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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
  
| It doesn't really matter to me what size they are, as long as they do their jobs.
I've had a 52 inch pony run in the 1D (before there were divisions!). I've had a 15H mare and right now I've got a 16+ hand behemouth and a 15.2 gelding. The big boy makes the 15.2 gelding look small, and in reality, he's a very nicely built boy who's average.
I DO know that riding the big one has probably made me a better rider because he's got SO much power and will launch you if you aren't prepared. He dives into his turns and powerhouses out of them. Riding around my foot does not touch the top of the barrel when standing next to it. When running, my kneecap has been in danger. |
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  JMHO
Posts: 1869
 
Location: Oklahoma | I have a Little Corona gelding that's 16'3 but is very short backed. I'm 5'6 and have been having trouble keeping him from slicing his second barrel. I ride with spurs and he's a very well broke horse. We do alot of bending and flexing. I have a friend that's a lot taller then me, about 5'10 or 5'11. When she riding him she can really get him to lift his ribs and work. It's seems where my heal hits him moves him over, her's lifts him much better. Very frustrating. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | My old gelding is about 14.1 and my young one is around 15.1-15.2. My ideal range is 14.3-15.1. I do NOT like those 16 hand monsters! I think it's mainly because I hate climbing up on them 
I also like the ones that have a nice, big stride, as opposed to a short, choppy one. When horse shopping, I have passed on nice horses if they're too tall for me. It's just a preference, I don't feel like there's any advantage or disadvantage to a particular size. |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | I prefer a 14 hand horse or shorter. I have a young mare now that has grown to around15.1 plus and she is just too big for me. I owned a horse years ago that was around 13 hands and he could run as fast as the really big horses (16.1 plus) I guess I just don't feel in control on a really big horse. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | I loved my 16.1 hand gelding with his HUGE stride. Rode him for 10+ years. I'm having a bit of trouble getting used to my 15.2 gelding. He feels so SMALL and short-strided in comparison! I definately have a preferance for the BIG horses. |
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 Member
Posts: 38
| My first barrel horse was 14.3, my next 15.2ish and my current is 14.1 on a good day. I grew up riding hunter jumper so while I was used to riding bigger horses, i really enjoy the shorties.
I am 5'4".
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| At the moment I have 14h, 14.3h, 15.1, 15.3 and 16h.. lol |
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I have one guy that's 14.1 and a two girls that are 16.2-3 but the majority are around 15-15.2. And all the young ones should finish at least 15. I don't have a preference really. I find that the 15-15.2 is a good middle ground. When I ride the big girls I hope they love me enough not to try and dump me though because the bigger they are the farther I fall. I'm 5.5 |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| My first barrel horse was 14.3 hands. She was my favorite horse to run. She would rub the paint off barrels without knocking them over. Now I have a 15.3 hand gelding.I have to put my foot to my ear just to reach the stirrup. I love him but it takes alot more effort to turn on the power. My next barrel horse will be 14.3-15.1 max. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 365
| I don't have a preferance, except I'm not a fan of horses over 16 hands. I'm 5'1" with short legs, their just hell getting up onto lol. My gelding is 15.1 hh and big enough, widest horse I've owned at that. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Right now I have 4 - 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 and 16 hands. The 15.2 is my gray and he's about the perfect size for me because he's big enough to have a monster stride but small enough he can get down and turn without having to really slow down. I've found that some horses just feel big - my bay is only 15.1 but he feels like a bigger stronger horse.
For the most part, I think there is less margin for error on a smaller horse. Matt has a mare who's maybe 14.2 and she can have a perfect run but get smoked by my bigger horses even with mistakes because they have a long enough stride to make it up on the straightaways.
Honestly I don't care what size a horse is as long as its athletic. I've been beaten by all sizes of horses so when I've shopped the last few times, I've just looked for an athlete. Everything else - height, gender, color, etc - was completely secondary. This is probably why when I wanted a little mare that was anything but sorrel I wound up with a 15.3 hand sorrel gelding. But he's FAST! lol
Edited by rodeowithjoker 2014-03-06 10:30 AM
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 Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | I have two different extremes: a 14.3 MAYBE 15h firecracker and a 16.2-3h powerhouse. Love them both! I am 5'9" so when my little guy really gets down and turns, my boot just about touches the ground, but he is so fun! Really feels like he is hustling. He's a blast to run! Then my big guy feels so powerful, yet effortless, when he runs. I love them bith, but I feel I look normal on my big horse, and pretty funny on my little guy because of how long my legs are!!! |
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 Ima Cool Kid
Posts: 3496
Location: TN | Mine are all short, 14.2-15 hands. I am short too, so it works |
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 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4627
Location: Texas | I'm 5'8" and I have a 14.3hh mare and a 16.1hh mare. My 14.3hh mare has a long stride, is smooth as anything, and turns on a dime. My 16.1hh mare has a long stride and runs quite similarly to my smaller mare. Can't say the size of the horse bothers me, just as long as they do their job well. |
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