How many hands?

[Mistertron]

One of the RS horses i ride is about 15.1 hands and i'm 5'9. I had a lesson with a new RI the other week who said the horse was a little too small for me because i have long legs and they weren't hanging in exactly the right place. What do you think would be a suitable horse height for a person my height? (that was a bit of a tongue twister to write! lol).

[No_Angel]

i would say 16 hands if a skinny sort, but a smaller big barelled horse you should have no trouble with, my 6ft2 ex used to ride my 15.1 hw cob no trouble, and he used to loan a 14.2 welsh cob.

[coss]

have you got long legs for your height or have you got long legs because of your height? there is a big difference. you should manage a 15.1hh horse fine, your legs would hang quite a lot but there shouldn't be a problem with that (just have to look at the "adults that ride ponies section" to prove that!. i have a friend who is 5'10-6' (different people measured her differently :eek: ) and she looks comfy on a 17hh but has ridden a 15.2hh. it also depends on the build of the horse though.
hope that helps :)

[jovi_y2k2]

do you feel comfortable and balanced on a horse this size? im only 5ft3 with short legs but i dont feel comfortable on anything below 15.2hh

[redcedar]

I am 5'9 and all my horses are over 16hh and deep barreled. My OH who is 6'4 also rides these with out any problems.

[Mistertron]

do you feel comfortable and balanced on a horse this size? im only 5ft3 with short legs but i dont feel comfortable on anything below 15.2hh

Yeah i feel ok and wouldn't of thought about it if the RI hadn't mentioned it.

To answer the other question from coss - i have long legs because of my height :)

[coss]

if you have long legs due to your height then, they'll be long but not extra long ;) if you don't mind me asking, what is your inside leg? my friend is between 36 and 37" and she's the one that rides a 17hh, i've seen her on a 16hh and she didn't look huge and her legs were probably just about the right length. if you have a deep barreled horse or wide horse they will take up a lot of leg, many tall people can ride smaller horses/ponies but just feel tall (i do on anything below 14.2hh and i'm only 5ft7) but some people prefer it.
I think your leg length is only worse in a saddle that pulls your leg forwards or backwards as it will exaggerate how much your leg is moved if you have a longer leg.

[No_Angel]

oops wrong post

[martini55]

I am 5'9 and own and ride a 15.1hh tbx fell and have no issues at all. I like the smaller ones :)

[ponylover88]

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[CurlyWurlyRach]

im a little bit taller and i have a just 16.2 TBx - do feel quite big on her tho, i cant ride her with dressage length stirrups unless i wear spurs as my heels hang under her barrel.
i ride my friends 13.2 stick insect show pony and feel rediculus :p

[sabreig]

I'm 5ft 8" and have a 31" inside leg. I used to have a 17.2hh and I felt fine on him, I then got a 15hh and I felt silly at first mainly as it was such a height drop but I got used to it. She can do everything my 17.2hh did with me and more. I also have a pure welsh cob who will make approx 14.3 - 15hh when she's fully grown and I shall be riding her too.

[Sammii]

May I ask which RS horse you were riding (I presume this was at Barleyfields?) because I am of that height and feel most comfortable riding that height of their horses. I have long aswell and I must admit most of their horses are fat and deep barrelled at the same time!

[Mistertron]

Coss - i think i am about a 31" inside leg (not 100% sure).

Sammi - It was Bess and it was a new RI who has only just started at Barleyfields that made the comment (twice!).

[coss]

Thats basically the same as me Mistertron (depends what you go by, i buy 33" inside leg jeans but think i measure between 31 and 32) :D it would be interesting if you could get some pics

[Wally]

A riding teacher with a narrow mind!

Sorry, but there is not right and wrong height.

I have 6 foot 4 friends who ride 13.2hh "ponies" and smaller.

Your leg will hang in the right place on any size horse if you are taught to ride.

Frances is taller than you and her horse is 13.2hh

I am 5 foot 8 and my horse is 13hh!

This silly idea that if you have long legs you need a big horse is SO...SO narrow minded and wrong.

[lana27]

Echo Wally.
How can anybody say a pony/horse is the right or wrong height for somebody? And leg position does NOT depend on the height of the horse.

Anyway, I've got pretty long legs for my height (about 32" inside leg) and right a 14.2hh :).