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| Wondering if really tall horses hurt resale value. Has anyone had experience riding, training, selling 16 hand plus horses? How do they fair in the barrel pen. I found a very nicely bread retired race horse that is at least 16.2. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
 
| My gelding is 16.2 and I wouldnt trade him for the world. Hes a solid 2D/3D horse and super atheltic for his size. Theres a few negatives to them being so big, he barely fits on my standard 7' gooseneck and hes kinda clumsy  |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
 
| Nope. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| I'm 5'9 and ride a 16.1 horse. I prefer them big. |
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| Yes I have owned several. IMO height has little to do with it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | My 4 year old is 16.1 at the hip easily. I love taller horses. From my exeprience, some of them are a little tougher to teach how to use and keep their legs underneath of themselves. I got lucky with this new 4 year old and she naturally can do it all without teaching. I personally tend to stray away from most thoroughbred's just because I have not had much luck with them in the past. But I am definitely a sucker for a tall QH  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | We have a 4 year old that currently stands 16 hands. We were thinking the big advantage is that our shins should be safe from hitting the barrels? Some steel toed boots and we can wear shorts again in the summer. :) |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | My main guy for many years was about 16.1 hands. I absolutely LOVED his big stride. He was 1D/2D.
I would pick a big horse (16+) over a little horse (under 15 hands), for myself personally.
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Absolutely! I love big horses! The bigger the better! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 865
| Yes |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| From my experience...the bigger the horse the more soundness issues I have to deal with. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Heck no! I'm all of 5 foot tall so I can make a big horse look even bigger! I prefer the shorties 14.0-14.3 |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | It just depends on the horse. There have been some great horses that are taller, and some great ones that are shorter. It's just going to depend on how athletic the individual is. How competitive do you expect them to wind up being? |
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Location: NE Texas | I like the taller ones, but I'm 6'1. Prefer for my feet to not drag the ground....lol. My mare is 16H and I think she does just fine - but I do feel like she runs better in the larger pens - deep sand is no problem with her spider legs! Just started her on poles and wow... think she's going to really excel there - just one stride between the poles and she's changing leads ready for the next. Everyone has their preferences but I think a lot of us would consider a horse with heart and talent no matter the size (beyond reason). |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | total performance - 2015-06-17 10:06 AM Heck no! I'm all of 5 foot tall so I can make a big horse look even bigger! I prefer the shorties 14.0-14.3
Ha ha hahah, I'm the opposite, I like em tall, I'm 5'7 so I have horses that are 15.2 to 16.1, if I ride anything shorter then 15 I feel like I'm on a pony, and feel like I make the shorter ones look like a pony with my long legs. But really a horse is a horse, they can be tall, short or med. but to me its their heart that makes them mighty. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I've run horses 14 hands to 16+ hands and everything in between. I've found that their ability has more to do with their conformation, along with other things such as heart and the want to run barrels. I don't look so much at the height, but the way the horse is put together and how they move.
Edited by Jenbabe 2015-06-17 10:34 AM
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | As long as they are low hocked and well balanced. I prefer 15.3 and up. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I have three. And one little 15.1 hand shorty. I prefer my big horses, they can handle heavy ground, she can't. I'm 5'2". My husband says I look like a flea on a mole, lol, BUT I love that big stride. We suit each other. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| jbhoot - 2015-06-17 8:32 AM
Yes I have owned several. IMO height has little to do with it.
This - ALTHOUGH I will admit, I keep a step-stool with me as I am SHORT! |
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| I'd rather run a 14.3 hand horse over a 16+ hand horse, and I'm almost 5'10!
I don't think there is any reason why a 16H horse can't be successful in the barrel pen - I've just had better luck with the smaller ones. |
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