Adults on ponies- should I be worried about being judged?

[belle98]

Hi everyone,

im 22 years old, 5ft6 and currently ride a 13.3 sports cob pony. I love her to pieces and we have so much fun together but im forever worrying that other people think im too big etc, especially with some passive comments from people on the yard such as "are you going to move onto something bigger" etc. I weigh 9st 3 and have calculated that im not over the 20% rule. What do you guys think? id love to take her showjumping but im so concerned someone will tell me im too big . Happy to pm someone pics of me on her to get an opinion!

 

[Rosie Round The Hills]

The world is full of people who make judgements, but the problem with the horse world is that people often make them out loud. Something which we wouldn’t do in a clothes shop, or a beauty salon, hairdressers, church, or family party ??‍. So the secret to surviving the horse world is to remember that peoples judgements are worthless unless you actively sought them out. If you know someone who is informed about ponies , knowledgeable about your weight and riding style, and knows you and your pony well - then by all means ask their opinion, and then listen to it. But unless you have ASKED for the opinions, then ignore them.

 

[conniegirl]

People are idiots!
Adults on ponies is awsome.
ponies are the best and so much more fun than the more “serious” horses.

im far older than you, im 5ft4 and i ride a 13.2hh section C who has no issues carting my fat arse up a hill at the gallop whenever he feels like it (and he regularly feels like it, often when i dont want to)

Photo of mine going for gallopies despite my fat arse on him

 

[albeg]

People are idiots!
Adults on ponies is awsome.
ponies are the best and so much more fun than the more “serious” horses.

This! I'm 5'3", older (and weigh more) and have a 14.2 Connemara who easily tanks around with me ?. I also recently have ridden my friend's 13.2s. When I was a bit lighter I used to regularly ride a 12.2 as well.

Keep having fun on your sports cob and ignore the silly comments/questions (I know it's hard sometimes, but don't let them get to you).

 

[Equi]

Id be quite honest with you re how you look together. You weight is not too much, but sometimes you can look a bit "wrong" on a horse/pony - but its your pony to do what you please with and other peoples opinions should not really matter.

 

[belle98]

People are idiots!
Adults on ponies is awsome.
ponies are the best and so much more fun than the more “serious” horses.

im far older than you, im 5ft4 and i ride a 13.2hh section C who has no issues carting my fat arse up a hill at the gallop whenever he feels like it (and he regularly feels like it, often when i dont want to)

Photo of mine going for gallopies despite my fat arse on himView attachment 40332

Ah what a cracking pony!
Thank you xx

 

[belle98]

Id be quite honest with you re how you look together. You weight is not too much, but sometimes you can look a bit "wrong" on a horse/pony - but its your pony to do what you please with and other peoples opinions should not really matter.

Haha I appreciate proper honesty, I shall PM you!

 

[tda]

Gosh no, tell them to trot on while you bomb off on your pony. ?
From a fellow pony owner x

 

[belle98]

The world is full of people who make judgements, but the problem with the horse world is that people often make them out loud. Something which we wouldn’t do in a clothes shop, or a beauty salon, hairdressers, church, or family party ??‍. So the secret to surviving the horse world is to remember that peoples judgements are worthless unless you actively sought them out. If you know someone who is informed about ponies , knowledgeable about your weight and riding style, and knows you and your pony well - then by all means ask their opinion, and then listen to it. But unless you have ASKED for the opinions, then ignore them.

fab advice, I shall keep in mind. Thank you xx

 

[ycbm]

People are idiots!
Adults on ponies is awsome.
ponies are the best and so much more fun than the more “serious” horses.

im far older than you, im 5ft4 and i ride a 13.2hh section C who has no issues carting my fat arse up a hill at the gallop whenever he feels like it (and he regularly feels like it, often when i dont want to)

Photo of mine going for gallopies despite my fat arse on himView attachment 40332

What a cracking picture! Two happy people ?

