The height and type of my next horse? Hmmmmm.......

[kippen64]

With two retired horses in full care at a retirement farm and a limited budget, it will be some time before I actually buy another horse. That however hasn't stopped me from window shopping online and pondering my next horse.

FYI I am a leggy 5'4" (163cm). Weigh nearly 12 stone and should weigh 9.5-10 stone. (Always gain a bit of weight when I don't have a horse in my care.)

This is what I have decided so far.

1) I need a horse that is narrower than my extra wide Highland Pony.
2) I ride quite well. Am not easily unnerved. Have excellent horse handling skills and would be a good home for a horse that someone else has become frightened of.
3) Can keep the horse out 24/7 due to being in Australia but would still happily rug and feed in winter and will make sure that at the very least there would be a shelter belt of trees and preferably an open fronted horse shelter as well.
4) Am not in the slightest bit intimidated by big horses and enjoy them.

So my conclusion is that I could buy someone's slightly older and unwanted Thoroughbred and then I start to think about how big it should be. Part of me fancies 17hh. Have owned a horse that size before. Then I think it wouldn't fit into a regular horse trailer comfortably. Much gnashing of teeth and I think "I still want a 17hh horse". Deep down I know that 16-16.2hh would be better. (The wanting still lingers.....)

If my pondering has set me down the wrong road, please let me know. I would love to have your feedback.

 

[Cortez]

If you want a big horse then buy one, but they come with their own set of disadvantages: harder to get on/off; need large enough/extra large trailer/stable/tack/shoes/amount of feed; they can be less nippy than the economy size versions. I am 5' 9" and am quite jealous - I'd love to be small enough to ride ponies. I used to have very tall dressage horses (all 17h+), now much apreciate my 15h - 15.2h smaller versions; I'd never have a really tall horse again (but I'm much older now and a bit crocked).

 

[kippen64]

If you want a big horse then buy one, but they come with their own set of disadvantages: harder to get on/off; need large enough/extra large trailer/stable/tack/shoes/amount of feed; they can be less nippy than the economy size versions. I am 5' 9" and am quite jealous - I'd love to be small enough to ride ponies. I used to have very tall dressage horses (all 17h+), now much apreciate my 15h - 15.2h smaller versions; I'd never have a really tall horse again (but I'm much older now and a bit crocked).

Thank you for your reply and encouragement.

If you would like a pony, there are bigger breeds out there. The Dales and the larger Highland Ponies come to mind. My riding instructor who is a very lanky person well over 6ft looked much better on my Highland Pony than on my big barrelled 15.2hh Thoroughbred.

As for myself, I guess I should bite the bullet and get what I want. The years are passing (I am 47) and I won't always be able to ride a big silly Thoroughbred.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I'm also 5'4 and I find that I sometimes struggle to get a saddle on a tall horse.

If you really want a tall TB - then go for it, but you may need a stool to stand on for tacking up!

 

[kippen64]

I'm also 5'4 and I find that I sometimes struggle to get a saddle on a tall horse.

If you really want a tall TB - then go for it, but you may need a stool to stand on for tacking up!

I need a mounting block to get on any horse. Someone opened their car door in front of me when I was bicycling back in 1989. Nearly avoided the door but still hit it first with my knee and then with the back wheel of my bicycle. Had to get a new wheel. Made a mess of my knee and bent the car door hinges. Ouch!!