When are they simply TOO big???

[quietann]

Well, for me personally anything over 16 hands is too big. But that’s just my preference.

As someone else said, one of the problems with these “monsters” is that they often require special or customized equipment. I knew someone with an 18.2 hand WB and they had to buy a special trailer high enough and long enough for him, get a custom bridle, and had a terrible time finding blankets, boots, and other accessories for him. When leading him out of his stall, people had to be sure to get him to duck his head, or he’d hit it on the door frame, and his withers were just a couple of inches below the door frame. He was never a happy horse (unlike the one in the OP), especially under saddle where he was very clumsy, and it turned out that he had an enlarged heart (possibly related to being so huge), and had to be retired before age 10.

OTOH there was a 17.2-17.3 jumper in my current barn for a while, who’d been a successful GP show jumper. He also really knew how to take care of his rider, and was a sweet older guy.

[red_mares]

The half brother of my mare is over 18 hands. He is kind of too big. They were showing him in harness, I think just so they didn’t have to get on him. My mare is 17.2ish. Showing ASBs, a big horse is nice because they stand out in a crowd, however, they have a tendency to be a bit less coordinated than their smaller counterparts. (Mine is) Since most shows are now inside cavernous equestian facilities, with a solid white wall nearly5’ tall, a 15 or 15.2 horse looks a lot smaller than he really is. Outside, next to a relatively low, open fence, 15-15.2 looks a lot bigger.

The scary thing is this 18+ monster was orphaned around 3 months old. I hate to think how big he’d be if he had a good start.

[SidesaddleRider]

I hunted an 18.2 hh WB a few times, and he was SO LOVELY. It was a pain to get the saddle on – I felt like a needed a ladder! – but other than that (and finding tack, blankets, and trailer big enough for him) he was wonderful. For the right horse (not too heavy/clunky) I wouldn’t hesitate to have one over 18 hh.

[dilligaff2]

I’m having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that somebody would buy such a horse hoping that somebody was lying about the height.

[Rhyadawn]

[QUOTE=dilligaff2;5933552]
I’m having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that somebody would buy such a horse hoping that somebody was lying about the height.[/QUOTE]

I do find that a little funny :lol:

[Tasker]

Me three! :sigh:

We recently had a sale/return/refund situation from a customer who bought a horse without coming to see him in person. He is every inch of 16.3 (at the wither and higher behind since he’s still growing). She thought we were false advertising somehow and he was really only 16 hands or thereabouts. :sigh: When the shipper came to get him, he was shocked and worried that the horse wouldn’t fit in the trailer.

I’ve known a horse that was a genuine 18.2 and have heard of a 19.1 hander that is in the area. Both of those are/were way past my desire for XL size.

Our current ‘biggest’ fits in our mare barn front aisle only. It is a converted cow barn and has a low ceiling. Liam is good about keeping his head down, so he fits. Just. The stallion barn has a high ceiling, so that has been his home since he came in from the raising bachelor pasture as a 3 year old. But he fits just fine in our Jamco - it’s not XH or XW.

[akrogirl]

Sure, it wasn’t easy finding a trailer big enough, and 60" girths can be tough to find, but I wouldn’t part with my 18 hands plus girl for anything. She is a wonderful mover and an absolute sweetheart.

[Backstage]

@Tasker;5933275

Not to single you out realrush - but I call this BS as I don’t believe this statement in any way shape or form. Sorry. :no:

This man in these photos is 6’4" and the horses range from 15.0-16.3. While it may not be the perfect image on the smaller ones - he does just fine both as a trainer and competitor. As a rider, it’s his job (and he’s a pro) to fold up and not interfere with the horses’ way of going.

I’m not really sure that is a fair. Certainly a pro needs to learn how to not interfere with a horse he or she is being paid to ride. But when it comes to an individual’s personal horse(s), I don’t think its BS for someone is genuinely tall to feel that a larger horse is required. Sure, in theory we should all learn to compensate for our physical attributes but we don’t all live in an ideal world!

