Over-horsed?

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kit279

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I had planned to give Kallie time off but actually he was quite bored in the field and seemed to appreciate doing a little bit of hacking and schooling - he is now much more interested in his food and much brighter in himself generally for having something to do. He has been gold star all the way, being very calm and chilled to hack and just generally lovely to do. It's hard to believe he was racing at Doncaster 2 weeks ago! However, there's no getting away from it - he's a big boy and I'm a short person!

Kallie has been super polite with me and he doesn't feel too big for me to ride at the moment - only when I get off, do I really notice it. But he does have a lot of power and that's really apparent in his canter, where I worry I will struggle a bit to hold it all together (me included!!) when we start jumping (not planning to do this for a bit until we are happy campers on the flat and know each other better).

I would be interested to know how small people get on with their big horses, whether they find things hard and also if anyone is interested, here is a short video - do I look too small to be really effective on him? I do suffer from 'weak-legs' syndrome - Andrew Nicholson I am not..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDCNw3iClCg
 
I have a giant horse:




he is almost 18 hh and I am 5ft 5. I love riding him and feel much safer on a big horse. Tacking up and rugging wears me out though! I have a box to stand on. Luckily he is a gentleman and tries to be helpful!

I think you look fine on him and he is very nice!
 
For a horse so recently out of racing he looks like such a gent and very well balanced. He reminds me of Hector in his way of going: sensitive and biddable, not rude and thuggish like some big horses I know.:rolleyes: That's surely got to get better with more training and you two getting to know each other hasn't it? I'd suck it and see; you'll be supple as a supple thing when you're able to stay with that movement, but that's your problem/challenge, not his. ;) (I love him btw, and I'd like one like that in bright bay please. :D)
 
IMO there are two types of big horses; those that are rude and take any opportunity to become unbalanced and go against you and are somewhat never on your side, and those that are supremely sweet and biddable, and so balanced and easy with it that they are lovely rides for any size rider that will sit on them. Kallie def looks like the latter so if he stays that way, you'll be fine on him! Plus I guess that he must be quite narrow ? which will also help.
He looks wonderfull and just so lovely to ride, what super balance and softness he has!! :D
 
He is such a stunning horse!

Sorry not much point in my post, as i am 6ft and have a 16.3 warmblood - so i am the opposite of tiny, just wanted to say how gorgeous he is!
 
firstly, what a stunner he is!!! hes soooo very very nice !!! to think hes just fin racing is just amazing!! hes beautifully balanced and naturally quite round i think as long as you have the right support in a trainer you will do really well on this horse!! I have a 17'2 who has the most wonderful manners and is so polite he is so easy to do, its only other people reminding me of his size that i ever take notice, if however he was pushy and bargy i would soon realise. i have had smaller horses much harder work than the big un!!!! its not the logistics its the brain that matters!!!! good luck with him but im pretty sure you wont need it!!x
 
i think you look fine on him. i'd be wary of stuffing him full of exciting food (i'm sure you know better than that anyway!) and if he gets a bit impolite while cantering out on hacks etc i'd prob hack him in a waterford a few times so he learns that leaning on you isnt going to happen. i had an 18hh+ WB powerhouse who made me look and feel tiny, but he was incredibly polite (after a few meetings with Mr Waterford) and i used to xc him in a snaffle with no probs. he's lovely, looking forward to seeing more of him.
 
The late Catembi was 17 hh & weighed 690 kg I'm 5 ft 1 1/2 & just over 50 kg. I just bought a huuuuuge mounting block & tried not to drop my whip out hacking...!!

I never thought of him as being big. He was my horse & we were a team, & that was the end of it.

Miss you, Cat. x
 
I have to say that I felt totally over-horsed competing our grey mare, but she was a 16.3 6yo IDx heffalump at that stage.

You look fine on him (I imagine he is relatively narrow), and he is really gorgeous (def does not look like a horse 2 weeks out of racing). Keep him yourself girl, and don't let your OH pinch him.

He is fab :):)

Fiona
 
You don't look small on him. How come you've got him if he was racing 2 weeks ago? I must say he looks a lovley boy and I agree he's got a good walk :)
 
Wow. He is absolutely stunning. I really do like him and he is going to look AMAZING in a very short time. I do think you look a little bit small on him, but as you get used to each other, I dont see why it would be a problem.
 
Totally over horsed you must give him to me straight away! ;) He's is gorgeous Kit and so well schooled on the flat for a racer, your legs look long enough, and I think actually he's not that big in the body he just has very long legs! See how you feel but I think in a few months time you will be so smitten and in love with each other size won't be an issue! :)
 
I am pretty short and both my boys are pretty big Little Emerald is easily 16.3hh and Sovereign was 17.1hh last time we measured him. The trick is to allow them to create their own balance in canter, both of mine are completely different types, Sov big gangly and weak, and Em who has amazing natural cadence and power. With Sov it took lots and lots of time and patience to play around with him in the canter (which actually brought me to tears in the beginning it was that bad!) try every exercise you are offered some will work, some will help breifly. Also remember that if he is big he will take a while to get some strength across his back (my big lad only bloomed at 10!)
Don't get too hung up on it either, its better to just chip away in 5 minute sessions than spend 30 minutes or more doing something soul destroying.

Good Luck!
 
Thanks guys - he's so interesting to ride as he was started by Paul Nicholls and frankly they did a really good job as he definitely knows what he's about on the flat.. Just goes to show that the basic education is the same no matter what job they go on to do in later life. Just got to try not be precious with him even though he's already really special to me. Hopefully he'll stay lovely and polite and not wake up and realise how big he is! My poor chestnut is quite the ugly sister at the moment.. :)
 
I would guess he has only ever been ridden by small (jockey) lightweight people, os that is what he is used to.

Your stirrups though do look a bit long, have you lengthed them to make you bigger on him?

He does look really nice, his coat looks good after his blotches.
 
I wouldn't say you look too small on him or over horsed. Only advice I would give is dont fall in to the trap of riding him from front to back instead of back end to front. This is a common problem with smaller riders on bigger horses. The temptation is to close the horse up and restrict the paces to contain. He is a big free moving lad and needs to be ridden 'big'.
In 3 months time you wont even think he is big, just normal :D If you dont then you can always give him to me. ;)
 
he is lovely and has a super walk!

i don't actually think he is that big as he is all legs which means although you are higher off the ground there isn't so much bulk to hold together.

my rising 4yro is very similar build, he is 17.2hh but about 15hh of that is legs!!
 
Lovely horse!
As someone else pointed out, your stirrups look a bit long but I think you look fine on him. Time will allow you to get used to each other, only then will you know how you feel about sitting on him. Enjoy him :)
 
What a super horse, and you look great on him. I think it is a very personal choice - I'm average height (I think) and although I don't find big horses a struggle to ride, I do find the daily care a real chore - everything is bigger, heavier and further to reach :o
 
He is gorgeous - he must have had some great training on the flat to be that balanced only two weeks out of racing. What a lovely boy.
As others have said, he's lanky rather than huge, so you don't look that small on him. I would def try shorter stirrups though :)
 
You look great together! The only thing I can pick up on is that maybe in canter you are being a bit pulled forward? It looks like you just need to get your bum in the saddle and really sit the canter, and not let him pull you forward out of the seat. Don't be afraid to keep your leg there, sit up and sit into the saddle a bit more.
 
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