What can I ride? Tall rider

[Patch55]

I'd like as many opinions as possible from tall riders as to what you ride to help me really nail down my wish list for the horse I am hoping will be my friend of a life time.

I am tall (5"'11) and 11.5 stone / 74 kg (small flex either way according to what part of the lockdown cycle we were in and when gyms were last open ?).

My issue is that I am quite long in the torso, I just look top heavy on whatever I ride apart from a true Heavyweight hunter. Which (although I would love 18h of ID) is very far out my budget and just not practical for livery, travelling etc.

I love hacking, a good gallop across a beach, 2 hours up and down hills, a very small amount of hunting, the odd jump at home but definitely not out showjumping at weekends. I love a good cob or cob x, but always think they are just too small for me.

What do you tall riders ride that fits the above? And if anyone has pictures that would be great ?

 

[Equi]

As long as you like the ride it doesn’t matter too much how you look. A friend competes her 15.2 id and she’s about your height, long and lean. She also had a 15.2 heavy cob and frankly I think she looks better on the id!

 

[Lipglosspukka]

My sister is your height and weight and still rides her stocky 14.2 cob.

Ride what you want, don't stress about what you look like.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My friend is your height she has a 15h a 15 2 and a 17h she looks fine on all of them I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Melandmary]

I am 5ft 8, 11 stone( Inc my post lock down stone which I can't shift). I am opposite to you in that I am long legged with short torso and I ride a 14.3h chunky traditional cob. She is the smallest I've ever owned but I don't feel too tall for her. At 5ft11 I would say a 15.2h hunter would be fine. I think being tall what makes me feel unbalanced is short necked horses but maybe that's just me being a weirdo ?

 

[ycbm]

I've had a rider of 5ft 10 on my 15.3 (measured) PRE and she looks fab on her.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I'm the same height & weight as you but long thighs - I have a 14.3hh chunky Section D & a 16.2hh WB. Both take my weight & height well & would do what you described

 

[Nudibranch]

I'm 5'10 and my Dales is 15hh. I don't look any bigger on her than I did on my 17.3 WB. I do hacking over tough terrain, distance, beaches, a very occasional bit of hunting, pop the odd log or whatever. Weight wise you have huge scope. Ime chunk usually trumps height in terms of taking up leg and so on. I always think if you can lean forward and not touch their ears with your nose you're probably ok!

 

[windand rain]

A horse with substance about 16hh but you will need your stirrup bars in the correct place not too far forward so saddle fit for you and the horse will be more important than a huge horse

 

[mini_b]

My friend is tall and v slim (5’10) with long torso and she rides a chunky cob type 14.2. She looks fab on him and they are really well suited.
im shorter, similar build and feel ‘more secure’ on something 16hh plus.

It doesn’t matter what you look like, it’s what feels best for you. Providing you're not too heavy for that sized horse.

 

[pistolpete]

Have a look at show cobs even the ‘lightweight’ shoe cons are formidable horses size and barrel wise. It’s amazing how a wide barrel will take up you leg. Comfy too and often good hunter types.

 

[Patch55]

Thanks all. That's really reassuring.

10 minutes after I posted, a 16.2 ISH came up locally and I am trying him at the weekend so fingers crossed ????

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I'm the same height as you but heavier. I'm fairly even in length, long legs as we as torso. I'm currently riding a 13.3 Fell type, and 14.2 cob for my friend...my own horses are a heavyweight 15.1 cob and a med weight 16.1 Cob x Connemara

 

[sbloom]

Just figure in saddle space https://www.ahsaddles.com/post/2019/04/30/horse-shopping-saddle-length-part-1 if you go for something remotely short backed, though with shorter legs and longer torso, unless your hip measurement is very large, then it shouldn't be such a problem.