Where are all the smaller horses?!

Bernster

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 August 2011
Messages
8,029
Location
London
Visit site
There’s been some discussion on some other threads but I’m intrigued (and maybe it’s a dumb question?). Where are all the 15.2-16h type horses? And why aren’t there more of them?

I’m seeing lots at 16.2h upwards who are closer to my criteria (the usual grassroots safe all rounder unicorn) but very little comes up smaller than that. I’m short, with stubby legs and arms, so 16h really is my max height of horse.

Is everyone else out there a super lanky tall rider? ?. I feel like there must be loads of smaller riders, teens etc who would want a smaller horse. So where are they all hiding or why aren’t there more of them for sale?
 

dixie

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 August 2005
Messages
4,870
Location
Devon
Visit site
Sorry I can’t help you. I’m tall and was looking for around 16.2 but ended up buying a 15.2hh ! He’sa cracker though so couldn’t walk away.
 

splashgirl45

Lurcher lover
Joined
6 March 2010
Messages
15,043
Location
suffolk
Visit site
i think the younger riders are quite tall thesedays , my neices are both close to 6 foot but my sister is 5ft 5 very slightly taller than me. lots of people seem to like big horses when they could easily ride a smaller one. i like 15 to 15,2 size but my last horse was 16 hands and had the most fantastic temperament, very forward going, no spooking,rearing,bucking traffic proof ,could be left for a few days without being ridden and was the same to ride so sometimes the bigger ones are more suitable if you want safe and sensible...
 

Wishfilly

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2016
Messages
2,715
Visit site
I don't know the answer to this, but I think perhaps the breeds or crosses e.g. arabs, arabxnative, tbxnative that make about 15-15.2hh are or were out of fashion. I think there would be demand for this (although I also know a lot of, say 5'7''-5'10'' women who feel they need a 16.2 even though they don't) but they aren't available and it becomes a bit of a cycle of people buying "proper" horses and then not wanting to buy anything smaller.

If I had the money to invest in it, I think I would try breeding for a "lady's all-rounder", though!
 

Bernster

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 August 2011
Messages
8,029
Location
London
Visit site
It def has put me off! hHaving ridden a fine 16.3 for a while, I realise how important it is that the horse’s conformation matches the rider.

EFA it would expand my search a bit so I might stretch it to the 16.1h ones, although tbh I’m still better off a wee bit smaller.
 

spacefaer

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 March 2009
Messages
5,682
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
There's a lady near me who specialises in smaller horses - Connie x types. They tend to be younger but well produced for their age.
No bargains though ??
 

spacefaer

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 March 2009
Messages
5,682
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
I was searching for a 15.2 native/Irish x TB. Everything I looked at advertised at 15.2 was around 14.2 - 14.3 (yes, I did take a stick which was brought out whenever the seller tried to insist they were bigger ) Finally I viewed a 16hh hoping it might be 15.2 and it was 16.3. Good luck.

We like our big horses and it's equally hard to find them accurately measured too. The last 17.3 we went to look at was just over 17hh. Big difference!
 

bouncing_ball

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 October 2012
Messages
1,521
Visit site
There’s been some discussion on some other threads but I’m intrigued (and maybe it’s a dumb question?). Where are all the 15.2-16h type horses? And why aren’t there more of them?

I’m seeing lots at 16.2h upwards who are closer to my criteria (the usual grassroots safe all rounder unicorn) but very little comes up smaller than that. I’m short, with stubby legs and arms, so 16h really is my max height of horse.

Is everyone else out there a super lanky tall rider? ?. I feel like there must be loads of smaller riders, teens etc who would want a smaller horse. So where are they all hiding or why aren’t there more of them for sale?

I went to see a horse advertised at 16.2hh. It was only after I’d tried him twice and vetted him, and bought him, did I notice he’s more like 17.1hh!! His advert was based on his passport height.

Not sure why I didn’t notice maybe because he’s such a nice horse?

He’s deceptive as his height is in his legs snd not his barrel.

Past horses 2 horses have 16.1 and 16.2hh!
 

Annagain

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 December 2008
Messages
15,506
Visit site
#248985 on Horsequest looks nice. A bit younger than you wanted but he looks to have a sensible head on him. I saw one with the seller when I was looking. Horse wasn’t for me but she was lovely and very honest.
 

ILuvCowparsely

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 April 2010
Messages
14,394
Visit site
There’s been some discussion on some other threads but I’m intrigued (and maybe it’s a dumb question?). Where are all the 15.2-16h type horses? And why aren’t there more of them?

I’m seeing lots at 16.2h upwards who are closer to my criteria (the usual grassroots safe all rounder unicorn) but very little comes up smaller than that. I’m short, with stubby legs and arms, so 16h really is my max height of horse.

