Tall people

Suechoccy · 2026-03-16T18:59:25+0000

Quite similar. Incredibly strong, lots of stamina at all paces. It very quickly felt comfortable and normal to be sitting on them. Neither felt choppy-strided but then on both occasions I was riding trail-fit horses.

In general I feel far safer and comfy on smaller horses. Have only ridden a couple of horses over 16.2hh in my life and it's a long way off the ground.

Widgeon · 2026-03-16T20:44:20+0000

Absolutely! 50kg is nothing at all, you must be built like the proverbial beanpole. Pretty much anything will carry your weight comfortably, it's just saddle fit and balance at speeds above above a walk that might be tricky. If you feel happier on bigger horses then go for bigger horses - nothing wrong with that.

Re the Reddit abuse, I think it's a relatively recent (i.e. maybe last couple of hundred years?) cultural thing that big horses are seen as somehow aspirational and we've forgotten that the majority of working and middle class adults, if they did ride, would have ridden native or old-fashioned cobby types - i.e. quite small. Look at old photos and it's entirely normal to see adult men (admittedly, mostly quite slim by today's standards) with their legs hanging down under their horse (or pony)'s belly.

Widgeon · 2026-03-16T20:45:47+0000

I once turned up a trekking centre for a holiday ride and they said, because you've quite tall we've given you X. X was 17.2 and rangy with it. It didn't take long to establish that I was going to have to stand up for every canter because I wasn't actually capable of sitting his strides!

FieldOrnaments · 2026-03-16T21:08:32+0000

Do not be mean. I am not a good rider, I will never be a good rider, I endeavor only to be better than the last time each time ....

I posted this photo

And yes I am tall but I really didn't think it was that a really excessive amount of pony squishing

My confidence is hideously fragile

Barklands · 2026-03-16T21:12:06+0000

You are tall but you are clearly not too heavy. Don't put yourself down, there is nothing wrong with that photograph - your seat looks lovely. As long as YOU feel comfortable and your pony is happy there is nothing wrong with you two as a combination.

Korg · 2026-03-16T21:31:47+0000

I see nothing abusive going on there. Your legs are just fine, your body with the combination of the horse's neck is a bit tall, but in no way abusive. Probably wouldn't be ideal if you were riding at a higher level of fast kinds, such as show jumping (not just occasionally jumping something, that should be fine), but that's probably also more of a personal preference thing.

JenJ · 2026-03-16T22:54:04+0000

You look fab!

Absolutely no squish to be seen

DabDab · 2026-03-17T05:51:40+0000

You look absolutely fine on this pony from a welfare pov

ihatework · 2026-03-17T06:30:13+0000

Gosh there is absolutely no reason not to be riding that pony if you want to!

You might find a bigger horse with a bit more neck length more confidence giving, not because of weight but because you are fairly tall in your upper body and having something in front of you can help!

HaplessHorse · 2026-03-17T06:53:41+0000

That is absolutely fine! You’re tall but you’re definitely not going to squish that pony.

I’ve honestly seen some proper pony squishers (obviously well over 20%) on Reddit, but because they’re riding western (with heavier saddles?) it’s apparently not mentioned

. I’ve given up looking at it, really!

Cloball · 2026-03-17T06:55:49+0000

I don't see any pony squishing at all! If you're happy up there crack on.

(Although I ride a 13.2 and I'm heavier than you

)

Red-1 · 2026-03-17T07:04:33+0000

You look absolutely fine on that pony.

I am too big for Rigs (5'7 and 11 st) and BF certainly is. However, Rigs does what he likes and no more, so I don't feel bad. The vet has also passed him as fit for purpose.

BF is 6ft and even makes chunky 16hh H look small. But then he is larger build (polite way to put it). This was them, this week.

FieldOrnaments · 2026-03-17T07:07:02+0000

Ok. Deep breath.
Thank you very much everyone

I 'feel' fine on her fwiw (that's the RS pony I've been on most), just.... Internet opinions getting to me. Note to self about posting on Reddit equestrian subs

which make me feel like I'm one of those 200lb tourists riding tiny donkeys. None of the RS found here have anything bigger than 15hh anyway and I don't have time to be traveling really far afield for the sake of somewhere with larger horses.
Not really sure why it got the response it did given how many big blokes you see on quarter 'horses' that aren't much more than ponies ,but it really upset me. Never mind the implications it has for me riding diva who is only 15hh.
Instructor obviously thinks we are fine together else she wouldn't keep putting me on her and I do trust her cos she shouts at me when daft anxious brain is being daft and anxious

DabDab · 2026-03-17T07:18:27+0000

Worth remembering that sometimes the response is more to with the way something is written and presented than any kind of objective opinion. A young woman timidly posting a picture (obvs I haven't seen your post so don't know what you said alongside the image), will almost always illicit a more critical response than a bloke just confidently posting a picture. Unfortunately it is just a little bit the way the world is.

GoldenWillow · 2026-03-17T07:39:35+0000

I have a 14.2 cob and I'd be more than happy for you at that height and weight to ride him! I would think at that weight you can ride pretty much anything, the only problem being that with anything a lot smaller and short neck you might feel a bit out of balance but the pony would be fine. I've a 14.2 cob and he's had people from 5' to 5'9" on him and they taller ones actually looked a better fit.

tristars · 2026-03-17T09:57:42+0000

A person starting from the point of humility and concern for their mount has the possiblitiy to become a great rider

Korg · 2026-03-17T10:17:53+0000

Now most people don't ride at his level, in multiple ways, but an example of a tall rider is Peder Fredricson, whose most famous horse is All In. Peder is 190 cm and All In 163-165, not exactly built like a cob either. It's probably been easier for him to get accepted with that height difference since he's a man, but I doubt the horse cares.

Tall people

Suechoccy

Well-Known Member

Widgeon

Well-Known Member

Widgeon

Well-Known Member

FieldOrnaments

Well-Known Member

Barklands

Well-Known Member

Korg

Well-Known Member

JenJ

Well-Known Member

DabDab

Thinks the luddites had a point...

ihatework

Well-Known Member

HaplessHorse

Well-Known Member

Cloball

Well-Known Member

Red-1

I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...

FieldOrnaments

Well-Known Member

DabDab

Thinks the luddites had a point...

GoldenWillow

Well-Known Member

tristars

Well-Known Member

Korg

Well-Known Member