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Discussion on How tall are you/how tall is your horse
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 10:28 pm:
Just curious what others' thoughts are on appropriate height matches! 
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Member:
tuckern
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 1:59 am:
Hi Gwen,
I'm 5'11" and my horse is about 16.3hh and about 1400lbs. I am a heavy rider, so I feel more comfortable on a bigger, stouter horse.
I have a friend who is 6'3" and rides a 14.1 mustang. His stirrups are about even with the horse's knees, hehe.
Nicole
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Member:
mysi
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 6:10 am:
I am 5'7" and my horse is 17.2hh and about 1700lbs. I also prefer a larger horse, I feel more secure the more I have underneath me. I ride a few other horses on occasion from 15hh to 16.2hh and there nothing like my big boy! Funny though, out of all the others the 15hh one is my second favorite mount. She a warmblood/draft cross like mine so she wider and feels just as big as the 16.2hh TB.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 8:00 am:
I'm just shy of 5'7" and my horse is 16HH and a solidly built 1320 lbs. For me, anything too much larger than 16.2HH just feels like too much horse all around me...and seems a long way to the ground!.
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Member:
hpyhaulr
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 8:27 am:
LOL LOL I am 5'3". My Tuffy is 15.1hh and perfect for me, I think. I sold my beloved Honey Bear to Amanda because I NEVER rode her! She is 16.3. If I am getting up that high I want to see a valid elevator inspection sticker. I can't even imagine 17.2 without a paper bag to breathe in. I am old and, I suspect my bones are brittle. I prefer not to find out just HOW brittle.
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Member:
nadia
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 8:50 am:
I am 15.3 (5'3")and have 2 horses: my TB is 16.2 ~1290 lbs, my QH is about 15.2(?) ~900+ lbs. If my TB wants to launch me, I have time to do a flip before I hit the ground! (He actually did once and I was able to flip over so I wouldn't land on the back of my hip.)
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Member:
hpyhaulr
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 9:31 am:
LAUNCH????
FLIP????
I am righteously impressed!
You all are far braver than I!!!
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 9:48 am:
Nadia must have been a gymnast! I am also impressed.
I am 5'1" and my horse is 15.0, and I think we are a perfect match for riding. However, I wish he were low enough to the ground that I could mount without a mounting block. 'Course at my height, that would be the size of a large german shepherd! 
Linda
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Member:
cgby1
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 12:50 pm:
I am 5'0" and my horses are 15.0, my two year old might grow another inch or so. My mare bucked me off when she was young and I also did a complete head over heels, though I landed on my hip and had a huge bruise! I feel that a horse that is more than a hand taller would make me look like a midget!
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Member:
oscarvv
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 12:51 pm:
I am 5'2" and my horse is 16.3hh and 1450 pounds. He just barely makes it into a 54" girth. He is much too big for me as I am very small framed. But I bred him for me and wouldn't part with him for the world. 
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Member:
jerre
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 1:05 pm:
I'm 5'11" and my Percheron/TB mare is 16.3 and at least 1400 pounds. She is very broad. I am a moderately heavy rider and feel confident on a larger horse.
My younger horse is 16hh and solidly built. I'm just backing her, so don't really have a feel for how we fit. She just LOOKS so small compared to her mom!
I've ridden 15.2 lighter horses and feel like I can tip them around. Although one 15hh stout Arab was plenty of horse for me.
Jerre
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Member:
chance1
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 1:27 pm:
I'm 5'1" and have two horses. One is 15.2, and very wide, and the other is 16 hands and still lanky and growing. He'll likely end up as broad as my shorter one. They're both Quarter Horses. I ride many other horses, the largest being 17.3! People love to stop and watch to see how I'm going to get on! I'm still limber from my gymnastics days so I can mount from the ground when necessary, but the horses and I prefer a mounting block. It's easier on my legs and their backs! It's been my experience that the height of the horse doesn't always matter. My shorter horse actually feels "bigger" than the taller one.
