Adults buying ponies - socially acceptable?

Im having my first winter with a pony and its brill! I've gone from a 17.2h ISH to a 14.2 heavy cob and having more fun on him than i've had for years. He still hasn't got a rug on (would have been on layers of 7"3 rambo's by now), no specialist huge tack is needed, he poo's less and lives on fresh air! Must have been mad not to have done it years ago. Im 5"8 and have very long legs but I don't look miles too big and he doesn't seem to mind at all! On our yard 99% are natives and ridden by adults..
 
I'm 40...5'5''......my 3 are 13.3hh, 15hh and 15.1hh.

My motto.....always have a horse small enough to get back onto when you've fallen off out hacking:rolleyes:

I like smaller ones you can really wrap your legs around, especially my bacon-rasher of an arab:D....pocket rockets I call 'em.
 
I'm 26, 5'2, 12st and have 5 ponies - 3 New forests, 1 part bred NF & 1 retired part bred welsh :D

I tried horses, got bored, so went back to ponies. I compete them in NPS M&M classes and there's barely a kid/teen in sight on them - including the small breeds haha!
 
I think you've got the gist lol :D

Just to add to it: I used to ride D1's 13.3hh cob - was a hoot :D :D :D. I'm five eight and a bit and back then was about 13 stone. My horse is a 16.3hh DWB, but she was often less tiring to ride than Little Cob :D. He did like to bounce :D. The only thing I didn't do was jump him, that was D1's perogative :D
 
My last four horses have been around 16h hands. I've had enough of sports horse over-reactions, physical problems and of trying to get anywhere competitively. Went and found a 14.2 arab to have a go at some more endurance and just for an easier life. So far its the best decision I've ever made. ETA I'm 5'2 and about 9.5 stone.

What I would say if you are thinking about buying a pony is some can be very short striding and if you want to hack out with people who will mostly be on bigger horses it is a good idea to get a pony with a good walk that doesn't have to keep jogging to catch up. :)
 
I am 45 years old, 5' 2" and have a 14hh fell!

The advantages I've found have been that I can ride whenever I want without worrying about explosive behaviour.
I can go on routes that 16.2hh horses wouldn't fit on due to low branches etc.
Doing gates is a doddle and it is easy to get back on if I do have to get off.
I can just turn out unrugged and not worry about cold horses or weight dropping off.
Works without shoes, so much cheaper.
No hard feed needed. Hay costs are reduced too.
They are the perfect height to use as stepladders for picking Autumn fruits when out (don't forget a carrier bag shoved in a pocket!)
Mine tends to be unphased by most things and nursemaids lots of youngsters, even when she was a baby herself!
I have huge amounts of fun with her and she will turn her hoof to whatever I want to do. She would do the whole family as a riding pony if needed.
Stamina wise she seems to have never ending energy and is never a plod.

The disadvantages are that I am constantly weight watching and controlling grazing.
Long coats are great, but do get muddy (of course clipping and rugging solves this problem.)
I sometimes find that traffic gives a larger horse more space.

On the whole I've no regrets about getting a pony.
 
I'm jealous of adults who can ride ponies!!! :( Closest I've got is my 15hh heavy cob...he has his moments of naughty pony behaviour but not the same fun as most ponies I know. I'd love to be small enough to have a pony of my own so you guys that can go for it!!
 
With the amount of sarcy/rude comments us adult pony riders get on livery yards, at shows, by friends, surely there must be people on here who think adults should be on horses & kids on ponies?

Come on, air your views :D :D
 
I'm 5 6, and have a 14.0 irish cob and a 12.0 coloured pony, they are great fun, with great characters :) I think it's brilliant more adults are riding ponies, and as they tend to keep them its great for the ponies to, no more being passed from kid to kid.
 
Ted is only 13.1. Can't say I've ever worried about being socially acceptable. We have great fun together and that's frankly all that matters.

I have nothing against horses, just aren't for me. Is personal preference.
 
