Suitable size?

[TatteredDaydreamer]

Looking for some thoughts/advice. I’m vetting a two year old today who is lovey and everything I want in my next partner. My only concern is how big he will get. We expect him to grow to 16.1+, full brother is 17hh but this one is smaller at this point. He has a lot of body and looks like he will really take up a lot of leg. I’m 5’8 and currently heavier then I’d like to be and am mostly leg. I’m worried that I will look too big on him when he’s ready to be started. Has anyone had a smaller (15.2) two year old that ended up being larger then expected?

I know the trend is still towards larger horses but I’d love to hear about smaller successful hunters with riders my size! Thanks!

[OnDeck]

16.1 is not small. Every single small junior hunter is smaller than 16hh I know many people your height and taller who do 15.3 horses without a second thought. As long as you are at or near a moderately healthy weight I do not see any reason to worry whatsoever. Good luck!

[TatteredDaydreamer]

@OnDeck

16.1 is not small. Every single small junior hunter is smaller than 16hh I know many people your height and taller who do 15.3 horses without a second thought. As long as you are at or near a moderately healthy weight I do not see any reason to worry whatsoever. Good luck!

Work in progress, but it’s motivation!

[TatteredDaydreamer]

He vetted very well, no concerns with anything! Super excited to get him home and start getting to know him!

[streamline]

My 3 year old went from 15hh to a solid 15.2.

I’m 5’8 and anywhere from 160-185. I will say sometimes it looks like I’m riding a large pony.

[TatteredDaydreamer]

Thanks for that! I think as this one is a year younger he will very likely make 16hh at least. Crossing my fingers anyway!

[GoodTimes]

That’s exciting!

Between my mom and I we’ve got three horses. I’m sitting here looking at how I look on each horse, and how it’s changed over the years. For reference, I’m 5’6" with a long femur.
Horse #1, purchased as a 4yo. Was quite narrow and stood around 16hh, looked great on him. Now he’s 17, stands about 16.2hh, has a long neck and a big barrel. I actually look small on him now. He’s built very uphill and the rider can sit back/forward/sideways and he trucks on without being thrown off balance.
Horse #2, purchased as a yearling. Grew very slowly. I looked too big on him as a 3yo, feet almost hanging below his belly. He was very gangly. He’s now 11, stands 16.3hh, and my feet sit about 2/3 of the way down his side. Stereotypical big warmblood hunter. I find him difficult to ride in the sense that even though he’s big, he’s very sensitive to the riders balance. If I tip forward a hair (which is easy to do with so much horse in front of you), he gets downhill and pulling very quickly. A properly fitted saddle has made that battle easier to win.
Horse #3, purchased as a weanling. She’s small, I don’t believe she’ll get as big as the other two. Every day of her life she’s been balanced and looks like she can walk into the ring to show on the line. She’s three years old now, and stands about 15.2hh. She might hit 16hh. The sire and dam stood around 15.3/16hh. But, she has a big barrel and big shoulder. She takes up my leg and forces me to sit up since there isn’t as much neck out in front of me. With her more compact size I’m finding her easier to ride than the bigger boys, even though she’s a baby. It’s like driving a sedan instead of a truck and trailer :lol:

[NancyM]

As a two year old (especially 2 plus years old), the string test is very accurate to predict fully grown size. Take a piece of twine, and run it from the point of the elbow to the ergot. Then turn the string, holding it on the point of the elbow, and run it up the horse’s side to and past the withers. How much string extends beyond where the withers currently are is how much growth is left in the horse. The trick is to 1) find the exact point of the elbow, and 2) keep that spot as you make the turn. If the horse currently measures 15.2 and there are 2 inches of string above the withers on the test, the final height of the horse will be 16 hands. If it does not extend above the current level of the withers, his growth is already complete. But the width of the horse will also dictate how much of your leg is taken up by his side, and how you look on him when his growth is finished. If he’s narrow, you will look bigger on him than if he is more stocky built. As far as his size goes with his performance, it’s not the size of the horse that matters so much as the size of his stride and the size of his heart.

