How big is too big?

[Laura855]

I found a very nice horse online that is only a few hours from me and seems to have everything I have been looking for: great brain, no spook, super easy, nice mover, good form over fences, WB geld. Now for the bad.......he's 17.2 at 4 yrs old. In the video he looked very balanced and elegent, but he did look to have a fairly large barrel and frame. I thought he looked like a nice eq prospect. I told my trainer about him, showed her the video, and she said he looked very nice and we should go try him. Then I told her how big he was and she didn't think he would be ideal for me. I am 5'5" with not so long legs. She is worried that he is still young and may grow, and I do not need an 18 hand horse, no matter how sweet and easy.

So what do you think? Is that too big? I would be showing in the adult hunters and eq/medals. Would I look rediculous? Should I forget about the horse even though everything else looks like a good match?

[RockinHorse]

If everything about the horse but the size sounds good, I would go see him. After all, most horses aren't nearly as large as they are advertised to be ;)

[actcasual]

Go try him.
There's more to a good fit than height.
I'm shorter than you are and my fulltime horse for years was taller than the one you're looking at. He was a lovely animal, we did well enough, but I never found a comfortable place to sit!
I spent significant time showing a 17.2 DWB and a 17.1 draft cross. On both of them, I felt very secure and had a good place to put my leg. I've also felt super on 15 hand TBs and round little ponies.

[Seriously_Hunter]

I agree with going to try him. Whats the worst thats going to happen.. you feel ridiculous? At least then you'll know. Like someone else said, most horses are advertised as bigger than they actually are! : )
Give him a go... he could be "the man" of your dreams!!! ;)

[Rhyadawn]

Try him. It can't hurt.

I find a horse is too big for me if I can't get on from the ground. See what you think when you see him.

[caevent]

Some really big horses ride very light and soft, some small horses ride very heavy and strong. Depends.

The reason I'm wary of the big tall guys is more about soundness: that's an awful lot of wear and tear going on those legs and feet.

[Laurierace]

I had two 16.1 horses. One wore a 46 inch girth and was totally slab sided, I felt like I needed roller skates when I rode him. One wears a 54 inch girth and a 84 inch blanket. He takes up my leg perfectly. If I had just ridden the first horse I might have declared 16.1 hand horses to be too small for me.
To complicate matters even more, my daughter had a very stocky 14.1 quarter pony who fit my leg perfectly with his stocky barrell as well. Its all in the individual, not the measurement.

[amastrike]

A 17.2hh 4 year old over fences? Might not be too tall, but I'd pass on that alone.

[tidy rabbit]

A 17.2hh 4 year old over fences? Might not be too tall, but I'd pass on that alone.

Oh Bother. :rolleyes:

[IsolaBella09]

If the horse is perfect in every other way, his height shouldn't matter. Some of the best riders were matchsticks on their massive grand prix horses (think Margie Engle, Nona Garson, Laura Chapot). If his gaits are too big for you to ride comfortably to, then I would pass. I'm 5'6" and I've always preferred something over 16.2. However, my current horse is 16hh on a good day, and it doesn't bother me, because he gets his job done beautifully. Height should not be a massive factor in purchasing, unless it really bothers you.

[Quin]

I find a horse is too big for me if I can't get on from the ground.

Some of us can't ground mount ponies............:D. If you can get on using a standard mounting block, you're fine. If you need a stepladder, not so good.

Seriously, go look. You're basing this on an on-line ad. Trueism: it's the Internet - people lie. Maybe about the height, maybe about the quietness, maybe about something else. The only way to know for sure is to go look.

[nightsong]

Be aware that it is EXTREMELY COMMON for people to overstate height in ads. Extremely common.

[AnnaCrew]

We have Hannoverian mare, and she is tall - 17.3 h. Her gaits are beautiful and she is dream to ride. But! For that size is very important to be sure that foal was getting all needed so check out how the breeder is - ask many many questions what this horse got as a foal foodwise - it is a lot of tear and wear at that size for legs as somebody already pointed so that's the first thing - to feed such a foal right.
Second - jumping at 4 yo? Ask when he started to jump andwhat heights - if too early too high, I would pass if you are looking for serious quality, not only hobby horse. They CAN jump, but then at 7-10 yo they are done, legs/back usually already not sound for a serious job. Believe me, I have 2 of such mares in my barn now - 7 years only and legs allready ruined.
Smaller horses can start low jumping at 3-4, but for that size even 5 would not be enough time to mature and establish for jumping. IMHO, I'm far from expert, but these things would be important for me, not size as it is.

[TrakGeorge]

I use to ride an almost 17 h horse. He was HUGE for me (5'2) when I stood next to him. Once on him, I would almost forget how tall he really was until I had to get off him.

So go look, there is no harm in that.

[FindersKeepers]

Go try him!! He might be everything you could ever want. The only way you will know if size is an issue is if you sit on his back, and see how it goes.

I am 5'4" and ride a 17h tb. We fit each other really well. A young girl at our barn also just sold her 18h WB gelding, and she was only a couple inches taller than me.

Plus, as mentioned, most ads lie about their height. Unless they show a picture of him standing politely and quiet next to a stick... don't believe it til you see it.

[Raquel]

A 17.2hh 4 year old over fences? Might not be too tall, but I'd pass on that alone.


Why??? It depends on the height the horse has been jumping, 2' is not going to harm a four year old.:cool:

[scotchie]

WE have an A/O rider in our area who is 5' on a good day her last two 3'6" horses have been 17.2 and she has won EVERYTHING. Size is realative. If you are a good rider it will be fine. IF you are a leery rider the step size and jump might make you a little uncomfortable.