Some say, "size matters" and others don't. A good mind is more important to me than size for a good fit.
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 4:16 pm:
I'm 5 ft 11 and a bit but not quite six foot. My mare is 16h2 and a bit and about 1100 lbs (7/8 TB). I also have a 2 yo that I don't think will make more than 16hh but she's half Irish draft and will definitely carry my weight eventually (about 10 stone/140 lbs).
One important thing to note is the person's conformation in terms of long legs or long body. If you have a long body and you want to jump, you need a larger horse or your body will be too much up over the horse's ears when you are jumping. If your height is mainly in your legs, lucky you, you'll stick on better and can get away with a smaller horse.
Imogen
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 4:35 pm:
One person who amazes me is the jumper rider Margie Engle. She is a tiny little thing, looks absolutely out of whack on top of the huge horses she rides, but holy cow can she ride and take a horse over a huge fence with style and grace. Does go to show that even if you aren't blessed with a slim build and long legs, determination and talent can take you places...
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Member:
leilani
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 4:43 pm:
I am 5'5", 110#. My older mare, Mele is 14.2 and 950#. My young mare, Anuhea is 14.3 and 950-60#.
I saw Anuhea standing next to her trainer's Hanoverian gelding that was 17.2 and looking at her with giant puppy dog eyes. She looked like a Breyer model.
In our small herd, Kekai and Makapolu are both 15.2, but the smaller mares still rule.
Leilani
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Member:
srobert
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 4:54 pm:
I have had horses of all sizes and shapes and I can't say that I actually prefer one particular size over the other. I fall in love with each of them!
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Member:
suzym
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 7:52 pm:
I'm 5'4" and my current mount is about 15h. My previous horse - that I rode for 20 years - was 15.3. I gotta admit, this one's easier to mount.
Suzy
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 8:34 pm:
I'm 6'4" and ride horses from 15h to 17h. All do just fine day after day in the hills around here, some of the hills are 12,000 ft elevation
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
amara
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 8:43 pm:
do i get the prize for regularly riding the smallest horse?
i'm just under 5'4" and my pony stands right around 12 hands if i let his feet go too long! he also weighs around 900 lbs, and its mostly muscle! at 20 years of age he has no trouble carrying me around for hours at whatever pace i choose...
i have no trouble mounting him from the ground btw!!! *LOL*
tallest/biggest person ever to ride him was about 6'4"... they looked funny but boy did they have fun!!!
tallest horse i ever rode was 19.1.. actually, there were 3 of us riding him at the same time!.. talk about long way down! the air was definately a little thin up there!
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Member:
warwick
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 9:02 pm:
I'm a hair over 5'2" and have two geldings. Warwick (pictured in my profile) stands 18.1HH and is 1800lbs or thereabouts as height sticks don't tend to reach that elevation, and Alnwick stands just over 16.2HH and weighs around 1300lbs or so. I just sold my mare who stands 15.3HH and is around 1100lbs.
Warwick is narrower through the chest and barrel than Alnwick and a far more comfortable fit for me despite his height. Unless Alnwick is super-fit, I find his barrel a tad too wide. I generally prefer larger horses as I like the longer stride that their larger size tends to offer.
That being said, I once tried out a 3-year old 14HH Haflinger for a friend a few years back and was blown away by the shear stockiness and density of him. It felt like sitting on a much bigger horse - that is until he moved and his short stride gave his height away. They are awesome little horses with incredible minds. I totally fell in love with him.
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Member:
sross
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 9:34 pm:
I'm the same size as Sue G but my Pacino (pictured in profile) is 14.3 and about 850# (Arab/Saddlebred cross). Everyone always thinks he's bigger because of his giraffe neck. I like the little ones. Anything over 15.2 I just don't find comfortable.
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 10:41 pm:
Ha ha, Sandra, sounds like my bunch. I am 5'10", both my mares are 15.3, but everyone tries to convince me they are taller than that. One is a Saddlebred, the other Saddlebred/Friesian. Long high set necks!
