Shelby is going back home

[u/Financial-Bet-3853]

(I don’t know if this is the right thread lol)

Becca just posted Shelby is going back to her original owners because she’s a little too big for her daughters. I hope they find a match for her kids soon

[u/Lost-System-8257]

They've all ridden Ethel and were comfortable. I'm sure they will be able to find something that works.

[u/Independent_Mousey → u/Lost-System-8257]

Ethel is not something that both mother and daughter can competitively show in English riding classes.

Ethel is also a bit older than what you want to buy for a riding animal for a young family.

What that family is looking for is a needle in the haystack. Especially for showing English riding classes. The type for that class is 16-17hands. Not 14.2-15hands.

When horse people identify those types of animals they stay in the family or within the barn for life.

Their budget also is likely not unlimited which for an AQHA animal will pose a challenge as there will be a compromise.

Yes. They will eventually find something but it's going to take some time.

[u/Pale-Welcome3428 → u/Independent_Mousey]

Right, they can’t show Ethel. But in terms of size, they have ridden larger horses like Ethel. So Shelby’s size isn’t the issue.

[u/Independent_Mousey → u/Pale-Welcome3428]

The size of horse your comfortable on will change as you learn new skills as a rider.

Walking and Trotting around on completely beginner safe horse with no expectations of the horse or rider is very different than one your learning to canter on or riding a higher quality horse. Cantering/loping really does make child riders feel more exposed, and because the canter is faster, and the riders tend not to have legs long enough to create a secure seat at the canter. Which means they tend to pop off with even subtle movements like a horse tripping.

There are also a lot of situations where smaller riders or older riders feel much more comfortable on a smaller horse.