What size horse do you ride?

[Annagain]

5'6 and a bit. Charlie is at least 16.3 (we haven't measured him since the spring and I'm pretty sure he's grown again). He was 16.1 when I bought him 15 months ago. Time to stop growing now C! This was back when I first had him.

Monty was 17hh but a bit wider than Charlie. He felt smaller.

Archie was 16.3hh, very wide and very compact. Riding him felt much closer to riding Eb (14.1) than the other two (until you got off). He genuinely felt like a pony to ride! I don't have many ridden shots of him as we only hacked for so long.

Eb rode much bigger than his 14.1hh. I think it was a combination of him riding bigger and Arch riding smaller that made the move from 14.1 to 16.3 feel quite easy.

 

[mini_b]

5’7 & 17hh

I have a 15hh and I'm 5'10 but she's a chunkster (Dales) so takes up the leg just as well as my last horse who was 17.3hh. In fact she wears a lot of of his tack too. Imo build and bone are at least as important as height.
I dropped the big horses after too many vet's bills.

I am 5’7” and have always preferred horses on the tall side.
I think when this 17hh goes I’ll be doing same as you - because of the vet bills! I am thinking ID or IDx again but full up 15.2-16ish

 

[IrishMilo]

5'1 on 16.2/3

 

[littleshetland]

I'm 5'10' and most horses Ive had have been 16.3 upwards, although in recent years I took on my daughters 15.1 cob which was lovely. My latest is probably 16.2, short coupled, bouncy - not big moving at all , but loads of fun.

 

[Gusbear]

I‘m 5’4”, horse is 18.2hh

 

[Peglo]

I had mostly ridden short and tall natives, cobs etc…wide chunksters! - im 5’7” - so when i first rode a very slim 16.2hh TB at a trekking centre, my initial reaction was ‘where’s the horse?!’ I was seemingly levitating on what felt like a ‘stilt’ of a horse. Perched high up there, with no leg curve at all. Low neck horse too so nothing to grab hold of should i need to.
Sooo weird compared to the natives seat.

I returned back to the trek centre on the instructors lovely huge ID horse, to only then be told by stable helper the TB had been on box rest for 3 weeks with a cough and that was it’s first time out!
Suffice to say, the TB was a livewire with absolutely zero brakes…discovered on a very narrow mountain path at gallop with sheer drop one side, trees the other, as it tried to race and over take every horse, using the sheer-drop side! Even the lead horse bucking in its face didnt deter it! I was pinging about like a pinball and its a miracle i stayed on and managed to continually yell ‘stop’ to lead rider who was blissfully unaware of the commotion behind her, despite her horse bucking, which she smacked it with a crop for!

She didnt want to give me her horse but i insisted ? Had a lovely ride back on her ID - She whipped that TB all the way back to the yard.

I’ve never ridden a skinny tall horse since! ?

Did that TB look like this? ? my 16.1 TB. I found her so comfy even though her thin neck stretched in front of me for about a mile ?
Everyone I know tells me she would be their worst nightmare. “I don’t mind a chunky thoroughbred with a bit of bone”…. Not her then. ? But my god she was fast! And I think she is beautiful! But I’m likely biased

 

[007Equestrian]

I’m 5ft 3 and ride a 16.1hh - although she’s 3/4 Irish Draught so approx 16.1hh wide too ?

 

[Batgirl]

I'm 5'6 and other than a Highland I rode when I was learning and my first horse when I was 21 (Teddy my 14'2 dude) I have always ridden 17hh plus.
My current boy has just hit 17'3 (after buying him as a 3 year old as a 17'2, he's just (at 6 and a half) turned 17'3.

 

[Tarragon]

I am 5'5", anywhere between 9 and 9.5 stone and ride a 13hh Exmoor pony
(and yes, there was a bridle way through this field and he does have legs )

 

[SOS]

Im afraid I like them tall! I am 5”7.

My horse is 17.1hh

My other ride this summer was atleast 17.2hh but made me look minuscule.

My smallest owned horse as an adult was a 16.2hh fine mare.


When I groomed I mainly worked with large hunters and eventers so got used too and like riding big horses. Anything too small I struggle with the short stride and I would now be too heavy on at around 12 stone. I think my smallest would be a 15hh chunky type. When I was grooming I only weighed just over 10st and rode the kids ponies (13.2hh and 14.2hh) on a few days hunting!

However some time ago I rode a horse at a university comp that even I felt was too big for me… looking at the photos you can see why.

 

[nikkimariet]

5ft8 and have a 15.2hh and a 16.1hh. I could easily get away with something taller but big horses don’t float my boat, nothing over 16.3hh tops please! I wouldn’t want something smaller than 15hh either due to my leg length.

 

[PurBee]

Did that TB look like this? ? my 16.1 TB. I found her so comfy even though her thin neck stretched in front of me for about a mile ?
Everyone I know tells me she would be their worst nightmare. “I don’t mind a chunky thoroughbred with a bit of bone”…. Not her then. ? But my god she was fast! And I think she is beautiful! But I’m likely biased
View attachment 82034

Hehee! ? That tb i rode, was very much like yours (but chestnut!) with high withers so the neck seems low and out there. I‘ve always loved the look of TB’s but having never ridden one was taken aback by the very different seat position on a tall slim horse. Like perched on a bar stool instead of sitting in a comfy armchair, like riding the chunky types.

