Height in FEI Horses

[Joane Pappas White <Lyoness@Castlenet.com>]

Heidi's observations about height were a surprise to me. If large arabs
lack balance and proportion, then why are so many of the world champions
on the large rather than small side.

I had the opportunity to participate as crew at both the WEC in Dubai
last December and Pan Am this summer.  The one thing that struck me
clearly about the horses at both FEI events was their overall size. Most
of these horses are not "little arabs".  Now I didn't put a measuring
stick on any of them, but I ride a number of large horses 15.3 to 16.3hh
and have a general idea of their size as compared to my baby dutch
warmblood who is 14.3 (by the measuring stick yesterday).  The horses at
the international 100 milers appear to be big arabs or arab/crosses.  

Maybe a few of these riders would share the actual measurements of their
horses with us.  Steve Rojak's Hawk and Wendy's Flicka are good sized. 
Bev Gray's Omnar and Bravo, multiday champions, stood as tall as my CC
who is 16hh.  All of these are AngloArabs (I think).  But many of the
purebreds are just as large.  I don't recall many 14.2 hh horses at
either event. 

Joane and the Herd
Price, Utah


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