Hi EventIz, thank you kindly for the reply as well as taking the time to post photos.
First of all, cute as a button Welsh X! And second point, I can definitely see you match well in regard to size. Good point about the shorter stride: you just get used to it over time. It probably seems more obvious to me on ponies because I never truly had an extra long relationship with one.
You definitely get used to it. The stride is shorter and the long side is VERY long on a pony, but other aspects are easier so it really is about finding the size that works for you.
I read somewhere that ideally, the knee joint coincides with the widest part of the horse’s barrel. This makes sense to me, because it allows the lower leg to stay on/close to the barrel more easily.
Definitely go look at the ponies/small horses threads on this forum. Lots of pics and insight on different rider/horse size combos. I really don’t understand the trend towards giant horses - I’m 5’9" with long legs and a 16.1 horse with a good barrel is perfection to me. My 15.3 mare is a touch small, and I’ve just started my 17H horse and really feel like she is bigger than I need but suits me fine (ended up with her because of reasons and would have selected something shorter had I been shopping the open market).
The smaller ones often stay sounder and have more longevity, which is another big bonus.
I would add that no matter what horse or pony you pick, one that has dressage specific training through2nd level will be of great advantage to you , for your learning
I’m 5’2 and have super short legs. I really really wanted a small horse but one of my mares is 17.1 and it really hasn’t effected me other than needing a strong core when we first started working her canter (she is off the track). She has a huge barrel and is a wide tree too. Honestly size really isn’t a big issue if you have a good horse and a good fitting saddle. Two of my other mares are 16.2 and slab sided, none are an issue for my short stature.
I’ve always loved the pony personality, and I knew I’d get back to them eventually, although my plans was just driving.
Then what do you know, here I am doing dressage with my Fjord and having a blast (albeit less of a blast than CDE, because NOTHING is more fun than that). He’s 142.5cm, I’m 5’8 and fairly long legged. And yet we… fit
If you want to do other things than stay in the sandbox maybe a generalist is the way to go?
(The second pic is what happens when you relinquish control of your Fjord at a show. Suddenly a crowd appears)
Sorry to leave this thread hanging : had to deal with real life non-horsey issues. :mad:
Anyway, most definitely, the ideal horse will have some dressage training to assist me along the route, but nothing more that I would spoil by my inexperience. This tidbit of insight is appreciated because it does indeed narrow down the search when the time comes.
And DMK, what a gorgeous Fjord! I absolutely adore them the rare times that I’ve come across them.
Jealoushe, you really hit something on the head here: core muscles. I was sliced open 30 cm + and that cut through muscle so my core is an absolute mess. Add in muscle wasting from being ill, and there are days (like the last few days) where i feel like I will never ride again because I don’t feel as though I am making progress at physio. Sorry to rant on you… I am not ranting at you, just talking for no real reason.
I acknowledge the importance of the core for good stability in the saddle so that’s why I want to get this resolved further before I do hop on a horse. And with shorter legs and a bigger horse, I can definitely see the need to strengthen that area up to have a good equilibrium on the horse.
Perhaps the one thing that “scares” me most about dressage is that I worry my shorter legs won’t work as well in a longer stirrup on a bigger horse. We shall see.
What would really help is to be up on different horses and trying different frames out to see what feels comfortable.
Rant away! I love a good rant! I think that is a great idea. Ride what you can see and go for what feels most comfy.
Debbie McDonald is 5’0". Brentina is 16.2. They did okay together. :yes:
Your core muscles sound like they were sort of mutilated.
You may have to find your own solutions for developing an effective seat.
This may take a LONG time. What a lot of people write or teach about riding Dressage sort of assume that a rider’s core muscles are all there, that these muscles just have to be activated at the right time with the right strength when riding. You sound like you are an exception to that norm.
With MS I have a messed up nervous system and some of my muscles just don’t work or don’t work right, drat it! I’ve had to come up with solutions that are outside the “norm” of modern equitation. I’m not trying dressage because I am too handicapped to ride dressage, but I do a lot of slow work with the horses I ride, and I rely on the horses to tell me if what I’ve come up with for a solution actually works for the horse. My riding teacher helps, but it is the horses who are completely honest with me and will tell me that my riding just is not working for them.
Be patient with yourself. Be patient with the horses you ride. You are developing something new, a riding system that works in spite of the limitations of your own body.
Fortunately horses are rather forgiving creatures!
The thing about riding is that less really is more. The horse will read the smallest signals. The first aid for any up or downward transition, for example, is ‘think about it’ and so often the horse responds.
Lovely when one is in such harmony with another mind.
Thank you for the recent posts. Very thoughtful. Agreed that riding does rely heavily on connection and mindset. It is like it is often taught when we all first start out that horses read us and sense directions/feelings from us.
If anyone can offer any insight, what are some exercises that work in creating your core stability that you have found suitable for riding? That can be done on the ground? I’m doing regular physio for overall development, but I would like to include some rider-focused ones.
It’s funny how much one takes for granted when riding at “full steam ahead” and kept fitness through barn work!
I’m a pretty long-legged rider but I still prefer smaller packages. They’re just generally easier to put together. I used to love big/tall horses! Then I rode a few smaller ones regularly and I definitely prefer it. It’s like riding a sports car 
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