 

[conniegirl]

Id be quite honest with you re how you look together. You weight is not too much, but sometimes you can look a bit "wrong" on a horse/pony - but its your pony to do what you please with and other peoples opinions should not really matter.

Why does it matter how you look? If you are not to heavy and don’t feel unbalanced then it matters not a jot if others think you look too tall

 

[Equi]

Why does it matter how you look? If you are not to heavy and don’t feel unbalanced then it matters not a jot if others think you look too tall

I quite agree but sometimes people want someone to actually look and tell them honestly. And after looking, as i have said to OP, she looks perfectly fine and to crack on!

 

[conniegirl]

Ah what a cracking pony!
Thank you xx

What a cracking picture! Two happy people ?

Thanks, he is one of the most awesome ponies I’ve ever owned.
He was/is a superstar in the show ring, was loaned to me by a friend to get my confidence back after a series of youngsters and health issues left it in tatters, I ended up buying him within 5 months.
We now pootle round in the veteran show classes and enjoy going zoomies. He is permanently jolly, and happy to try everything.

 

[belle98]

Why does it matter how you look? If you are not to heavy and don’t feel unbalanced then it matters not a jot if others think you look too tall

very true, its more to check im not going mad, given some of the comments I have received from other liveries!

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

I have ridden and owned ponies for the past 25 years. I am 5'6 and heavier than you but under the 20%. I am lucky I am in an area where it is very common to see adults on ponies. We have lots of fun! You crack on and enjoy yours. Ignore the negativity.

 

[Equi]

Youll get all sorts of opinionated people on livery. I had to firmly tell one who kept saying my muzzle was cruel that 1) its vet recommended as horse is suffering from weight issues/fetlock issues and can't treat until skinnier/possible lami 2) its none of her damn business cause its not her horse! I could say a LOT about her horse...but i don't cause it ain't my damn business.

You go to your showjumping classes, you have fun, and to hell with them! They probably just don't want the competition lol

 

[windand rain]

Since the rise in native pony popularity hundreds of adults have found the joy of riding ponies so I would be surprised if most folk even noticed

 

[teddypops]

Yes you will be judged, but you will be judged on whatever you do, so ignore it and carry on with what you are doing.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

very true, its more to check im not going mad, given some of the comments I have received from other liveries!

Should you buy a bigger horse, before you know it, those very same liveries will be telling you that you are over-horsed! Some people just enjoy being negative and need others to feel upset in order to feel good about themselves. On the other hand, it might just be that they are hoping to buy him from you! Ignore them all

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When my sister was late teens and a beanpole 5' 7" she had two ponies, a 12hh welsh, a tough little pony off the mountains. The other was a stocky 13.1hh New Forest. The welsh, Mischief, was one of the most fun ponies ever. Cracking gymkhana pony, happily took her hunting, regularly humiliated her in jumping clases including dropping her on the floor over a fence. Apart from cushings induced laminitis he was never unsound in his long life with her and only finally put down at the age of 30 when we had to leave our farm andhad nowhere suitable to move him to. He was very frail by then but still very much loved. The NF was also a good pony but she lost him to an aneurism at 7. Finally moved onto horses by buying a 3/4tb yearling filly, a huge step in type and a very steep learning curve. Filly only made 15hhs which was disapointing but turned out to be a very talented jumper. However my sister still had people asking when she was going to get something bigger. Why when you have a horse that can do everything you want and more?

 

[SO1]

I am an adult on a pony - I have a chunky 13.3 new forest and in the 13 years of ownership no-one has ever mentioned anything but I am child size 5.2ft and 8 stone.

Some larger children may be too tall and heavy for ponies and some smaller adults might be the perfect size and weight. if you are worried ask your vet when they next come out to vaccinations if they think you are too big and I expect they will say no and then you can say to anyone who questions you that your vet has said you are not too tall or heavy so you are going to continue to enjoy your pony.