From: Courtney
My horse is 14.3 hh and I'm 5 foot 4 inches. I'm the average weight for my height and my horse is a 12-year-old Arabian so she isn't going to grow any taller. I'm an experienced rider and I love her soooo much. My mom says we're going to sell her and buy a new horse to work on for the shows next summer because I'm growing out of her. Is my horse too small for me and how do you know when a horse is too small for you? Thanks a lot!!!
-Courtney
I'd say that beyond the question of the horse's comfort, there are certain indications that a rider may be outgrowing a horse. For example, if you ride over jumps and you've grown so tall that your feet are knocking over the jumps even though your horse is clearing them nicely, you're probably too tall for the horse - but not necessarily too heavy.
If your form of competition doesn't involve jumping, and your horse is comfortable carrying you, then the question is one of show-ring aesthetics, and for advice on that subject, you should probably consult a judge in your particular discipline.
Some show riders consider that a horse is "too small" for them if their legs go more than halfway down the horse's sides - they feel that they need to look like a peanut on an elephant, for whatever reason! Others, less extreme, have been told by their trainers that they don't stand a chance of winning in certain forms of competition if their boot heels are any lower than the level of the horse's belly. None of this, of course, has nothing to do with the horse's actual ability to carry the rider - it's all to do with the popular "look" that riders want to achieve in the show ring.
In many styles of riding and forms of competition, there are many riders taller and heavier than you who ride and compete successfully on horses no larger than your mare. Look at most forms of Western competition, and look at endurance riding and competitive trail riding... then look at what YOU do with YOUR horse, and ask yourself some questions:
When you know the answers to all three questions, sit down with your trainer or instructor and have a chat. In most cases, if a child is outgrowing a horse, the instructor or trainer will notice before the child does, and will have a talk with the child's parents and find out whether it would be appropriate to begin looking for another horse. Sometimes it is NOT appropriate, because of finances or simply because the child loves that horse and wants to keep it. If your trainer or instructor agrees with your mother and says that you are outgrowing the horse, ask for specific reasons. They may have nothing to do with your height or weight - perhaps the adults in your life think that you are ready to take on the training of a less experienced horse, or perhaps they would like to see you competing at a higher level, and don't feel that this mare can take you there. Talk to your trainer or instructor, find out what is going on, and then discuss it with your mother. if possible, bring everyone together for a discussion, so that there will be no chance of misunderstandings. If there is some question about whether your horse can handle the physical demands of competition, you may want to consult your veterinarian as well.
Jessica
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