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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | So one of the other threads got me thinking about weight, strength, and the horses we ride. I'm a smaller woman, 5' 2-3", 135-140lbs, and I'm fairly fit from working out around 5 times a week (not counting working outside and riding). My current horse is 15.2, around 1200lbs (I think), stout, and strong. When I was younger I only wanted big horses, I don't know if that's because I'm so short or what, but now that I'm a little older I don't want anything higher than 15.1 at the max. Honestly I don't know if I could control a 16hand powerhouse of a barrel horse. I think from now on I'll be looking for those 14.3 hand horses. For us smaller ladies, what do you like riding and why? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 324
| I'm 5'3 about 115-120lbs and I've ridden everything from 14-16.3hh. I don't have an issue with riding the bigger ones but I find it a lot easier to use my legs on smaller horses. And they're a lot easier to climb up on lol |
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 Expert
Posts: 1268
Location: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma | I'm 5'5", 116-121lbs. and really prefer tall, long strided horses. I think they are smoother and easier to ride. Now, that being said, my current main mount is a barely over 14 hh fine made mare who thinks she's 16.3 and bulletproof, took me a long time to learn to ride her after 20 years of my 16.3+, 1300 lb. boys. All of my horses are OTT QH with proven running records, including the Souped Up Shetland as we call her! That's her big brother in my profile pic, he's almost 17hh and at that time I was probably 65lbs heavier.
Edited by RoanyGoodPoni 2018-04-12 9:55 PM
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
 
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I'm a little squirt and like riding bigger horses too. They don't have to be tall but stout and muscular.  |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Neither my sister nor ever had a problem riding tall, strong horses when we were younger and lighter. I was 115-120 lbs and my sister was maybe 100lbs soaking wet. We have rode 16. - 17 hh. horses with no problem, running barrels, roping, gathering cattle, etc. We competed in high school rodeo, college rodeo, open rodeos and WPRA.
I just never bought into the big horses being too strong for light weight women. I’ve ridden smaller horses that were stronger than our big horses.
Edited by GLP 2018-04-12 10:11 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| I'm 5'8 and around 120-125. I prefer horses that are 15.3 and taller. That's just what I like. I have very long legs. I personally would not buy a horse under 15hh. I just like the taller ones. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I'm like you, height and weight wise and I prefer smaller horses, 14.2 to no larger then 15.1. I do like a more muscular build since I like to feel like I have a horse beneath me. .
I have owned 16 hand horses in the past but its just easier for me to get on the little ones LOL |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I look at it this way, I am not going to strong arm any horse. So size is really not relative in my opinion. I am short 5'1" and had excellent core strength until I had my kids. Something I should work on more. But with that said, even a hard running horse shouldn't be tugged on, if a 14 hand horse or a 17 hand horse wants to take off and run I don't think strength will get them stopped as much as good balance and convincing them to ease up and bring that nose to you. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I’m 5’ and while I like riding any size, when I ride ponies I feel like I get to ride like everyone else-I can use my leg to really emphasize shoulder or hip-whereas with bigger horses I can hardly reach shoulder or hip with my leg... Also, I like how with ponies my heels drop below their belly, bigger horses I have to watch and make sure I don’t accidentally cue/bump them.. |
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Regular
Posts: 89
| Funny how this topic came up I'm 5' 5" and a 121 lbs. My old horse is just bearly 15 hands my newish horse is 15.3 and I'm just getting back to riding due to health issues and I'm second guessing myself on her height have thought more than once maybe I need to go back to smaller size like 14.1 (lol) because I don't have the near the strength I used to when I was younger I'm telling you this getting older is for birds. Every time I'm at a store I'm checking out the stepstools guess it's time to invest in one, to go along with the newly purchased yoga classes. But I do love how much smoother my taller horse is compared to my other, If I can just over how her size intimidates me at times. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Casualdust barely weighs 100 pounds and she has set arena records on huge horses. I think being smaller is a plus and in no way a handicapp. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | I like the shorties....close to the ground! I'm not a big girl, 5'1, 120 lbs. |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | I'm 5'2/115 and never had to worry about wearing heels on a date. Same goes for the size of my horse. I don't ever worry about how small they are. Having said that, the current one I'm riding is the only one that has been under 15HH in the last 25 years. When I first got her I would look down for the rest of the horse every time I got on her. The rest of our horses are 15.2 & 16.0 and they are way more laid back than my 14.3 crackhead. The horse's size doesn't make a difference on whether I can control them, their training gives me that advantage.
