Tall riders and 14.2hh horses

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cosmic389

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Hey all!
I'm a leggy but slim rider at 5'7 and 55kg. My new horse is a 14.2hh cob x. He's the smallest horse I've owned.
I've got some photos today of us at riding club and would like to know if I'm too tall for him or not. Please note my stirrups is a hole or 2 shorter than usual as I was prepared for jumping but didn't end up doing it.
I've also attached a photo of his current condition. Reckon he will fill out more? He's been out of work for over a year before I got him.
Under saddle he doesn't feel small and I'm quite balanced on him. I've ridden a friend's 14.2hh pony and my horse feels like the bigger horses in terms of movement whereas hers feel like a pony with short choppy strides.

Tall riders show me photos of you on your smaller horses please!
 

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You look fine. Remember lots of things come into play when considering rider and horse matching. He will probably widen and deepen as he matures and l don’t suppose you’ll grow much now so best just to enjoy and stop worrying. Have a look at some of the HOYs photos that are about at the moment, plenty of people have obviously pulled up their stirrups trying not to look too tall.
 
I think you look absolutely fine on him - all I was going to say was you might be more comfortable with slightly longer stirrups, but then I re-read it and saw that you usually DO ride with longer stirrups.

He's very nice!
 
Looks fine to me. I'm 5'10 and my Dales is 15.1. If they take up the leg well they look bigger.
I always think there's an issue when the rider's upper body looks longer than the wither to ears distance on the horse. Not quite sure how to explain that but hopefully you know what I mean. Like if the rider leaned forward their head would reach the ears.
 
Nudibranch said:
I always think there's an issue when the rider's upper body looks longer than the wither to ears distance on the horse. Not quite sure how to explain that but hopefully you know what I mean. Like if the rider leaned forward their head would reach the ears.
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You're right! I'd never thought about it like that but that explains why I can ride ponies without looking too silly.....it's because the length is mostly in my legs

😂​

 
Thanks all, makes me feel better haha. Guess I just need to start getting used to it.

He's 10yo so finished growing ages ago. However he was quite skinny when I first got him. I feel like his chest and neck is larger compared to the rest of his body atm. I really hope he fills out and gets chunkier as he puts more weight and muscle on.
 
I think you look fine, the build of pony can make a huge difference. I'm only 5'4 (but leggy) and I look almost too big on my 14.2hh pony because she's so narrow at the front, fine on my 14hh stocky welshie, and practically overhorsed on my Dad's 14.2 who is pretty built, big mover and very high head carriage. Everyone always thinks he's over 15hh.

My older sister used to ride a 14hh Dales pony, she's 5'10 and very lanky, but he was a chunky lad so they looked fine.

If your legs are swinging in the breeze a lot that can take some getting used to, I ride with slightly shorter stirrups on my mums 13.2hh because otherwise i've got almost no leg contact due to our respective proportions!
 
You look fab! I'm 5ft 6 and my mare is 14.2! There is a good Facebook group called Adults riding ponies which is worth a follow if you are worried!
 
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