Horse size

Skipping ahead real quick (I’ll go back and read the whole thread) to share my 190 lb, 5’7 to 5’8 self on my 14.3 pony and my 15.2 horse, for OP’s reference.

The buckskin is 14.3, the gray is 15.2. Neither care about my size, and I think I look fine on them. I scored a 71% in Training 3 on the buckskin a couple weeks ago, so I don’t think the dressage judges care either :upside_down_face:

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After reading about jumping concerns, I’ll note that the buckskin easily jumps 3 feet+ with me. She’s been jumping with me for about 12 or 13 years now, too, with no signs of slowing down.

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What are the breeds, they are lovely.

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The buckskin is a grade QH, Two Eyed Jack lines though. The gray is half Irish draught, quarter I think Percheron and quarter TB (he’s still super super green).

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I am 5’8, size 12, with a 32” pants inseam. I have a QH who is 14.3 and an Appendix/Paint/smidge Belgian cross who is 15.2. The QH is about 975 pounds and the Paint is 1200 ish.

I feel like I look a bit big on the QH, even though he has a big barrel my heels are lower than his belly, however, I have been riding him for 9 years and he has stayed sound and I don’t feel like he struggles to carry me. He is a quick and handy little guy and is fun to ride. He does have a long neck, and I think that helps with balance for a taller rider.

My Paint horse is built like the proverbial tank. Very wide and muscular. He actually feels quite big to me. I feel like his size is perfect for me as far as looks go. I personally have no interest in any horse bigger than this one. For me, a heavily built 15.2 horse is my sweet spot.

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You have a nice hand on both of those horses.

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I appreciate you sharing thank you. :slight_smile:

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Thank you! Constant work in progress :joy:

You are welcome. Basically, if you find a horse that you just CLICK with in every other way, but is a bit shorter than you ideally would like, try not to worry too much about it (easier said than done, I know! I used to be SO self conscious on my little mare, but now everyone wants to ride her)!

I’ll actually add, one of my fave horses ever to ride was a little 14.1 pony I had for a few years before selling him to a riding camp. I jumped higher on that pony than I did any other horse, and he was a MACHINE cross country, nothing fazed him. But his true gift was that he was safe, safe, safe for anyone to ride, in any situation, which is why I decided to let him go to the camp where he could touch a ton of lives.

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