?I feel the age thing creeping up in different ways though. I got on from the off side the other day... flopping around on the side of my horse like a wet fish. And I was getting on the short horse! Guess what I'm doing more of from now on!!!! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| I'm 4'10 and just about 100 lbs. Not sure why, but I have always preferred the big horses! My guy now is 16.2-.3 and a solid 1200 minimum. My mare before him was just under 17 hands and 1300 pounds. I just like the big strided horses! My riding style fits them so much better. I have had some real shorties though too! But if I had to pick, I'd always pick a bigger horse =] |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| cecollins0811 - 2018-04-12 9:37 PM
So one of the other threads got me thinking about weight, strength, and the horses we ride. I'm a smaller woman, 5' 2-3", 135-140lbs, and I'm fairly fit from working out around 5 times a week (not counting working outside and riding). My current horse is 15.2, around 1200lbs (I think), stout, and strong. When I was younger I only wanted big horses, I don't know if that's because I'm so short or what, but now that I'm a little older I don't want anything higher than 15.1 at the max. Honestly I don't know if I could control a 16hand powerhouse of a barrel horse. I think from now on I'll be looking for those 14.3 hand horses. For us smaller ladies, what do you like riding and why?
I am pretty petite. 5'1" about 100 lbs. My horse is maybe 15.1 maybe a bit taller, not sure. He is a pretty big guy but the calmest and just a soul mate of a horse. It took me a while to be confident and trust him but now that I know him I feel so very safe on him. I know not matter what he is going to take care of me, or at least try!
My other one (which I stole from my husband) it is 14.2 maybe? but with a much more aggressive temperament than my bigger one. He is going to be a pretty good barrel horse, very catty and with lots of heart but a whole different way of going. To say the least I am NOT near as comfortable as I am on the big guy by any means! and it is going to take me a while to feel that way. But we will get there!
To make a long story short I think it really depends on the horse. Personally I don't mind how big they are if they are level headed and they will take care of me, but that's just me. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I’m 5’3”. I don’t have anything running shorter than 16 hands. Don’t understand what control has to do with it. One of the worst kamikazes I’ve ever been on was 13.3 and he felt like riding a cracked out mouse.
I love my big guys. |
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | I'm maybe 5'1" (with my boots on), 118#. I like a smaller horse--14 to 15hh-- but it has nothing to do with height or strength...I like the style a littler horse tends to have. I am strong for my size and can handle a lot of different styles and sizes, I just LIKE that fast little, get down and dirty, 4 wheel drive, cowhorse kinda style. I know, big horses can do that too...but the majority don't have a tendency to. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| If your horse is truly broke, it doesn't make any difference how big you are, you will have a light, easily controlled horse. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| Im 5'1. I don't mind a smaller horse as long as they are built solid and I feel like I have something under me. When I say smaller I mean 14.2-3. My gelding that I prefer is 15.1, thats just right. |
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Veteran
Posts: 217
| I'm 5'5" and 140 at the moment (stress has taken it's toll on me this winter usually I'm 130)
I prefer bigger strided horses - our rhythms seem to match better if that makes sense.
I've rode a 15 hand horse and it had the pony stride, we knocked things over all the time, and I met the dirt with him 
Rode a 14.2 horse with a huge stride and he was an absolute blast to cruise around on.
I like my 16 hand horses though, I find they're easier to move their shoulders/hips |
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