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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 442
 
| Hi,
I was wondering who all runs short horses or who has competed on them in the past? I am talking about 14h to 15h? How did they seem to do in big pens? And did you have to change your training style when working with them? All my horses have been 16h so this is something new to me! Any input appreciated! |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
 
Location: Montana | Mine I measured just yesterday is 14.3 hh (59 inches with a tape) and she is just being seasoned. I think she does a little better in smaller pens, but she does pretty good in bigger pens too. I haven't really gotten to see what she can do yet as we have about 14 races total under our belt so far. But she is clocking currently betwen 2.5-3 seconds off some local WPRA/NRA horses who clock 15.2 -15.3 indoors, 17.2 outdoors/standard, which I feel is pretty good. I don't know why you would have to change your training style other than possibly because they are shorter, you might have to wait a stride or so longer before you get to the barrel. However, look at Stingray, Sherry Cervi's horse...she can really cut it up!!!
Edited by mtcanchazer 2014-09-14 10:02 PM
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 Member
Posts: 13
| My mare is about 14.2-14.2 but built like a little tank. She tears up little pens and is usually somewhere in the 1D. Bigger pens she sometimes falls in the crack or is at the top of the 2D. I think it has more to do with the conformation and will to run than the height. I love my girl. I've never ran a horse over 15hh. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| Christy Loflin, she just won on a 28 second pattern...for the 3rd time in a row! |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Hot Shot was 14.2 or something like that, Stingray is 14.3, I had a gray horse that was solid 1D anywhere that was 14.1. I actually prefer the shorter horses. Easier to get on and easier to saddle (now that I'm old). It's not the size of the horse, it's the size of the heart in the horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| I think June Holeman bought a short horse, im not sure how short though... |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| They can definetely be competitive. height has nothing to do with it if you ask me. I dont think theres much change in training other than change your drills to be more comparable to their size (pockets and such).
I now run a 16.1 appendix but I ran the little horses for years and they were very tough to beat. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 442
| Thanks everyone for your input! I definitely think confirmation, speed, and heart have a lot to do with it. Very helpful to hear about other peoples horses. My little mare has a lot of heart and go, so hopefully she will make a good one! And i forgot about Christy Loflins horse Movin, if that little mare can win the Pendleton roundup size must not have all to do with it!! |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I think it has more to do with the length of their underline rather than their heigth. The underline is where they get their stride length from (I think).
I have a short horse that is really quick indoors, but she lacks the stride to keep up with the big horses outside. She is alway right at a second off in the big patterns, and 1-2D in the smaller patterns. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | Mine is 14.1 only thing I've noticed is she can't run in deep dirt. I don't know if it's a short horse thing or just hear but the harder the dirt the better she can turn. She LOVES to run and I think she likes the bigger pens better than small.get used to your toes to literally be in the dirt when they turn. Short horses may not have a big stride but that can turn a lot tighter than big tall horses. She has hit barrels and ripped the conchos off my saddle a few times.
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 Veteran
Posts: 135
Location: louisiana | PalominoLuvr2241 - 2014-09-14 9:52 PM
Hi,
I was wondering who all runs short horses or who has competed on them in the past? I am talking about 14h to 15h? How did they seem to do in big pens? And did you have to change your training style when working with them? All my horses have been 16h so this is something new to me! Any input appreciated!
I run one, since I was in high school and he loves out door pens since he can stretch out an run but then also an jam up horse for indoor |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| My first barrel horse was 14.1. We did pretty decent-then I sold him.
He ran 8th in the NBHA Youth World Finals.
Just placed 12th on Friday night at the Best of the Best out of 600+ entries, and ran a 15.541 on Sunday in the open, and last time I talked to his rider she was waiting to hear how she placed, but had she ran in the American Qualifier class she would have qualified with the 15.541 time she ran in open.
Little horses can pack some power too.  |
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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia |
I run two short mares. One is 14.2 and the other is 14.3. The shorter mare is a major drama queen in deep ground. Doesnt want to rate hard and refuses to fire. But then again, she is a drama queen about most things. Very quirky mare. The other one doesnt have her best runs in deep pens, but works and gets through it. Neither of them do great in big pens - but thats mainly because they both have a tendency to get strung out. Dont think that has much to do with being short. I've rode rode bigger horses and I really prefer the "short horse style". You feel every stride, every little movement and you have to be able to stay with them. Big horses are easier to catch up to in my opinion. Little horses will leave you before you even have a chance to look at the next barrel. It's a very fun ride!