Is everyone else out there a super lanky tall rider? ?. I feel like there must be loads of smaller riders, teens etc who would want a smaller horse. So where are they all hiding or why aren’t there more of them for sale?
Maybe lots of people don';t like the bigger bills and equipment with bigger horses.
I am 5ft 8 and mine range from 123 hh to 16.1hh. I would never go bigger as don't like bigger horses for many reasons.
 

atropa

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 September 2012
Messages
1,277
Visit site
I think the smaller horses are very in demand so don't come on the market very often, plus bigger flashy sport horses are very in fashion so there are more to be had.
Personally I find it a tad exasperating when people are searching for a horse and have a firm 15 -15.2hh criteria - I am 5'4, have three horses at 14.2, 16.1 and 16.3 and there is NO difference in how I am able to ride and control them. I think a lot of people actually box themselves in by thinking they can't ride a certain height of horse.
 

Bernster

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 August 2011
Messages
8,029
Location
London
Visit site
It obv depends on rider and horse confo but for me it means (1) handling the horse can be an issue if they are giraffe like and (2) leg and rein aids can be more difficult. I wouldn’t have been quite so sure of that but its something I’ve come to realise after riding a 16.3 for a while - it‘s too big for me.
 

Squeak

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 April 2009
Messages
3,712
Visit site
It obv depends on rider and horse confo but for me it means (1) handling the horse can be an issue if they are giraffe like and (2) leg and rein aids can be more difficult. I wouldn’t have been quite so sure of that but its something I’ve come to realise after riding a 16.3 for a while - it‘s too big for me.

I'm also quite small and agree that at 16.2/3 they are just a bit too big to handle and do everything with. It might be worth pushing it to 16.1 though?

A couple of years ago the 15-15.3's seemed unpopular but they seem to have made a comeback and are very in demand again.
 

Upthecreek

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 May 2019
Messages
2,553
Visit site
I have found that good things come in small packages and can’t see myself having another big horse (16.2 would be my limit, but I prefer under 16).

Over the years I have had more success at keeping smaller horses sound than bigger ones and they have had less health issues (could be luck, but that’s my experience). They generally eat less so are cheaper to keep and you don’t need a massive lorry or trailer. Most importantly I find them more fun and comfortable to ride.

I think demand has increased for mother/daughter or son shares in recent years. I always had bigger horses until I needed one suitable to share with my tiny 12 year old daughter many years ago. We bought a 15.1 we could both ride and it could out jump any bigger horse I ever had and was faster too.
 

Evie91

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 May 2012
Messages
2,172
Location
Warwickshire
Visit site
I don't know the answer to this, but I think perhaps the breeds or crosses e.g. arabs, arabxnative, tbxnative that make about 15-15.2hh are or were out of fashion. I think there would be demand for this (although I also know a lot of, say 5'7''-5'10'' women who feel they need a 16.2 even though they don't) but they aren't available and it becomes a bit of a cycle of people buying "proper" horses and then not wanting to buy anything smaller.

If I had the money to invest in it, I think I would try breeding for a "lady's all-rounder", though!
I’m 5’8 not as slim as I was but not overweight (according to the bmi thing anyway but I do need to lose at least a stone). I sold a 15.2hh as she didn’t grow as big as expected and I felt like a giant riding her, both height and weight wise. So I definitely prefer 16.1/2.
Lots of smaller horses on our yard and smaller women and mother/daughter shares -makes a lot of sense, cheaper to keep and easier to get on from the ground if required!
 

marmalade76

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 April 2009
Messages
6,803
Location
Gloucestershire
Visit site
I'll be looking soon and my height range will be 14.2 - 15h. It is annoying that so many people guess height and usually over estimate, there could well be plenty advertised as 15.2 that are actually 15h that I might dismiss as too big.
 

splashgirl45

Lurcher lover
Joined
6 March 2010
Messages
15,043
Location
suffolk
Visit site
i like smaller because of grooming and putting rugs on and off, i really used to struggle to put my friends 17h rug on so 15,2 is more my size. i dont mind riding bigger horses and sometimes they are better behaved than the smaller ones itsst the stuff on the ground i have a problem with
 

Jellymoon

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 August 2008
Messages
976
Visit site
I think the fashion in the UK these days is for tall horses. Kids at pony club seem to jump from 14.2’s to 16.3’s in a nano-second. They think it’s cool to be on a big horse, preferably with a bit of continental!

There is a huge lack of nice 15.2s on the market. Breeders could make a packet if they bred nice native crosses for all the family. The ladies Hunter/all rounder type.
I expect they are quite hard to breed and perhaps a lucky accident? I’m not sure. And what to use for the extra height but also with quality? Connie or welsh crossed with TB can be really sharp...ID maybe too heavy...ID/TB maybe?
 

Wishfilly

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2016
Messages
2,715
Visit site
So those of you with 15.2/15.3 sensible, quality all rounder types: how are they bred?

I am not sure what you would definite as "quality" but I know an IDxarab who will turn his hoof to anything, and is very mannerly. And a few other Arabx that are nice hacks at least (and probably would be more skilled in other fields given the right schooling).
 
Top