Am I too tall??

[JoeyJoJo]

I may soon have a share on a perfect schoolmaster pony who is 14hh.

I'm about 5ft 6" and around 9 - 9 1/2 stone.

He's not a cob and he's not a delicate pony, so I should not weigh too much, but I am worried I may be too tall?

I've had 2 shares before - one 14.2hh cob and a 15.2hh.

Do you think I will have difficulty with riding as he is small?

Does anyone else have this worry?

[larri]

My little old Welshie is only 14hh and I'm 5' 8", I used to do classical dressage displays on him...you are no where near too tall!

You may just have to be careful with your leg aids if your heels are below his belly line. He might not think that you are pushing the right buttons.

Larri

[Wally]

Just remember as you ae riding a small horse don't take your stirrup leather up to try and make your legs hang above his belly line. Just ride as long as you would normally.

This is a mistake folk often make, they raise their stirrups and end up uncomfy.

I don't think you'd be too tall at all.

[Tim]

I'm 6'4" and have ridden a horse 15hh, I won't say it's ideal, but I have done it, and more than once. At my height I prefer horses over 16hh, (even more preferable if they are over 17hh), but they aren't always available so I have to make do. I see many fine horses at 14hh and would love to jump on 'em, but at this height, not only would I look ridiculous, it wouldn't be good for the horse either. At 5'6" you should be ok on 14hh, go and enjoy it :D

[Wally]

Tim,

go to the Icelandic British Champoinships, you will see many a 6 footer on a 13.2hh -14hh horse there going at one heck of a speed and riding well.

It only looks silly as we Brits and some European and American countries have been lead to beleive it is silly. In Iceland they ALL ride Icelandics and don't give it a second thought. It's only our culture which says a big man looks silly on a small horse which is capable of carrying his weight.

[Tim]

Wally,
I take your point entirely, we do have hangups about what looks right and what looks strange, but I'm a firm believer in the possibilty of being 'underhorsed'. I would imagine most horses could carry my weight without too much effort, but from a purely personal point of view I feel more stable, (no pun intended), when on a larger horse. I've got legs which can only be described as rather long and need taking up with a larger horses wider body, just so I can be comfortable when riding. At the other end of the scale I've seen petite, 5ft nothing, girls riding huge 18hh thoroughbreds, without a care in the world, and all I can hear is me heels scrapin' on the floor !! :D ;)

[JoeyJoJo]

I went up to see him again last night in the field and he doesn't look that small when I stood next to him, so I think I should be ok.

What Wally said about shortening your stirrups - that's what I was worrying about. I like to have a nice deep seat so I can balance better (otherwise I'll topple off!) and I was worried that I wouldn't get this.

I've arranged to try him on Sunday evening though, so I shall see how it goes!

[liz--y]

** not to tall, i'm 5'4 and ride my 14hh arabx and 11.2hh welsh sec A

[notpoodle]

nah, don't worry! you're certainly not too tall!!

julia
x

[Ipsa]

I see plenty of tall children on ponies like my daughter who when she still had her last pony was 5' 7" and he was 14.1
The only difficulty she had was she had to be very well blanced when jumping.

[JoeyJoJo]

Well I tried him out yesterday evening guys and he was lovely!

Didn't feel too small at all!

[notpoodle]

hooray!

(i'm one of the unlucky people who actually WANT to ride small horses, but is always put on the 'big' ones ... for some reason, i feel much safer on something like an icelandic or haflinger than i could ever do on a BIG horse ...)

julia
x

[jessieee]

I would say no way!! my friend regularly rides a 12.2 pony and she is your height although she is very light.
notpoodle i no what u mean always happens to me 2.

[Frances]

Nah.

I am 5'8" and my pony is 13.3hh. He is fine, I feel fine and bollox to anyone who says differently.

I have ridden ponies that are 13hh and gone on treks in my youth for days and no problems.

Enjoy! Less far to fall!

Fx

[Bobbi's_mum]

I'm 5ft5 and my pony is 14.1hh, i think we fit perfectly:D