I’m not tall so I don’t have this particular issue but a friend is. She has ridden smaller horses and done well but she feels must better and more confident on a size appropriate mount. Her mistakes are not magnified and while she still aims to ride well and improve, she doesn’t worry about it the way that she did when riding smaller horses.

[Tasker]

Point taken Backstage! My apologies to RR!

There are certainly exceptions to the rule - we have had clients come and make 17+ hands look too small. It’s all about proportions sometimes!

However, the super tall Europeans aren’t riding 20 hands beasts. Even with their super long legs and torsos somehow they make it work on 16.1 or 2. Same with tall eventers - Boyd, Ryan, etc.

[Backstage]

[QUOTE=Tasker;5933801]
Point taken Backstage! My apologies to RR!

There are certainly exceptions to the rule - we have had clients come and make 17+ hands look too small. It’s all about proportions sometimes!

However, the super tall Europeans aren’t riding 20 hands beasts. Even with their super long legs and torsos somehow they make it work on 16.1 or 2. Same with tall eventers - Boyd, Ryan, etc.[/QUOTE]

You can’t exactly be picky when it comes to the top international levels. You need to find a horse that can do the job. Plus we are talking about professional riders - people who spend all day, every day riding and honing their craft.

But for a small-time pro or amateur who wants to buy a horse to enjoy (as opposed to one they are paid to ride or a free ride they pick up), I can completely understand why they would want something that FEELS size appropriate. And that may not mean a mammoth horse either depending on barrel size. I’d pick the 15.2 horse with a good barrel over the 16.1 slab-sided horse any day. I like that feel. I know others who are of smaller frame who prefer the ones I find too narrow.

[Tasker]

Ummm, Backstage - I posted the same thing about size/barrel shape #12 on this thread. With photos. That’s why I called RR out for ‘having to have’ bigger at 6’ with the second post & photos with Ryan on the various sizes.

But semi-pros, amateurs, etc should take a page out of the notebook of professionals like Boyd, Ryan, Edward Gal - those guys might be getting paid to ride shorter horses but they do seem to prefer to ride the horse with the talent to perform at their chosen level vs. the ideal image height.

Often times the height of the horse has very little to do with the power/length of stride/talent…just sayin’.

[Bravestrom]

she was just here picking up some hayfeeders and told me about the horse - then emailed me - knowing that I have big sons that are fond of big horses - too bad he isn’t a mare.

Hope they find him a good home. He may not grow that much more - my gelding has been 17.2 since he as three.

I have a filly that is a yearling and is 16.2 already - all legs

[madamlb]

I’m 5’3’’ and not very heavy with it and my baby horse will probably end up close to 16.3hh I worry this is too big for me … my ideal height really is ‘hony’, about 15.1hh and I had a german riding pony breeder try to convince me just the other day that my future, as a small and slight girl, should definitely lie in pony dressage. I do like the idea of just riding the little ones, but I think I’m stuck with warmbloods for a while yet.

Anything over 17hh is not something I would even want to contemplate, I would worry about soundness and … usefulness with a lot of super big horses. I wouldn’t find it too easy to collect 18+hh, though I suppose if you were 6’6’’ it might be a different story …

[Backstage]

[QUOTE=Tasker;5933828]
Ummm, Backstage - I posted the same thing about size/barrel shape #12 on this thread. With photos. That’s why I called RR out for ‘having to have’ bigger at 6’ with the second post & photos with Ryan on the various sizes.

But semi-pros, amateurs, etc should take a page out of the notebook of professionals like Boyd, Ryan, Edward Gal - those guys might be getting paid to ride shorter horses but they do seem to prefer to ride the horse with the talent to perform at their chosen level vs. the ideal image height.

Often times the height of the horse has very little to do with the power/length of stride/talent…just sayin’. :)[/QUOTE]

All things within reason. While the size of a barrel (and length of neck) can vary somewhat and a taller rider can still feel comfortable, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t say that the 15.0 large barreled horse rides just as well for the average tall person as a good sized 17hh horse. Hence your comment about the need for riders, particularly pros, to learn to compensate for that extra tall upper body. But if you are an amateur or even a pro, I think its completely reasonable to spend your hard earned money on buying and feeding a horse that you feel comfortable on. And for a tall rider, that may mean a big horse.

