Transition from small dainty horse to huge elephant horse!

slumdog

slumdog

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B is 15hh and I've just got a new boy who is around 16.3, I obviously tried him and loved him, he's nice to ride and I've rode him a couple of times since I've got him home and everything is great.
But
He just feels so giant! He has a huge trot, a huge canter and he's a retired grade A with a huge jump that boings me out of the saddle! I like riding him and I'm not scared of him but is it normal to notice such a big difference when going from a horse that's almost a pony to a big giant gangly elephant? Is this something that everyone goes through? I never went from ponies to horses as a teenager so I have no idea if it's just me (I'm only 5"3 anyway!) or whether it takes everyone some getting used to. I feel like I'm steering the titanic round the school lol!
 
I went from a 15.1hh quarter horse with typical shuffley QH movement to a huge moving 16.1hh Shire-TBX. It took me years to figure out how to sit the trot without quashing engagement.
 
I went the opposite direction. Went from a gigantic almost 17hh ISH to a 15hh cob x tb, felt weird for a while, but I'm used to her now and she feels perfect for me :)
 
I did this!!! Had a pony like 15.2 then 3 yrs of messing about on teeny 14.2 polo ponies and 7 months ago brought myself a 16.3 warmblood who has a huge jump!!! 7 months on he can still have me off if he jumps big!! And im almost in tune with his trot and canter now!!! I find the worst part to be getting off its a long way down and i can imagine its guna hurt when ive got cold feet in the winter!!! Im 5ft3 too btw!!! Just enjoy him ull get used to it eventually!! :)
 
Yep, went from a 15hh wick Standardbred to a 16.2hh tank like IDx, swingy walk & trot and huge canter. It took me a while to get used to him, long rides mean i get off with a bit of backache (due to the swingy walk/trot) and it takes me a while to walk normally again (if you get what i mean).

Am working on my seat in the school atm by no stirrup work, and omg it's makes my eyes water.

Having said all that, had a ride of my friends new skinny warmblood the other day having only ridden the boy for the last 12 months and i prefer the boy now.
 
My old pony (still have him) was 13hh and now I've gone to my new mare who's a chunky 14.3/15hh and at first it was like I was riding a 18hh but now she feels the right size and I'm used to her. As long as your confident around the bigger one that's the most important! And don't worry about coming out of the saddle when you jump, I do too and all I care about when jumping is mine and the horses safety and not looking all posh and amazing!
 
I had the opposite problem. I was once working with pointers in the morning and big warmbloods in the afternoon, so did a fair bit of riding through the day. The TBs were fairly light but big, the Warmbloods huge and stuffy and then I went home and often rode my 15.2 arab/tb/id who felt like a little pony! Very strange. But mine was the best ride!
 
When I ride other people's horses, usually natives, I notice how smooth and earthbound their gaits are. The funniest moment was when I sat on a friend's old Highland and, when the horse went into this funky side-to-side but not bouncy gait, I asked, "What is she doing?"

"Trotting!" my friend said.
 
Caol Ila said:
When I ride other people's horses, usually natives, I notice how smooth and earthbound their gaits are. The funniest moment was when I sat on a friend's old Highland and, when the horse went into this funky side-to-side but not bouncy gait, I asked, "What is she doing?"

"Trotting!" my friend said.
Click to expand...

Hahaha! :D
At least it's not just me then! I feel like a pea on a mountain lol!
 
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