Pictures The dreaded question!

[peanutsmumma]

How do I look on my boy ....too big or just right?
I do have a body protector on which obviously makes my top half look bigger.
Please be nice with your answers! ?

 

[ihatework]

To me the visual impression is too big. But provided he is youngish sound and fit not too heavy.

 

[AmyMay]

To me the visual impression is too big.

I’m afraid I agree. But likewise, if he’s young and you are light then there’s probably no issue.

 

[Tiddlypom]

As above, you do look a bit big on him but not too heavy.

What do you do with him? Jumping would be more of a mismatch of sizes than just steady hacking, for instance.

 

[tristar]

well your legs do not look too long, so you can touch in the right place

the pic is a bit fuzzy, he does look strong

 

[peanutsmumma]

He is 5 so isn't really doing much at the moment, just hacking and very light schooling every now and again.
I've had him since he was 7mths old and backed him myself. He is my pony of a lifetime, he is absolutely amazing in every way and we have a very special bond.

I just can't help but feel I look too big for him ?

 

[eahotson]

He is 5 so isn't really doing much at the moment, just hacking and very light schooling every now and again.
I've had him since he was 7mths old and backed him myself. He is my pony of a lifetime, he is absolutely amazing in every way and we have a very special bond.

I just can't help but feel I look too big for him ?

You look fine to me.Look at pictures of western riders in quarter horses average size 15by or people riding Icelandics,average height 13 hh.

 

[Leandy]

I would say that proportion wise you look a bit big on him ie if you said what is the ideal sized horse for me - then it would be bigger than he is. Having said that, I don't think there is any welfare issue as I don't think you are too heavy, particularly as he is used to you and will have built sufficient muscle to do the work you are asking of him, including carrying you. So it doesn't matter at all so long as he is capable of doing what you want him to do generally.

 

[mcgreggor]

Generally i'd actually say the visual impression is fine, that body protector and clunky boots don't help but he looks nice and deep bodied, which takes up your leg well though doesn't seem particularly heavy boned. Without knowing your weight it's hard to make a correct "too big" judgement as that's the bit that really matters, but that can always be worked on

 

[L&M]

If he is 5 he may well still grow, mine was 14.1hh at 5yrs but matured at 15hh by 7yrs.

I think you look fine as things are anyhow.....

 

[Red-1]

I'm afraid I do think he looks a size too small for you at the moment. Not that he won't grow in time.

 

[honetpot]

Lets put it this way, Mark Todd is 'too big' for just about every horse he rides, and yes he is a very good rider, but they are doing a lot more stressful work.
Charisma was 15hands, and he is 6'4'', and according to wiki weighs over 80kg
If the pony is not struggling, and is keen to work, its probably got less risk of injury than something of 16hands. I would rather have a good pony than a horse any day.

 

[NeverSurrender]

I would also look at different photos - you look maybe a little top heavy on him in those photos but definitely not too big, however his neck and head is turned to face the camera. You may find that a straight side on photo looks different again, and a working photo different to that!

 

[Gloi]

Is he happy with you riding him? That's all that really matters.
I think the big hat and body protector make you look a lot bigger than you actually are.

 

[Antw23uk]

I think you look too big on him.

 

[Abacus]

I think it’s a tale of two halves. Your leg looks an ok length. Your top half is a bit long which if you are balanced will be fine, but it’s easy to be a bit too forward or backward if you’re a bit long above for the pony. At a guess I wouldn’t say that your weight is an issue for him. It also depends on what you want to do. Personally I find that I can school a pony of anything from about 14hh (I’m 5’5 but with long legs) but don’t really like jumping the little ones. Hope he grows a little for you!

 

[PurBee]

Work out your weight including tack ratio to his weight - im really fussy about my preferred % on my horse but the general ‘standard’, not that there is an absolute with this subject, (someone correct me if im way out) is 15% good, 20% max….with wiggly room depending on horse fitness/age/injuries,discipline.

You both look like you’re a team, that’s for sure ? he’s adorable, i can see why he’s special to you. Daves mam on here has a very similar gorgeous pony.

Im always way-off base with guessing a rider’s height and weight when theyre in the saddle. The maths of your weight to his gives a more realistic, reliable indication of whether the horse/rider is too small/big.

 

[Abacus]

ETA: I just managed to look properly at the photos (realised if I clicked on them I can see them clearly). You actually look a bit squished back against the cantle of your saddle. If you sat further forward (in the middle of the saddle) you’d probably have to drop your stirrups and then might find your leg hangs longer. Which is ok but overall you might then look quite tall on him. Which doesn’t really matter, if you can stay balanced and use your leg effectively.

 

[SEL]

I'm similar on my 13h. Legs ok (she's xxxxwide) but I look a bit tall on top. I'm not too heavy for her given she's a dales part bred but I do look more in proportion on the 14h

But I don't think it really matters so long as you fit in the saddle and aren't too heavy.

