Hobby Horse Size Guide: A3 or A4? How to Pick the Right Size

Every hobby horse listing mentions A3 or A4 and almost none of them explain it. The letters come from paper sizes, they describe the head and not the stick, and the "right" one depends on how tall you are and what you want to do with the horse. Here is the whole system in one place, with the numbers.

Where A3 and A4 come from

Hobby horse heads are sewn from a paper pattern, and the pattern is printed on a standard sheet. An A4 hobby horse has a head that fits on an A4 page, roughly 21 by 30 cm. An A3 hobby horse is drawn on the next size up, about 30 by 42 cm, so the head is around 40 percent larger in every direction. That is the entire origin of the naming. It says nothing about the stick, the quality or the breed.

Because the label describes the pattern and not the finished horse, two A4 heads from different makers can differ by several centimetres once they are stuffed. Treat the letter as a size class, not a measurement.

The three size classes riders actually use

Most makers and most competition organisers have settled on three classes. The names vary, the ranges do not.

Class	Head	Typical rider	Best for
S (A4 and smaller)	≈ 25–30 cm long	Children up to about 140 cm, and competitive jumpers of any age who want a light horse	First horse, agility, high jumping
M (between A4 and A3)	≈ 33–37 cm long	Riders from about 140 cm upward, teenagers, most adults	Dressage, show jumping to about 80 cm, everyday riding
L (A3 and larger)	≈ 40 cm and up	Adults, trainers, riders who want presence over speed	Dressage, showmanship, display

The middle class is where most riders land, and for a reason: it is heavy enough to move naturally at canter and light enough to clear a fence. A small child can grow into it, and an adult does not look oversized on it.

How to choose by rider height

Stand the rider up and measure from the floor to the hip bone. The stick should let the horse's head sit at roughly chest height when the rider holds it naturally between the legs. For most people that works out like this:

• Under 120 cm tall: size S with a short stick, 60–65 cm. The horse must be light enough to lift into a jump.
• 120–150 cm: size S or M, stick 65–75 cm. This is the range where riders switch classes as they grow.
• 150–170 cm: size M, stick 70–80 cm. The standard competition setup.
• Over 170 cm: size M or L, stick 80 cm and up. Adults and tall teenagers.

If the rider is between two ranges, go for the smaller horse when the goal is jumping and the larger one when it is dressage. A light horse clears fences; a heavy one shows movement.

Choosing by discipline

Show jumping. Lighter is better. Riders clearing 80 cm and above almost always use S or M. The head has to swing up over the fence, and every gram counts at the top of the arc.

Dressage. Size M or L. Judges look at the picture, and a larger head with a full mane reads better from the side of the arena. Weight matters less because there is no take-off.

Freestyle and showmanship. Any size, chosen for the routine. A unicorn or a costume horse is often S so that it can be handled quickly.

Everyday play. Size M. It survives being dropped, fits a seven year old and a fourteen year old, and does not need replacing when the child grows.

Our horses: one size, and why

Every hobby horse in our range has a 74 cm stick and a head of about 35 by 23 cm. That puts it squarely in the M class, between A4 and A3. We chose it because it is the size that works for the most riders: a seven year old learning to trot, a teenager clearing 80 cm, an adult riding dressage. The head is stuffed firm so it keeps its shape, and the stick is light enough that a child can carry it all day.

If you need a very small horse for a child under 110 cm, or a very large one for display, tell us through the custom form and we build it.

How to measure a hobby horse you already own

Lay the horse flat. Measure the head from the tip of the nose to the base of the neck where it meets the stick: that is the length people compare when they say A4 or A3. Then measure the stick from the neck to the end. Write both down. When you buy a bridle, a browband or a replacement stick, you will need the head measurement for the first two and the stick measurement for the third.

Common mistakes

• Buying big to "grow into". A horse that is too heavy today stops a child from jumping today. They lose interest before they grow.
• Judging size from photos. A head photographed alone looks larger than it is. Look for a photo with a hand or a rider in it.
• Ignoring the stick. Two horses with the same A4 head can have sticks 20 cm apart in length. The stick sets the riding height.
• Assuming bigger means better quality. Size and craftsmanship are independent. A well-made S beats a badly made L in every class.