Long-Legged Riders, Look No Further!
As equestrians, we know there are many horse breeds out there. From ponies to warmbloods, there are horses to suit every discipline and riding style—as well as a horse to fit every rider.
If you fall into the tall rider category, you know that it can sometimes be hard to find a horse big enough to fit you properly. Thankfully, there are many breeds of horses known to be great fits for taller equestrians.
Horse Breeds 101
Horse height is measured in hands. A hand is a 4-inch increment. To correctly measure a horse’s height, start from the ground and measure to the top of the withers, which is where the neck meets the shoulder.
You can buy special measuring tapes that make it easy to measure a horse’s height and convert to height in hands.
For example, a 16-hand horse would measure 64” tall (5’ 4”) at the withers.
How do you know if you are too tall for a horse? An easy way to tell is if your legs are dangling below the horse’s belly. This will not allow you to use your leg properly to ride.
Some shorter horses will be wider and take up more of your leg so it may not always be a height issue, but more of how the horse is built overall.
A human and horse team should be compatible sizes for each other. If the rider is too tall, then their legs will be dangling, and they will not be able to control the horse properly.
The opposite is also true. If a rider is way too short for a very large horse, they will not have enough leg on the horse to effectively ride that horse.
Rider is a little tall for this horse. Photo Cred: Canva
Rider is a little short for this horse. Photo Cred: Canva
Team paired just right! Photo Cred: Canva
Top Breeds for Tall Riders
| Breed | Key Disciplines | Average Height |
| Thoroughbred | Eventing and | 15.2-17 Hands |
| Hanoverian | Dressage and | 15.3- 17.2 hands |
| Dutch Warmblood | Dressage and | 16-17 hands |
| Swedish Warmblood | Dressage, Jumping, and Eventing | 16-17 hands |
| Westphalian | Show Jumping | 15.3-16.2 hands |
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a great breed for a taller rider. They are primarily known as racehorses, but many go on to have a second career in eventing and
They average 15.2-17 hands and can make an excellent choice for a taller rider.
Hanoverian
The Hanoverian horse breed originated in Germany and is a Warmblood horse breed. You will commonly see Hanoverians in
Averaging 15.3-17.2 hands they are usually quite tall. In addition, they tend to have larger barrels, making them more suitable for longer-legged equestrians.
Dutch Warmblood
The Dutch Warmblood, also known as a KWPN, is a popular sport horse breed. They are commonly seen in
Fun Fact: KWPN stands for Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederlend, or the Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands.
Swedish Warmblood
The Swedish Warmblood is one of the oldest breeds of Warmblood horses. These horses are very commonly exported all over the United States and Europe.
They are primarily used for sport horse disciplines and are known to be very calm and friendly in nature. They typically average 16-17 hands, making them a suitable mount for a longer-legged rider.
Westphalian
The Westphalian horse breed originates from Germany, like the Hanoverian. They are known to be lighter in build, but are commonly used for jumping and
At 15.3-16.2 hands, they are easily suitable for a tall rider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the tallest riding horse breed?
The Hanoverian is known to be one of the tallest riding horse breeds. Overall, draft horses will be much larger than the riding horse breeds due to their breeding—with size comes height! The Hanoverian horse breed can reach almost 18 hands.
Q: What is the tallest a horse can be?
Some draft horses have reached almost 20 hands, or 6.67’ tall at the shoulder!
Q: What kind of horse can carry a heavy rider?
A horse that is built wider and stockier would be best suited for a heavy rider. Breeds such as the American Quarter Horse or draft crosses are known to be great options for heavier riders.
Q: What horse can carry a 250-pound person?
Horses can typically carry about 20% of their body weight including a saddle.
Several horse breeds can usually carry at least 250 pounds. These will include draft breeds and also the Fresian and Irish Draught horses.
Q: What horse can carry 400 pounds?
Horses can generally carry about 20% of their body weight. A 400 lb person may be pushing the limits for riding—not many horses will be able to carry that much weight.
A Percheron, which can weigh 1,800 – 2,000 lbs, could theoretically carry approximately 360 lbs.
Horses can carry heavy loads better if they are balanced. What does this mean? A horse could comfortably carry a heavier rider that is balanced and knowledgeable in the saddle over a lighter, beginner rider that is unbalanced in the saddle.
Fun fact: Horses can pull more weight than they can carry.
P.S. Enjoy this article? Trot on over to:
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- Letter to My Rookie Self: Chanel Rhodes
- Letter to My Rookie Self: Emily Harris
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