[Renn_aissance]

I’m 5’7", built like a brick house, with a 31" inseam. My horse is a compact 15.2 model with an enormous ribcage. His body takes up my leg, and in 15 years no one has ever suggested I look too big on him. My 5’9" willowy sister showed him in the equitation and that was also a fine picture. You may look a little goofy while he’s young and still filling out, but especially if he looks to want to have well-sprung ribs, you’ll be fine once he grows into himself.

@NancyM

As far as his size goes with his performance, it’s not the size of the horse that matters so much as the size of his stride and the size of his heart.

Well said!

[Go_Fish]

Is he a WB? If so, he’ll grow until around 5 years. Looking at his cannon bone, I’d guess at least 16.1 - 16.2. Just because he’s smaller than his full brother now at the same age doesn’t mean a thing. I had a 15 hand 2-year-old that’s 16.3 now. If you’re short waisted and long-legged, it’s the side of the horse that matters, not the height. If he has the stride to make the lines, you’ll be fine.

[Go_Fish]

@TatteredDaydreamer

@Go Fish Yup, he’s a registered Westfalen. Thank you for that! I am absolutely short waisted and long legged! To me, he looks like he will have a lot of body. Almost every horse I’ve seen that comes from this breeder do. He has a huge step and is extremely athletic. 16.1/16.2 would be a perfect size for me! I’ve attached another photo of him that gives a better idea of conformation. The man in the photo is over 6’. Thanks!

From that photo, I’d say you don’t have anything to worry about! Love the set of his neck and his low hocks. Nice and level as a 2 year old is a plus!

[TatteredDaydreamer]

@Go Fish thank you!! I really hope so. He has an amazing brain and is so sweet. I think his a bit of a roman nose just adds character too! Plus he’s a gorgeous mover…he just floats! I really appreciate you taking a look and chiming in.

[SonnysMom]

I got an OTTB as a 5 year old at 15.3 H in March. By the end of that year he was 16.1 H. Three years later he went from a M tree on his dressage saddle to a MW tree as an 8 year old.
Your guy looks nice and solid already.

[ElementFarm]

He’s quite cute!
I would expect him to grow up another 1-2 inches and then chunk out. That being said, I have a 4yo WB gelding that grew until he was 2yo, and then stopped. He’s currently a 15.1hh hony. He’s big bodied though and takes up a lot of leg. I know he’ll have the jump I was looking for, and I’m hoping he has the step.

But, lots of smaller horses are like little sportcars, and don’t feel or ride small. Congrats on your new boy–he’s darling.

[TatteredDaydreamer]

@ElementFarm

He’s quite cute!
I would expect him to grow up another 1-2 inches and then chunk out. That being said, I have a 4yo WB gelding that grew until he was 2yo, and then stopped. He’s currently a 15.1hh hony. He’s big bodied though and takes up a lot of leg. I know he’ll have the jump I was looking for, and I’m hoping he has the step.

But, lots of smaller horses are like little sportcars, and don’t feel or ride small. Congrats on your new boy–he’s darling.

Thank you, I appreciate it! I do know that all of the babies from this breeder grow until at least 5 and are slower to mature. The breeders also don’t purposely feed them to grow quickly to avoid OCD and things of that nature. They also live out 24/7 so as soon as he’s stall kept they also said to expect him to grow faster.

[Jo]

5’8" here and my (now retired) TB is 15.2. I never felt too big on her, but she was not as refined as some TBs can be. I think your concern for size is admirable - some shorties riding 17+ monsters look ridiculous IMHO.

[2bayboys]

@TatteredDaydreamer

@Go Fish thank you!! I really hope so. He has an amazing brain and is so sweet. I think his a bit of a roman nose just adds character too! Plus he’s a gorgeous mover…he just floats! I really appreciate you taking a look and chiming in.

Love love LOVE his Roman nose! ❤️

[TatteredDaydreamer]

@2bayboys Thank you!!!

[jvanrens]

He looks lovely! FWIW I’m 5’8", and my mare in my avatar is about 15.3. I looked fine riding her hunt seat.

This is my current ride, he’s 17 hands. When we finally get decent weather again I’ll try him in my English saddle. First horse I’ve ever ridden that makes me feel short! 😉

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[skydy]

He’s lovely!