Lying about a horse's height....

[Winding_Down]

@skipollo;8096194

I’ve put a stick on my horse several times, 16.1hh. The place I got him from also had that height listed for him. When I meet someone new at the barn, everyone marvels at “how massive” he is and “how tall” he is, many convinced he’s 17.0hh+. Not even close–I think people’s perceptions of horse height are really off.

I have the same horse. He is not wide or heavy in build but he has a very deep girth and is long as a boat (and I love him dearly, so only I get to say that! :mad:

). People are always commenting on how big he is and how I look small on him. Well, he is a hair over 16.1. I never looked small on a previous 16.3 OTTB that I had last year so…

People need to realize that it is NOT just the height of the horse that matters in looks or other factors, it is the build of that horse.

Funny aside: I recently got one of those new aluminum measuring sticks and measured my young horses. In my ADHD mode, I read the “height” on the wrong side of the stick and went around for a couple of weeks believing (and posting on FB) that my 5 1/2 year old had grown over two inches since last fall, going from 16.1 to 16.3… Well, that was an honest error and I could’ve advertised him at 16.3 without knowing any better… And this error was reinforced when several people commented about how big he was at our first event this year…

So people do make honest mistakes… at least blonde and aging people do… :eek:

[oldernewbie]

And here I thought this was just an Arabian problem! We call it the “Arabian measuring stick” LOL! It somehow turns 14.2 Arabs into 15.2.

On the other hand, I have an honest to G*d, 15.3 plus a little Arab, and he stumps people all the time. Got into a funny argument with a fellow boarder once - she swore that her warmblood was 15.3 (which he was) and that there was no way that my horse could be his size. No Way! He’s an Arab, he has to be smaller. No Way!!! Well, we stood them up next to each other and laid a whip across their withers - Ta Da! Same height! That did not go over well!

I guess nobody who owns a warmblood wants it to be the same size as a (gasp!) Ay-rab!

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=Winding Down;8096307]
Ha, if I were looking for a Fjord, I would take one that is 13.2! For sure! Of course, I am 5’4" and a slight build but still, those little horses are wider than my warmbloods![/QUOTE]

There is an adorable Fjord in my area who is a very popular hireling for hunting. He doesn’t need to be 15hh. He is wide enough to take up plenty of leg.

He is so popular that he is often booked weeks, if not months in advance.

[crimsonsky]

i’m a little late to comment, but i was honestly surprised to go look at a horse (which i did end up buying) and found that the horse WAS in fact 16.1 as advertised. i really didn’t expect it and i guess that part is sad.

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=crimsonsky;8096507]
i’m a little late to comment, but i was honestly surprised to go look at a horse (which i did end up buying) and found that the horse WAS in fact 16.1 as advertised. i really didn’t expect it and i guess that part is sad.[/QUOTE]

lol

Yeah, same thing here. My horse was advertised at 16:1 and measured exactly that. My problem is I forgot he was 3" taller than my previous horse, so when I dismounted, I didn’t realize that the ground was further away so I fell over on my @$$ and torqued my ankle not that long after I bought him.

[RacetrackReject]

It is incredibly frustrating to drive for hours and the horse is over a full hand shorter.

My very tall friend asked me to go with her to look at a horse that was advertised as 17 hands. We thought he would be around 16.1ish in person, which would just work for said friend.

The horse was not even 16 hands and when this was pointed out, the husband argued and said that he measured the horse using a height stick. I told him that if he wanted, he could bring me the stick and I would show him how to use it properly… I know, I shouldn’t have, but he was being a raging a-hole, and when the wife went to get the horse’s tack, there were several used bute tubes laying up with the feed buckets, so, yeah, no sale.

[enjoytheride]

The beginner boarder in my barn bought the first horse he looked at, with no guidance. He told them he wouldnt buy it unless it was at least 15 hands, so of course it was. He asked me if my new mare was 15.3 and I laughed and said no, shes 14.2! He was shocked because he knows my horse stands over his horse. Hes pretty sure I am wrong, but my barn manager is a steward so she has to know how to stick a horse for her job.

Had he bothered to ask, somebody would have told him to take a stick if it mattered so much!

[ElementFarm]

I had a period a few years ago where I was looking for new boarding options for my three horses, one of whom is legitimately 17.3 (hannoverian who ended up a whole hand taller than he was supposed to be). I’d tell the barn owners my needs (large stall, high ceiling, lots of food) because my horse was 17.3hh, and they’d roll their eyes. You could tell they instantly assessed me as a craigslist yahoo claiming my horse is almost 18 hands and jumps 4 feet! (you know who they are).

