[Cari123]

Hi everyone,

I just joined and am looking for some reassurance honestly. I'll try to post in the welcome area right away too. Sorry to rush right into my question!

I recently fell in love with and bought a lovely little (tiny) warmblood mare. She's a gem and young at 3. Fantastic personality, manners and a joy to work with. I'm not regretting the purchase but her size is nagging at me! She's 14.1. Her former trainer swears by the string method and believes she's done for height. She was being sold due to her height (or lack there of) by a show jumping barn.

I was looking for a sweet, eager personality and athleticism for a trail partner. I didn't question her height until looking at pictures some time after... Is she too small? Would it bother you? Do you think she may yet grow??

I'm an experienced rider with 15 years under my belt, however it's been a long time since I purchased a horse and I admittedly got carried away. My experience is primarily with ottbs and Appaloosas. Pictured is the trainer- slightly taller but slimmer than me. I'm stocky and muscular at 145 lbs and 5'4 with short legs. She carried me well and will not be worked heavily until she matures. We do work within the 20% weight ratio but ug... I just don't know!

Thanks so much.

 

[waresbear]

I love the shorter horses, and this mare has a nice stride too. From the pictures, I would have never guessed she was under 15 hands. From somebody who rides horses 15.3 and 16 hh horses, I would love something smaller next time. As long as the movement is there, I could care less.

 

[boots]

You two look fine. You in no way look too tall for this mare.

 

[JCnGrace]

I don't think you'd be too big for her at all.

 

[stevenson]

She will probably grow until she is 5 , but then again she may just fill out and muscle up . You do not look to large for her.
She is a cute horse. Congrats.

 

[Change]

She's a warmblood so slower to mature. She probably has another inch or two to grow. As for size and you; my sister is 5'6" and just at 200 lbs. She has a little 14.2 Dash for Cash QH mare that she rides with no issues. She should be just fine for you.

 

[DanisMom]

I don't think she is too small for you. I'm 5'3" and I loved riding my 14.1hh Arab mare. In fact, I prefer short horses. And I agree she will fill out and maybe grow a little more. She is lovely! Congrats!

 

[Acadianartist]

I think she looks great! And I think you'll look just fine together. I own a 14.2 and a 14.3 horse. I prefer them to be small! We avoided under 14.2 because my daughter shows, and didn't want to be stuck in the pony classes because of her horse, but otherwise, wouldn't have cared. What's an inch difference anyway? Shorter horses eat less, require less grazing area, are less intimidating, easier to mount from the ground if you need to on a trail... the list goes on. As far as I'm concerned, shorter is better! And I'm not at all saying that because I'm short myself. At all.

 

[egrogan]

I'm about the same size as you and I have a Morgan mare who is 14.2 on a tall day. I feel totally comfortable on her and definitely prefer a short horse for getting back on while on trails. And still, it's a scramble to find a tree stump or stone wall as a step so I don't wrench her back- she's 23 so I am super cautious about her back and dislike mounting from the ground, though I suppose technically I could.

Your horse looks very nice and I hope you'll share more pictures as you ride. There's a trail thread on the Forum if you're interested in joining to show off your trail and track miles, even if you're just taking her out for walks or ponying her before you start really riding her.

 

[Cari123]

Thank you so much everyone! You've all been awesome at putting my mind at ease she's such a sweetheart I'd hate to be constantly questioning this as we work and progress. And thank you for the compliments on her!

You mare is lovely egrogan and thank you for the trail tread link. I'll definitely post pictures as we explore and move along.

 

[3Horses2DogsandaCat]

I'm close to your size, and your horse is my favorite size. I love smaller horses. I bought a young Half-Welsh pony that string-tested at my ideal height of 14.1, and he just kept growing and ended up close to 15 hands; so there's hope that yours could grow a little more.

 

[horselovinguy]

You look fine on her...and she will fill in and out yet.

As for her being sold out of a hunter barn because of her smaller stature....
Well, if she has movement and jumping ability she is worth a fortune as a pony...
If she stays in the size to be a "carded pony", she is worth a potential fortune...
Don't care about breeding and what she is...it is her ability that makes her.