WHen I bought my guy, Magee, I was told he was 16.2. WHen someone saw him for the first time at my barn they said NO WAY when I said 16.2 So I sticked him-17.1! He had just turned four. He is now 17.2 (turning 6 this summer). There is a photo of him on this page (post 74) on The Outside Course:
http://s8.zetaboards.com/The_Outside_Course/topic/8043948/5/

Go for it- and have a blast- the big guys are fun!:D

[pharmgirl]

To me, too big is something you don't feel comfortable on. I say go try.

FWIW, my part draft boy was 17.2 at four years old. He's now 6 1/2 and he's still 17.2.

[Huntertwo]

I'd go try him. You really don't how you two will fit until you actually try him out.

Same with small horses. My pony is 13.1 which sounds very small. I'm 5'4.
But she is built stoutly and we fit each other nicely.
If I didn't go in person to try her, I would have missed out on a great little riding companion.

[Laura855]

You bring up some good points. Soundness is a concern, that's what my trainer brought up, more so than the fact that I am smaller. We had a horse in the barn that was 18+ and he never stayed sound while in regular work, his feet just didn't hold up. He stays sound doing flatwork and trail riding though.

The horse I was looking at is an import so I don't know how he was raised. The ad I saw said he was 17 hands. When I contacted the seller, she said he is actually 17.2+, so I think he is that big in this case. He has only been jumped under saddle a few times, very low, but he has been free jumped some. I also found him advertised on another website for a different farm in another state. It shows him as a 3 yr old, 17.2 hands, and free jumps in good form. Hmmmmm...........

[yellowbritches]

Some really big horses ride very light and soft, some small horses ride very heavy and strong. Depends.

The reason I'm wary of the big tall guys is more about soundness: that's an awful lot of wear and tear going on those legs and feet.
Agree. I tend to stay away from big ones because they are just big and hard on their bodies. However, I am an event rider (as is caevent, right?), and event horses take a whole lot more wear and tear than your average show hunter. In fact a big one we had who was not holding up to the galloping needed to compete at the upper levels of eventing, is proving to hold up very well to the demands of a (very good) Big Eq horse. He can dumdiddedum around 3'6" to 4' all day long and never take a bad step.

I have ridden big horses and don't mind them, but I always feel way more at home on a smaller horse. That's just my preference, though.

[Jazzy Lady]

I'm 5'-4" and my horse is 17h. He's 17.2 when you stick him because he's scared of the stick and grows. LOL. So you never really know. Maybe he isn't as big as they say. Maybe it's a guestimate.

Go take a look. There's no harm in trying. I wasn't looking for my guy, I was looking for something 16.1-16.2 but he fell on my lap and I luff him.

[Karma]

Also remember that with bigger horses often comes the need for bigger stuff, hence more expense. My guy is 17.2 and needs oversize everything. You might even need a bigger trailer. All things to consider, because it's a pain not being able to buy stuff "off the shelf".

[Lady Counselor]

Some good points here. However, I would say try him. I've ridden 16H horses who just felt huge and 17H ones who didn't once you were on them. It really is the way they carry themselves and travel, along with how wide they are. A huge-gaited bouncy thing always feels enormous to me, no matter what the actual height is.
The biggest downside for me was mounting from the ground. I do like my 14.3 to 15.3 horses better. Especially as you get older and your joints stiffer. :lol:

[eventerdrew]

personally, I know what you are going through.

I'm 5'3 and have a 17hh Warmblood mare (3/4 Tb 1/4 Shire) and people think she's too big for me until they see me ride her. We get along marvelously. And yes, there are things that I can't do on her like i normally would on a horse i can get my leg around, but we manage just fine.

Go look at him. It's worth a try!

[Ambrey]

So funny, around my barn big horses are the norm, even for small people!

I don't think 17.2hh is too big for anyone, unless you aren't comfortable on him!

[Stacie]

Be prepared for people to dis him just because of his size. Some people just have no use for big horses, no matter how talented :-(
So, if you have a thin skin, and don't want to have to defend your choice, think twice about it. On the other hand, if you are confident and don't give a rat's a** what anyone thinks, go check him out. Personally I loff the big horses but anytime something goes wrong with one of my big guys, I have someone wanting to blame it on their size. It's really tiresome and obnoxious.

[Raquel]

I have a big horse (Hanoverian) and he hasn't been dissed yet, in fact most people are quite taken with his looks and performance.
As far as soundness goes, he's well proportioned and has excellent conformation.
I've owned several smaller horses, who have had soundness problems.
I feel it's conformation, genetics and what you do with the horse that determines soundness issues.;)

[cloudyandcallie]

Be aware that it is EXTREMELY COMMON for people to overstate height in ads. Extremely common.

Right. Just remember though, if he is a WB he's going to grow.

[Laura855]

That's what I am wondering..........how likely is it that he will grow? This horse also has a large barrel, not narrow at all. I am comfortable on a big horse, actually prefer a longer stride to get the lines easily. The two big young horses that have been at my barn did continue to grow and were over 18 hands at 5. There is a sweet Fuerst Gotthard baby at my barn that is coming 5 and already 18 hands. He is much leggier and smaller through the girth than this horse. Really that was my trainer's only reservation.....that he may grow and already looked a bit heavy to her.

Thanks for all the input. I will have to give it some more thought.