As I am writing this I am honestly very hurt. I am the first to admit that I am a little sensitive and should be a little more thick skinned. But it does not come to me naturally. I have a little mare. She is 3 yrs and 4mnths old. She is a TB x Lip. I love her to bits. She has been under saddle for 3 weeks now and has been nothing but an absolute pleasure. Took her on her first hack on Sunday. She decided to take the lead and marched and trotted out in front no problem. I loved it. But now as usual the nastiness must start. I bought her as a 7 month old weanling. I am 1.65m tall. I currently compete in EM dressage on a 16.1hh TB who I adore. But this morning someone said something to someone else, not conscious of the fact that I could hear them. They were very mean about her and her size. Where does it state that if you want to compete you must compete on a big horse?

Why do I have to feel inferior as I pull up next to a 16.3hh WB? It is just so mean. I never look at horses like that as I find that every horse has something endearing about them. I have now been told that I must sell her as she is going to stay small and I will get a lot of money for her if I sell her now they will still get her to measure and she is top quality. So? Am I not allowed to ride my "top quality" horse because she is small. Must I ride something inferior to her because it is bigger?

As I said she is 15hh, but she is big. Takes a white Wintec gullet. (will change her to a dressage saddle a little later when she is more settled in her shape). She takes a 145cm blanket and uses a 50 inch girth. The same girth as my TB. I really feel so offended. Its crap like this that makes me want to give up competing completely.

Sorry to hear this Dimples. Unfortunatelly alot of us has been there. Maybe i am a little more thick skinned than others, but i take wat ever others say to me in that regard and chuck it to the ohter side.

If your horse is not showing any sings of strugling you carry you, or to perform that she can for now, then stuff them.

There is a general idea that if you are 1.70 weighing 70kg, you MUST ride a big horse.

well i'm 1.70 and 100kg and nore i or my horse have any problem with it. (OK sorry i would have loved to loose 20kg) but hey if it happens great if it does not sorry. My horses do not strugle with it, I would have picked up on it.

Just like you would have picked up on it if you mare had any problems in carrying you or performing with you.

Some people just can not THINCK outside the 9 Dots.

Dimples, Have you heard of the saying 'jealousy makes you nasty'. Tell them to keep their opinions to themselves.

It is a horses heart and movement that makes them, not their size. Your girl probably has a bit of growing in her still anyway.

If you are comfortable, she is happy, ignore them.

For what it is worth, I am also around 1.6m. Quite frankly anything over 16h is just to big.

Big horses are a fashion statement. Have a good look at what is doing well on the circuit at the moment. What is the average size?

As the others have pointed out: Jealousy does make you nasty. Size does not make the horse.

Ignore them and get on with enjoying your horse (who sounds super).

The size of the horse does not really matter except where we, as a rider, feel over or underhorsed. In my opinion most people ride horses that are too big for them and they cannot get them properly together.

I have two horses, my older guy is *just*15h3h and is perfect for me (I am 1.7m), my newer horse is 16h3h and I was initially very worried about being too small for him, but he rides small so I will just have to cope but I do wish that he was not so tall.

Hey Dimples,

Tell them to get stuffed! I am not into competing, for reasons like this. People have so many airs and graces about themselves, and Like Fenplace says, most of these little short sh:*s should be riding welsh ponys. I am 1.8m tall, about 85kg, and hack out on my little very stocky nootie cross. He is probably 14.1, and doesnt struggle one bit to carry me. He has only been under saddle for 2 months, and I will probably let my daughter ride him in a few years(once he is 100% bombproof), but for now, I am enjoying hacking out. Those other twits were probably just jelous of you! Don't pay any attention to them! As far as I know the rule of thumb for horses is if hacking out, you shouldn't weigh more than 25% of your horses body weight, and if you want to compete, 20%. I can almost guarantee that you don't come even close to this maximum!

Go Mbodd, well said! Whooo hoooo!

:) I feel better now. Just can't understand why people have to be so negative. Should we not just encourage people to enjoy their horses regardless? I love my horses. They are not the best money can buy I am sure. But to me they are my world!

Competition tends to bring out the worst in some people...I saw a stunning SAB compete at a show recently. The rider was talented and the horse had nice movement. A bunch of older dressage aunties sat around ripping this guy to shreds...saying 'what the hell is that!?' What is he riding...go back to the farm... I just rolled my eyes. You can't please everybody...some people just enjoy being critical

Yep, it's weird how some people think they'll shrivel up and die a horrible death if they say something nice about other people. They only ever criticize and gossip.

Be the proverbial duck and let it run off your back. If you're happy and your horse is happy then stuff the old biddies!

hie hie