Should I keep the ride?

[DoubleDown]

In Dec 2014 I helped my dear friend buy an OTTB for her daughter to event with me. Roughly 6 months later, she lost interest, and I’ve basically had the ride on this boy since last summer. He was HORRIBLE last year, gave him 6 months off in a pasture, and he’s come back AMAZING. I’m having a blast with him, he’s 5YO, athletic and talented. Friend is willing to let me keep the ride on him, or help her sell him. My horse is basically retired, and my “plan” was to buy something big in the spring to bring along, most likely an OTTB.

My hang up is his and my size. He’s barely 16.1HH, big barrel, and I’m 6’ tall, and not a delicate flower. I feel big on him, and looking at pictures, I can’t image what I’d look like in a dressage length stirrup. I’ve ridden smaller horses before, and even owned a few, but when I got into my 20’s I vowed to not own a shorty again, because I always felt I looked huge. But. I’m having a blast with him. He’s come so far.

What do you think on the size ratio?
https://flic.kr/p/N5D3bd
https://flic.kr/p/N5D2KJ

[Highflyer]

I really don’t think you look particularly big on him, and it sounds like you really like him, which is by far the most important part. He’s only going to fill out more with age and good feed and flatwork.

[thehorsedream]

I don’t think you look large on him at all. You seem to have a long torso which may be why you think you look too tall. Mark Todd is 6’3, William Fox-Pitt is 6’5. I’m sure not every horse they have is 17hh. I read somewhere about how they have to learn how to use their long torso to balance their mounts carefully since any shift on their part is a big shift for their mounts.

Also, 16.1hh is hardly a shorty. You enjoy the horse. Can you see yourself enjoying competing with him in the coming years? If so, go for it. We all ride because we enjoy it and that means enjoying our mounts.

[cutter99]

I think you look fine and so does he.

Please don’t disparage yourself! You look fit and healthy, which is much better than any delicate flower!

[SnicklefritzG]

If you love the horse, buy him. There are plenty of tall upper level people who do quite well on smaller horses.

Jim Kofford rode a pony at FEI levels at the Pony Cup this year and did well. You will be fine.

[red_mares]

16.1 is not a little horse.

Unless you are 2-Ton Annie, I can’t imagine this horse being too small for you.

[downen]

Mark Todd & Charimsa: I think Charisma was only 15.2 or 15.3

Karen O’Connor & Teddy

And I’m 5’3" but used to event a 14 hand Arab to Training level. If you like the horse, go for it!

[ParadoxFarm]

[QUOTE=downen;8887995]
Mark Todd & Charimsa: I think Charisma was only 15.2 or 15.3

Karen O’Connor & Teddy

And I’m 5’3" but used to event a 14 hand Arab to Training level. If you like the horse, go for it![/QUOTE]

Great pics! And OP, if you like him, keep riding him. I think you two look great. You put in all that work, you should just buy him!!!

[2DogsFarm]

I am 5’4" but long-legged (32" inseam) - I showed a friend’s 14.2 HalfieX Training & got 2nd/64%.

From your pics he does not look too small for you & your stirrup is not going to get that much longer for Dressage.

My Vote says Keep the Ride!

[eclipse]

It really comes down to how you feel on him! Right now he’s 5 so he’s probably going to have another year of growth in height and then will keep filling out, so he’s got 2 years of body change ahead of him! My horse, although not a TB, but just to show how they can change, was 15-3hh at 5 and narrow, now at 7 he’s 16-2hh , far from narrow and has got quite long, and me at 5ft2 am a peanut! LOL They grow, and sometimes more than expected!

[Gumby80]

As long as he doesn’t have a weak back or SI, and you ride balanced and light (which I’m sure you do), it’s hard to see it being a problem. He looks like quite a solid guy.

[demidq]

Agree that you should go for it. Enjoyment and feeling that you are a good partnership is most important. Don’t worry about what others think, you are definitely not too big for him.

[Libby2563]

[QUOTE=Highflyer;8887955]
I really don’t think you look particularly big on him, and it sounds like you really like him, which is by far the most important part. He’s only going to fill out more with age and good feed and flatwork.[/QUOTE]

Agree with this, plus he is CUTE and you guys look great together! Why trade a fun ride and established partnership for the unknown if you don’t have to?

[kashmere]

If you’re too big on him, I have no hope! :lol: I’m 6’0 as well, and own a fine, dainty 16.2 TB. As long as you feel balanced and good on him - go for it! You look awesome together.

[SuckerForHorses]

Keep him.

[Hej]

If you love him, keep him.

Mark Todd = 6’3"
Charisma = 15.3
Mark Todd + Charisma = TWO individual 3-day Olympic Gold Medals (L.A '84 and
Seoul '88)

[talkofthetown]

Just wanted to comment about your height vs. dressage length stirrups. I actually think it might help your longer torso look more proportionate on him. I don’t think you look too big at all, but I can see where visually it is throwing you off. Currently, analyzing that photo I see torso-torso-horse. When you drop your stirrups, I bet you it balances out and you would see torso-horse-leg.

How’s that for scientific answer?

[adultponyhunter]

I’m almost 6’ and I own and compete a 14.2 stocky pony. Since we’ve been eventing the only comments I’ve gotten are that we look great together! A good partnership goes a lot further than the size of your horse.

[OveroHunter]

My guy is barely 15.2 and I’m 5’9. I almost didn’t buy him for that reason. It’s been 9 years since I bought hum and I have never regretted it!

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1923944_660499895800_9485_n.jpg?oh=f429def26b8525ae8ddd06d8cfbd832f&oe=589DBA6A
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1927899_681772320690_7840_n.jpg?oh=68e693f53a28c303329319afc8e7cbf5&oe=589CAFCF (Western long stirrups since I dont ride dressage)

[imaginique]

He’s very cute and you look good on him.