Too Tall? (rider)

[fjordmom]

I’m with all the others who say “go for it.” I’m talking from personal experience as well. Our family has had a 14.2 Fjord for 12 years. He started out as my kids’ horse. They both, quite successfully, did 4-H, local h/j shows up to 2’9" (he could have gone higher, but DS went off to college), and high school equestrian team with him. My kids are 5’9" and over 6’, both long legged, so you can see, height was no hindrance.

When the kids flew the nest to college and beyond, the Fjord became my dressage pony. I lost my heart horse, a 16.3 OTTB, in January and have now added a second, 14 H, Fjord as a buddy for the first and am having a blast with both of them. I’m 5’9" with plenty of leg and it’s no problem. Our Fjords are sturdy, sensible, and have a great work ethic. The larger ones aren’t all that easy to find. If you like this guy, I doubt you’ll find size an issue. (If you pass on this one PM me with info, I may be interested in him.) Good luck and enjoy. Welcome to the Fjord fan club and keep us posted.

[Twisting]

Welp, It’s official. I own a Fjord.

Working out all the arrangements to get him shipped to me. He should be here in mid October. (I was checking him out while visiting family, it takes time to get a horse shipped to Hawaii.) His owner is being crazy helpful. She’s offered to haul him to the vets to save me the call fee, twice, once for the coggins and later for the health cert. Heck, she offered to drive him three hours away if that would make it easier for the shipper to pick him up, fortunately it won’t be required.

I am probably going to send her a box of Hawaiian treats to thank her for going out of her way to work with me on the shipping arrangements.

[fjordmom]

Congrats! May you have many fun times together. Fjords are so much fun!

[Carshon]

Can’t wait for pictures!

[Twisting]

He has arrived! Safe and sound and miserable in his Oregon fur coat. I got him bathed and clipped, but I am far from a clipping pro, and it was too hot and sticky out to go over it a second time for beauty’s sake. So yeah… The hair is gone, but Oli looks like he was attacked by a roving pack of wild vacuum cleaners. Pics will have to wait until it grows back a bit.

He is a sweetie, a little pushy on the ground, but more of a distracted not paying attention pushy rather than aggressively rude. Doing a bit of ground work to sharpen him up to respecting my personal space and paying attention to where I am. That head is way too big to be swinging it around willy-nilly.

I am going to work him in the round pen a bit next week, nothing major, just walk trot, transitions, that sort of thing. Give him a chance to figure me out and me a chance to figure him out. I am still feeling some of the residual effects of my confidence destroying former horse, so I’m going to take it slow and easy. It gives him time to adjust to the heat and humidity, and me time to trust that he’s not going to hurt me. The logical part of my brain understands that he’s a good horse, the emotional side just needs to get on board. He was a confidence builder for his last owner, hoping he can be the same for me.

For what it’s worth, my trainer friend admitted she was wrong and he is adorable. She is quite smitten, and being 100% supportive. The woman who picked him up from the docks and brought him to the ranch gave me her card, said if he didn’t work out for me to give her a call and she would take him in a heart beat. He is already gathering a fan club.

[AKB]

How is Oli doing?

[Twisting]

He is doing great. He is definitely a character, little guy has a “pony” steak a mile wide, but is never nasty or scary about his stubbornness. I usually win our arguments and as a result we argue less and less. I’ve taken up posting on the re-riders thread in the Hunter/Jumper section.

I am doing much better as well. I know I can trust him, he’s not done anything crazy so far, even when he has been up and excited. I have actually started to relax and enjoy my rides again.

Oli is starting “boot camp” on 2 Jan. 60 days with a pro, to knock the rest of the rust off. His fitness is coming along nicely, so it’s time. The one battle he has been winning consistently is the canter depart. He doesn’t want to do it under saddle (on the lunge he picks it up off voice commands) and I can’t make him. I want to nip the issue in the bud before he learns more bad habits. I am starting a 60 day fitness kick too, since I will have less saddle time.

[Bogie]

Glad you got him! He sounds adorable.

FWIW, I’m 5’11". I owned a QH for awhile that was maybe 15’3" at the withers and he had tall withers :).

I once said to my dressage trainer, the venerable Max Gahwyler that I thought I was too big for him because my legs hung down so far under his belly. He smiled and told me all the leg I needed was my thigh down to my knee. And then he told me how ridiculous it was to see tiny women riding huge warmbloods!

[Magicboy]

Nice to know the happy ending

[pheasantknoll]

He is beautiful! Good for you!

[Palm_Beach]

Glad you are both happy!

[Diamontaire]

Safe trumps everything, and he is gorgeous!

My favorite Fjord mane clip is the one with the hearts

[Mukluk]

Wow is he ever cute!!! Glad you got him. Many happy trails to you!

[CERT]

Glad to hear it’s working out well. As a fan of chunky ponies (two Haflingers and a Fjord) I can attest that their height fills the leg up way more than your “average” horse of the same height! I have many riders who look far more proportionate on our 14.1hh Fjord than our 15 hh Arab. It also cracks me up to see pictures of the Fjord next to taller horses and notice that her body is bigger than these 16+ hand horses, just with short, chunky legs instead of long skinny ones!

[Trakehner]

Ever seen the cowponies the cowboys rode in the old days and ride now? Not big guys. 5’9" isn’t bad on 14.2…it’s just the last 30 years when you had to have a 17 hand big guy.

I’m 6’2", I have a 13.3 Fjord…I’d love to ride her (she’s a driving pony)…but she’s too small for me. A 5’6" girl rode her and looked just fine, they are not a petite breed. Remember, the vikings rode Fjords into battle…Olaf going to pillage on a very cute pony…there’s a picture.

Don’t listen to your expert…