I think @chestnutmarebeware and @phantomhorse look great on their mounts, certainly not too big! My current horse is 16.2 and pretty solid but as I get older, a chunky 15.2 to 16h would be perfect.
3 Likes
“Too big” also depends upon the riding discipline you grew up watching or doing. In many Western events, a bigger person on a smaller horse is common and expected. But if you watched hunters and jumpers, you were more used to seeing tall horses and short riders. I recall a boarder looking for a new hunter and refusing to look at anything under 16.2 in spite of being an average-proportioned 5’4". She felt she just looked too big on a 16h horse!
3 Likes
Where my honys at?! As I said at the beginning of the COTH aunties’ crazy adventure with “our” Henry, I’ll take the fun-sized packaging every single time. A 16h+ version of Henry just wouldn’t be the same. (Plus, as I get older, the ground gets farther away. I appreciate an easy dismount, whether voluntary or involuntary.)
I just love seeing happy horses and happy riders rocking around looking delighted with their partnership. Thanks for continuing to share Henry’s exploits!
15 Likes
yup… I always thought I felt too big on small horses. Then I ended up with a pint sized brick house 
Small horses are certainly big enough for most people.
Elmo is 14.1. I am 5’7".
Henry is perfect just the way he is! Although I am a little hoping he stays pony sized, because he looks like he will make a killer hunter pony someday. 2bayboys’ retirement fund could be bolstered by those high dollar lease fees! 
31 Likes
I have been following this thread without commenting. Henry is simply awesome. At 5’1" I make a hony look big. Lucy is 14.2 and 1/2 inch. Maybe 14.3 with shoes. 
33 Likes
Always happy to jump on the adults on ponies/honies train I’m 5’7 and my girl is 14.2. I always feel like I look a bit big (especially from the front) but she’s so darn fun I don’t really care.
The only person to comment negatively on the size difference was my grandpa. When I showed him a pic, he asked how tall she was. I told him she was the same size as a large pony, he said, and I quote, “you’ll crush her!” 
in his defense, he was used to seeing pics of me on my 16.2 warmblood, but it still made me laugh!
29 Likes
This is the one that turned me into a complete hony fan. After riding big horses for years and years I found this (literal) overgrown pony as a 2-year-old and fell head over heels in love. He fits me perfectly. Sadly he suffered a bilateral hind suspensory injury in 2021 and most likely will never show again, but his personality is as big as his trot and he has a home for life. 
40 Likes
At 5’2" I love a good hony! I have a 14hh Quarter Hony mare that is just perfect for me. At this point I dislike getting on anything much bigger because the larger stride makes it feel like they’re running away with me .
On another note: Henry is freaking AWESOME and I want a barn filled with his clones.
7 Likes
Me on hony/sports car.
I’m 5ft6. Not sure how tall this fellow is, but he takes up my leg. I believe he sticks under 14.2.
31 Likes
LOFF! The Dragon-spiked mane! 
5 Likes
I’m 5’9, Lumpy is 14.3 and while he feels a lot different than the 16 hand willowy TB I usually ride, I don’t think we looked too goofy!
31 Likes
LUMPY? 
Please tell me that’s his Showname 
& No, you both look adorable… & Competitive 
8 Likes
His registered name is very…Quarter Horse-y so Lumpy is an improvement! He apparently had warts on his nose as a youngster and the name stuck even after they were gone
8 Likes
I think we actually got 2nd in the 2’ hunters that day! He belongs to my friend and at that time his real job was team roping and ranch rodeos, so I feel like he did a good job demonstrating the benefits of a good hony 
9 Likes
The best, most versatile horse we had (out of about 15) was a quarab who stood 14.3. He had the best temperament, also. So willing and happy. His name was Coach and he taught a lot of pony clubbers how to ride.
12 Likes
So… Heza Zipped Olena? 
Good on Lumpy (
) for being an actual Hunter!
Around here HUS is painful to watch.
All that changes is the tack.
Horses don’t even approach trot, they jog.
Nothing like canter, they lope.
I still can’t unsee the plain bay shown with a fake tail that looked nothing like horse’s coat color.
Maybe borrowed from a palomino friend?
6 Likes
It’s Doc Tari Rebel Sun, not quite that bad but it doesn’t really fit his vibe and it’s a mouthful compared to all the elegant one word hunter names, lol.
3 Likes
Lumpy!! Much better
2 Likes
Another adult jumping on the “I love honies” train! I’m a hair over 5’ and the guy I leased for the last 2 years is around 15.1 (we sticked him at 15.2, but he’s 26 and his back has probably dropped to right around 15–maybe even 14.3). I’ve never fit a horse better in my life, and we had such a blast!
33 Likes
I’m 5’3" and have a 15.1 or 15.2H OTTB hony and a 14 or 14.1H TW pony. The TB is an all around fun horse, the TW is my awesome trail pony.
4 Likes