Of course it is! If you are small enough and light enough to ride a pony then go for it. There is no rule to say ponies are just for children. I still compete and hunt my first pony (he's 14.2hh) and most of my friends are now onto horses. People often look down their noses at me when we are warming up but their expressions soon change when they see him in a jump off! ;) A lot of people have said to me, "Don't you think you should be looking for a horse by now?" and "You're legs are a bit long on him no." I'm 19 so I doubt I will grow any taller and he carries me easily. I think people just get jealous of you can still ride ponies and they can't because you have more of a choice than they do. I too love riding ponies, and was regularly riding a 12.3 hh Exmoor pony up to this summer and he was awesome! :)
 
I love this thread! I've just got my second horse, sorry pony!, after 8 years. He's con x nf and 14.2 hh but v chunky! I was a bit worries about what people would say as he's small and i'm 5ft 6 and almost 10 stone. But I don't care any more! He's broken just now but I can't wait start riding him again and do some riding club activiteis! x
 
I don't think it matters one little bit whether you ride/buy a horse or a pony. As long as you're happy and the pony's happy and is suitable enough for what you want to do and what weight you are then tehre's no issue and you can pretty much do anything. I guess the only issue you would/could have is if you wanted to do higher level BSJA (BS whatever!) or eventing, then you could struggle on a pony (unless they are one of those exceptional ones!). Other than that the world's your oyster! Lol

I do like ponies, i still ride my 14.2hh who's now 23/24. Really he's not actually that suitable as a child's pony anyway, only a confident teenager or adult and I think some bigger ponies are like that as they can be a bit too much for a younger child.
 
i have a pony and wouldn't swap him for anything bigger ever ever ever! i've always preferred riding ponies and at 35 i'm only 5ft3 and about 8 1/2 stone so am able to keep riding them. when i was looking to buy, my height range was 13 - 14.2. i ended up firstly with a 14 hh chunky welsh mare, then sold her and bought my boy i have now. he's 13.3. i dont feel silly on him, other than when i ride out with my friend on her 15.3 i do feel as if i'm tiny!! but give me ponies anyday. less far to fall for a start and much more fun!
 
Hi I'm 48 5'2" tall and weigh about 9 stone and bought my first pony, sho is 14.2/3 in February this year and I love her!!! :) Socially acceptable? I should say so....lol :)

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I'm 29, 5'10 weigh not very much and have a 14.2hh, used to ride and regularly jump a 13.2hh too :)

My other horse is 16.3hh and I do look like I fit better on him, but really I don't care how I look, its all about fun for me.
 
The pony I ride is a 13.2hh Welsh Section C cob type and I'm 5'1" and weigh 10 stone - we manage fine jumping, hunting, showing, hacking and schooling. My non-horsey friends are quite often shocked when they see just how stumpy my pony is, but most of them are too scared to get near him let alone get on him so I'm not too fussed what they think!

I have ridden all shapes and sizes of ponies and horses (18.2hh was a bit too big really...!) and can honestly say I'm a pony person. Yes he bites my feet in the stirrups and can unload himself, untie himself, de-rug himself and move around shovels and brooms but that's what makes having a pony fun. And he is an endless challenge, one day we'll get the measure of his very swift pony spins on the forehand…
 
Also, when I have sold poniesin the past, I would often prefer an adult for them to go to. Becuase I know what I was like as a teenager!
 
Done the full circle started with Toffee 14.1hh welsh x got a ex racer who was 16.3hh.
Then Winston a 15.3hh cob and now back to a 14.1hh Welsh and so much happier on her although she rides big.

And still have Toffee lol.

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I dont think I look too big?? Ignore her hinds they look really weird in this photo, I think she was shuffling about.
 
So glad there is so much support for pony riders!
I was always frowned upon for my 13.2 pony when out riding. I'm 5 ft 10 but lightweight & there was no harm in me riding him so don't get what peoples problems are/were!
Ponies are the best! So much character!
Only this morning i rode my friends 13.2 cob & loved it :D
 
Tinker_Belle said:
I am 5ft with a 14.2hh NF mare :D. I'm 25 and don't look out of place on her. It's ponies all the way for me as they are so much fun and have so much character :D.

Having said that, she rides like a horse so it's the best of both worlds. Being so short, the bonus of it is I have not outgrown the pony I was bought as a 12th birthday present :p :D.

13 years down the line and I still would not change her :D. Despite her antics at times :rolleyes: :D.
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Yay!!! I'm 5'2", with a 14hh NF, bought just after my 14th birthday, and she is now 17 & me 27. She is so much fun, no matter what you do with her - and the antics, well, I think it;s bred in to the New Foresters as I've never ridden or met a 'quiet' one!!
They're fun, relatively easy & cheap to keep (mine is one hell of an exception to this rule, but that's a whole other story!!lol), and they never give up - you'll love it!!! :)
 
I love ponies , mind you that's probably because I ride , breed and show Exmoors . All turned out 24/7 for the winter , so economical !
Love Jinglejoy's mule , could have something to do with the mealie markings
 
As were starting to post pictures, here's my OH on her NF mare, who at 14.3hh is strictly speaking not a pony, but is purebred New Forest. She is now 17 (the mare, not my OH :D).

WendyFolly3.jpg
 
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