Of course, little Timmy at 13hh makes up for the "long drinks of water".
Personnaly, I don't need anything much taller than the mares--just farther to fall...
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Member:
canderso
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 6:28 am:
yay Sue G! I don't feel so bad!
I am 5'3 and Gregory is 17'2. I LOVE riding big horses - but truth be told, while he looks large, he is quite well-proportioned so he isn't clunky in his movement,and is quite easy to ride.
Bailey is 16'2, and when he was sound, had big movement. The new mares are 16'1 (with big movement) and 16'2 (with even bigger movement).
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 9:56 am:
Wow! Such huge horses y'all have!!
We haven't heard from many of our Western members. I bet they are riding shorter hosses.
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Member:
dtranch
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 10:35 am:
Erika .... I am 6'3 and around 225 lbs. When we started, my horse was 16.2 and slender ... he is now about 14.5 and really stocky ... go figure.
Most quarter horses and apps will range from 14 to 16 hands. In training I get all sizes, and I think the taller, stockier horses are much easier to ride. When it comes to gettin' on and fallin' off, I'll take the 14 hand version.
DT
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Member:
annes
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 11:36 am:
Both of my TWH's are 15h, approx 950# and my TB is 16h, 1100#. I am 5'4", 128 lbs. Each horse rides so differently and I enjoy having that variety. I did have a small mare who was just over 14h and it was such fun riding her and I felt like I was so close to the ground. Every fall I have ever had was riding her so (fortunately) I can't compare falls from a taller horse.
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Member:
hpyhaulr
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 12:19 pm:
Dennis,
I don't get it, how did the horse shrink??? That is a significant change!
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Member:
dtranch
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 12:47 pm:
Sorry Cyndy .... It was a joke.
I was joking that he got shorter and wider from hauling my big A _ _ around. Guess I better work on my delivery huh.
DT
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 1:41 pm:
I am 5'4" and have horses from 12.2h to 17h.
Most of the horses I ride are 14.1h-14.3h.
I also find that if they are moving correctly and willingly and are responsive to cues it doesn't matter what size they are. No matter what the size, when a horse or pony is being disobedient, it is plenty of horse to handle.
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Member:
cpacer
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 2:53 pm:
I'm 5'5" and my primary riding horse is 14.3 and very petite--I think he's more perfect than he probably is.
My QH will probably be 14.3 too (butt at 2-years 2-months is 14.2, wither is under 14), but he's a little wider!
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 3:06 pm:
Thanks guys! I love the diversity on here. I am picking brains again because I am head over heels for this ottb who is 15.2 now as a four year old. I am used to 16 hands and am 5'6. It is so silly-I keep holding up my fingers two inches apart saying, "How much difference can that REALLY be???" I have to get down to nj and get on him to find out once and for all...
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Member:
nadia
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 6:01 pm:
I should probably clarify my flip! I was riding in an english saddle at the time. He started minibucking and spinning because he didn't want to go on the trail (first time away from the new barn). I stayed on for a little bit, but I knew I was going to come off. It seemed I would have been launched sideways and land on a hip (face up) - so I made the decision that when I went - I'd do a cat flip (not feet over head - just back to front) to prevent having some major back damage. I did have the time to flip over - I turned my head to the right as well, didn't want the little visor on the front of the helmet to hit the ground. I landed just fine for my body, but my helmet hit the ground (I was airborne for so long, I had relaxed and forgot to keep my head up!). The helmet hit me on my left temple which in turn gave me a little concussion on that side. I didn't realize until about a week later that I had that concussion (didn't go to the dr - just noticed I had been pretty foggy headed for about a week.) I rode him in the arena that night for about an hour - it was supposed to be punishment (extra work) - but he was great - grateful I didn't make him go in the scary woods! I now ride Western on him (the TB)-I guess I'm just a cowgirl.
