Short coupled versus long coupled

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Paint Me Proud

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So Kasper is quite long coupled so it's taking us a little more work to get him collected and getting everything together.

I saw the advert on the side of the forum for this chap - http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/clas...tanding-registered-connemara-pony-458276.html - and he seems very short coupled.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Just purely out of interest, feel free to post your experiences
 
Short coupled.

... Nastier bucks.

... Then again could just be mine! Sorry can't help or explain anything about schooling or collection Nd ease- tired and sore lol... Will watch for with interest in my dreams. *zzzz*
 
Lintel said:
Short coupled.

... Nastier bucks.

... Then again could just be mine! Sorry can't help or explain anything about schooling or collection Nd ease- tired and sore lol... Will watch for with interest in my dreams. *zzzz*
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Short-coupled boy of mine can't half throw some shapes, thankfully he chooses mainly to do it in the field since I'm usually watching and thinking "I'd never sit THAT!". His speciality when I am mounted has been "up-180-and-go". it's the weirdest feeling suddenly facing the direction from where you just came and seeing a pony bum disappearing in front of you as you descend, still in the mounted position!!!!
 
Alf has a short back - he's currently wearing a 6"6 rug, and hes 17.1hh. He is physically strong and very capable. He finds collection and lateral work very easy, and can really sit behind. On the negative side, he knows how to use that short, strong back for evil - he can fire me upwards, then spin and begone while I'm still coming in to land. He isn't the most comfortable horse to ride - his trot is super bouncy, and passage is boneshaking!

Longer backs tend to mean a more comfortable ride. I prefer the power of a short backed horse myself, although if I was a happy hacker, I'd got for something longer and smoother!
 
My short coupled ex polo pony is very powerful from behind (guess that is why she was so good at it!), jumps like a Harrier jet and also has a very bouncy trot, but the main problem I have with her is keeping her front shoes on when hunting. Pulls them off for a pastime. In fact pulls them off hooleying in the field too...
 
I have one short and one long. The short one finds it easy to take weight behind, enjoys collection and lateral work, and, like Aus's (not that his schooling is comparable) uses it for his own nefarious purposes... Although his crimes usually involve extreme lightness of the forehand, rather than ninja launches. The long backed one charges along like a nutter and enjoys taking flyers at fences. That's about as sophisticated as my analysis gets here.

eta - my short backed one also jumps like a harrier jump jet... In fact, I believe Aus suggested it as a nickname for him on here years ago!
 
I find long = worse bucks. They can really put an arch in there. My very short coupled Arab X has a pathetic buck even free running in the paddock.
Long = harder to get off the forehand, harder to find a rug that fits and without gaping at the neck/shoulders. Jump better (in my experience) but are more prone to back issues and hunter's bump/sacro issues.
Short = hard to get a rug with a decent drop that still fits. Easier to collect. Saddle fitting issues (I need a 17" saddle, short pony can only take 16 1/2" apart from specially designed saddles such as Passier but ow the cost). Stronger, but can get issues with lumbar spine IF saddle puts weight behind the last rib. Don't find jumping as easy.
I'd take short over long by preference, but my horses and I don't jump.
 
OwnedbyJoe said:
I find long = worse bucks. They can really put an arch in there. My very short coupled Arab X has a pathetic buck even free running in the paddock.
Long = harder to get off the forehand, harder to find a rug that fits and without gaping at the neck/shoulders. Jump better (in my experience) but are more prone to back issues and hunter's bump/sacro issues.
Short = hard to get a rug with a decent drop that still fits. Easier to collect. Saddle fitting issues (I need a 17" saddle, short pony can only take 16 1/2" apart from specially designed saddles such as Passier but ow the cost). Stronger, but can get issues with lumbar spine IF saddle puts weight behind the last rib. Don't find jumping as easy.
I'd take short over long by preference, but my horses and I don't jump.
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My last horse was very long in the back, he was 16.3 and in 7ft rugs, he found jumping more difficult, and he didn't have much spring in his step where jumping was concerned.

My current horse is really quite short backed, she's 15h but chunky with it and in a 6ft rug. She has an amazing pop in her, and would happily compete bsj. Although as I've recently discovered she also makes some interesting moves when she is in a really bad mood...
 