And while it would be really lovely if I could ride like Boyd Martin or Edward Gal…I can tell you that wouldn’t happen even if I didn’t have fun things like a more than full time job and limited funds that get in the way.

That said, yes…riders should strive to improve. But I think, as an ammy, its perfectly alright to figure out what type of ride suits you well (both physically and mentally) and seek out that ride. I like something with a good sized barrel, prioritize a nice neck that is naturally a bit higher set, and that is a bit more of a push ride. If I was buying something for myself, that is what I would seek out. And I have sufficient experience to KNOW that those are my preferences and the sort of horse that I feel more comfortable on. I think I would really find it irritating if people continually told me that I should just learn to appreciate the really hot ones or adjust to the slab side. I’m aware that I could, and I might for the right horse, but I’m also prefer being upfront and realistic about my riding quirks.

I feel that a lot of tall people who have given some thought to the type they prefer get a lot of flack. These actually aren’t even the people that refuse to look at anything smaller than 17hh, but they tend to be buyers who ask the seller about true height and genuine barrel size and often end up getting the run around and/or end up being subjected to all the reasons why they could ride a smaller horse. As if a tall person has never considered that!

And to be clear, I don’t think I have EVER suggested or inferred that smaller horses are inferior or that you need a certain size horse to get the right stride/power, etc. One of the most fun and athletic horses I know is under 16hh.

[Tasker]

Agree 100% Backstage. I’m not going to try to discuss this further. You are far more eloquent than I will ever be.

OP - good luck to the auction buyer. I hope they find a good resolution to their wrong sized equine.

[rodawn]

As someone else pointed out, he may or may not grow much more. The genetics determine what his final height is, and at what point he eventually gets there.

I have a mare who is 17.3, but she is not a big 17.3. I have another mare who is a BIG 17.2 hand girl. I, personally, feel the most comfortable on something around 16 hands with a decent rib cage because I’m not long-legged or long in the torso.

This horse will find someone. Some people love really tall. Actually, I might know someone who could be interested. Will check and, if so, I’ll PM you.

[starrunner]

I am six foot.

I really don’t like riding anything very tall ie over about 16.1 or 16.2.

The biggest I have ridden is an 18 hander and it felt ridiculous. Tall, narrow, and awkward. I’d rather have a wide, stocky, quick, and catty 15 hander any day.

But I realize there is personal preference and I’m OK with people that want taller horses and have no issues with them buying and better yet, feeding such large equines.

I do think it is silly that I’ve met so many 5’5" women that insist that they need a 17 hand horse to take up their height when perhaps they need one that takes up a little more leg and is wider than a bedpost. But to each, their own.

[TrueColours]

Was this the last auction they had? If it was, he was a very nice gelding, but yea… not a lot of people bidding on him because he was HUGE!!

Yes - it was the last auction they held …

Interesting points being raised on both sides for sure! And yeah - I hope he finds a fabulous new home with someone who KNOWS he is 18hh+! :lol: Really and truly!

[Laurierace]

When I was looking for a horse seven years ago I wanted something big enough to fit me at 5’9" and safe enough for my then 9 year old daughter. I actually found a horse that fit that profile perfectly but he was just a little too big. Not so much in size as in stride. He had an incredible, massive trot that seemed to have like a second hang time. I could ride him ok but that huge trot sent my daughter flying all over the place.

[Dressage_Diva333]

Like mentioned previously, I think it SO MUCH depends on the individual horse. All summer I was riding an 18-18.1 hand Hanoverian gelding. He wasn’t a huge mover… he could be hard to “keep together” at times in terms of keeping him engaged and working over his back. He never felt his size though really. He had a good barrel, not too narrow, not too wide. Really quite a nice ride actually. He had good legs, and was barefoot. I’ve seen other large horses that are an absolute disaster though. It just really depends on the horse. Would I purposely go out looking for that size? No… but would I turn down a horse of that size that fit all of my other requirements? Of course not.