Big Horses for Beginners

[Louise]

I was very surprised by Marlena's message where she had to ride a gigantic Dutch Warmblood for what I think she said was her second riding lesson. Is this normal ? Would have thought would have been better if she'd had a smaller horse. I still get a bit nervous when I'm allocated a horse that is so big I nedc help to get on it. I read somewhere that its always better for a beginner / novice to have a horse they can get on unaided. This book said that if an INSTRUCTOR gives a pupil horse that's too tall for her to mount then she is instantly intimidated before the lesson starts. But if thius is unavoidable the pupil should use a mounting block and not be lifted on / legged up, as it least with a mounting block the rider makes the climb herself. What do other people think ? Marlena, how big was this warmblood, and how did you manage to get up on it

[Sarah]

I can see your point entirely about the pupil being immediately intimidated by riding a big horse. In Britain i know that children are usually taught to ride on ponies and adult beginners are taught on whichever horse has the correct weight carrying potential for them (which seems quite sensible to me). In France however, it is perfectly normal for small children to be taught to ride on enormous horses - the school where I learnt to ride had one 17hh horse called Jason who was the sweetest ride you could imagine, and often little children (aged about 7 or so) were happily having lessons on him.

I think it is very important to think of the phsycological effects of asking a novice (particularly a nervous novice) to ride a large horse, but at the same time, you can't put a tall, heavy person on a 14hh pony!

What does everyone else think?

[Marlena]

Hi!

Yes, I did find the gigantic horse intimidating, but in the end I anjoyed riding her more than the smaller and easier one I had begun with. (I liked the way this one moved --and the fact that I didn't lose my stirrups!!!) This was not my 2nd lesson, though, but the second horse I rode.

The instructor insisted on me riding the smallest and steadiest one they had for the first four or so lessons, but since I'm quite tiny, all other horses are huge for me (almost all of them Dutch warm blood), so she said it was better for me to start getting used to the bigger ones because I'm going to start taking group lessons next week.

I must say the greatest challenge was to get on the horse!, but luckily I've been doing loads of other sports so I'm just about flexible enough to mount the bigger ones softly...

Bye!
Marlena

[KarlR]

The first horse that I was taught on was a 17.3 TB cross (goodness knows with what)! My first 5 minutes was also showing me how to mount from the ground! ;-) I don't think it was my size - I was only 14 stone then - due to riding, under 13 now.

I didn't feel intimidated, and he was so gentle that he filled me with a confidence that I've never lost. I rode him for the first 2 months.

The only drawback was that my first time on a smaller horse felt *very* strange. I've now ridden dozens of horses but I don't regret what I started on. If you're comfortable, then why not?

[Marlena]

Like KarlR, I'm happy I was 'made' to ride a bigger horse right at the beginning; at least I'm no longer dreading the prospect.

Since I know so little about horses, however, I'm not quite sure how big a big horse is. The one I rode yesterday (and fell in love with!) was a 17.1 Dutch Warmblood, the second smallest horse they have at the school. I was delighted because it was so SMALL compared to the one I rode before... but then I don't have many points of comparison.

Another thing I was wondering about was how to tell what the ideal size is. The instructor said that, ideally, I should ride a smaller one. I'm a bit over 5 foot and weigh under ten stone. How do you tell? I'm not that bothered because I feel comfortable enough with the bigger ones, but I would like to have some idea.

And last but not least:

Does anyone have any tips on how to relax my back and shoulders when riding? I seem to be too tense, and as a result whenever the horse starts trotting, I jerk back, pulling the reigns. The instructor has told me what to do (ie. RELAX), but I don't know how. My legs and lower back are less of a problem.

Thanks,
Marlena

[This message has been edited by Marlena (edited 12 April 1999).]

[Alison Baxter]

One thing my instructor taught me, when my shoulder and arm was stiff was to put your reins into one hand. I know this sounds dumb, but it has been shown that is one of your hands/arms is relaxed, then the other one relaxs too! I know it sounds strange but it works!
ALISON

[KarlR]

My wife is always too tense when riding. This instructor told her to sing. Apparently it works, although I don't know - I always have the other problem! I agree with one thing though - instructors should be a little more help than just saying "relax"! Don't worry though. You will relax automatically in time.

