What makes a horse ride "big"?

Achinghips

Achinghips

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I'm used to riding big horses, relative for my height.I tried out another ned today ... A 15.2 half shire and she felt really pony like, I mean giving a sort of quick sexy hip shifting (mine) movement in walk. She covered the ground well but my current lad, a 16.1 half shire with a bigger chest rides with a real slow roll and covers the ground too. Is it back size? Or is it chest size or is it something about schooling?

I'm trying to work out what made them so different, don't think I could get used to the first. It's sort of thrown me because I'm looking for a second horse and at 5' 2" people tell me I shouldn't go bigger than my current one.
 
Hmm I reckon shoulder angle perhaps ? My 14hh has the stride of a small horse . He's not particularly long in the back as he's a welsh c x coloured cob
 
I think it's schooling, although obviously some will naturally have a bigger stride. But I've known little ponies stride out better than big horses. Don't go on size, at 5'2 you'll look fine from 14.2 onwards, and my 14.2 welsh strides out much better than my 15.1 cow
 
I'd say how much is in front of you, and how much power you can feel behind you! Only say that, due to personal experience in current horse, who at barely 15h, rides a good 16h. Only know she is little when you are not riding her!
 
I think there are many things that add to how "big" it fells. It is how well built the horse is, the stockier the horse is the bigger it feels. The temperament of the horse, if it gets very excited it can feel big. How tall it actually is, and what its withers are in comparison to its back. Big withers can add an inch or two in comparison to its back.
 
I could be that the 15.2 felt different and more choppy because he was tense and slightly stressed having someone new and different on his back. You would probably also have been slightly tense being on a new horse which would have been transferred to him. If he is a little green then he will also be a little choppy.
I don't really think that height plays too much of a part in whether you can ride a specific horse unless you go to extremes. It depends on the horse and rider's ability. I know a 17h horse whom I would have no hesitation in letting the children ride and a 13h one that I wouldn't let them near!
 
I always think that it's length of stride combined with a decent shoulder and a good neck...I've ridden 13.2hhs that rode like 16 handers (and kept up with them in all paces) and conversely I've ridden big 15.2 - 16hh heavy cobs where you felt that you weren't going forward at all and that there was nothing much in front of the saddle IYSWIM.
 
I have a 16h ISH and my husband has a 17h ISH. I can never get off my husband's horse and onto mine, she feels so tiny, and its not just that one hand of height! She is much more forward than him and has "more attitude". She is also better schooled. They both have huge chests and good paces. Hubby's horse has a bit of warmblood, so his stride is much longer and bouncier, hers is more of a springy cadence movement, she is much easier to sit to. He also has a much higher neck carriage. My mare's neck is lower and she pulls downwards, whereas hubby's gelding would raise his head to evade. To look at, they are very similar types, but I always ride her first and then get onto him if I am riding both one after the other.
 
Our slight, 14.1hh Connie rides big, he has a really big, bouncy trot which I am told is down to his very "dressage" hock action
 
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