Okay, so I’m posting this cause I’m really confused. :/ I’ve been told I should sell my 15.2 mare, who I adore, because I’m “way too big” on her (I am 5’7 and have pretty long legs, but she has a big barrel too!), and because she “has a weird shoulder and long stifles.” you don’t want a horse with long cannons though, do you?.. I’m posting a pic to see if you guys think I’m too big, keep in mind these are my dressage length stirrups..also, I would like to post a conformation pic at some point, I can probably get one on Friday and I would love a critique since she’s changed so much since I posted the last pic of her on here. I’d be happy with any feedback. Thanks!
PS I would like to do jumpers/eventing and maybe some hunters and eq on her.
[schooling free walk haha..fail with my hands, not sure how they got so low, gotta work on that ;)]
Sorry for the quality [screenshot], but can you tell anything from this pic, specifically her shoulder?
I’d like to see a couple different photos, particularly one that doesn’t have her head turned.
I’m 5’8″ and I was told that I should not own anything under 16 hands. My horse is barely 16 hands and when he is having a skinny moment, I look big on him. I also ride a shorter gelding for my trainer, but he is a heavier built horse so I don’t look too tall on him.
Long stifle?? Ummm the stifle is a joint, it can’t be “long”. A weird shoulder can mean anything, post a confo pic. My horse has a weird shoulder… his is HUGE for his body, but that’s a good thing. Sounds like someone (or multiple people) was trying to find fault and trying to sound intelligent while having no idea what they were talking about.
Unless you are doing the Eqs, there is no need for a “perfectly sized” horse. No other judge cares, really. Dressage judges certainly don’t.
Can’t tell with the head turned.
I think it depends a lot on your leg length. I’m about 5’8″ and my show horse is just about 16.1 and I look fine unless he’s skinny and out of shape, but I looked fine on my 14.1 pony until I was 5’7″.
Horse height is pretty much irrelevant. Barrel size, neck length and breadthis what is important
I need to get a confo pic, I will post that Friday or saturday
but here’s another pic of us schooling haha
And I’ve been told Faith’s shoulder is too big for her body too, that’s what they meant by “weird” apparently
NO WAY!!!! Your leg is a good length for her barrel. Dressage, eventing, jumpers… who cares? Certainly not the dressage judge. So many of the taller riders are riding small horses. All that matters is that you can stay in balance with them (and being taller, it’s even more important).
A large shoulder is better for jumping. My boy needs a wide tree for the shoulder and a med-narrow for the wither/barrel… just to give you an idea, though you’ve seen photos of him right? No way is that a bad thing, unless it is a large and straight shoulder, but the straightness is the bad part.
thank you so much! I thought I looked fine on her, but multiple people are trying to get me to sell her because I’m ‘too big’ – which since she has a big barrel didn’t make sense to me. I never have trouble balancing on her; I know what that feels like to as sometimes i have to school ponies for my trainer haha. I love this horse and I’m very happy with her and see no reason to sell her! I will get a confo pic up sometime soon
Yes I have seen photos of him, he’s awesome
Nah I don’t think her shoulder is straight. Faith also needs a wide tree for the shoulder and narrow for the withers, except she has a flat back – fun trying to get a saddle to fit her 
“Haters gonna hate”
or my trainer’s new favorite expression “it doesn’t matter whether its good or bad, just as long as people are talking about you”.
My wallet feels your pain regarding the saddle fit LOL
Haha I like that quote! And every saddle i try seems to be too low on the withers or pinching her back
I may try an M. toulouse with the genesis tree, if I could ever afford it but the cheapest i can find it is 1650 [which isnt bad but still out of my budget!]
Oooh, maybe they want you to sell her because they think she’s really a good horse, and they want her… xD
You don’t look too tall on her, in my opinion.
I think that if you love her, and the judge doesn’t care, and you aren’t too heavy for her, which you are not, then have fun with her!
I’m 5’8 and ride & compete a 14.1hh pony WITH a small barrel. Sure, I look a little big, but it doesn’t bother either of us. I also have a big barreled 15hh QH and a 15.1hh paint. My paint takes a 46” girth, and I look fine on her. I also ride a 16.2hh Trakehner, and I look good on him, my leg is about where yours is on your horse actually.