I’d have a go again on a sane TB ? just so i could marvel again at the seat position high up there, and maybe get to like it?!

Yours looks lovely. You look tall so suit her height…how tall are you? Im 5’7” yet lightweight so can ride a 13hh without squishing but i can look ridiculous with my legs, unless theyre considerably chunky pony and take up my leg, then i look 5’2” on a pony!

This thread has proven that height of horse and rider difference creates quite an optical illusion. making it almost impossible to guess right height of rider or horse!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

5ft 2 and pony is 14.1. She has a lovely long stride though. I don’t like choppy pony strides.

 

[SEL]

Height isn't everything! Some horses prefer to focus on width

 

[ihatework]

I’m 5’6” and generally like them in the 16/16.1hh L-MW short coupled kind of bracket given the choice.

I most definitely don’t want the real long giants as a full time ride, my last was a long 17.2hh and at present I exercise an 18hh too, but I much prefer smaller/compact in general.

Very much enjoyed riding a nimble little 15.1hh Spanish horse recently.

 

[Peglo]

Hehee! ? That tb i rode, was very much like yours (but chestnut!) with high withers so the neck seems low and out there. I‘ve always loved the look of TB’s but having never ridden one was taken aback by the very different seat position on a tall slim horse. Like perched on a bar stool instead of sitting in a comfy armchair, like riding the chunky types.

I’d have a go again on a sane TB ? just so i could marvel again at the seat position high up there, and maybe get to like it?!

Yours looks lovely. You look tall so suit her height…how tall are you? Im 5’7” yet lightweight so can ride a 13hh without squishing but i can look ridiculous with my legs, unless theyre considerably chunky pony and take up my leg, then i look 5’2” on a pony!

This thread has proven that height of horse and rider difference creates quite an optical illusion. making it almost impossible to guess right height of rider or horse!

Yes I totally get what you mean about a bar stool. But I rode a friends cob X and I think the thin bar stool suited my hips better ? I find the big ones hard work on me legs ?

I’m only 5’5 ( and 3/4) but she does make me look taller. I also had my stirrups shorter there as was jumping.
You should definitely give them another go. I think they are so beautiful and athletic.

its so interesting to see all the different shapes and sizes. I don’t think I will discount height after seeing these if I’m ever looking for a new one.

 

[Tarragon]

Height isn't everything! Some horses prefer to focus on width
View attachment 82047

Aww - I do like yours Looks like a giant Exmoor pony!

 

[AandK]

I'm 5'4" and my current two are 16.3hh (24yo retired TB, did low level eventing/RC stuff) and 16hh (8yo exracer, bought to event but not got there yet). My late mare was 15.2hh, got here when she was 7 and I was 16, lost her 2yrs ago age 29.

 

[lme]

5 ft 7 and horses have ranged from 15:1 to 17h (and still growing)

 

[scats]

I’m just under 5’4 and my girls are both 15hh.

 

[Laurac13]

I’m 5’8 my old boy was 17.1hh current horse is recently retired is around 16.2 hh both wore 6’9 rugs

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

At last worked out how to upload! Miller 17.3 proving real men can and do wear pink lol! Me 5' 5" sitting so crooked it now looks so obvious both hips were doomed!

 

[NiftDisy]

As the title says!
what height is your horse and what height are you?

show me your pictures!

I’m 5’7 and my boy is 16.2hh. I’m 90% legs so I make him look about 14hh ?

 

[Jayzee]

I'm 5'10 and have a 17hh KWPN I'm really enjoying having a bigger frame having usually ridden around 16hh

 

[Sealine]

5’5 on a 16.1hh but my legs are long for my height.

 

[GinaGeo]

I don’t like big horses. But I don’t like a pony stride ?

I 5ft6 and I ride a 14.2hh, 15.2hh and a 16.1hh. The 14.2hh has a big barrel and is very horse like in his movement. The 16.1hh is very compact. I feel comfortable on all of them.

The 15.2hh is the ‘biggest’ of them, with a lot of shoulder, long neck and a lot of push from behind.
16.1hh

14.2hh
15.2hh

 

[BronsonNutter]

5ft2 on a 16.2hh TB

And on 15.1hh TB (although he is about 15.3hh if you measured his bottom instead)

 

[HashRouge]

I'm 5'7" and I ride a 15.3hh Arab. He's a lovely height for me, although I have ridden a real range of heights (I used to work as an SJ groom to a very tall male rider and his very petite girlfriend, so we had a real range of horses in!). I think 15hh to 16.2hh is a really nice range for me. I'll happily ride smaller so long as they take up the leg (I'm quite leggy!) and taller is okay but I probably wouldn't buy anything over 16.2hh.

 

[[153312]]

I’m 5’7 and my boy was 19hh with shoes, but fairly narrow.
(please excuse the hit air, it makes me look about 4ft wide!)
View attachment 81977

He's lovely and looks very honest

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I’m 5’4” and my main boy is 16.1hh. I also have a youngster who I refuse to measure, he’s probably coming close to 16.3hh now, but he’s unbacked so it doesn’t count ?