older riders on big horses

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cindydog

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Just wondering really as have seen a lovely 17hh 6 year old Ardennes mare for sale as happy hacker, Iam 53 and had my last little mare pts in April, what problems to you find with bigger horses.
 
Mine is a 4 y/o 17hh ID/TB. I'm 42 and 5'

Saddling up and getting back on out hacking are awkward, as are gates, often can't reach low enough for the catch!

Also 7' rugs are heavy, worse when wet and need to go a long way up! I have to use a step up for mane pulling and grooming her back (she puts her head down for bridling/grooming)

Nice XF stuff is not that easy to find!

My mare is fairly narrow, she doesn't ride all that big to me because of it. I guess Ardennes are very wide though, don't know how comfortable that would be or how easy to fit a saddle to. Probably are specialists though out there.

ETS Also they poo like elephants, shoes are more expensive and don't get me started on the amount of hay a big horse needs. I think that's all the downs for you!
 
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If the horse has manners and has been brought up properly size is of no consequence because they will be polite and easy. If they have not been started properly they can be thugs at 11h or 18h.

Practical problems will be expensive rugs and bespoke tack. Big horses need decent fencing and eat a lot of hay. Your farrier may charge a premium if your draught type horse needs flat iron.

I have had big horses for years but recently downsized purely based on my knackered back and knees finding the drop down easier !
 
Just be careful and thoroughly test out the Ardennes before you buy, a lot are driving or meat horses imported at low cost and sold on as weight carriers for larger adults. (not being prejudiced, I have a Haffie and the same happens with them).

A lot are fine as they have a good temperament but not many brought in have the sort of ridden training one would wish, and if they do they aren't as cheap as a lot are offered for.
 
I'm 47 (soon to be 48) and Kal is 16.3hh . . . the only real problems I have are: a) I tend not to bounce as well now when I come off at speed; and b) I find dismounting more difficult - it's a shock to the knees and ankles if I dismount properly so I just swing one leg over and then hop down from the stirrup (if that makes sense).

P
 
I am 52 .I have one over 17 hands one at 17 and a 16.2 and a 16.1.
Mounting from the ground is a distant memory in my case I have them all trained and used to standing at gates , fences banks, farm machinary all sorts for me the get on.
I don't enjoy a too wide horse now but hieghts not an issue.
 
PolarSkye said:
I'm 47 (soon to be 48) and Kal is 16.3hh . . . the only real problems I have are: a) I tend not to bounce as well now when I come off at speed; and b) I find dismounting more difficult - it's a shock to the knees and ankles if I dismount properly so I just swing one leg over and then hop down from the stirrup (if that makes sense).

P
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Good lord, I'm 23 and I struggle with the shock of getting off a 15.1!!

No help I'm afraid OP, but I guess it depends on the temperament of the horse. We had a perfect 16hh horse at the yard (sadly passed away), you could have put an OAP or a child on him and anything in between and was so easy, the above could have done the day to day care too!
 
We have 17.1 Belgian draft. Lovely lovely horse a real treasure. The only thing I would say they are very very strong. You don't want one that know show strong he is because that could be a real problem. Eventhough they may be docile lovely animals you needs to be very capable because I have seen them become dangerous!
I love riding him but have to jump off at the mounting block as such a big boy. Not extremely wide however just like a armchair to ride.
Also make sure they have strong legs because most struggle with mud fever, however if you know how the deal with it ( keep feathers on and use pig oil ) you should be alright.
But please think carefully we love ours but just because he looks like he falls asleep don't be fooled!
 
Personally I wouldn't buy a big horse like that. I'm 48 and suffer rhuematoid arthritis and even on a very good day would struggle with rugs, tack even a head collar
Not too mention if horse isn't always perfectly behaved everything would be 10x harder
Just picking out those huge feet :(:(
 
The smallest you can get away with is best, imho; less maintenance costs, easier to manage and not so far to fall! All generalisations, of course, but going in the right direction! You have more money to use to go on fun outings or indulge your matchy matchy inner shopper - or whatever!
 
