I love your photo with the ribbons. Just pretty and happy all around. It looks like it was a fun day.
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Well, an 84 Rambo fits him pretty well front to back, but kind of looks like a mini skirt length wise! I think 86 would be the right size for him- last winter he was a bit underweight/under muscled so the 84 worked fine (he’s in an 84 in the picture).
I did have to order him a custom show cooler in a 90 ( 
) because I wanted it to drape nicely even with tack/me in the saddle. I tried a bunch of brands’ XL size with no luck
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I wouldn’t have guessed he was an 84. I had a 16.2 fellow who wore an 84 very comfortably! They get hard to clothe when they are too big- both acquiring the clothes and putting them on without a ladder…
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This - never rode this horse as a hunter, but my former jumper lease (previously Marilyn Little’s 3* eventer) could and would often leave one out at 3’3 and below (peanuts to him even at 18). Rode him in a rubber snaffle but occasionally rode with a second rein for a gag if I didn’t want to take a rocket into space.
I like forward, I want to be dragged to the fence, but I don’t want to be constantly fighting the leave one out with the combination of forward + massive stride.
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They have quite a negative reputation. I suspect OP dodged a bullet.
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OP, looking at the video I do not think this horse can move the way you need to compete him successfully in 3ft Hunters.
He has no length of stride, so he can’t lengthen when you need him too. He barely is able to get his hind foot into front hoofprint walking and trotting. He appears to have physical issues, straight shoulder, short neck, which affects how he looks in motion.
He appears VERY kindly, which can often make up for shortcomings in conformation if you just want an enjoyable horse, not a competitive horse.
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My best horse ever was 15.2 (with shoes on) and had a massive stride! I did the 3ft6 hunters and 1.15m jumpers on her with no issues and won a lot…. She was catty and nimble and could turn on a dime and then lengthen fast …. I miss her so much! Small horses with big hearts for us smaller riders are with their weight in gold!
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we found out that daughter’s 15.2 could jump after repeatedly finding him the paddock with another horse. I thought daughter was putting him there, she thought I was then we saw him clear the 54 inch fence with ease
So she started Eventing him
this is him going over a 4’6" improvised jump set up
on course he never refused a jump
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Love him. Nobody has said shorter horses cant do it. Just that OP specifically asked about a smaller horse in the 3’ Hunters where style is judged, not willingness or athletic ability. And we don’t know what level shows shes aiming at.
Okay, take my very unexperienced advice with a grain of salt. A couple years ago, on a whim, I entered my 15.2 hand barrel horse in two 2’6" - 2’9" hunter courses, and flatwork. He’d NEVER done a hunter/jumper course before. He’s a beefy quarter horse. Not at all what I would consider a horse that looks like they might be a good jumper. And he walked away with grand champion in his division, much to my surprise. Never even touched a rail and jumped higher than he needed to on most of them. Coupled with inexperienced me on his back making rookie mistakes. Let’s just say I learned he loves to jump!
So heck. If he can do it, I think about any horse can be trained to manage 3 feet no problem.
But again, take my inexperienced words for what they are worth.
EDITED to fix some wording, as I entered my horse in a Hunter Class (not jumpers)
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But the OP wants to do hunters, which is very different from jumpers.
I agree that most horses can manage to get around a 2’6" course, and some of those may even be able to do a 3 foot course, though that is significantly tougher. But very few of them will be competitive in 3 ft. hunters.
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Breed shows and open rated shows are two very different ballparks. Not that a Morgan/Paint/Arabian can’t be competitive on the open circuit, but what makes a top breed show hunter is rarely what makes a top USHJA hunter. I realize, though, that we are probably talking lower levels here and as such there will be much more crossover.
Our top 10 (even national champion years in a row) Arab and Half Arab hunters were relegated to the pony ring or beginner rings at C/B hunter shows. They just couldn’t hit the horse step and not look like they were flying, and most judges want a little less of a gallop for the 3’
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yes I understand, but small horses can be very successful and OP is in a specific narrow market for a specific horse
I am not saying our 15,2 is the type they need however we never bought a horse for specific task rather we adjusted our use to the horse’s ability
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She wants to do local (rated?) shows. She isn’t trying to win Adult Hunter finals at indoors.
I know it’s a moot point now that OP has passed on the horse, but I think it’s a bit absurd to say very few smaller horses will be competitive 3ft hunters as a blanket statement, without regard for the level of competition (which OP was clear about). I’ve shown on a few local circuits of varying levels of competitiveness and there are many, many smaller horses who are very successful.
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The horse OP was looking at had way more knocks against his potential as a hunter than being 15.2. Stride and style count a lot more than size! I bet there are plenty of little QH honies at local shows and state fairs that would drop OP’s prospective warmblood cross way out of the ribbons… not to say that horse didn’t look sweet, but more as an eventer. Not all wb’s make good hunters, and plenty of tiny off-breeds can have the style and consistency to clean up in smaller shows.
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I can see that the OP has passed on this particular horse, so it’s a non-issue.
I can really only think of one thing to add to this thread, and that’s what can you afford to compromise on?
If your budget has to give someplace, especially in this crazy market, and you can find one that’s smaller but has the step for the 3’ (even if it’s going to be a bit more forward of a canter) and you can look OK on something smaller, that may be a good place to find some budget.
That said, there are other ways to find budget, especially if you only want to show locally. There are some breeds other than WBs that have a smaller price tag, or you could get something a bit on the older side.
I’m someone who rolled the dice on a smaller mare and have been with several trainers now who all think she does indeed have the step. So it is possible to find them!
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