talk to me about owning & riding really really big horses

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rubysmum

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i already own a 17hh, so am reasonably comfy with the more super-sized - but have the tentative possibility of a 17.3
apart from transport & rugging issues, what else might be an issue???
[ I am already used to finding fences & gates for clambering on]
i am an average sized woman - 5'7 ish
would i look insanley silly?
 
OH bought a 4 yr old warmblood, he was 17.1, V (Vertigo) is now 7 and is about 2 inches above the 18.2 measuring stick:rolleyes:
He is the most gentle, loving and genuine trier of a horse that we have come across. Had to keep taking him out of work when he grew to help his joints develop properly and had to buy a new box to accommodate him, poor lad was folded up in the old one:eek: Takes 7 foot rugs which we usually get reduced, so a bit of a saving there!
He has a lovely personality, 7 yr old son can happily handle him and since we sold his outgrown pony V has turned into the biggest lead rein horse on the planet, son loves being lead around the school on him.
Wouldn't be without this big lad:)
Forgot to say I am 5'7 and dont look out of place on him
 
My mare is 17'3 had her for 16 years and things for a large horse were pretty hard to come by back then (more width) but nowadays I think things are more readily available for bigger horses, 7 foot rugs were a rarity now 7'6 are readily availabe (bits) were my achillies heel...but hey go for it if its right just do it!!
 
Make sure you have a slightly bigger stable, I hate having anything over 17hh in a standard 12x12 box.

And if you travel both horses together, watch you're not over weight :)
 
Oh my good grief, how do you ladies get on these huge horses? Im 5ft 3 and I have a 16.2 and have to do the splits to get on - yikey you must all be very bendy :p
 
alwaysbroke said:
Had to keep taking him out of work when he grew to help his joints develop properly Forgot to say I am 5'7 and dont look out of place on him
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Agree with this, my friend bought a 16.3hh 4 year old from Holland, got it home and it just kept growing, went lame a couple of years back, after a lot of looking by the vet, his stifle joint had developed flat (probably due to his height and weight), he's now back in work and going better than ever.
 
thanks for all yr responses - i have been told he is a good do-er - but am prepared for larger than average feed bills - am off to view tomorrow - so wish me luck [ just hope they have a big mounting block or fence for my inelegant scrambling lol]
 
I will not have a horse over 17.1hh for eventing because they get to the stage where they are too big and then you have serious issues with joints, ligaments etc.

They are more prone to ailments and you have to be very careful with them as they are not as tough as smaller horses.

I am paranoid about ground conditions, depending on their breed they can take longer to get fit and it takes a long time for them to be able to fit into a 20 x 40 especially if they have a long stride for dressage.
 
i am looking at taking a 17.2 that will be semi retired, friend has owned him since he was 6 months old and he's now 18 but she doesn't have the grazing. Had thought about riding him but he is too quirky but a friend probably would, she's used to TBs.
I'm only 5ft though and would probably struggle with most things lol, luckily he's very well mannered on the ground.
 
We have a 17.3HH ex masters horse. He thrives on thin air, but is totally devoted to full haynets. Getting on is always a mounting block or a gate and he doesn't prat around very often. He is a lot of horse to gather up, but to be honest, he has hunted all his life and is 23 now, so it's mainly buckle end hacks now.

His stable is 22' x 14' and he loves the extra space. He does have some athritic changes, so the extra space is good for him. The only problem I really have is if he wants to be a git for any reason and sticks his head in the air - and lobbing thick heavy winter rugs at him. I've pulled a few shoulder muscles doing that trick!

But if you've already got a 17HH, you're not really going to notice an extra 3 inches!

Love the name Vertigo for a big horse! How funny!
 
I'm real fan of big horses but having now lost 3 prematurely to different health issues, I won't be having another. My current horse is 16hh and I think my next will be no bigger than that.
 
Oh my I won't have a horse over 15.2 anymore ... easier to handle, feed, get on, get off ... fall off (!) and, most importantly, tend to stay healthier and sounder. :D

Good luck with the big guy. :)
 
I have a 17.1 warmblood im eight stone wet he a true gent never puts a foot wrong. He dosent cost me anymore to feed than my 15 hand spanish horse because he will eat anything put in front of him and is to much of a good doer if honest.
 
I think I'm going to have to learn! My yearling is a bit over 16hh now and very bum high, so its good to hear all these positive stories about them.
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
Whats 3 inches between friends? xx
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Oh er Mother!

Seriously, my lad is 17-3hh, but he is a continental WB not a heavy, so none of the problems with the big heavy horses and their joints, and really the only time I notice his height is when he is stood in the school and I look up at him. No problems with him because of his height.I actually find him easier to get on than 14-2hh Fany. He is in a 7ft rug and most of the good makes go up that high. He has no problems with shoeing or anything like that. A bit of a poor doer if given the opportunity, so gets his bucket twice a day and has a biggish, not the biggest on the yard, hay net. His stable is huge 20 x 18 approx. I don't think size is an issue.

Susanna F- my lad is most certainly not a gentle giant! He is a stressy b*gger, with a lot of opinions and an arrogance it is hard to credit. But I love him!

FDC
 
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My girl is a 17.3h warmblood, takes me no extra to feed, shoe or clothe, in fact I usually get rugs cheaper as its easier to get her size in the sales.

The only thing I would say is, standing in does not agree with her, if she is turned out and ridden everyday she is fine but anymore than a day in can give her swollen legs.

So if your yard has limited turnout in winter i would invest in some leg wraps.

And she is a stressy sharp 'little' madam :p
 
I once had to break in a coltish gelding - at 2 because he was so darn naughty the owners couldn't wait til he was 3+. And at 16.3hh at 2 he was gonna be a big boy!
I struggled to be honest, biting him was his laugh - I couldn't reach! I think I had to use a stool, but bad boy had many tricks to knock me off or move out of my reach!! I did succeed in the end, but it took a while. I last saw him aged 7, around the 18hh mark being very naughty (napping), and was asked to 'get on'. I declined, I really didn't, and still don't want to ride big naughty buggers. Mark Todd bred him, and the owners were then sending him back for schooling. Mark is far more suitable than me!! (have no idea what happened to the horse though. Never seen or heard about him since. I would look silly with my short stumpy legs and far worse, thats a lot of weight they are pushing around and a long way to fall - particually if you go up first!

As long as they are genuinly nice horses, I have no problems with any, you can't be messed about with when they are whoppers!!
 
Cluck said:
Oh my I won't have a horse over 15.2 anymore ... easier to handle, feed, get on, get off ... fall off (!) and, most importantly, tend to stay healthier and sounder. :D

Good luck with the big guy. :)
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Wish that were the case with mine! My 15.2hh has had nothing but health problems! She's now retired, aged 12. The 17hh I have on loan is great. I know her whole history and she's virtually never been lame, the odd bruise or cut but nothing serious. I've become a total fan of big horses since I took her on.
 
Charlir666 said:
Haha ^^
make sure it has manners.... They're too big to be silly at that height!
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This! Boomerang, the Hanoverian x I had before Mr B, was 17hh2 and sometimes just did not want to be ridden so would stick his nose in the air, bit of a sod to tack up some days! Beautiful to ride and would stand just long enough for me to get on at the block but you had to be ready to go as soon as that leg was over!

The 18hh clydie I rode was a total sweetheart.

The rug issue will be ok cos now there is a specialist company. Yay! Will search it out for you. http://www.thebighorseshop.co.uk/

I reckon they'd be ok for lighter horses too

Ring me when you've seen him! I wanna know if Ruby is getting a new bf! I think you'd look fine given your height.
 
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