 

[fetlock]

Lets put it this way, Mark Todd is 'too big' for just about every horse he rides, and yes he is a very good rider, but they are doing a lot more stressful work.
Charisma was 15hands, and he is 6'4'', and according to wiki weighs over 80kg
If the pony is not struggling, and is keen to work, its probably got less risk of injury than something of 16hands. I would rather have a good pony than a horse any day.

Charisma was 15.3

 

[Spotherisk]

You look too tall tbh, I always looked the same on my cob (who Carried me happily for over 20 years before retirement). You may find you’re top heavy, and possibly you’re long backed and short legged? Sorry, that sounds very rude and I don’t mean it to at all. You do look a very happy pair!

 

[honetpot]

Charisma was 15.3

I stand corrected but, looking at SH data, they put him at less, but the picture makes the point.
https://sporthorse-data.com/pedigree/charisma-21

 

[Oreo&Amy]

How do I look on my boy ....too big or just right?
I do have a body protector on which obviously makes my top half look bigger.
Please be nice with your answers! ?

I hate to say it but yes I think a bigger pony or horse, maybe a cob type would be a better match for you both. But that’s just my unprofessional opinion- ask a trainer. Best of luck!! Xx PS Purbees comment is very useful; use that as a guide maybe?

 

[Oreo&Amy]

He is 5 so isn't really doing much at the moment, just hacking and very light schooling every now and again.
I've had him since he was 7mths old and backed him myself. He is my pony of a lifetime, he is absolutely amazing in every way and we have a very special bond.

I just can't help but feel I look too big for him ?

Don’t let it get you down- if you feel that, you could keep him and loan him out to stay on your yard and maybe consider other lovely ponies etc. But if it’s making you worried or miserable then maybe it’s the time to change the situation (not necessarily selling him though- as I say below maybe loan him to a smaller rider to stay on your yard and be a proud owner, and buy or loan a different gorgeous pony! Xx

 

[Tally05]

I agree with abacus, you look sat too far back, bringing your legs forward. If you sat further forward your stirrups would be longer and your feet would hang lower than his belly. Being too big is more about weight to me, as your only too big if it will negatively affect your horse rather than if it looks aesthetically pleasing or not. Your probably slightly too tall but not to the point where you look silly x

 

[Lois Lame]

I think it's more than about weight - it's the position of the weight too far back. What do things look and feel like if you lower your stirrups quite a bit?

 

[Ownedby4horses]

OP, I think the angle of the picture might not be helping, with his neck and head straight, His neck length would likely help to the overall image.

I do think there’s a bit of a misconception that people need big horses, almost like a “moving onto horses after pony club”, I’ve been there myself and went up to a shire x and I’ve come right back down now and I have a 14hh Dales x mare, I’m 5ft 8 and have long legs (she takes up my leg) and the amount of people in the UK when I got her that asked jokingly why did I not want to buy a real horse was bizarre (as they’re trotting past on their big striding mounts etc.).

I ride western and it’s more acceptable to have a smaller mount, there’s a lot of icelandic horses over here and that takes a little getting used to seeing riders with their feet way below the belly.

I think with your body protector and the angle of the photo, it does accentuate your top half a bit but I think as he grows, you will start to look more in proportion with him (you don’t look big by the way and certainly not too heavy).

 

[peanutsmumma]

He carries me absolutely fine and he schools beautifully.
I don't have many photos of me on him because I'm on my own a lot of the time.
I know he has a lot of muscle to build yet and has gone a bit bum high the last few weeks so has some more growing to do.

I feel fine on him and everyone that has seen me has said I look fine, I think because before him, I've had horses, I'm used to seeing pictures of me on 15.2+.
I lost 3 stone so that I could ride him. I'm 5'5 and he is about 14.1......before this growth spurt.
I could never sell him, our bond is too strong.

I should probably also mention, my leg that you can see in the pic doesnt have much feeling caused by an accident 6 years ago so my position of my leg varies as i can feel what im doing with it.

 

[peanutsmumma]

He carries me absolutely fine and he schools beautifully.
I don't have many photos of me on him because I'm on my own a lot of the time.
I know he has a lot of muscle to build yet and has gone a bit bum high the last few weeks so has some more growing to do.

I feel fine on him and everyone that has seen me has said I look fine, I think because before him, I've had horses, I'm used to seeing pictures of me on 15.2+.
I lost 3 stone so that I could ride him. I'm 5'5 and he is about 14.1......before this growth spurt.
I could never sell him, our bond is too strong.

 

[Trouper]

Work out your weight including tack ratio to his weight - im really fussy about my preferred % on my horse but the general ‘standard’, not that there is an absolute with this subject, (someone correct me if im way out) is 15% good, 20% max….with wiggly room depending on horse fitness/age/injuries,discipline.

This absolutely. Visually you are borderline for me but the only really important statistic is the weight ratio. Keep on checking it as he grows and develops.