Adult on native ponies

[Cob Life]

I’m hoping to buy my first horse, currently riding a few different ones ( a BIG warmblood with big movement, a slim tb and a cob) but I found my heart remains with the native ponies I grew up riding!

is it unrealistic for me to be looking at buying a bigger native such as a Welsh sec D or highland?

I’m 5’0 and 10-11 stone (my weight fluctuates but 11 is the heaviest I’ve been in the last 4 years) and a well balanced rider

ETA I know there will be variation depending on the individual pony

 

[rextherobber]

Only unrealistic if you want to go round Badminton! I have a sec D and I'm a lot taller than you. He's a lot of fun, and can have a go at everything (except Badminton, though to be fair, he'd probably have a go...)

 

[Cob Life]

Only unrealistic if you want to go round Badminton! I have a sec D and I'm a lot taller than you. He's a lot of fun, and can have a go at everything (except Badminton, though to be fair, he'd probably have a go...)

I have absolutely no aspirations to go round badminton or event in any way! The thought of going XC makes me feel sick

 

[Britestar]

Not at all. Go for it.
I now ride and compete a 12.3hh welsh X.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Get a Fell pony! They are quite simply amazingly awesome!

 

[Cob Life]

I think its sensible if I’m buying as I’m much more confident on ponies, if they play up it’s nothing I haven’t handled before, however when something 16hh+ plays up I can handle it but I struggle with confidence

 

[Cob Life]

Get a Fell pony! They are quite simply amazingly awesome!

I know someone with a fell and she adores him!

Fell or Highland have always been my dream ponies since I was a child! Would I not be a little too heavy for a true fell though? As they should be under 14hh

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I know someone with a fell and she adores him!

Fell or Highland have always been my dream ponies since I was a child! Would I not be a little too heavy for a true fell though? As they should be under 14hh

Absolutely not! A proper fell pony is a weight carrier. They have bone, width and depth. They would hardly notice you on board!

 

[winnie]

Or a Dales Pony....

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Another vote for a fell pony! Mine is a proper weight carrier type built like the perve

 

[sbloom]

I fit a ton of adult riders on natives (and there are loads of posts on here asking exactly what you have asked ), and the one thing that is usually tricky is saddle. I am having to assume you're not a string bean, and that means seat size can be a challenge. When you buy a horse bred to carry a saddle there's a ton of choice, brands, fitters, for those average shapes. For natives, cobs, very wide horses, it can be much harder and your budget, or your patience to find the right fitter and the right used saddle for a smaller budget, may need to expand much further than you imagine. Many pay much more for their saddle than they did for their pony, though that's at pre lockdown prices!

 

[Peglo]

I’ve got a 14.2 haflinger.(not a native to this country ?) I’m 5’5 so taller than you and she’s a super all rounder and and we’re giving everything a go. She feels very pony like to ride and it’s just the best fun. I also find having a small horse encourages me to keep my weight in check and get out that run in the rain.

 

[Gloi]

I know someone with a fell and she adores him!

Fell or Highland have always been my dream ponies since I was a child! Would I not be a little too heavy for a true fell though? As they should be under 14hh

No way you'd be too big for a Fell. Mine happily carried 12st round 30+ mile endurance rides and always passed vetting.

 

[southerncomfort]

Another vote for a Fell pony! They are fantastic little ponies, really great fun.

 

[scruffyponies]

Choose something suitably solid, and you'll be fine. A well built 12hh dartmoor would carry you all day!
My personal choice, if you like ponies, would be a Welsh C. The face of an angel, no issues with weight carrying, tonnes of personality and guts, and you'll never need a mounting block again.

 

[Nudibranch]

I'm 5'10 and I am too tall for my 13.2 Fell although she is built like a tank and would have no problem carrying me. I have a Dales, who is my riding horse and she is spot on in terms of size. She's just scraping 15.1 and perfect. I rode 16.2 plusses for many years before her but I wouldn't go back.

The only issue you will probably have is actually finding one as ridden Dales never come on to the market. I bought mine as a 3yo and backed her myself. I'll probably have to breed from her one day to find another as good! You'll find a Sec D or possibly a Highland more easily. The only thing I'll say is that having grown up on Welshies of the various sections, they're lovely but I'll probably never go back from a Dales!

If you search on here there are many, many threads on adults riding large breed ponies.

 

[dorsetladette]

You'll definitely be fine on a native.
Welsh cobs can be a bit marmite. Some people love them and some hate them.
Personally I find anything that isn't welsh a bit boring. (I have a field full)

My favourite of all is the section C. There as sure footed as a mountain pony with the presence of a welsh cob and the best trainable attitude. To a C (most anyway) life is just one big adventure. It makes every hack fun for both pony and rider.

 

[pistolpete]

I’ve had a bad experience with a highland who I bought in exactly your situation. On paper he was perfect but… If I had my time I’ve I would go for a Irish cob or maybe a Connie cross. Currently riding an over height Connie who is a dream but I know they aren’t all like him!

