Two points - both WAY off the mark:
Dallan, you think the price of land is dear at $200 000 per half acre? Try buying where I live - it would set you back between two and three MILLION dollars for a piece that size!!!!!
Bushmaster, you appear to know about horses. A piece of your experience if you wouldn't mind. I want to go horseriding on holiday and would like to know (in your opinion) the smallest horse I should accept. The ride would be more of a walk with a bit of a gallop for a few minutes, I am nearly 6' tall and weigh around 240lbs. My rule is that my eyes must be level with the horse's back. Would this be about right as I don't want to overload it? thanks.
Del

Delboy...Assuming that you are going to a riding stable and will be riding a horse using an English postage stamp saddle. I would leave it up to the stable rangler. He will fit you with a horse that you won't have to worry about your feet dragging the ground. My preseant horse that I own and ride the most is a Quarter horse that stands 14.3 hands high at the whithers. I am 5'7" and a rousing 155 lbs. Cutter could carry you with ease. My other horse, Dan a Thorough/Quarter horse, is 16 hands and would be a better choice. Cutter weighs in at 950 lbs and Dan is around 1200 lbs. For you, Dan, at 16 hds and 1200 lbs, would be the better choice. Delboy, (you a big boy...) let the rangler at the stable pick one for you...Have a good ride...And lookout for those "Unautorized Dismounts"...

Thanks Bushy, I'm riding in South Africa and they don't much give a s**t about the horse out there - just so long as you pay for the ride! I'm not much of a rider and last time I went the guy gave me a horse but didn't set everything up for me. On tiptoe my dangly bits were about an inch clear of the saddle (apparently the stirrups should have been raised) and after about 15 mins I revolved around the horse and fell off - landing on the only tree stump for miles and busting a couple of ribs! The girth(?) strap hadn't been tightened and everything went round with me! Even with the guide holding it's head and a little black helper hanging on to it's tail, there was no way this horse was having me back onboard so my wife and I swapped horses (she rides well). We went on for another couple of miles and then went back and by the time we arrived the horse I was riding (I use the term loosely!) had it's head so far down it's chin was nearly plowing a furrow and it was covered in lather - smothered in it! - and we were only walking them along! I never want to ride again if it's going to put a horse under that much pressure and effort so that's why I want to know about sizes of horses/carrying capacity. I don't think it's fair to work a beast that hard in the hot sun and would just as soon not bother if it meant that again (the horse, not the fall). Don't suppose I could borrow Cutter and your armchair that you call a saddle for a couple of weeks? Perhaps he might like a holiday abroad. Will he fit in my suitcase? Thanks a lot mate,
Del.

Depends on how big your Suitcase is... I will warn you though. He tends to complain a lot when confined and hungry...

Don't we all, Bushy???