None of that should be making a difference to you though...she is yours!!
Enjoy your new friend and wonderful find..:wink:
:runninghorse2:...

 

[Cari123]

Interesting thought! I don't think we have much jumping in our future but you never know. She was privatly owned at the stable and bought as a first horse for her adult owner who dreamed of jumping with the big guys. They were excited by her jumping ability but devistated when she quit growing. She sure looked out of place in that barn of 17hh horses lol! Whatever we end up doing together you're right and I'm sure we'll make tons if wonderful memories.

 

[bsms]

17 hand horses are probably as rare on the trails as a 14 hand horse is in most competitions. Shorter horses on the trail are great for those of us who have reached an age where our springers have sprung, so to speak!

And at least in my family, trail rides include breaks for the horses, who munch on pretty awful looking stuff:

​

The horse in front is mine. 15.0 hands. Vet gave his weight as 790 last year, but I think he has gained some. With saddle, tack and clothes, my 'riding weight' is around 200-210. At 59, my knees wouldn't want a horse over 15 hands...and would be pretty happy with a few inches less. 14.1 & athletic, with a good mind, sounds wonderful!

 

[Cari123]

Thanks bsms! Wow you must have tons of trails and places to ride where you are, it looks like it goes on forever! I'm almost 30 but I understand where you're coming from. I used to love riding everything that was big, hot and a handful; but now with work, wedding planning and juggling schedules I don't want a chalenge each time I go out. Im totally all for a quirky, sound and sane mare on the smaller side. Super glad she doesnt seam too small though

 

[Smilie]

I also think you look fine, and nothing wrong with your size ratio.
How is she bred, Warmblood wise,and what age is she now?
her size, compared to you is fine, but far as level you wish to show at, her size could influence that aspect
Myself, I currently ride two horses completely at the opposite end,far as size, and both do the job for me
Charlie is 16.2HH, so a bit tall for a western pl horse, but Iove her movement, which is not just due to size , but her breeding. Her half brother Einstein, a horse I did everything with, a was 16.3hh.People used to ask me, in my days before knee replacements, as to why I rode such a tall horse.My answer was always that he stood by anything, for me to get on, and once on, I had a safe 'Cadillac ride
The horse I currently trail ride the most, is only about 14.2hh Carmen can really walk out for her size, out walking much taller horses, and is a very sensible trail horse
In the end, I think mind, ability and disposition are the most important aspects, unless you are very seriously involved in any particular discipline, where other factors are given some prominence

Carmen, yesterday

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Last fall

[URL=http://s335.photobucket.com/user/KiloBright/media/trail%20riding/Carmenbartonroad_zpsf0e76b3a.jpg.html]


Charlie, 16.2,hh,, helps keep feet dry!




I am 5ft 7". Won't elaborate on current weight!

 

[Smilie]

Yes, they look the same color, although Carmen is a roan and Charlie is grey, at max expression!

Charlie doing one of her more /usual jobs

 

[Smilie]

For me, trail riding, size does not matter. While I ride with complete comfort after double knee replacements, there is no spring, so I use some ground advantage, ditch , log, whatever, to get on, even with Carmen. She also has about zero withers, so mounting her from the ground is something I do only if there is no other option
What counts for me, far as atrail horse, is that the horse stands wherever I put the horse to get on, is sensible on the trail, walks out without needing to be pedelled, and on a loose rein, at the gait I ask for, coming or going
I expect to be able to put on a slicker, without getting off, to be able to get stuff out of my saddle bag, including things wrapped in plastic, a horse that stands, with my reins drapped over their neck, allowing me two free hands to take pictures

 

[Smilie]

Along time ago, and horses of various size. What counted, was that they were safe to put my young kids on

 

[Fimargue]

Lovely mare! I would really like to know her breeding?

We have one gelding by Vivaldi who as a 6 year old was more like 16.1, and now as a 10 year old he is 17.2. I guess he stopped growing around 8 years old.