Both times we moved, BOs were shocked when I unloaded and they saw my big guy. Always came over and looked (up) at him, and were like “oh, he really is 17.3 hands!” At that point my credibility was restored. Ha.

To minimize issues with my horses actually being the height they’re advertised, I now try to get USEF height cards on all of my horses. Then I can tell potential buyers the “real” height, and they know what they’re actually going to see when they make the trip out to my barn.

[2horseygirls]

I have nothing useful to add to any conversation about eventing, but the headline caught my eye, so I thought I would ask my incredibly dumb question.

When does horse height really matter?

I understand different conformation makes horses more or less useful for specific types of riding. I’ve ridden many different sizes (height and width/girth ) of horses in my lessons.

Since I’m 44, a late-in-life rerider, and not competing in anything but staying on :yes:, I’m curious why it is essential to some people to have . _ hh horse?

Thanks in advance for your patience and insight

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=2horseygirls;8096590]
I have nothing useful to add to any conversation about eventing, but the headline caught my eye, so I thought I would ask my incredibly dumb question.

When does horse height really matter?

I understand different conformation makes horses more or less useful for specific types of riding. I’ve ridden many different sizes (height and width/girth ) of horses in my lessons.

Since I’m 44, a late-in-life rerider, and not competing in anything but staying on :yes:, I’m curious why it is essential to some people to have . _ hh horse?

Thanks in advance for your patience and insight :)[/QUOTE]

I think the issue has more to do with honesty in advertisement than the actual height. If someone misrepresents the height then the question arises as to what else the seller might be misrepresenting.

If a horse’s height is an inch off I don’t think that is a big deal, except perhaps for the hunters where there are different height divisions.

If a horse is several inches off, that could matter depending on the height of the rider. I could totally see a very tall person only wanting to look at horses who are 16:2hh or taller. So if the horse is 15:2 or 15:3, yeah they could ride it, but they might feel more comfortable on a larger horse.

For me, I wouldn’t want a 17:2hh horse who is extremely round simply because I am short (5’3") and don’t have a lot of leg to put around the horse. I do better on smaller horses who have an average barrel. A good horse is a good horse, but since there are so many choices out there, people have to filter on something and height is an easy way to make a first cut.

[Foxtrot_s]

It is also a big time waster to go out to a place to see a horse of an advertised height and then find it is much smaller. Not so often they are advertised as higher than they are, tho.

Myself - I have my infallible nose method - standing close to the front feet on a level surface and leaning into the shoulder, my nose is exactly 15.3 hh. Add on the extra inches with your fingers until reaching the withers.

[AmarachAcres]

My mare is 14.3 and people ask me if I’m sure. They think she is taller. I’ve measured her multiple times just to show people.

She was not advertised as 14.3, but for once I was glad a horse was shorter than advertised.

[North_Dakota]

My first horse off of my pony was advertised as 16.1, got him home and he’s 15.3. I’m pretty sure my coach knew this when we went to look at him, since she wasn’t surprised he measured 15.3, but height didn’t matter since I was 14 coming off a pony. No one knew that he was 15.3 though, he carried himself much larger and people used to argue with me that he was bigger than that, until they saw him in his stall.

It drives me crazy when people lie about height, I’m tallish (5’7) but with a short torso and long legs. I can ride small horses, and solidly built large ponies, but I want to know a true height if I’m shopping.

I think I’m getting a measuring stick today, and I’m so excited! I am sick of estimating my current horse’s height, since the guesses have been from 16.2-17 from people!

[scheherazadetbmare]

Apparently lying about height works for some. I have some friends, both of them are about 6 ft tall and heavy, who went to look at a 15.2 horse across state for the husband. Horse was 14.2. They bought her. Obviously, that purchase did not work out well and they resold her later. One BO where I boarded went with her best friend to look at a 15.3 appalossa about 70 miles away. Both women are about 5ft 9inches tall and heavy. Mare was 14.2. They bought her and kept her and ride her.

I’ve driven hours to look at horses who were supposed to be 16 hands or more. When I arrived early at one owner’s property to look at a 16.2 TB by Mr. Prospector, the gelding was about 15.2. I left. The owner arrived late from work to her barn and called me complaining because I wasn’t there. I said she must have sold the horse I went to look at since the only gelding there was much shorter than the one I went to look at. And her poor old broodmares were in a muddy paddock without hay with the gelding, and all had rain rot. No sale.