Only downfall is they will make you think you won the whole dang race because their little legs move so fast. Dont know how many times I have been stunned by what the clock read LOL. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | clover girl - 2014-09-15 11:24 AM
I think it has more to do with the length of their underline rather than their heigth. The underline is where they get their stride length from (I think).
I have a short horse that is really quick indoors, but she lacks the stride to keep up with the big horses outside. She is alway right at a second off in the big patterns, and 1-2D in the smaller patterns.
She said it perfect, my mare is 14.3 she may make it to 15 hands but just barley, she's 4 now. She has a long underline and can stride out as far as my 15.2 leggy gelding!! She is going to be a jam up horse, already running 1 second off.
![photo 7BFADE9E-1E87-487A-A4CB-40DAAC07BD48.jpg]()
Edited by RnRJack 2014-09-16 12:02 PM
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I love packin sixes!
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Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | Whiteboy - 2014-09-16 12:22 PM
I love packin sixes!
Yes, I bought this one to sell but I fell in love!!!! I have big plans for this filly, never knew much about the packin sixes, I liked streakin six bred horses so I bought her and don't regret it!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| Love smaller horses! They can really wrap a barrel. I ran a mare that was 14.3 and she was winning races. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | im not a fan..i have one and she is 14 nothing..........was told she was taller when i bought her.......must measure different in texas..lol ..........i feel like gigantor on her..i much prefer 15 and above
mine gets buried in the deep ground to........but she doesn't lack try..:)...and she is one heck of a heel horse (to bad i cant hit the side of a barn with a rope..lol)
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 442
| Do you think shorter horses have a harder time in deep ground?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| My 14.3 mare. She could flat out FLY. Probably has something to do with her mile long back too though :) 1st picture is next to a POA (granted she's behind him, but she's still short). Unfortunately, she developed navicular and had to be put down. Miss her all the time!
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 Constantly Dieting
Posts: 5721
Location: Down the Gravel Road near the Missouri River, SD | My little gelding is super fun to run. He was sick of being a heeling and breakaway horse and I decided he needed a new job.. He loves barrels! For a older horse thats barely been run 15 total times away from home, I can send him hard to first and he'll wrap it. My issue was having a saddle that kept my plump hiney in the middle of him or he would have trouble with second and third in big deep pens..He's clocking 1.5 off the good rodeo horses right now since he's figured things out in the big outdoor pens but we haven't been inside for along time so Im not sure how he's going to do. And Im currently on a huge mission to drop weight so I can help him out more. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | I'm 5'10" tall, with a 37" inseam (and a short upper body - genetics were not nice to me) and I run a 14.2 hand horse. I'm tall and athletically built (my nice way of saying I won't make this seasons Top Model) and that horse carrying me can FLAT OUT FLY. He's not stocky he's actually pretty narrow built and that little guy clocks like he's Secretariat with rider mistakes.
He runs in any type of ground, big pens, small pens, you name he gives everything he's got every run. I agree with other posters its certainly not the size of the horse it's the heart of the horse. Mine has a heart and try bigger then his little body. He rides like he's 16 hands and run's like he's on fire.
You have to change your riding style for any horse. They all have their likes and dislikes so whether he's 14 hands or 16 hands it's whether you two can click together that matters.
Hope that helps.
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 Another Barbossa
Posts: 2187
Location: Central Iowa, surrounded by corn! | I ran this little guy for 10 years! His last race was a couple months ago at 22 yrs old! He won the 2D against some pretty tough horses and a pilot error on the first barrel! I decided to retire him after that because he gets pretty stiff after a race and I am not going to drug him to keep running him! He owes me nothing and I want the rest of his days to be content, spoiled, and happy! Oh, and he is 13.3 hands tall with a heart twice that size! Love him!! 
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10D Crack Champion
| dianeguinn - 2014-09-15 12:24 AM Hot Shot was 14.2 or something like that, Stingray is 14.3, I had a gray horse that was solid 1D anywhere that was 14.1. I actually prefer the shorter horses. Easier to get on and easier to saddle (now that I'm old). It's not the size of the horse, it's the size of the heart in the horse.
If I remember right, Kristie Peterson's Bozo wasn't too big either. His size seemed to work for him in all pens.
How tall was Sherry Cervi's horse, Hawk? He didn't look really big. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 232
Location: Wisconsin | heres my mare! Short little thing. Holy power house tho! think shes just BARELY 15 hands...
