How long should I take lessons before getting a horse?

Wow. Some of the things you say.

Small horses can be quick and catty. NO room for error or you end up splat.

You could really go either way.

I have been riding for 8 years now and I still continue to learn something everytime I ride :) You never really stop learning. If you were to get your own horse now, you would be learning on just one horse. (Sometimes its better to learn on multiple horses.)

Whatever your choice is, I hope it works out!!!

I have ridden tall horses and short horses
And in between, I prefer the 15 hh -16-2 hh

For your height and weight, the size of the horse doesn't matter, and it has no bearing on the behavior of the horse at all.
If I were you, I would take lessons for a lot longer as your goals as a rider will change the more you progress. It would be a shame to get a horse, fall in love with it and find it doesn't meet your needs in a years time.

I plan to buy my first horse later this year and it'll be after 2 years of lessons and some local "schooling" at a nearby stable. And lots and lots of reading. I'm a 'learn by doing' kid, myself so I'm sure I'll be learning some things as I go.

As you learn to ride, ask your instructor to show you additional things such as common medical issues, different types of feed, how to muck, etc.
Sit in on a few vet visits. I did this and learned about sprains, abcesses and other maladies.

I like what VA cowgirl said
Great advice

I would do lots of research

I would encourage you to take lessons for a couple of years before you find out what direction you may want to take and learn the basics. Then you should lease a horse. I half leased a horse that was 25 years old for a year and learned so much I never ended up on the ground which helped me gain confidence and he just babysat me. I then leased another horse 22 years old the next year he wasn't as good for me becasue I had to use spurs to get him to do anything and I wasn't ready for them but I still learned alot and as time went by my leg got steadier. I got a horse a year later. I would not put it as a wise decision for a 13 year old to be riding a 4 year old horse with little riding experience. But as time progressed, I went through 2 trainers before I found the one that really helped me and my horse. Now, I wouldn't trade that experience for anything and my horse and I are completely in sync with eachother. But there could have been a very bad ending for this. I wouldn't suggest you get a horse right off the bat, but maybe wait sometime until your ready and others say your ready for a horse. You'll want to find out what you really like. Maybe you start out english and do a little jumping but then decide dressage is your thing. Or maybe you would like an all arounder or a western pleasure horse or a reining or gaming horse. Then when the time comes, you'll be able to find a horse that's training really matches your goals.

As the mother of an 11 yr old WB/TB cross who has the body of a 30 yr old arthritic horse, I'm surprised no one has mentioned vet bills. If you are serious about purchasing, you need to be prepared for emergencies...and have a plan...can you really afford a surgical colic? We are talking thousands of dollars...trust me, been there done that, and still own the lovliest pasture pet you can imagine.

I started out taking lessons, then LEASING...it's a great option. Make sure you find the horse right for you, and the terms right for you. Even though I own a lovely mare, I lease a QH . Not everything always goes your way when it comes to horses. I wouldn't trade my old lady for anything but...I still want to ride and this is what I can afford. Just my 2 cents...

Wow, I must be the only person on here who has never had a real riding lesson.

Before I got my first horse I was just a horse-crazy teenager who had only ridden rental horses with no real experience actually controlling a horse (the rental horses just followed the horse in front of them).

The first year with my first horse was a bit tough mentally, but I made it through and I have been a horse owner for the last 18 years or so. Besides not having lessons, my first horse was an Arabian (who was very sweet and lazy actually) and I rode him about 1/2 the time by myself out on the trails. So yeah, we had a few challenges in that first year. Mainly my stupidity from not having any experience, the horse was a saint.

Lessons are great if you can do that. I'm sure I would have gotten to be a much better rider much faster with lessons. But I did just fine without them and 18 years later I actually have a great seat, soft hands and am still riding the trails either alone or with friends.

Getting the right first horse is of utmost importance. I agree with everyone on that. Even after owning horses for so long, I still try to be very, very careful in choosing the right horse to purchase. The right horse is a dream come true. The wrong horse is a dangerous nightmare.

You should probably wait at least a year or so before thinking about buying a horse. You've heard the lectures about how much hard work owning a horse is. It can be but it's also very rewarding.

I have been riding for about ten years and it took me about 5 years before I got a horse and it was a pony I rode at the riding place which I ended up leasing. Try leasing a horse before fully buying one as well.

Always make sure you're first horse I at least over 10 and for at least novice riders. No matter how ready you think you are you should always wait. You may not even like riding after a while.