Little people on big horses

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showjump2003

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I'm 5ft5 max and ideally was looking for a horse 16hh - 16.2hh. Seen a nice one advertised that's 17hh. Would I look daft on such a big horse?
 
Who cares?
If you like the look of the horse go try him,why miss a horse that might be great for you because you might look a bit silly.
 
It depends on the horse and what breed it is. I think you would look smaller for instance on a 17hh TB than a 17hh middleweight warmblood. My horse is a 17.1hh WB and I have had all shapes and sizes ride him. The current girl that rides him is only about your height and she doesn't look silly on him. Just make sure you don't overhorse yourself my getting something big and silly, rather than just something big.
 
depends how wide it is through the barrel as much as anything, which is somehting you'll feel when you get on. as long as the horse is well schooled, there's nothing wrong with the "pea on a drum* look!
 
I'm 5'2" and have had a 17.1hh TB and a 16.3hh Selle Francais before - never had a problem with either of them
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Well i'm 5ft 7 and have a 17.1hh! So the horse your looking at is 1 inch smaller and your 2 inches smaller than me. Making the difference minimal. I have no problems generally, sometimes getting on can be a struggle but it can be done when dropping the stirrup. My siggy has pics of me on him, if you want photos of various height people on a 17.1hh I have a good collection!! pm me
 
Your horse is the same size/shape (and probably breed as mine) so that is a good indication of what I was telling the OP. In fact they could be brothers, just that mine has four white socks, same blaze.
 
I'm 5ft 4 and have a 16.1hh - some people say I should have got something smaller but I disagree - I'd rather look small on a big horse than look like i'm about to squash something smaller.....

At first it took a bit of getting used to (putting rugs on etc) but now I don't even notice
 
Hi - I think it depends a lot on how you feel when you tried him.

I am in a similar situation. I was sharing a 14.2 mare who in truth I never completely trusted or felt safe with. I have now just taken on a 17h hw hunter. I am 5 6" and 9st and I'm sure I look ridiculous on him.

However I feel so safe on him and trust him absolutely. And yes if he decided to tank off or bugger about I would be in difficulties but then I think I equally would on a smaller horse. I may have slightly more control but ultimately in any test of strength a horse is always going to win.

For me I figured that as I fall off rather a lot on whatever I ride, I might as well get something that I loved and felt safe on!!
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I always thought that overhorsed meant a horse who had much more ability than the rider? If not I am way overhorsed!
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got to agree with everything saying it depends on build.

I'm 5'5 and look like a pea on a drum on my deep girthed/big chested 16hh warmblood. have been told I looked more insync on someone else's narrow leggy 17hh

definitely agree that the horse would need to be striaght forward to handle. i do not appreciate 17hh + horses pratting around whilst I am leading them.
 
I'm 5'4" and have a 16.1 (bay in sig) and a 16.3 (grey in sig), very different builds. I don't think I look drastically different on either. My 16.3 is the same rug size as my 16.1 so he isn't too long to gather together! I did have a 17.1 before and she was 7' rug and she took a lot of riding! i think you just have to go and try the bigger ones and see how it feels.
 
See how you feel when you are riding him. I'm at the other end of the spectrum, 5ft 8 riding a 15hh! As long as you feel comfortable and in control go for it.
 
I think the major consideration is being over horsed. Ive seen this before with people riding horses that they cannot physically handle.
 
Im 5ft4 a regulary ride my instructors 17hh horse. He is wide though, so I do look very small on him. If you can control the horse then it doesnt really matter what height you are imo
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Im 5ft4 a regulary ride my instructors 17hh horse. He is wide though, so I do look very small on him. If you can control the horse then it doesnt really matter what height you are imo
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he is stunning.

op - my friend is only just 5ft and has a 17.1 wb... next to him on the ground, she looks hilarious, but once on board, she's fine!
 
Hi SJ2003

You have met Albert he's 17.1 and I am 5ft 4" I don't think I look that bad on him. As long as the horse has manners then I don't think it would be a problem. Big horses are lovely,if Albert was sound I would invite you for a horsey ride but he is unlevel at the moment
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I must say I'm surprised to see so many of you think it doesn't matter!

I am 5'2" and cannot ride anything over 15.2, purely because there is no way I could use my legs properly to get them round it and use them properly. I don't care how someone 'looks' on a horse - can they actually ride it effectively with little stumps (mine too!) ?!

I guess it also depends on what you want to do with the horse...
 
I had a 17.1hh warmblood and I ended up selling him because he turned out to be too big. I'm 5'6" and I don't think I looked too small on him. My previous horse was 16.2hh and that was the ideal height for me so I thought a few extra inches wouldn't make any difference, but it did.
He was great out on hacks but when I schooled and jumped him his stride was just too big for me. Lot's of shorter people than me ride big horses but it didn't work for me. You can only find out by having a try in all situations.
 
saskia295 - a small rider on a large horse can use their leg effectively. i am 5ft 3 and have a 17hh (still growing 5 year old ISH) who, with alot of schooling, goes nicely and properly. size doesnt matter so long as you get on. if you looked at a horse and the temperament was right and you got on very well, but it was too big. would you really turn it down?
 
I think it depends a lot on how wide the horse is... and if you intend to ride dressage/with long stirrups, since you might end up more "on top" than "around" the horse if it is wide and/oryou prefer shorter stirrups. Does that make sense?
 
I'm 5'3 and ride a big 16.3hh, she was only 16hh when i bought he but has grown and filled out since! I do look quite small on her but she is great, I just sometimes struggle with my legs and find her hard work sometimes. Jumping is a good test of seat and balance, she has got a huge jump and sometimes I can feel the power underneath her fling me when she puts a big jump in, but i've just come on with her now and wouldn't swap her for the world. Here's a pic, she is wide too, takes 7'3/7'6 rugs.
If you feel happy on the horse then go for it!
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I must say I'm surprised to see so many of you think it doesn't matter!

I am 5'2" and cannot ride anything over 15.2, purely because there is no way I could use my legs properly to get them round it and use them properly. I don't care how someone 'looks' on a horse - can they actually ride it effectively with little stumps (mine too!) ?!

I guess it also depends on what you want to do with the horse...

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I am 5'4" with a 17.3 warmblood I dont have a problem riding him in fact I recently got 73.8% in a dressage test (ok only prelim) but it was only my 4th test ever.

So no I don't think size matters, with a willing and polite horse it really is of no consequence
 
it largley depends on the horse, build, how it carries its self etc, also it depends on how you ride, for some reason i fit horses, i can get on a 14hh and not look to small. im 5"1 and my lad is 16.3 i dont think i look to small on him.

riding wisr, you cant actully use your legs on him any way, every thing is done by seat and body! if legs are put on hes shots off (i have no idea why he does this!)

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