PolarSkye said:
I'm 47 (soon to be 48) and Kal is 16.3hh . . . the only real problems I have are: a) I tend not to bounce as well now when I come off at speed; and b) I find dismounting more difficult - it's a shock to the knees and ankles if I dismount properly so I just swing one leg over and then hop down from the stirrup (if that makes sense).

P
Click to expand...

I am 43 but not terribly fit in some ways, I have a 16.3 mare, I trained her to let me off at the mounting block on the wrong side of the saddle as jumping to the ground hurt my ankles too much! It doesn't look great, but it works!

If we aren't near a mounting block, I do exactly as Polar Skye does above, makes all the difference!
 
If I was a smart person years ago I would have bred my big producing TB mare to only Connemara's. I have one of her daughter's that's 16.2 but wears a 7ft in horseware sizes. There is an awful lot of her. Long, wide ect. I'm now 44, 5ft, and don't feel like proving anything. I want small, catty, and easy to hold together. Looking forward to my 3yo who will max about 15.3. I was riding client ponies all winter and getting back on Abba was a shocker. Oh yeah big stepping mare!

Don't know how that compares with the overly big breed you're on about but it's how I feel nowadays. Smaller is better! I wouldn't trade Abba but she's been a lot of work. I'm taking her to mare inspections, I think anyway, in case I breed her. If I do she will be having a Connie foal. Her in a smaller package would be dynamite! In a good way. Also as others have said she has learned to stand anywhere for mounting. And Matrix type moves to deal with gates are very overrated!

Terri
 
I'm quite tall and in the past wouldn't be seen dead on anything under 16.2h. As the years have progressed the horses have been getting steadily smaller and smaller, with the current lot ranging from 14.2h to the dizzy heights of 15.1h. It's a long way down off a biggie......
 
Im 52 and 5ft 4 riding an 18hh warmblood x tb at the moment, hes probably one of the nicest horses ive sat on in the last 20 yrs, a real gem very mannerable and although can be a bit "looky" very well behaved even when he tries to have a strop. Snaffle mouthed although xc i prefer pelham with roundings as he gets a wee bit up on himself and excitable
 
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I moved up from a compact 15.2 to a 16.2 and am in my 60's. i do find saddling up a bit more tiring and schooling a big moving longer horse definitely takes more effort although hacking is no problem. My next horse will certainly be smaller!
 
If you depend on livery yards not all will have large enough stables to accomodate a draught horse so your choice will be limited.
Will eat a lot of hay
One worming syringe will not be enough
They may test fences
harder to find rugs, tack etc
 
I am 48 in a couple of weeks (how DID that happen, by the way?), whilst my boy isn't huge (15hh) he is built like a brick s*** house (50" girth, and ridden 5 days a week including schooling once a week!). The biggest problem I suffered with was an increase in sacroiliac aches due to his "wideness".

and like others have already said dismounting can be very trying, although my lad has got used to me now using my saddle, stirrup leathers, his mane, his neck to gently lower myself to the ground to ease the shock on my old (HA!) joints ... :D:D
 
51 with a 17hh+ ISH, a Shire X at 16.3, a KWPN at 16.1. No real size-related problems. It is worrying me that the nice sensible middleweight 15.2 I hoped to have bred for my old age is now 13 months and approaching 15hh already!
 
Hi OP,

I had a Shire on part loan for a while. Big heavy feet (he was bare shod & the trim wasnt anymore expensive than her cobs) and liked to lean, he lived out as at 8 he still didnt know how big he was and without a very large stable was an accident waiting to happen. His owner struggled to find rugs, head collars and tack big enough and he cost a lot of money in hay and feed. He was the most comfortable horse to ride though and easy to tack up and was a pleasure to groom.
 
My aunt is in her late 50s and is 5"1 and has an 18.1 wb. She manages fine, I jump him as its not her thing but hacks out and does dr etc. Only thing she has found hard is getting a big enough lorry for him!
Q
 
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