I really should have ridden today and yesterday, it's been so beautiful. Procrastinator that I am, I'll go tomorrow. I guess I'm just enjoying puttering around in the sunshine. Today I measured Rio and the mares- and double checked with the leg measurement on the adult horses; it's bang on. Rio is 1/4 inch away from being 13.3hh; Chickory is exactly 14.2, Coyote Belle is 14.3, and Gussie? She is a whopping 15.2 and a quarter inch. No wonder I have to really stretch to get on her! She is the biggest horse that I've ever owned. I think the perfect size for me is 14.3; what about you? Since I don't rope, or ride English or jump, I really don't need a big horse.
I rechecked Rio's leg measurement; when I
measured him in August, he was only 4 months old, and really the measurement should be done after 5 months old. So.... he's going to be 15.2hh. Holy Moley! I think I'll talk Ted into selling him; we'll probably geld him this spring and do all the basic ground work this summer, then put him up for sale as a two year old. Unless someone just has to have him before then.
I checked my gardens today and found the iris's are starting to send up new shoots- woo-hoo! This is the earliest I've had flowers start growing.
Now I've really got spring fever.
I hope it doesn't translate into the urge to do spring cleaning. Yet.
13 comments:
I come from the hunter/jumper world, and there, horses at or over 17 hands aren't uncommon. I've had two that were 16.2 - my mares Promise (no longer with us, alas) and Maisie (retired), although Maisie may be closer to 16.3. I'm tall, almost 5'10", so in the hunter ring a horse that tall makes my leg look good. Lily is 16 hands, but looks a lot bigger as she's massive.
But, darn it, I'd really like to be able to get on and off from the ground. When I did my horse shopping, I was looking for something between 15 and 15.2. (Dawn is about 15.1, pretty small for a TB, and delicate). Pie was about 15.1 when I got him, but he's at least 15.3 now, and maybe even 16 hands, and has really bulked up. Drifter is full-grown and is a hair under 15 hands - he's the smallest I've ever owed (other than Norman-the-pony who's a whopping 12.2), but don't tell him that - he thinks he's big stuff!
I am loving having the Haffies that are about 14.2 (They are large for Haflingers). I have put a tape on them, but didn't have anyone helping me and didn't have a stick that would be more accurate.
Even with my small guys, I often will use a mounting block because their saddles slip so much. Doc has rounder withers than Pippin and unless I get a lot of bounce, the saddle will come over. But, it is really nice to be able to get off and on while out on the trail and not have to sweat it.
My largest horse was my Percheron/Thoroughbred cross. He was, as I recall, a snudge over 16.2. I had no problems mounting him.... I was 17!!!
My trail horse is 14.1 and I am a tall girl. I get picked on for riding her. My other horses all top 16 hh!
Sam
You know the old saying "Admire the tall and ride the small" I'm all for that.
I prefer shorter horses also. I can't believe you have iris coming up.
Irises in Feburary? In Canada? I better start looking down here for some greenery..:-))
The trend for barrel horses seems to be bigger horses. I prefer 15 to 15.2
How does that leg measuring work?
I used to think I was very tall and needed a horse at least 15.2 (Catana , was that ) and I rode that size or taller Sunshine was 16 hh and Chips 16.2 .But I do have to admit , my buddy Johnny is just a perfect 14hh, and I love it . When I started him I used to comment "yup I get off that horse sometimes just to get back on!"
I much prefer a smaller horse, I thought Kali was perfect when I got her at about 14.1 but then she grew (some) and I thought cutting horses were supposed to be small, but no my Jessie has to be pretty close to 15 sure seems too far to climb up. But my biggest pony was one of my Belgians, they were 16.1 and 16.3 and I had to laugh at the lady I got them from cause she said they are little!
cdncowgirl, if you click the link in the post, it takes you to a video I did that explains it. Basically, you measure from the top of the hoof, right at the hairline, to the center of the knee: the top of the carpal bone that sits on the canon bone. I use a metal tape. The measurement you get in inches is what you get in hands, for example, Rio measures 15 and a half inches there, so 15 and a half hands or 15.2hh. Gussie measures 15 and 1/4 and a little bit, so she is just over 15.2 and a quarter inch.
My endurance mare is 15.2 - it's a bit of a hop to get up there! My other mare is 15.1 - amazing how much difference an inch makes!
Flowers? Our Indian Plum's are budding - but no blooms yet...
You sound like 15.2 is a bad thing. I personally wish Sebastian wasn't 16. and growing. I think 15.2 is perfect. Most people when deciding on a horse choose too big. Just sayin.. I wonder why being 15.2 would make you sell him... I thought he was going to be your son's horse. Is your son tall? Someone is going to be buying a real nice horse. :)
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