps look smaller and are less effort on a bigger horse !
 
Charisma was only 15.2-15.3 or so
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My friend has a 15hh that jumped 1.40 triple bar.

Eventing especially, your horse should be able to handle with the scope, in terms of jump heights. By that all I mean is the jumps don't get as big as pure SJ fences.

I think it depends somewhat on the way it jumps too. I used to ride a 13.1hh or so that cleared 1.20 courses pretty happily. BUT, it felt horrible even over a metre. On the other hand, there was a 14.1hh I also rode and would jump around 1.10m lines and it felt fantastic, like it was no effort and she just flew. It wasn't the size difference, but just the jumping style.

I am going off topic though..there are plenty of good horses that are small. The scope and talent is more important than an inch or so in height, but I think sometimes riding a bigger horse into fences feels less intimidating and also feels like less effort for them. Again though, thats dependent on scope and power.
 
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I lost my 16.2hh because his huge movement caused issues strain-wise, so I guess you could say the same about any size horse, for different reasons?

Can understand why you'd say this though.

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True, that's why I said 'sometimes'!!!
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I understand what you are saying...but I don't think you can blame size for these things. Like you say 'sometimes' horses break down - it's not about size.
 
i think small horses are tougher actually. in physics it's the 'order of levers' or something - the longer something is, the weaker it is. (that's why tall people are more likely to have back problems etc i think.) lots of big horses have breathing problems etc.
Big horses are less tough than small horses imho, as a general rule. i'd rather have a good little one than a good big one, but my ideal is 16h to 16.2 ish!
 
I think what matters in a small horse/big pony, is that they have they a longer than average stride for their size, or above average agility, along with the mindset that they see themselves as a big horse, even when they're not !
 
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I don't think it's the height of the horse that really is the issue. Bigger tracks aren't necessarily the problem, it's the distances in combinations and also making the time that can be a problem.

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Not a problem with PF. She's only 15.2 and she can still lengthen up more than a LOT of horses I know.

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Also, unfortunately, *sometimes* they can have a shorter competing career due to the strain.

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I believe small horses actually have longer careers than very big horses.
 
Yes, Tivol or something like that. I've also seen him listed as "Anglo-Norman but more or less the same thing. It's interesting how many horses that used to be listed as "Trotter" in pedigrees are now listed as "SF" . . . a bit of revisionist history, perhaps?
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The mare that won the Olympics before, Touch of Class, was not only small but fine - a very typical American TB. But then Abdullah, the silver medalist, was 17ish at least (and had a club foot and a, ah, less than easy temperament). Whatever gets the job done.

The other physics involved in soundness is that mass increases by cubes while surface area increases by squares. So as a horse gets bigger there is relatively more weight, and therefore force, on each square inch of its weight bearing areas. Of course, there are so many factors it's not nearly that easy but theoretically, with two identically conformed horses doing the same job, within their capabilities, the smaller one will be under less stress.
 
i went to a lecture demo with mark todd and he brought a youngster of his to work on the flat. she was huge (about 17.2/3) but obviously MT looked fine on her coz he's so long legged- interestingly, tho he said that he doesn't normally like them to be so big- he much prefers smaller horses....if its good enough for toddy....
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