Heres a video on a large outdoor pattern. Granted she tipped third (overcompensated from a slip, a tip im totally ok with). Her stride is HUGE, so thats a big perk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvePxWtEZ0&list=UUyWYY5tHKwqPWrOb7O... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | With shoes on, it makes my boy right at 15 hands!! He loves both! Big or small it doesnt matter to him, he just loves his job. He is definitely ALL heart! Im also 5'9 so i make him look smaller...ha!
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 Veteran
Posts: 164
| My starter/prospect mare is 14.3h. She is by far quicker than any horse I've ridden in a long time. She has the coolest style of turning...slide & pivot style. She's only been entered into one race and we had some personality issues, haha, but won the 4D anyways. I have NO doubt she will be a 1D horse and hope that she will fill my wpra permit next year :) Oh, and I'm 5'10". Basically, it completely depends on the horse, not the height. Just as everyone else has been saying as well! |
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 Rebel Without a Cause
Posts: 2758
Location: Adopt a homeless pet - www.petfinder.com! | I love my shorties. 15 hands is TALL to me  |
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 Ice Queen
Posts: 1989
Location: Ontario, Canada | I've found that unless they are beating the pants off everyone anywhere....the resale on horses under 15hands is much harder. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 193
Location: USA | My mare is just barely 15 hands but she can literally fly. I can make easy 17.2-17.3s with her without her being pushed and she's a 3D horse. But we're just not clicking in barrels cause I'm more used to free runners and she's a push style. But on poles is a whole different story she's a 23-24 second pole horse which I think is fair due to the fact that she just started them earlier this year. And I only rode her a couple more times after I bred her before she started getting huge! And riding became harder for her. But now she's bred and she's HUGE at 7 months! This will be her first foal and she's bred to a Halter/Race bred appaloosa stud and she's a Two-Eyed Jack / Jackie Bee Bred mare. I'll try uploading a pic of her... |
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Veteran
Posts: 193
Location: USA | Re-try |
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Expert
Posts: 1642
Location: Kansas | I was told a long time ago by a horseman that if big meant fast, a cow could catch a rabbit. It is what is inside them. Heart and ability. Not height. |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | I owned a gelding that was 13.2 when I was in high school. He ran as fast as the big horses. It was rougher to ride him, he didn't have the smooth feel like some larger horses but he was just as fast. some tall horses are just as rough when they run so it is really no different! |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | clover girl - 2014-09-15 9:24 AM I think it has more to do with the length of their underline rather than their heigth. The underline is where they get their stride length from (I think).
I have a short horse that is really quick indoors, but she lacks the stride to keep up with the big horses outside. She is alway right at a second off in the big patterns, and 1-2D in the smaller patterns.
I agree it's their stride which comes from their shoulder and underline. We have a nice 4 year old, maybe 14.2 and he has a HUGE stride, big engine and is super athletic. We'll see what he can do come Dec/Jan.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1355
| clover girl - 2014-09-15 12:24 PM I think it has more to do with the length of their underline rather than their heigth. The underline is where they get their stride length from (I think).
I have a short horse that is really quick indoors, but she lacks the stride to keep up with the big horses outside. She is alway right at a second off in the big patterns, and 1-2D in the smaller patterns.
 Agreed!! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 392
Location: CA | Fire N Ice - 2014-09-18 10:57 AM I've found that unless they are beating the pants off everyone anywhere....the resale on horses under 15hands is much harder.
I am living this right now. I have a nice little mare (14.2) for sale but the majority of interest has been from older ladies and kids who want something that is bombproof and automatic on the pattern. I guess since she is short people assume she is a babysitter? I have turned away almost everyone who contacts me because she is not a babysitter horse. She is a nice horse that will make the right person a kick butt barrel horse. I think most people don't even see her ad if they set the search for 15+ hands. |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| This subject is a bone of contention for me.......lol....my daughter, who is 15 and now stands close to 5'10 has been running a little 14.1 hand mare since she was 10 years old. I always felt she was an extremely talented barrel horse. When we entered HighSchool rodeo I had many people tell me she needed to move on to a bigger horse to be competetive. I just shrugged them off. To make a long story short, she is doing awesome on her. Sure, there are some arenas she doesn't clock in for some reason or another, but I have found that with every horse we are running against no matter how tall they are. They all have thier days. I think my daughter went through a phase where she was even a little embarrassed to ride her at the High school rodeo because of all the "pony" comments we got.......we don't get those anymore. I think she has earned respect. If the horse is safe and you love riding that horse, who cares how tall they are. Enjoy the ride........ |
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