 

[Hallo2012]

5'7 on 13hh B (chesnut) and 13hh C (bay)

any of the large breeds will carry you easily but as Sbloom says its the saddle you also need to consider.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

OP, not unrealistic to look at ponies. I came full circle from natives, to TBs, ISH to natives.
I'm 5ft 5 on 141.5 (under 14hh) Fell pony and we do just about everything. I'm hankering after trying out barrell racing next...
You are shorter than me by 5", I'm 10 and a quarter stone with tack, we can cheerfully do 15 mile fun rides etc.
A couple of snaps below to show that I'm not huge on her.
I can, if necessary get on from the ground (prefer not to tho) and having put in hard work at the start, I can take her just about anywhere.

 

[Tarragon]

Go for it! I love my Exmoor ponies, but really, supporting any of the British native breeds is good.
I am 5'5" and around 9.5 stone and will do 20 mile EGB rides quite easily on a fit pony.
Your height is an advantage on the smaller ponies because it affects their centre of gravity less and your legs will look appropriate.
They all tend to be hardy and healthy, and tend to cost less to keep.
A distinct advantage is that riding a pony gives you the excuse to do all those fun things you enjoyed in your childhood!

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

Another vote for a Fell, mine is only 3 but is filling out and starting to resemble a small tank, I'm 5'3 and he will easily take up my leg and carry me when the time comes to ride him.
He's just so much fun and never fails to make me laugh. He's friendly, cheeky, stubborn and far to clever for his own good but so kind and genuine, and is happy to have a go at anything you ask him to do. I've had welsh ponies for the last 20 years but now would always pick a Fell over another welsh.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Highlands can be sharp, I've ridden one that was that, it took me by surprise as I'm a pretty brave rider, but they are so powerful that when they do have a batshit crazy moment, they can put some real strength into the mix. The quieter bloodlines can be found but demand a high price tag as they are very sought after.
I would suggest a Fell as I've ridden a few and haven't come across one yet that hasn't been a sensible type, but they are also keen and nicely forward going.

 

[tda]

No problem at all, go for it!
Dales ponies have preferred height of 14.2 but range from 13hh to the odd one at 16hh. My ridden dales is 13.2hh and she has been ridden by taller and heavier people than me
I have two youngsters that are over height already so a real range. Ridden ponies quite scarce, there are more ridden Fell Ponies around

 

[throwaway2022]

At the ripe old age of 36, I’ve never owned a horse! Absolutely go for it, you’ve got tonnes of options and ponies are the best. I’ve had Fells, Highlands and a myriad of Welshies. Pony of a lifetime was a Highland who I was forced to sell.

I’m trying to decide what to buy for my next (and probably last) pony. My heart wants a B but I don’t know if the pressure to keep my weight down will put a downer on it. Plus, it’s nigh on impossible to find a nice, full up, old fashioned type with bone.

 

[Goldie's mum]

I found my heart remains with the native ponies I grew up riding!

Definitely follow your heart. You are not too heavy or tall for a native.
I'm 5ft 5 and 65Kg fully dressed for riding. I started on Highlands, went to Welsh D x TB when I was at an age/stage that I wanted more fizz & now I'm on my way back down the other side, looking at smaller ponies again for my old age!
If you don't want to jump tall things you absolutely don't need a tall horse.

 

[Annagain]

You've already been told to go for it so I don't need to repeat that, I'll just say I know exactly where you're coming from. Sadly, I'm too heavy for all but the biggest of Section Ds now (but am considering one if I can find one) but a while back (when I was a stone or two lighter) I made plans to ride with a nervous friend when she had a bit of meltdown and couldn't even get on her Section D so we swapped. She rode Saint Monty (even though she'd never sat on him before she'd seen him plenty and knew how good he was so he felt like the better option to her at the time) and I rode her boy - a 15hh Sec D who was a bit cheeky but not awful. The second my backside hit the saddle, it felt like coming home.

 

[Goldie's mum]

Highlands can be sharp, I've ridden one that was that, it took me by surprise as I'm a pretty brave rider, but they are so powerful that when they do have a batshit crazy moment, they can put some real strength into the mix. The quieter bloodlines can be found but demand a high price tag as they are very sought after.
I would suggest a Fell as I've ridden a few and haven't come across one yet that hasn't been a sensible type, but they are also keen and nicely forward going.

I had a share in a highland who had a nap-rear-spin-bolt habit . Certainly "native" doesn't necessarily mean "ploddy" (but at least you're near the ground!).

Edited to add; I've never ridden a Fell but would like to. Most of the Fells I see for sale seem to be youngsters so OP may struggle to find one if she doesn't have the facilities or desire to start from there.

 

[FitzyFitz]

Everyone in my family except for one rides ponies almost exclusively!

If you want to jump the puissance you'll be better off on a horse, but truthfully for 99% of riders a decent pony can do anything they'd ever want and you dont hit your head on tree branches quite so much!

Dad and I have competed up to advanced level in endurance on 14hh ponies. One of ours, before we had her used to do 3'6 working hunter courses. Tallest of us is 5'6 and the heaviest about 78kg. So long as you and the pony are in decent shape they should carry you just fine and do nearly anything you could want. At your size you should be fine. I favour New Forests and Welshies but also love Highlands and Dales ponies

 

[GreyDot]

Highlands can be sharp, I've ridden one that was that, it took me by surprise as I'm a pretty brave rider, but they are so powerful that when they do have a batshit crazy moment, they can put some real strength into the mix. The quieter bloodlines can be found but demand a high price tag as they are very sought after.

This absolutely, I know one who is extremely sharp! Has a fab rider, but they have their hands full for sure.