| How do you know when your horse is too small | | | | down its sides. On the other hand, disciplines like |
| for you? Quite simply, when your horse can't | | | | Western riding, endurance riding, and competitive |
| carry you comfortably, you've outgrown him. Of | | | | trail riding focus more on the horse's ability to |
| course, there are ways to outgrow a horse well | | | | carry the rider, and not how the rider looks on |
| before he feels physical discomfort. So how do | | | | the horse. |
| you know when it's time to upgrade to something | | | | When deciding whether you've outgrown your |
| a bit larger? | | | | horse, ask yourself a few questions. First, ask |
| There are instances where your horse can handle | | | | yourself whether your horse is comfortable |
| your weight just fine, but you are simply too tall | | | | carrying you. |
| for your horse. How to tell? Well, if you are | | | | If you are showing your horse, ask your self if |
| jumping over obstacles and your feet are banging | | | | the size of your horse, compared to the size of |
| on the rails, you are most likely too tall for your | | | | you, might negatively impact competition results. |
| horse! But what about that same rider and horse | | | | If there is a size-related reason that you feel is |
| who don't jump? If the horse can still handle the | | | | going to hold you back, it may be time to get a |
| weight of the rider, whether or not the rider is | | | | larger horse. |
| too tall for the horse is a matter or aesthetics. If | | | | Finally, ask yourself whether you want to |
| you are showing your horse and feel that your | | | | compete and ride with your horse, or whether |
| size is going to affect the outcome of the | | | | you want another horse. Sometimes, it may be all |
| competition, that's a good reason to get a larger | | | | about competing with a particular horse, and the |
| horse. Ask your instructor, a judge, or someone | | | | outcome may not be all that important. In other |
| who is well-acquainted with your discipline to give | | | | cases, the outcome is most important and the |
| you an honest assessment of how you fit your | | | | horse is just the means to the end. There is no |
| horse and whether or not that will have any | | | | right or wrong answer, and the answer will vary |
| bearing when you show your horse. | | | | from rider to rider. |
| Which brings us to the fact that whether or not a | | | | In some cases, outgrowing a horse has nothing to |
| horse fits a rider often has more to do with | | | | do with size, but has to do with how far a |
| certain trends than it does with whether the | | | | particular horse can take you. If you are a rider |
| horse can actually carry the rider. Today's fashion, | | | | who is improving and is ready to move on to the |
| for example, dictates that humongous horses | | | | next level, you may need another horse to get |
| carry tiny riders. Some people feel that a horse is | | | | you there. |
| too small if the rider's legs go more than halfway | | | | |