Rider height vs Horse height

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PrettyPonie

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This is obviously a rather debatable topic! I'm just wondering what everyone's heights are in comparison to their horses?
I have just purchased a 15.3hh TB (superstar show jumper) and I'm 171cm (5"7 or so) but slightly worried that I'm going to be too tall on him, I'm a petite build however (59kg) but have a longish torso. What's your thoughts on this?
 
Stop worrying. You will be perfect on him. I am 5ft 9 and look fine on a 15.3. My current unbroken four year old is only 14.3. I am obviously hoping she has some growing to do though.
 
Providing you feel comfortable on the horse and the horse understands your aids - who cares what anyone else thinks. I'm 5"3 (ish) and tend to ride anything that is 16.3+. Not sure why I gravitate towards bigger horses when I'm so short but I love riding them, I find myself far more effective on a larger horse and if you put me on a smaller horse/pony I'm hopeless. I've bought myself a youngster (he's 2 now) and should make 16-16.3 although is looking like he could go bigger - that wouldnt bother me at all!

It really doesnt matter what other people think because ultimately they are not the ones riding your horse. You can have tiny riders on big horses or tall riders on small horses and they can still have a great partnership and go on to great success.

Enjoy your new horse and ignore any busy bodies who try and make a comment; they are only jealous!
 
I'm 5.6ft and my horse is 15.2hh, sharer is 6ft and also happily rides him and doesn't look odd. I also had a 14.0 chunky cob who I felt fine on.

I used to ride an 18hh shireX that I absolutely adored, he was like an overgrown rocking horse to ride and the height didn't bother me. I also rode a 19.2 pure Clydesdale but that was just too tall for me and I felt unsafe and couldn't get my legs round him far enough
 
It's when I read threads like this that I wish that I had taken a photo of my skinny, 6ft4 cousin riding my 15hh arab. He didn't look anywhere near as silly as you might expect as she really took up his leg.
 
Who cares? What looks the worst is some teeny little shrimp on a massive mountain with their silly little legs barely clearing the flaps. I'm 5' 9"; my horses range from 14.2 all the way up to a mighty 15.1.
 
5ft9 and all leg with a 34" inside leg! I currently dangle off a 15'1 paint pony thankfully hes quite muscular deep bodied and I ride western, feel a bit odd in my English but he carries me fine but I feel less tall on the 13'2 fell pony as hes much broader and takes up my leg more. Build has a lot more to do with it than height of horse.
 
I wouldn't worry OP, look at people like Mark Todd, William Fox-Pitt, quite leggy individuals, Mark Tood's Charisma was barely 15.3HH, doesn't bother them.

Im sure you will be absolutely fine, go and have some fun :)
 
Don't worry op, I'm sure you will look fine!

I'm approx 5f6 and a half, & quite long from hip to knee.
Me on a 14.2
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Me on a 15.2 (not my horse)
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And me on a 17h
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I feel happiest size wize on the 17h (as he is narrow) so it's really just about what you feel happy on :)
 
I am 5ft 7 and quite long in the leg. I feel and look absolutely fine normally on anything 15hh plus, but better on 15.3 plus. I am sure you will be fine
 
I don't understand the fashion for huge horses. I am not quite 5'6, my last horse was a very compact 15.1h lusitano, current equines include a slightly longer, taller lusitano (he should make 15.2 and a 6'3 rather than a 6ft) and a 13h brick outhouse Exmoor pony. If your horse is very short in the neck like my old horse was, then you'll need to sit up more on the approach to jumps ;)
These days the picture for riders to 'be' is different to the one 50 years ago. Neither are correct, they are just different-as long as people aren't too heavy and have a well fitted saddle I don't see the problem with riding smaller horses-and I don't count 15'3h as small.
 
I'm 5'7 and looked fine on my 15'2 high withered mare. Even when I was carrying too much weight and I ride long. Her body was very compact too.

I now have a 16,2 and don't feel much difference
 
If you and the horse are both comfortable then I dont see a problem! I am 6ft but very light and still have my first 15hh horse, but also ride my 16.3 warmblood and feel equally at ease on both of them :)
 
Cortez said:
Who cares? What looks the worst is some teeny little shrimp on a massive mountain with their silly little legs barely clearing the flaps. I'm 5' 9"; my horses range from 14.2 all the way up to a mighty 15.1.
Click to expand...

Comments like this really p!ss m off why is it okay for tall folk to ride ponies but not for small folk to ride horses?! Just because you are small doesn't mean automatically you should/want to ride ponies any more than a tall person should only ride 16hh+ I am 5ft 3 and light so could easily get away with ponies but I don't usually enjoy ponies - they can turn to quick :p I'l stick with my silly little legs on my 16.3 idx thanks.

OP btw you will look fine and if you are happy and comfortable then thats all that matters.
 
I'm 5'8" and my share horse is 15.2hh. Every 15.2 I've ever ridden I've really clicked with - be it fine types or cobs. Something about the height just works well for me.

My other share horses have ranged from 14hh to 17hh. I didn't feel tall or strong enough on the 17hh - like my legs were never quite in the right place, despite the fact my legs are very long.

I think my leg falls in just the right place on my 15.2:

10443610_10100148371367122_7015925392213933488_n.jpg
 
I'm 5'8 & event my 16hh id x tb & quite often look dwarfed in pics !!

I ride anything 14.2 upwards happily & don't look too big :)
 
Cortez said:
Who cares? What looks the worst is some teeny little shrimp on a massive mountain with their silly little legs barely clearing the flaps. I'm 5' 9"; my horses range from 14.2 all the way up to a mighty 15.1.
Click to expand...

Hem hem! As somebody who is 5ft 0 and has short legs I object to them being described as "silly little legs". I would be the first to wish my legs longer and I don't ride big horses from choice, but they are what God gave me and I can do nothing about it. They are reasonably in proportion to my body, as I'm sure are yours.
 
PrettyPonie said:
This is obviously a rather debatable topic! I'm just wondering what everyone's heights are in comparison to their horses?
I have just purchased a 15.3hh TB (superstar show jumper) and I'm 171cm (5"7 or so) but slightly worried that I'm going to be too tall on him, I'm a petite build however (59kg) but have a longish torso. What's your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Hi there, my daughter is about 5'8 and rides a 14.2 Welsh Cob but they are very deep in the barrel and she doesn't look big on him at all....

cheers...
 
I'm 5'4", 9 stone & horse is 16.1hh solid WB. I look the right size for her. Pictures on my profile album :)
 
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Pony is 13.1hh and rider is 5'8", I'll be the first to admit we have struggled with balance over the years but we don't do so bad!

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