| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ruth_Cymru |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 09:25:39 AM
As some of you may know I'm on the hunt for my arab. I've been looking at horses 15hh+ up until now but I'm contemplating going to see a 14.2hh mare (yes I have been looking for a gelding, but I've now decided I need to be as open as possible!) I'm 5ft7 and a size 10/12, so is it madness or is it all dependant on the build of the individual horse?
Thank you for reading  |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kazhak |
Posted - 02 May 2010 : 07:34:03 AM
thanx Qi gon jinn, yes preferably I would have wished he had gotten at least a hand or 2 bigger than he is however that was not to be, & having had to sell my purebred grey arab gelding when I moved back to the mainland, the little fellow in the pics (who is homebred) is all I have to work with at the moment.. not that you could ever keep me off his back (he's too much fun) I'm hoping my father will one day consent to send me one of his young stallions who is a purebred but is about 14hh & runs on the smell of an oily rag, he's by the same stallion as my boy is, & is super quiete too, but until my place is fully fitted out I'll have to wait..
I do of course understand what your saying about the overall look, & yes to most degree I agree with you.. the whole picture would look nicer if my legs did not dangle quiet so far below his girth line.. I was mearly trying to point out that horses don't have to be monsters in height to be ridable.. |
| kezziecrj5 |
Posted - 01 May 2010 : 3:49:59 PM
I'm 5ft 6 and size 12 and I ride a 15h and a 15.1h and I find they are perfect size for me |
| s.jade |
Posted - 01 May 2010 : 3:26:22 PM
I'm 5'7 (on my toes!) and 8/10 - I ride everything here from my 12.1hh Welsh B gelding, right through to my TB type boy who is almost 16hh.
The arabs are all about 14-15hh, none ever complain I'm too big (well, excepy my gelding, but he'd say carrying a 2yr old child was too much like hard work, typical man!!) |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 01 May 2010 : 2:41:55 PM
Lovely pictures, although I do have to say you look a little underhorsed. I fully appreciate that he carries you without any problems, but to me it's just the overall picture of you together. However it's only my opinion and I'm glad that you have such a wonderful relationship with your lad. |
| Kazhak |
Posted - 01 May 2010 : 08:46:32 AM
Hi hhmmm I'm about 5'4 I think I struggle with converting my metric height into feet lol.. about 165 cms
& my 3/4 Arabian Colt, probably doesn't even come close to going past 13 hh, & he still Carries me like a big horse.. (I'll have to get him offically measured to really know how small he is lol)
this is us at his first official 40 km endurance ride he was an absolute delight, yet I haven't noticed anyone raise their eyebrows at me, probably because I know a few people who ride smaller Arabs or partbred arabs,
I have pretty long legs for my height so they do dangle a fair bit on him but its never held us back.. I wouldn't ride him if I felt him struggle with me but he doesn't.. (that photo was taken by my mum)
heres my fave Pic of us from the same day taken by a sports photographer called Matt bennet.
yes I don't know where this idea comes from that once past a certain age you should be riding something 16 & above.. yes I've ridden big horses.. I used to ride an 18 hh warmblood gelding.. was a pain in the neck to get on his only saving grace was he was sooo quiete.. have also ridden Clydies, but I grew up on welsh section B ponies & Arabians, I reckon your best of riding what you feel confortable on but do give the slightly smaller ones a chance to prove they can be just as big in spirit as the bigger ones..
My Arabian pony Mare & Colt are the Lights of my life & my Colt has the most amazing ability to make me smile no matter how bad I'm feeling.
not to mention he can run like the clappers for such a small horse lol..
I will admit I prefer my horses small, so much easier to get on if I need to get off on the trail for some reason lol..
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| debs |
Posted - 01 May 2010 : 07:57:15 AM
Originally posted by Silvern_Scepris
5'6, size 12 and my horse is 14h, but he feels A LOT bigger to ride (he's got a good front and a nice deep girth). I've ridden 16h horses that feel more ponyish to ride.
Just the right size!!!! Thats lucky!!! See you sunday... |
| Silvern_Scepris |
Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 11:18:55 PM
5'6, size 12 and my horse is 14h, but he feels A LOT bigger to ride (he's got a good front and a nice deep girth). I've ridden 16h horses that feel more ponyish to ride. |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 11:36:12 AM
I'm 5'6" size 14 and Merlyn is between 14.3hh and 15hh. He carries me without any problems and my OH who is 5'8" and 12st has also ridden him and Merlyn didn't bother.
I sometimes feel a little bit underhorsed as Merlyn hasn't got the longest neck in the world. |
| Ruth_Cymru |
Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 10:44:11 AM
Thank you all so, so much for taking the time to reply. I've been looking through photos of me on the various horses I've ridden through the years, and come to the conclusion that it's the 'click' that's most important, everything else can follow.
Lisa rachel- I think you are one of my vets I've dealt more with P in the past, but I think you've been treating my step-mothers' horse recently. |
| Mrs DJ |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 9:42:07 PM
I'm 5'2 (or I was - I may have shrunk a bit with age) size 10, and my mare is 14.3.
She feels bigger to ride, but, if needs be, I can still get on her from the ground.
Prefer not to though, as I've just hit 50  and I'm not as agile as I used to be. |
| Cinnypony |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 9:36:13 PM
Debs you may be the shortest human so far, but I think Cinny is the smallest arab (so far)
Cinny is 14h and I'm 5'5" and currently size 12 (though heading 10'wards).
When I was looking wanted 15h, but fell in love with my little one. Wouldn't change her for anything...
