I feel like this has a lot to do with the popular mentality right now that if you’re 5’6’’ you need a horse that is at least 17h…
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Here’s the thing, in this market, if you found a nice horse that fits your budget and you think you’d have fun on, and you’re mostly doing local shows, who cares if you do an add or two? That’s a hard thing to find these days.
There’s no reason he can’t at 15.2 or 16.2 or 17.2. And if he can’t do it and you like everything else……scoop him up! I’m my area if you get all the leads, a nice rhythm and 8 nice distances at 3’ you’ll clean up even if you get an add.
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As others have said, it’s not the height so much as the stride.
Pretty much any horse can jump a 3’ jump - it’s whether they can jump a 3’ combination (where striding is more of an issue). Even so, most horses (and many large ponies) are perfectly capable of doing this, so if all the boxes are otherwised ticked, buy him and bring him along slowly so he’s willing and confident.
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I’ve seen your photos before. Love them. Such a cute, brave girl. I’m sure you had fun with her!
I really don’t have too much to add as everyone has some great points. I showed a 15.3h TB who made the lines if I woke him up (and has even left some out - yikes!. I have added and have left out with him so he was very adjustable). It really does matter on that canter if they pitter patter or have that short peppe la peu stride (I’ve ridden a few of these and they just can’t lengthen. They can go quicker with that choppy stride, but not lengthen from the shoulder). If they have a flatter canter and can lengthen well, they would have no problem at all.
I’m also 5’2" and I just purposely bred a “honey” (14h pony x 17h warmblood) that I’m praying will end up around 15.2-15.3h (he will be what he will be though) and plan on doing the 3’ to 3’6" hunters so I sure hope this size doesn’t have an issue with striding 
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We have a large pony (top of the line) who could make the horse stride (smaller rated) look easy, and a small horse (15.1 and change) who looked like he was sprinting down the lines in a 2’6 class. Really have to watch how they move.
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Thanks for your insight! I just added video to my post. I am new to this so it’s hard for me to tell and my trainer is ill right now so I can’t be in as much contact with him as I’d like!
Others will have much better advice than I would about the movement of the horse, but one thing to consider is that in the event that he was not able to comfortably and safely do the three ft. with your riding style/ability, you could do him in the 2.6, which might be just as fun, just an idea. I often see on here the idea that “most horses and ponies can jump 3ft,” but there is a lot of difference between one that can do it nicely to be reasonably competitive and/or safe in the hunters, local, regional, and one that can barely do it and who is frightening to watch, cannot or will not bail out the rider for lack of scope, both of these possibilities depending, again, on the ability of the rider to get the horse to a good or at least a decent distance.
Just a note about local circuits: I think they vary widely depending on region and organization. In my current area, there is a very competitive local circuit that mixes unrated, B rated and a couple A rated shows with very good prize money. Many of the AA circuit barns also go to these B and A shows, sometimes to practice and get points, other times because there is very good competition. Where I grew up in the PNW, it is not like this at all, there is no local “circuit,” just a few shows here and there.
He is absolutely adorable and looks very good-natured.
When you say you are “new” to this, what do you mean? What level of jumping/showing are you doing now?
Hopefully there is a way for your trainer to see you ride him before you make a decision?
My 3’ hunter was a hair shy of 15.1. Oh, and he was 3/4 Arab. 
He was very competitive locally (in good company) in the Adult Amateurs, where the lines were set on a true 12’ stride. At rated shows, though, where the 3’ is often set on a longer step, we would drop back down to the 2’6". While he had plenty of step to get the job done, he needed me to be very, very accurate to get him comfortably to a 3’ oxer at the end of a line set on a 12’6" stride, and, well…I was NOT generally that accurate. Lol.
We did need to carry a bit of pace around our courses, but judges LOVED him. Probably because he looked and jumped like an overgrown pony and always carried his ears up and a cheerful expression. Plus, he generally put a lot more effort into jumping at 2’6"-3’ than his 16.2+ hand competitors, which actually gave us a bit of an advantage as far as form in the air went.
For local showing, a smaller horse can absolutely be competitive in the 3’ ring. At Devon, WEF, etc.? Probably not unless it’s a superstar of a horse, but it doesn’t sound like OP has those kinds of aspirations.
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I just watched the video. He looks cute, stride isn’t that small, and probably will get more sweeping once he relaxes through his neck and back. Seems incredibly kind. I would not assume he would grow.
But I would read some of the google reviews that pop up when you google that seller’s name before I considered looking at a horse there. 
ETA: One review mentioned a COTH thread about the barn, found here: Becky Peckham Accord - Apple Creek Farm - Massachusetts
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Just new to horse buying! I had a pony for almost 10 years that took me up to 2’9”, he had no jumping experience before me! I was ready to move up to the 3ft but he didn’t have the scope for that. My friend found me an ottb mare to retrain and get to the 3ft but we had to stop at 2’6” as she had kissing spine and I retired her. So I’m ready for the 3ft in my riding ability but just haven’t had the horse for it! I am also much more on my own in looking this time since my trainer is ill and he can’t travel with me right now. So looking for things like scope, confirmation, and stride is newer to me
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Thank you so much for making me aware of this!!
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As you know, ability is not about what height of jumps you can jump, but how consistently you can guide a horse around a course safely, confidently, and comfortably for your horse. There are not many children or adults that can ride a 3ft hunter course very accurately, even at very big shows. I count myself among those who rarely can!
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I had a really bad experience with Apple Creek Farm. I am sure some of the horses they sell are fine, but a lot of what they say is a flat out lie. Happy to discuss my experience if helpful.
OP have you seen and tried this horse in person?
He is very cute and appears kind and willing. He would not be my first choice for a hunter prospect however. His head carriage and hollow back make me think he was bred for a different job. I highly doubt there’s any warmblood in his background, but I’m speculating based entirely on the video. I also have a strong bias against any horse being marketed as a hunter where the seller’s rider has a death grip on the reins and you never see the horse moving freely without being forced into some sort of “frame”. Drop the reins and see how he really moves.
How competitive is your target show circuit? It’s quite possible that a less traditional hunter would do just fine if he’s got a cute front end and a lead change, which this horse does. Train him up, find the jumps, and you could have a very nice local horse if he’s sound and genuinely has a good mind.
I would not disregard the online reviews and comments. Proceed cautiously, especially if your trainer is not well involved in the process.
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I am curious-what breed/s do you think he is?
He reminds me of some draft/saddlebred crosses that I’ve seen sold from Amish farms. Pure speculation.
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I thought he looked like a TB crossed with something heavier - maybe some draft. I feel like that mix is not uncommonly labeled as a “WB cross.”
ETA: Looking at photos on the website, maybe TB with some Dutch Harness Horse?
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He is really cute and he looks kind and willing and fun. But when I watched the video, to me he looks more like an eventer than a hunter.
It also depends on the price and how big of a deal it will be if he doesn’t work out (for whatever reason). You said your trainer is ill, but has he/she seen the video? If your trainer can’t help you, is there another trainer that could look at the horse and help with your decision?
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