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Member:
chrism
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 7:42 pm:
I am just shy of 5'9" and fairly slim with more of my height in my legs. My older horse is 15 hds. on a good day. Younger one is 16 hds. Falling at my age is not desirable even if I do flip!! But I am more likely to get tossed by the old horse than the young one.
Do get your bones tested if there is a history of bone density problems in your family as it is quite heritable and the treatments available today do make a huge difference!!
Both of my horses are quite well sprung, so take up my leg nicely.
Cheers.
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Member:
hpyhaulr
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 8:05 pm:
LOL LOL Dennis, I didn't know...
I 'misplaced' 2 inches in the past 15 years...seems it relocated from the height category to the width...along with several of its close friends. was getting worried Tuffy might just follow suit. Thanks for clearing that up. lol
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 - 12:44 am:
Good point Christine.
I am 5-8, with long legs. One mare is 16.1, I love her power. The English folk around here say I look pretty good on her, but the western folk tease me about the weather.
My other mare is 15.1, quite stocky, her barrel is the same size as the taller horse, the english say she is tooo small for me and the western say she is a good fit.
If I was doing games I would want the smaller mare.
If you are comfortable on the horse, I say hang tradition and ride.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 - 10:15 am:
This is a fun thread. I'm 5'6" and about 130lbs. My riding horses range from 14.2 to 16.3.
I find the horse's conformation has a big impact on how they ride-- my 5yo stallion is the tall one. He is VERY deep bodied with a short back, long legs, and a long long neck. I am beginning to face the possibility that I may be over-mounted on him (not because he's especially naughty, but because I look like the Travelocity gnome perched up there). When I backed him, he was completely unimpressed, and lifted a hind leg right over his head to have a scratch at his precious parts. No worries on my weight effecting that boy.
Big horses are impressive in the show ring, but it's more fun for me to ride the slightly smaller ones.
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Member:
dsibley
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Posted on Friday, Jul 20, 2007 - 8:22 am:
I am 5'6" now after two back surgeries. (Not horse-related, surprisingly!!) My riding horses range from 15.1 to 17.2, with the tallest being my best and favorite trail horse. Yes, everyone wants me in front to catch all the spiderwebs! I switchhit with him, too...take dressage lessons. The next one down is a 16.2 QH and I love his size as well. While I love the big ones, there is definitely something to be said about falling from the smaller models!!
Some people pay lots of money for those bone-density scans. I just get tossed periodically...if nothing breaks, I'm OK for a few more months! lol
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Friday, Jul 20, 2007 - 12:24 pm:
Well, not giving my weight here but I am barely 5'5" if I stand up tall. My legs aren't real long and I agree with my husband; too tall of a horse is not much fun in the woods and swamps when it comes to ducking under trees.
The horse he rode for years was about 14.3, a longer backed Arab. He didn't look too big on her IMO. Brian is 6', 210 or so. Right now our horses range from 14.2 to 16H, and I think the 16H one is too tall. Our Cody is around 15.2-3, and stockier and he is my favorite as his movement is sooo nice.
I always laugh when I go from riding him to my Arab who is barely 14.2, it's like going from a huge horse to a big dog! But she can go all day.
HA HA!! Shrinking horses! And here I was complaining my saddles seem to shrink every year; maybe I'd better measure the horses too, lol!
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Member:
mientjie
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Posted on Friday, Jul 20, 2007 - 1:33 pm:
This is such an interesting thread!
I'm 5'5 1/2" tall, 100lbs and my mare is about 16.2hh (we're going to measure her soon so I'll be able to give and accurate height). Also she is quite broad due to her Clydesdale father .
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Member:
mientjie
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 - 6:05 am:
Amanda is 16.2hh! A good height for me, not too tall or too short.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 - 11:25 am:
I'm 5'5" -- not going to post my weight! -- Brave is 15.3, perfect for me. Large barrel that takes up my leg nicely. The mare was 15.2 and she also took up my leg well. I think that is key. Now we need to see pictures of you on that horse!
