Suitable horse size ?

[Surbie]

Makes me wonder if I've got the weights of mine wrong..

My tape is out by 20%, which was something of a shocker at the time. I only use it as an indication of weight going up or down.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

I use the heart girth method/formula not a tape

 

[Lilly-Mayspookatbags]

What about a Hanoverian ? They tend to come up quite broad and usually have amazing temperaments with the right breeding. Also have a bit more of a go than ID. Mine was ex hunter - boy could he go on the hunt field if asked! But very soft and gentle with children … very protective over them in the field making sure none of the silly horses went near by gently following them behind.

 

[gallopingby]

There is so much misunderstanding about heights and weights from so many different angles!! In terms of actually sitting on a horse much depends on the jockeys conformation! Leg length and back length play a big part in balance and the overall picture. If you’re not too long in the back a smaller height will be fine. The width of the horses back and its build play a part depending on leg length. Some people look big on a 15.3 whilst others look small on a stocky 14,2 cob. Gait and pace as well as level of schooling also play a part and a well schooled and nicely balanced horse will feel very different to a just backed partbred. However you’ll struggle to find a quality well schooled horse for 4k unless perhaps it’s an older horse which could still give you many years of happy riding.

 

[Lauren1993]

There is so much misunderstanding about heights and weights from so many different angles!! In terms of actually sitting on a horse much depends on the jockeys conformation! Leg length and back length play a big part in balance and the overall picture. If you’re not too long in the back a smaller height will be fine. The width of the horses back and its build play a part depending on leg length. Some people look big on a 15.3 whilst others look small on a stocky 14,2 cob. Gait and pace as well as level of schooling also play a part and a well schooled and nicely balanced horse will feel very different to a just backed partbred. However you’ll struggle to find a quality well schooled horse for 4k unless perhaps it’s an older horse which could still give you many years of happy riding.

Thank you.
I’m looking for a happy hacker basically, schooling isn’t what I want to do. Just hacking, fun rides, maybe some XC one day.
I’m happy with an older horses, everything I’ve been looking at is late teens up to 20.

 

[Polos Mum]

Makes me wonder if I've got the weights of mine wrong..

My barely 14 hh, stick legged, tiny feet arab x appaloosa is 450kgs - I think a lot of people under estimate weight which is probably why we have a worm resistance problem in the UK.

 

[Melody Grey]

Thank you.
I’m looking for a happy hacker basically, schooling isn’t what I want to do. Just hacking, fun rides, maybe some XC one day.
I’m happy with an older horses, everything I’ve been looking at is late teens up to 20.

Have you considered a loan of something that needs to step down a notch?

4k isn’t a big budget in the current market sadly for something safe and sensible and I think you might struggle to find something there from what I’ve seen (that said, it’s still
More of a budget than I’d have!!)

 

[TheHairyOne]

Mine is an old fashioned warmblood crossed with an id/tb. He doesnt measure in at 16hh without shoes and i am 5'9, but he will take a 17.5 inch saddle easily. He does have a huge barrel and is in an extra wide saddle! Official vet weigh in about 3 weeks after the jump pic at 630kg. My weight's been a bit up and down from about 11 to 13.5 stone and Ive not noticed him noticing at all!



To give you an idea of how wide he is, the horse next to him is a proper heavy weight cob!



Good luck in your search, though with your budget it may be a bit challenging they are out there as I own one!

 

[eahotson]

If you carry your weight on your thighs/ backside then saddle size needs to be a serious consideration- many cob types are too short in the back even though they’re a good type to carry a bit more weight

Having said which my cob is a mare and will carry a good sized saddle.

 

[ycbm]

What about a Hanoverian ? They tend to come up quite broad and usually have amazing temperaments with the right breeding. Also have a bit more of a go than ID. Mine was ex hunter - boy could he go on the hunt field if asked! But very soft and gentle with children … very protective over them in the field making sure none of the silly horses went near by gently following them behind.

Like most warmbloods, Hanoverian is a quality register not a breed. They could be anything, even a pure thoroughbred or Arab.
.

 

[ycbm]

So as a dress size 14/16 I’m far to big for any horse
I would not weigh 17 stone fully kitted out either.

I know that must have sounded hard to read, but It isn't your dress size that counts it's your weight. You could, for all we know, have a huge frame packing heavy muscle and barely any fat. If you are 14st 7lb naked, then you would probably weigh 17 stone with your clothes, boots, hat, body protector, saddle, saddle pads, girth and bridle. And sadly there are few riding schools which can cater for that weight, as the horses that are suitable are hard to find. @Pearlsasinger is with an RDA that took a very long time to find one, with a healthy budget.

You do say that you are big in the bottom so please take the saddle fit comments very seriously. It's very bad indeed for the horse's back if a rider's bum overspills the cantle , because it puts a leverage on the weakest part on the horse's back when there is weight being carried over the end of the panel.

It sounds like you would be best with a 16 hand or over cob built as wide as it is long. They do exist, but you already know that your budget is very tight. Good luck with the search.
.

 

[Lauren1993]

Thanks all. Recently purchased a 15.1hh cob x mare - she’s chunky, leg in each corner type & lovely
17.5inch saddle from my fitter

 

[splashgirl45]

She looks like a nice type , have fun