Take the Poll: How Tall is Your Horse?
Wednesday February 4, 2009
We recently measured my daughter's Clydesdale-Thoroughbred gelding Thor. He is soon turning three and is 15.2 hands high.
We've started introducing him to life as a riding horse; lunging, ground driving and we have been on his back three times for a short stroll around the arena. 
Thor's mom is just off camera in this photo taken in 2006! My daughter hopes he will inherit his mother's Clydesdale height.
2006 K. Blocksdorf We're expecting him to sprout up quite a bit yet, and certainly grow into his big long legs a bit more. I used to like very tall horses, but for some reason, as I get older, I like being closer to the ground. Trillium's sturdy 15.1 hands suit me just fine. How tall is your favorite riding horse? Have your preferences changed over time? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
2006 K. Blocksdorf
Comments
I’ve always had 15-16 hh horses. When I was in Jr. High, I remember looking at a 17 hh horse to purchase. I took one look UP at him, and wound up getting a 15.2 horse! I’ve always loved larger breeds, but I prefer riding lower to the ground!
Hi,
I just want to recommend everybody to check out Klaus Ferdinand Hempflings web-site: www.hempfling.com. He also has some great videos on YouTube. Very informative and educational, apert of the fact that he is the most stunning horse trainer I have ever experienced.
My Rubiegirl is 14.3 I think she is the perfect size1
My current horse is about 17.1 and I love it but i have always enjoyed riding the taller bigger bodied horses. Even though i can never reach them from the ground. lol I am only about 5′4″
My horse’s legs reach the ground, and mine don’t on the rare times we have the chance to ride. I reckon that works plumb fine for me…
Mrs. Mom: It’s very awkward when the opposite happens. I remember getting on my daughter’s Section A Welsh Pony when he was acting up–to ’straighten him out’ of course. He almost unloaded me with the first buck. There was nothing to grip on too! My feet met underneath him.
I have ponies that come in for initial training, and when the time comes for someone to ride them we have to scramble to find someone. I am 5′ 9″. Smallest horse I will get on is 14 hands.
I have a soon to be 6yr. old Belgian gelding, that is 19hands possibly a little taller. My 3 step stool is too low to reach the stirrup!! He is being trained to ride, not pull.
When I was young, I had a horse that was 15.2, and he was perfect for me. Now, 40 years later, my horse is 16.3. I constantly hear comments about how “huge” he is. I bought him without riding him. If I would have realized how tall he was, I probably would have passed on him in lieu of a smaller horse. But, now that I have him, I love him. I just hope I don’t fall! I am only 5′3″.
when I was young and skinny I rode any horse I could find, I never thought about falling off and the times I was thrown, well I didn’t factor those in. Well I turned 50 this year and my husband bought me a new horse and he threw me the first day I rode him and it wouldn’t have mattered how tall he was ’cause he threw me a few feet in the air first to make up for his 14.2hh stature. Anyhow now that we trust each other I mount him from all sorts of silly thngs, lawnchairs not rated to hold my weight, park picinic tables, tree stumps, my trucks tailgate, beer coolers anything I can find. if the truth be told I would love to lose weight and be lithe enough to mount him from the ground, but in reality my next horse will probably be a 13hh haflinger or draft pony cross lol.