rode tall in the saddle

Verb

ride tall in the saddle (third-person singular simple present rides tall in the saddle, present participle riding tall in the saddle, simple past rode tall in the saddle, past participle ridden tall in the saddle)

1. To ride a horse in an erect, imposing manner.
2. (broadly, idiomatic) To act or conduct oneself in a manner that is imposing, impressive, resolute, or manly.
   • His son noted Buckley had died "with his boots on, after a lifetime of riding pretty tall in the saddle."2008 February 27, Conservative Author Buckley Dead at 82, Associated Press