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