Overhorsed...

S

Sarah1

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Hi All

Am bored! So thought I'd pose you a question.

Now I know that being overhorsed is far more than just about whether you ride a big horse or not but would you say I'm not big enough to be effective on my boy? I'm not selling him regardless of the outcome as I don't feel overhorsed although he is a big strong lad (he very rarely uses it against you, luckily!).

So...
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...pea on a mountain or what?!
 
IMO i dont care how big the horse is underneath me, as long as it can carry my weight and i have full control over it, i think its fine. i have a 17hh ISH mare and im 16 and 5ft 3 but i never feel like she takes advantage of my smallness.

i think your fine so long as your having fun and enjoy riding him!
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I agree its what your comfortable with i am 5'7 and have a 14.3hh HW cob some people would feel underhorsed but i look fine on him and he takes my legs up and i don't feel comfortable on big horses lol
 
That's what I think - I don't feel overhorsed at all, he's really dead easy if I'm honest.
I just wondered if being taller/bigger would make you more effective?!
I have friends with much smaller horses and my sister who is only 1" smaller than me rides a 14'1" pony! He's much sharper than my 16.2hh and so some days does take more riding!
 
Thanks!
18.1hh, wow!
Lots of people say 'oh long way to fall' to me but I always say 'yeah but more to keep you up there in 1st place'!!!!!!
 
Someone said to me that if you have longer legs on a horse than you can be more effective with your riding like being able to school them etc but i don't know how true this is
 
No Idont think you look too small, your legs look short, but he is a big lad!

if he doesnt take advantage, then its all hunky dory!
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Im 5ft10 and used to ride an 18hh2" shire which I felt tiny on, but was a gentle giant even though was only 6yo, but apparently I was ok on him!
 
My horse in the siggi is 18.1h. I wouldnt sell him, I like having a big horsie. His size and looks are real eye catching ! by the way, im 5 f 5" and 8 1/2 stone.
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I don't think you look overhorsed at all, you look just right to me.

I'd only feel over horsed if I didnt have the stength and mental will power to control it, height doesn't bother me but a large and very over weight horse would, then I'd feel over horsed because I wouldnt be able to the the blooming moving!
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If you are happy and feel comfortable then that's what matters. George is 16.3 and chunky and I'm 5'4 with short chunky legs! But I like feeling I have got plenty of horse to hang onto, also if I fall off (fairly regular!) then I have time to curl up before I hit the deck!!
 
Thanks!
He's actually looking really well at the mo but is prone to weight gain if I'm not very careful and strict with his diet/workload and when he balloons my feet feel like they're just at the bottom of the saddle flaps!!!!! He feels awful to ride like that - a bit like I'd imagine a hippo to feel!
 
I agree it's better to go on how you feel rather than 5'3" = 15.2hh or whatever!
I do need to work on lengthening my leg down & round him for our flatwork tho! I think I'd also like to be a bit stronger thro my core to make me more effective and balanced but that's hardly Bailey's fault!
 
there is a 14yo girl I was wathcing at hartpury puisance (sp?!) on horse and country TV cant remember her name but she was not particularly big and her horse looked about 17hh+!!!
 
My horse is 18hh ISH and i am 5'9 and feel fine on him but my instructor is only 5'3 and she rides him far better than i do so it is down to how you ride not how big you are.

My instructor’s legs only just come past the bottom of his saddle and she is a very effective rider and he does exactly what he is told when she is on him. The only down size for her, apart for physically getting on, is that when she was teaching him flying changes he nearly dislocated her hip because he moved he in the saddle with the power from his back end.
 
I don't think that over-horsing is necessarily anything to do with the size of the horse and rider. I know several very petite and lightweight women who ride very large horses and are lovely, effective riders.

I was totally over-horsed, though, with my last loan horse, Taffy. He was a 15hh cob, the perfect height and build for me, but he needed a much braver and more competent rider than i was, and i was dangerously over-horsed on him.
 
I find it easier to get a good tune out of a horse if I can wrap my legs around them - I'm 5'7'' so can do it on most heights, but occassionally I will ride a real barrel shape and I find that hard, as I can't use my legs as I would want to. In terms of riding tho, I think most heights of people are capable of riding most heights of horses, you just have to work harder sometimes.
 
im 5ft 2 (and a bit, very important that
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), and i feel perfectly comfortable on a large horse as im an effective rider,
the horse doesnt care about how little you are as if it comes down to a tug of war pulling match between the horse and rider doesnt matter how big you are the horse has the edge in weight
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i only think of a horse as 'big' if i cant get on from the ground and i can get on a 17.1 ok
the most difficult ride i havve currently is the neighbours 14.2 cob!
 
Fly is 16.3hh and I am 5ft 5. He is difficult and not an easy ride, BUT, I do not feel overhorsed at all.However, P E T E R was 18hh and although he was a complete gentleman I WAS seriously overhorsed. I just could not get my let 'around him' if you know what i mean. Harry (my youngster) is 15.2hh and I can 'pin' him in with my leg. Most effective. So I guess, 15.2hh is my ideal (even though I prefer Fly). I guess I just like bigger horses. x
 
Well one can say its not about the size its about how you can use it!

I prefer smallies - I'm 5ft 8 riding a 15hh and thats the way I like it, but some people enjoy riding big ones.

Ride what you feel comfortable riding.

Hmm this advice doesn't sound like I am talking about horses
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