ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Re: way too long

[endurance] Re: way too long

Stephanie Teeter (step@fsr.com)
Fri, 5 Apr 1996 16:29:09 +0800

Ho! I have to respond to this one! I too am almost 6' - a light wt rider, but
as you say 'way too long'. I rode a 14.2 gelding for several years - taught
me everything about endurance and *he* never thought he was too small.
But, I always felt like it was a real task to stay balanced - probably
partly because of the way he moved (bounce bounce) - but I think also
because of my height. It seemed that it took me longer to catch up to
his quick (sideways) movements. He certainly improved my riding though - I did
everthing I could to stay balanced for him - saddle, posture, strength -
and keeping a deeper seat helped a lot.
I do prefer to ride the taller horses though - I feel more proportionate
and am sure I look better for the photographer:)

Steph
(who's about to get another small gray - thanks Lari!)

>>>>> "Tina" == Tina Hicks <hickst@puzzler.nichols.com> writes:

> We all know that rider's weight can have significant effects on
> an endurance horse (well, any horse, but since this is the
> endurance list <g>), but what about when rider height as an
> issue (where weight is not a concern)???

> I am almost 6' tall with very long legs and I am muct too long,
> aesthetically speaking, for whatever I ride for endurance. I was
> accustomed to riding much larger horses for showing however, for
> endurance I am on Arabs that are lucky to be 15H (I know they
> come larger :-> that is just the size I happen to be riding.) I
> know that looks are not an issue for endurance riding but I'm
> wondering what, if any, concerns there are about tall riders on
> pretty small horses?

> For me, I find that I get a little forward as I ride smaller
> horses even tho I have a good, strong leg.

> I wonder what this does to the horse's balance/fatigue level?
> Especially over really varied terrain.

> Tina (who can help her horse by using her own legs so the horse
> can rest two of his :->) Tony (I'm lame - I could use one of her
> legs right now) hickst@nichols.com