[vandenbrink]

I always am honest about the height but that has been a problem in some cases. I had a lady turn down a 16.3 HH TB…because he was way too big. He actually was the height he was advertised at…one of the few.

I also find it a problem when selling 3 year olds. When I advertise a 15.3 HH 3 year old (which probably looks 16.1 to most) it will most likely grow at another 2 inches and fill out. That horse is plenty big for the 5’6" rider…but that rider is looking for a 16.2 HH horse. They forget the horse has some growing left to do. I’ve seen disappointed riders that bought a nice sized somewhat immature 3 year old that grew till it was 8 and turned into a giant.

[crimsonsky]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8096524]
lol

Yeah, same thing here. My horse was advertised at 16:1 and measured exactly that. My problem is I forgot he was 3" taller than my previous horse, so when I dismounted, I didn’t realize that the ground was further away so I fell over on my @$$ and torqued my ankle not that long after I bought him.[/QUOTE]

Hahaha - boo! my other horse is 14.3 3/4 (so close!) and there is certainly a difference when dismounting (and mounting for that matter).

[PaintedHunter]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8096524]
lol

Yeah, same thing here. My horse was advertised at 16:1 and measured exactly that. My problem is I forgot he was 3" taller than my previous horse, so when I dismounted, I didn’t realize that the ground was further away so I fell over on my @$$ and torqued my ankle not that long after I bought him.[/QUOTE]

OMG, I did this when I first got Ollie too! Last horse was 15.3, and Ollie is 16.2. People always think Olls is bigger than he is, too, because he’s just so…substantial. LOL.

[FatCatFarm]

HUGE pet peeve of mine. I’ve had so much time and money wasted over horse height. Yes some people are ignorant but an awful lot just lie through their teeth. It’s despicable. Horse measuring sticks are just not that expensive to pick up. Definitely if it’s important to you, either have a vet verify or take your measuring stick with you. I’m also now very leery about claims of mature height for young stock as well. They’re all individuals and height can vary greatly amongst bloodlines and it’s best to do your homework/research, again if the issue is important to you.

I’ve rarely run into the situation where someone has underestimated a horse’s height but that’s been on a big horse advertised as 17hds who was actually 17.2. Usually they underestimate it; sometimes by a little; often by A LOT! You can usually tell though. The add reads: “15 to 16hds” or “16+/- hands” :rolleyes: Love those. Or you call, and during the conversation, refuse to be pinned down about the horse’s height, “Oh he/she’s about 16.2, I think; give or take a few; maybe. Well he/she’s a big ole horse.” :no:

[yellowbritches]

When I was involved with selling lots of horses, we tried to stay accurate with their heights. And since I know I’m “15.3” I can gauge most horses pretty well. We sold a lot of young horses, so often would stick them regularly to keep track of their height change. Also good practice for them.

However, we missed the mark rather remarkably, completely unintentionally on one horse. He was an Irish import who was well past the growing stage. He must have been purchased as 16h (I wasn’t around when he came over, but knew him after). It seemed accurate. He looked 16h, he rode like a 16h horse. The tall people in our barn looked reasonable on him, while I looked a litte small. We sold him to a junior who seemed to have thought the same things we did. She got him officially measured so she could do the junior hunters on him and much to EVERYONE’S dismay he sticked a whopping 15.1!!! Everyone is shocked. The only thing I can figure is that his neck is tied in quite high and he must carry himself with a lot of presence. Thankfully, the buyer was unconcerned (she’s had him for 10 years now almost!).

There are definitely times with big horses where a certain height just starts to sound absurd (like our big horse we called “17.3 and a half” because 18h sounded horrifying). And just the other day I was grooming Toby, who has always been exactly as tall as me, and thought he seemed huge. Is it possible for an 11 year old horse to grow?!

I prefer people try to be accurate (whether they are unintentionally or intentionally inaccurate). I prefer small horses, and typically don’t look at anything too much bigger than 16h. So if they’re trying to pass a 16h horse off as 16.2, there’s a good chance I won’t look!

[Sancudo]

I have a true 17 hand TB, sticked by me and my vet.

Had a trainer come out to look at him for a client after seeing his ad and talking on the phone.

His first words: “Oh damn, he is 17 hands! My client’s coming of the pony hunters, and we assumed he would be 16.1 or so.”

Yep, waste of an afternoon.