Susi
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| phoenixbruka |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 9:25:06 PM
I'm 5'4 and a size 12/14 .. I have a 14.2hh and a 16hh purebred geldings.. and I look fine on both
susie |
| debs |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 8:40:55 PM
I knew I'd be the shortest!!! 4ft 11....Ali is 14.2 but only 3, would rather he fill out rather than go up!
My old boy grew too 15.2 high and wide... always used a mounting block at home and taught him to stand nice and still at gates so i could hurl myself on! |
| Lindsay |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 8:17:34 PM
I'm 5'6 and Sylvie is 14.2hh she carries my size 10/12 weight easily and also my 13 stone OH with no problem. Good luck finding your perfect horse you will know when he/she comes along |
| firstlady |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 8:03:07 PM
'Jaz' my little lad aka (pocket rocket) is 14.2hh lightweight Crabbet I have never felt underhorsed as he thinks he is much bigger !
my Ria S/E around 15 hands is plenty big enough
and I am 5'6" around an 8-10
apart from corectness as Lisa Rachel's wise words (as always  ) you just need to 'click' with the horse and he/she you after all it is a long term relationship you wil be taking on and if from the outset you like each other a lot then you'll have a fab foundation to build your mutal trust,respect and lifelong friend
all the best with your search
pob luc
Debbie
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| Slave 2 Magic |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 7:01:23 PM
I'm 5'4" size 10/12 and Magic is 14.3hh. I don't feel too big for her but my mum keeps asking when am I going to get a bigger horse! |
| Evie |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 6:59:34 PM
I am 5ft 9 with very long legs!!
Tara is 14.2hh. Sometimes I think I may be too big for her because of my long legs, but when i look at photos of me riding her I don't think I look too big, and when I am riding her she doesn't feel small. I weigh 9 st so I know I am not too heavy for her!
I like riding smaller horses/ponies as lulu has said its not so far to fall off!! I fell off my friend's 14.3hh gelding last summer and that was bad enough, I think it would have hurt a lot more had he been a bigger horse!! |
| lulu |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 6:53:41 PM
Me 5ft.6"
Sami around 14.3
between size 12/14 my last three horses have been two pure breds 14.3 and a part bred 14.2 have never felt too big or heavy pba would go for miles also not too far to hop on and off or to fall off either. |
| lisa rachel |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 6:44:36 PM
I will never understand the modern trend for monster horses. Some of the soundest, most correct and balanced Arabs I have known have been in the 14.2 range. I am a size 10, 5'7'' and Bryn is 15.2... he just kept growing ... BUT my dear, sorely missed Audin (love of my life) was just under 14.3 and my first pony Skipper, who I owned and rode for over 27 years was only just under 14hh and believe me I never felt underhorsed... he was a rocket !
Harry is 5'11 and medium build, his mare is scraping 15hh, she is in her 5th endurance season, advanced and also carried him from Wales to Jordan. Ideally he would ride a slightly bigger horse but she is very happy, going like a machine and they are inseparable!! (he is careful with her though and runs the downhills in endurance etc).
In my opinion at your height and size, any Arab will carry you, easily, FAR mare important is correct biomechanical conformation and balanced, sympathetic riding....hope you find your dream horse...
Lwc Dda!
Lisa |
| rafabreeze |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 4:09:35 PM
Hi, Im 5ft2" and Rafa is edging over 15:3hh - I dont think he is too big for me, but I think he thinks Im too small for him,  lol Georgina x |
| CarolinaCowgirl |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 4:02:49 PM
I'm 5'5'' and my girl is just a hair under 15hh. I sometimes worry I am too big for her, but she never complains about it |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 3:49:37 PM
I'm 5ft2 and size 12/14. Ozzy is 14.2 and 5 years old. I'm very short in the leg so really couldn't go much bigger but i do worry about him carrying my weight (although he never complains).
I have a friend schooling him twice a week for me at the moment and she is 5ft6 and about size 8/10. She certainly doesn't look big on him. |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 2:05:02 PM
A 14.2hh with a good shoulder, plenty of length of rein and depth of girth should ride plenty big enough for you. It also depends on where you are tall. Some people are long in the back, others have all their height in their thighs.
Look at the shape of the horse critically - one built to be naturally uphill will feel better if you are tall, than one that will easily fall onto the forehand. Schooling will help of course, but personally there is nothing worse than climbing on an arab that feels like a big pony. I've known 14.1hh ride much horsier than 15.3hh! |
| Montikka |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 1:08:29 PM
I'm 5'3" and a 10/12. Im riding my 14.2 in my sig pic and also ride Ali, who is 15.1. The 14.2 is a little pocket rocket  and there's no way she feels small. I sometimes ride the pointers at the yard though and I have to say they are so much easier to look elegant on. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 12:52:30 PM
I'm 5' 7" and a size 10-12, our 15hh Crabbet gelding feels bigger than my 15.3hh mare, but that is probably mainly to do with the fact that she is only 5 this year, and still has a lot of filling out to do. As a teenager my sister grew to 5'7" and was not underhorsed on her purebred who was only a touch over 14hh. My last mount was a 14.1hh tb x welsh, and he carried me with ease, although I did get a lot of ribbing on my dressage orientated yard (obviously he was a dwarf compared to all their 'serious' horses). I have never understood the big horse thing, arabs do ride bigger, and the advantages of being able to get on and off, smaller rugs, less feed etc. etc. seem obvious to me. I am beginning to become slightly alarmed that Lily is going to keep on growing up to or past 16 hh (harder to get on from the ground as I get older). |