I would say that 17.1 and <10 stone is very large - at my school you would end up on a 14 hand horse. <g>

[Nikki]

I have just joined this Message Board and was very interested to read about a rider's experience on a large Dutch Warmblood. After a gap of 30 years, I took on a Dutch Warmblood - Bugle - having never owned my own horse, and never done much riding, only walking and trotting and always with others at a riding school never on my own. That was back in April - I am now riding out all over the place on my own, galloping over stubble fields and having a whale of a time! 3 cheers for dutch warmbloods and the bigger the better! My boy is 17 hh and a gentle giant. I think it is piffle to say that a large horse is intimidating for a novice or beginner - my personal opinion is the bigger the better! They are easier to ride, more comfortable and usually very careful over rough ground etc. because of their size and bulk. I have to mount via a mounting block, and it is a bit tricky when out hacking to open gates - we have some real pigs round here which are either so low I cannot bend down far enough to reach them from horseback, or all wired up with bits of chain and baler twine and I have to dismount to open them. Then, unless the gate is suitable for me to use as a mounting block, I have to wander around trying to find something to climb on so I can remount! That is, admittedly, a real pain, but is the only problem I have with Bugle!

Anybody who has a DWB and wants to e mail me can do so on nikki.jenkins@virgin.net. I am actually looking for someone to come in with me on Bugle on a half share basis - I live in Northamptonshire - anyone interested?

Nikki

[Vina]

I have only ridden for about 2 months or so, but I really like being on a larger horse. I find if I am put on a smaller horse, I keep wondering if they are uncomfortable or not with me being there---not that I am really huge or anything, maybe I'm just self-conscious! I guess it depends on whether a person is really intimidated by horses or not. I don't even CARE if I get bucked off once in a while or stepped on, etc...so long as I can be near horses, who cares?...so I don't dwell on the idea I might get hurt.

[Susan B.]

I think the temperament of the horse is more important than its size. My favourite horse for the first few lessons was a huge guy named Frank. What a sweetie, though. He listens to the rider 100%. Easy to tack up, no problem bridling him. Very confidence inspiring.

[CLAUDIA]

I'm not bothered much by a horse's size either. I'm much more concerned with temperment and how comfortable I am on the horse at all gaits. I've been on a couple horses in which the way they move about makes me feel unstable. I'm a beginner so once I ride these horses and my instructor sees I'm not balanced enough on them I ride them no longer. And I loved finding that after a few months I could get on some of them and have a fine time!

[Judith]

Bit boring to add another reply to this effect, but I too have found that I've been incredibly happy and safe on big horses. In fact, some of the big horses I've ridden have felt safe to the point of boredom (which for me, being a new and nervous rider, is quite an admission!). And they can feel a lot more stable for jumping than smaller horses. I've ridden ponies who have been a bit tossy and fast and I've felt quite anxious. As they say, size isn't important. It's a whole range of factors that contribute to a feeling of safety and confidence. Having said that, given a choice between a big, nervy horse and a small nervy horse I'd opt for the latter!

[Janneke]

Hi!

At our stables (I live on Curaçao, an island in the Caribean and part of the Netherlands Antilles) we have a really small pony and a really huge Dutch warmblood.

For longe lessons the small pony is perfect for young children. But if I want the kids to learn how to steer and don't want to discourage them right away, I'd rather use the the big one. No mather how small the kid is, I trust her better them our little rascall. That's because I know once the rider starts getting confidence in his/her own skills, Perolito(the pony) will try to get him off his back. Unika will never ever do that, she listen to the person who's teaching, is patient and just always being her calm self.

So for me the size of the horse doesn't always matter. Ofcourse if I can choose between an obedient small pony (which we also have) and a Dutch Warmblood and I'm teaching a small child, I'll choose the pony. But I'd rather look at the caracter of the horse to see if it is fitting.
Janneke

[Savannah]

It's definitely not intimidating to have a gentle huge horse as your first horse. It actually boosts your confidence. I had a 17.2hh Holsteiner as my first horse, and he was so nice that he wasn't the least bit intimidating.