Suggested Hand for My Height and Weight

Aha! I wanna see that. I remember one time. I put my three year old sister on my Percheron Henri. It was the funniest thing. She looks like a lady bug on a tree. She's SO small and he's so HUGE, I couldnt stop laughing.

The best way to fall is to go as limp as you can before you hit the ground. It's difficult at first because your brain wants to tell you to brace for impact, but this leads to more serious injury.
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Never really had time to consider much when falling. Just know I don't bounce like I used too.

As for mares vs. Geldings - I think it depends on the individual horse. I've always had geldings and get along with them well but just got my first mare. I simply adore her. She is a doll and willing as can be.

The last time I fell off a horse was because she got into a scuffle with another horse and none of us knew. So when I asked her to trot she got so out of control and I fell right out of the saddle and into a fence head first. Thank heavens for Helmets!

If it helps you any, I am the same size as you (a bit taller) and rode a 10.2hh what I assume to be a mini/welsh mare for my BO. Granted, it was never for an extended period of time or very hard (mostly walking and never over a trot unless she bolted). She seemed perfectly fine plodding me around an arena. I'm sure she would have preferred a small kid, but a small kid wouldn't be able to get her ready for small kid riders.

And right now, I am beginning to ride my 12.3hh, 600lb Fjord. I've only been on her twice, but she didn't brace or anything while I got on or while I was on.

Just my two cents. My other mare is 15.2, which is my max for height preference.
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