I am a leggy 5’10 and my petite TB is 15.2 on his tippy toes. I think he’s the perfect size: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210335243159474&set=a.1577732685258.79510.1293847780&type=3&theater
You look just fine and he is adorable. He’s pretty stocky too for a TB, lots to take up your leg there.
He is adorable! You looks like you are having a blast on him and I don’t think you look too large for him. I say keep having fun on him.
I come from the land of little 14 or 14.2 hand cowponies ridden by men and women your size and much larger. You look fine. If he makes you happy, so be it!
I also have a long torso, as you seem to, and it does give a different look than someone who is long-legged. Doesn’t mean you’re too big for him, though.
Plus, he’s likely to grow a little more…and you are not!
I think what’s maybe making you think you look too big is his slightly short neck. Honestly though, I don’t think you look silly on him. You’re definitely not too big. As long as you’re both comfortable and having fun, I say go for it. He’s cute and looks like a fun ride.
I think you look very professional. If you like the horse, keep him!
G.
[QUOTE=adultponyhunter;8888456]
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.[/QUOTE]
Oh you give ME hope! I have a 14.3 WBxArab mare, and I’m almost 5’10" (and not as willow thin as Mark Todd). She seems to carry me just fine, though since I have a long torso as well, I mind my shoulders much more on her than on bigger horses. I think I look big on her, but so what?
On first glance, I did notice that you have a rather long torso. Taking a closer look, I see a solidly built horse with a body that has plenty of room for your well-placed leg and seat. Even letting your stirrups down a few holes to dressage length, I think you’d be fine and offer a nice look together. there is plenty of horse there to take up your leg.
I also see a rider who is an appropriate weight for the horse, obviously capable of controlling her body position, and offering him a nice, balanced ride. If anything, I might consider a slightly larger saddle. That’s what looks just a tad small for you, not the horse himself.
Overall, you two make a pleasing picture. If you are enjoying him as much as it sounds you are, he’s likely also enjoying how you ride him. I’d buy him and go have fun with him.
I’d keep the ride, we find the best ones when we aren’t looking for them and he’s a known quantity reducing the gamble of buying an unknown. You look fine.
BUT, BUT, BUT…when it’s not your horse you really are not in charge of important and necessary decisions, the relationship with its owner can sour or they can sell it out from under you if they need to and it’s their absolute right to do so with it without your consent.
You need to get some sort of a lease agreement in writing until you can buy him.
I know owner is your BFF and would never pull him out from under you as a reward for all your work making him better and more attractive to buyers even if she lost her job, got sick or needed to sell ASAP. BS, get something in writing before devoting time, energy and your own money developing him and buy him to avoid almost inevitable heartbreak and conflict over decisions concerning the horse that are the owners to make, not yours.
BTDT several times, watched many others make the same journey to the same unhappy ending, don’t go there. Never ends well.
Agreed that if you like him that much, keep him! I’m stupidly tall, too, and I feel your pain seeing all those nice big warmbloods and their tiny, petite little riders on Instagram… best just face the fact that we’re never going to look that small unless we’re riding a Shire. :lol:
I can see why you think your too big for him - long torso etc.
But i agree with the others i don’t think your too heavy at all and i actually think when you drop your stirrups etc and sit more upright for dressage i suspect you will actually look less too tall if that makes sense. Cause you have a long torso and riding jump length it makes you look more “top heavy”. Longer stirrups will make you look more proportionate.
[QUOTE=whitney159;8888759]
Oh you give ME hope! I have a 14.3 WBxArab mare, and I’m almost 5’10" (and not as willow thin as Mark Todd). She seems to carry me just fine, though since I have a long torso as well, I mind my shoulders much more on her than on bigger horses. I think I look big on her, but so what?[/QUOTE]
I’m sure you look fine! Little horses are so fun. Lots of personality in a smaller, cuter package. We have always competed against the big horses, even in the hunters, and he always holds his own.
Just because:
I’m 5’5" and my pony is 14.2.
It sounds like you really like him and have fun with him so go for it! You don’t look too big!
You look fine on him. Since you enjoy him, I would purchase him as it can be really hard to find the right horse, as evidenced by many sale threads on COTH.
Thank you everyone for your feedback; I was a little nervous to post pictures, expecting the worse!
The comments about the longer stirrup making us look more proportioned makes sense, I hadn’t thought of it quite like that.
The saddle I’ve been using is a little small for me, and not quite the best fit for him now that he’s filled out some more. It is the daughters saddle, and fits him better than my Amerigo sadly.
I’ll talk with his owner this weekend, and keep you posted! 
[QUOTE=DoubleDown;8889883]
I’ll talk with his owner this weekend, and keep you posted! :)[/QUOTE]
Good luck! :encouragement:
Ditto above. Good luck!!
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;8889352]
I’m 5’5" and my pony is 14.2.
It sounds like you really like him and have fun with him so go for it! You don’t look too big![/QUOTE]
Beautiful picture!
Agree that you are not too big. My horse is a hair under 15.3hh and I am 5’7" but with a long torso, long thigh and short calf- which makes me look taller than I am when mounted. If anything, it’s been good for me because it encourages good posture- can’t get ahead on a short-necked horse when you have a long torso 
I love the smaller ones, I find them quicker and cattier. 16.1 really isn’t that small, especially if he grows/fills out a bit more.
We have such hang ups. My rider is a man. 6’3 or so? Athletic rather than slim build. His best mare was a pretty refined 16.1 and he successfully developed her from a four year old to doing 1.50s before selling her. His most recent favorites have all been mares in the 15.3 range. Why on earth do you think you are too big for this horse? You’re an eventer. Eventers are supposed to be more evolved 
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