Well, most of you know I got Storm about late march early April and he has been absolutely a Godsend. He is actually pretty easy to ride (once you figure out how the heck people had trained him) and a great jumper. Here is my problem, I am 5'3 and 115 lbs (gained 5 grr) and he is 16.2 and about 1200 give or take...Anyway since he has lost about 300 lbs I can't get my leg to reach his sides!!!????!! I mean I had to buy swan neck spurs to be able to make contact with him, I know it's because I have really short legs and his barrel is more long and deep then round (does that make sense), In Dressage I can use reg. spurs (normal POW), but when I start jumping adding in the shortened length, I can't reach him!
Any ideas on what I need to do, my stirrups are the right length (or so the trainer said) and he does go forward when I ask, I just have to be a little more aggressive since he doesn't really "feel" my leg, I guess he just knows its there.

You can't really change your horse's (or your) conformation, but you can switch to a stick to enhance your forward-driving leg aids. Spurs should really be reserved for lateral movement, anyway.

Hmm do you have a picture of you just sitting on him? I suppose it is hard for me to imagine, I'm tall and there's not many horses I can't wrap my legs around.

I am not asking him to just go forward, but to bend and flex around my leg and move away from it so...I guess what I mean is in order to ask him to wrap around my leg what do I do? I could try a Dressage whip, but the last time I picked one up (even after touching him all over) he flipped out....Is there anything else I could do, he moves off of the leadrope like a champ, but obviously it is much different when on his back.
Here are some pics of Storm so you can see the difference:


what he looks like now.






what he looked like before.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/DeathScytheH026/07-10-06_0859.jpg

Okay, I see what you mean. But I think it's a matter of learning to get your leg around him. You're going to have to open your knee quite a bit to get it sitting snug and to have contact with your calf. When I was 14 I was riding an 18.0 hand WB for my farrier and had this problem until I learned how to train myself to get my leg on him.

ROFL, easier said than done, with longer stirrups, yes I have contact. When I jump I literally cannot reach unless I have longer spurs on, LOL! I guess I am going to have to learn to ride inside out in order to do this LOL

Hmmm that is interesting. I thought it'd actually be easier with short stirrups? Or I guess not...

wow, that is a difference!!! he looks alot better now. how did you get him to lose weight? how long did it take? I have been trying to get the weight off of my extremely easy keeper, he gained alot of weight last WINTER!!! he has lost 140lbs over the summer, it is so frustrating. lol

Wait, I have a great idea. Just give Margie Goldstein a ring and ask her how she rides Perin!

Well, cough, since my legs are like 17 1/4 in tall boots long, then you add the event saddle then shortened stirrups I guess its no wonder I can't reach. I Don;t evenknow if I can use those spurs in shows, but I guess if maybe I use them at home and try to get him to let me use a stick then maybe at a show I can use the stick to ask him to move over?!? So confused!

I agree - use a short whip instead of spurs. You can't change your conformation or his, so a whip could be much better than adjusting to longer spurs, plus you may be reaching with your legs which makes your legs less effective or may affect your balance.

I will try tonight and let you guys know.