My 16.1 WB is short-coupled (6ft 3in rugs) with a high-wither and it is hard to get a saddle fitted somewhere in there. Overall he has always done well but has had other problems such as on x-ray he has close spinal processes but not kissing and been diagnosed with SI strain. I'm not sure if this is linked to being short-coupled more his straight hind-leg conformation.

He isn't a frequent bucker but it is his preferred choice when he gets excited say on a group hack, XC warm-up, showing when he got attached to his mate and they can be a bit disconcerting. He seems to be able to fly-buck mid-gallop! :eek: He is essentially lazy though so I don't think he put the effort in he could.... thankfully :)
 
Short coupled Arab (with strong hindquarters) = light front end, very good balance when vertical, bit quick in the air over jumps but big jump, never bucked, found collected work very easy, very fast, very nimble.

Long PBA = light front end, huge jump, lovely shape in the air, found collected work more difficult (but had a poor walk), determined but not that fast, very nimble. Lived to 36 years, back never dipped despite carrying top weight all his life, no back trouble.

So for me either wouldn't bother me, what I want is a good walk that travels with good hock action.

That dun caught my eye too!
 
I've had 5 horses over the years. Two long, two short coupled and one that was neither. My current boy is a short couple Connie with a touch if ID, my first was a short coupled Arab with a touch of welsh. I definitely prefer the short coupled ones.
 
Both of mine are short-coupled. Once is 14.1 in 5'6" rugs, one is 15 hh in 5'9". The 14.1 can drop a shoulder, spin and FO while I'm still hanging in mid-air, and while I've seen him throw some good bucks in the field (apparently he can turn while up in the air, double-barrelling at another horse's ears: is there a name for that? Capriole-pirouette?), his bucks while I'm sitting on him are generaly rather slight. The 15 hh finds lateral steps, shortening and lifting very easy, and feels very powerful behind. Her specialty misbehaviour is a sideways skitter, because corners are scary (apparently). :D
 
The old Appy was long backed, very light in front and as comfortable as a sofa :) Could 180 before I knew what she was doing, but always kept me with her :) The current ridden Appy is very short coupled, also very light in front, she doesn't spin but can drop a shoulder like a pro! Her stride isn't as smooth as the old girl and she can only take a 16 1/2 " saddle, which is a problem as I measure for an 18" minimum, but we manage.
 
My big horse - 16.3hh is very short - 6'3" rugs. He can pack a wicked buck, and sudden changes of direction leave you dangling over the side.
His mother is 15.2 and very long, (also 6'3") she was always much harder to collect up. Her bucks were fairly pathetic.
 
Interesting how many other people with short backed horses also get the lightening fast spin tactic!
Alf doesn't have a wicked buck - I don't think he's ever bucked with me, but my GOD can he bronc!
 
I prefer short coupled ponies, but one of my ponies is very long and she's actually very comfortable, never bucks...and in event of a disaster we could probably fit the entire family on her with room to spare....
 
Both of mine are short coupled even for Exmoors. Both are in 4'9" rugs! A friend's Exmoor is in 5'6". Mine are like little power houses, but during backing, Chloe had me on the floor more than once with bucking. No way to sit them! She scared herself picking up a branch around October time and spun, then shot off. I was left in the air in what was a comedy moment, until I landed. Thankfully, she's getting better and braver and I now ride much deeper, on a Thorn pad. I do prefer short backed horses, though. Much stronger.
 
Bill has a short back, he is 17hh and in 6f6 rugs. He doesn't buck though, in fact I think he has only bucked twice in 4 years, both were just feeling well ones and not nasty though. He is tall though, and narrow across the back but is very comfortable to ride & easy enough to saddle fit. He is bouncy in his trot though, which can make sitting trot slightly more challenging :p he has great acceleration and turning xc, and handy in sj! Plus being short means can ride the arena corners easier. If he was longer as well as tall then I don't think I would be able to hold him together, as I'm only 5f6 & a half.

He prefers do all his playing in the field though, and he mainly stands up and waves - when I bought him (he was 4) & he went in the field for the first time he got so over excited & reared up with such happiness, power and enthusiasm that his back feet left the ground (about 3ft off the ground!!) and he fell right over himself :rolleyes: he never did that again :p
 
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