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Member:
kathleen
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 - 6:47 pm:
I am 5'-5 1/2" and Mona (Arabian) is 14.1 and rides like a much larger horse, and I have ridden my daughter's horse Yogi (13.3 hands - also Arabian) and he also doesn't seem to be small, has quite a long stride.
Kathleen
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Member:
frances
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 6:59 am:
I'm 1.75 m (5'9"), weigh 58 kg (or whatever that is in lbs) and my horse is 16.1 hands and weighs about 500 - 550 kg. I think we fit each other pretty well, but I quite like riding bigger horses too.
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Member:
tangoh
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Posted on Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - 2:29 pm:
I'm 5'6", about 145 lbs., my horses are 15.0, 15.1, 15.2 and the big boy is 16.1. Which do I prefer? Likely the 15.1 horse, he's about perfect. Really makes no difference to me, tall or short, but what I do find interesting is that a lot of people, (no one on this board of course) for some crazy reason, tend to over exaggerate the height of their horse. Why is that anyway????
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Member:
warwick
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Posted on Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - 4:41 pm:
That's a good point, Sherri. When I was selling my mare, I listed her height as 15.3 - not particularly tall for a warmblood but that's how big she is. I had several people who came to see her comment, "Oh, you were telling the truth about her height." It never dawned on me to list anything else but I guess it happens all the time.
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Member:
cpacer
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Posted on Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - 7:59 pm:
I've noticed that as well. For honest mistakes I think it's because people use those cloth-plastic measuring tapes, and the barrel or shape of the horse usually adds a couple of inches.
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Member:
jerre
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Posted on Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - 9:06 pm:
Seriously, have you ever gone horse shopping and seen the "really big horse," the "at LEAST 16hh" horse, and it's 15.1hh on a good day?
I DrOve 3 hours to look at a 16hh horse -- talked to the owner, asked all kinds of questions to try to ascertain the real height -- and it was "maybe" 14.2.
I was on the property about 10 minutes.
Some people just don't know any better, but others just outright lie.
Me? I bought a 15.3 horse and was happy to have a reasonable size. Well, she was 3, and at 8 is 16.3. So there you go!
Jerre
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Member:
jerre
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Posted on Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - 9:11 pm:
https://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2007/07/16/tennessee-horse-could-set-new-heigh t-record/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehorse.com%2FViewArticle.aspx%3FID%3D10015&fram e=true
I'm not sure if this link will work, but google Guiness and tall horse if it doesn't.
Jerre
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 5:16 pm:
So my reason for starting this thread was because I really wanted to adopt this tb, and was worried that he would be too small for me. I am 5'6" and he is about 15.2, and being a tb I was worried that he would take up my leg. All I wanted was for my feet to not hang below his belly. I rode him, and here is the result!!
**I usually ride with my stirrups lower, but the girl who was on him before me had them shorter and I was so excited to get on that I didn't want to adjust them! I don't think it will be an issue...
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 5:57 pm:
Even with your stirrups out two-three holes it looks like his barrel will take up your leg just fine.
I like his topline.
So, I am guessing from your enthusiasm you like him?
What kind of training has he had?
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 8:24 pm:
Other than racing, he has only been ridden four times.
I am really excited about him. I hope he will end up being my all-around boy...
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Member:
cgby1
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2007 - 3:24 am:
Gwen, I saw your profile and his size should be fine for your purposes. The most important thing is that his temperament is suitable for your needs. From the picture he looks like he has a good solid attitude.
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2007 - 6:25 am:
Thanks Cynthia. I want to do kind of everything with him. Definitely some dressage, trails/hunter paces, then some 2 phases, and when I go over the deep end-MAYBE some x-country someday. I do think that if my goals were in the hunter ring, I may be in trouble but I do think he may shoot up another inch and am hoping that when he develops a topline, he will boost me up a bit. He is really the size I had hoped my qh would be, but he just kept growing!!
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