min hands

[snakes1989]

hi i was just wondering whats the min hands i could ride? i way about 14 and a half stone and im about 5ft 7/8

[Afellpony]

A Shire or Clydesdale would be able to carry you. Shires go from about 16hh upwards, Clydesdales the same. You might also consider a Suffolk Punch. They are lighter than Shires or Clydesdales but they are from about 16hh.

[s4sugar]

Depends on the build but 14.2 +, fit, cob or stocky sort should be ok depending what you want to do. The Fell pony trail rides have a max weight of 16 stones.
A lot of men ride at your weight & certainly don't need heavy horses.

[titch_]

ive met a 15.2 shire! star of here!:D shes a great weight carryer! she carried 2 of us bareback to her feild :D

[JOJOBA]

It also depends a LOT on your riding ability, the horse's age, bone, weight, and conformation.
If you're a novice rider it can add about 2stone to your weight as far as the horse is concerned, so that would bunk you more up to 16st. If you're a balanced and experienced rider you can ride something closer to your 'limit'.
If the horse is young / old, over/underweight, doesnt have much bone or has poor conformation it's weight carrying capability will be less.
If you're asking with a view to buying you will also have to be very careful to get a very well fitted saddle (always :p), so that your weight is spread over a wider area, especially if you're aiming for a smaller horse.
It's a bit of a myth that stocky cobs are excellent weight carriers because they are often overweight or have poor conformation. I had a 15hh cob with probably almost 10" of bone, but he had a weight limit of 12st for one off rides, and 10st for regular rides, as his conformation wasnt very good (long back and bad pastern conformation, meaning he developed ringbone and got a swayed back).
Being quite tall means your weight is not concentrated above the saddle, which helps.
Realistically if you are a balanced rider in a well fitted saddle, riding a fit and well put together horse.... Id say you could get away with a stocky 14.2hh.

Im almost 5'10" and weigh 9st and Im a balanced rider, but I have long legs and Im tall above the saddle which can unbalance a pony if you arent very balanced. That limits me to a stocky 13.2hh MINIMUM. Also because Im into dressage I need an 18" seat in order to ride to the best of my ability (I have long thighs), and many pony backs are too short for that - so I have to look for something with the back to take up a larger seat size.
Though I COULD ride a 12hh pony (I rode a 12.2hh recently) I dont really think it's fair for me to do so - just because it can carry me doesnt really mean it should have to (though I can probably put my feet on the floor to help out :p). If in doubt I'd look a little higher and stockier for peace of mind so you know the horse isnt right at it's limit.

Ive just sold my horse to someone the same height and weight as you - he's a 17hh MW hunter. She previously had a 15hh irish cob but felt a tad underhorsed.

It's a drawn out and complicated affair :p. Trust me - Im trying to decide how small I can go at the moment and have been for a while (Im planning to buy a small pony now that Ive sold the big beast). Id go see a few horses and then see how they seem in person. Some 14hh ponies look like Id sit on them and break them in half, and some look really chunky and big. Photos etc arent a great indication.

xxx

[snakes1989]

i was just wondering whats the best breed for xc and just hacking out and is not like a farrari to ride because im looking for a horse that will give me confidence as im a norvice.and will also do xc etc(im just trying to gather information atm) and also what exactly is a d.i.y livery?

[JustJas]

Hi- my 5'10 12 stone (max) hubby happily rides out on a 15'3 cob x mare. He is longer in body than leg but as she is long backed they balance out.

I hate to say but having asked what DIY livery is I would say find out more about horse care in general before taking the purchase step- could you look into a share or loan?

However I look forward to hearing up dates.

[Ollie Bears mum]

D i y is do it yourself,

[bexj]

A Shire or Clydesdale would be able to carry you. Shires go from about 16hh upwards, Clydesdales the same. You might also consider a Suffolk Punch. They are lighter than Shires or Clydesdales but they are from about 16hh.

Absolutely right, as well as a Dales, Highland, (for example) and gosh, dare I say it, a TB - and guess what, their legs don't break that easily either.

[coyote]

A Shire or Clydesdale would be able to carry you. Shires go from about 16hh upwards, Clydesdales the same. You might also consider a Suffolk Punch. They are lighter than Shires or Clydesdales but they are from about 16hh.

sorry if this causes you offence,but rubbish!!!!!:mad:
why does she have to go for a chuffing shire horse!!!!!!:eek:
Nelly was 14.2hh cob,i weighed almost 15 stone he didnt bat an eyelid and yes im 5ft 8" tall,you dont have to go for the hugely stockey horses just coz your not a size 10!!!!
Yes he has grown and ive lost weight but so what,i found your post HIGHLY offensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

[sheltiegroomer]

Hi! hh wise my friend is around 13st and rides a 16.2 irish draught x. They get on fine but she is pretty balanced, im not sure if she would ride smaller but im pretty sure she could... DIY is the cheapest livery you can get ( as opposed to part or full livery , full can be costly..), this is where you supply everything and do all mucking out feeding, turning out, bringing in etc yourself. DIY good option as long as you have time and the yard is nearby ( you'll need to be up there I'd personally say twice a day specially in winter and if no one else you know available to give you a hand/turn out or bring in your horse.

[Bobbin]

When I learnt to ride I was always put on the bigger horses or heavier types and I only weighed around 10st 7lbs then. I guess if you're over 8st you're just deemed to be a crispy cream lover by some:rolleyes: You can imagine my utter confusion when I found myself pearched on top of the bouncy 14h Bryony:eek:

[NoviceNic]

I knew a 14hh that would happily take a 14stone balanced rider. But was not so happy with a novice rider. Got the back lady out and it was a trapped nerve. 14hh ponio then happy with a newby 14 stone rider. :)

[snakes1989]

hi every one i forget to say in reply that i new diy standed for do it ** self but i meant to say what does that invole and also im a bloke not a girllol(coyote) lol

[coyote]

make no odds to me mate what sex you are cheek is cheek in my book!!!!:mad:
ohhhhhh ANOTHER BLOKE for the teasing ,i shall have to out you ,you know.;)

[Shire Monster]

Absolutely right, as well as a Dales, Highland, (for example) and gosh, dare I say it, a TB - and guess what, their legs don't break that easily either.

It's funny you say that about TB's I always thought that although they were quite tall they were not weight carriers at all HOWEVER since I've been back back in the saddle (2 months ish) I've ridden a TBx 16'3" (I'm 15½ stone) 5'9/10" and am not a novice but he's not at all hindered by my weight, always forward going, willing and pretty speedy when he wanted to be, me personally though given a choice would ride a shire or clydie any day of the week ;)

[bexj]

me personally though given a choice would ride a shire or clydie any day of the week ;)

Me too:D:D

[pineapple]

i would say a min of 15.2hh. a suitable breed for weight carrying hacking and jumping would obviously be a hunter type. something like an irish draught would be good.

DIY means that you have to look after the horse but they yard provides grazing and stabling. some will turn out and bring in, some will give feeds and provide hay/haylege an an extra cost.

[Iron Maiden]

I think it's got a fair bit to do with conformation. I used to loan a 16.1 ID x welsh cob mare with good feet, good bone & plenty of bulk about her. She was very long backed and weak through her loin though, I would have said a short coupled TB of the same size could probably carry as much comfortably as she could. My old cob was a v v heavy build but he seemed unhappy with 13 stone on him. I suspect with hindsight that his saddle wasn't a great fit - so that's another factor to consider. Bottom line is that there are lots of horses of all shapes & sizes that would have no trouble carrying 14.5 stone, you just have to look at each one as an individual & make a sensible judgement about it :)