Adults on ponies!

[pixie27]

After a run of crappy luck with my two horses (both now retired/semi retired), I’m thinking of going for a pony this time round. I’m definitely the right size (the figure of Billy Elliot and about 5’4) but I have this feeling I’ll be too big?! Or that I’ll miss my daft TB types too much!

Would love to see pics and hear from any of you that have ponies! Especially if you compete - I only really compete at 80/90 in riding club activities (eventing mainly) so nothing mega.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Well I don't compete but I am 5'5 and ride a 13.2/3h Fell pony. Quite a few HHOers ride Fells because they is brilliant
we do horseback archery and will start some endurance this year. He has quite a pop but I don't like leaving the ground these days and don't have facilities to work on it anyway. Quite a few Fells out there with a decent pop and the native brain means they go all day (whether you want them to or not )

 

[Cowpony]

I'm 5ft and ride a 14.2 Welsh x. I can recommend a Welsh if you want daft!

 

[ester]

You won't be too big, my pony takes up my leg (5'5) much better than my Mum's horse sized version ever did.
Isn't really anything he hasn't done apart from driving, he didn't like that
and yes he's welsh if you want to stick to daft.... and don't want a mini TB

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

I'm 5'2 on a 14.3 cob and I love her. We're aiming for a bit of riding club this year. My friend is 5'8 and looks totally comfortable on my mare as she takes up the leg so you're definitely not too tall for a pony

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Me at 5ft 11 on my 14.3hh (with shoes on!) tank of a Welsh D - so much fun! He'll have a go at anything, fast, loves to jump & I'd have loved to event him but he's got a pollen allergy which makes him exercise intolerant. If you can deal with the quirky hot headed side of a Welshie I can't recommend them enough!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

As MoC says, you won't feel out of place on a Fell.
My 2 are very different types, 1 is an old fashioned long maned round 13.3 hill pony type, was cheerfully lugging me round 70 to 80 sj and xc.
My other is a full up 14hh (but I look a little bigger on her, as she's a lean fit machine) and is a fun adults ride, v forward going, pops 90 sj for fun and is more than capable at well over 1m (once I have found decent brakes lol).
Any of the large breed natives ought to suit, depending on what you like. All have to jump in excess of 90 in open whp classes, just find an athletic one

 

[Meowy Catkin]

You're the same height as me, so perfect for an Arab!

This post shows what they are capable of if they don't have a crock jockey. I miss this poster and their horse, they just had a go at everything - very inspirational.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...ical-competition-horses.641964/#post-12156399

 

[WHWMo]

I’m 5”5 (8.5st) and I’ve only ever owned ponies. First was 14.2 new forest x tb, then 14.1 cob, now 13.2 welsh x cob! They’ve all been fantastic fun, quick around a course and very hardy little critters.

I competed to 1m with the new forest x tb and I would really recommend the mix of breeds, especially if you’re worried you’ll miss your tb’s.

 

[Bea_millard]

I’m 5ft2 and my pony is 13.2. I’m around 9 stone and my pony doesn’t seem to struggle at all

 

[windand rain]

Ponies are fab there is a native pony out there for every rider from 2 to 92 from 2ft to 6ft 6 and everything in between even for every weight up to a sensible max of about 15 stone. They can and do do everything from good dressage to jumping to eventing and even driving. If you want spark there are Welsh, some lines of Highland ponies and some Connemaras. I would never have anything else now. Used to have big event horses but ponies are the best they are tougher, generally easy keepers as long as you keep them slim and have reduced my bills considerably. As always there will be exceptions to prove the rule

 

[pixie27]

Love all these replies! Seems like ponies are the way to go.

Faracat - I would LOVE an Arab. I would just have no clue on how to find a good one! A friend has a brilliant mare who events to a decent standard.

An athletic native would also be brilliant, or a TB x. Think a NF x TB would be the best. Used to have a NF when I was younger and he was as genuine (and cheeky) as you could get.

 

[windand rain]

Jumping fun with her at the time 8 year old 4ft, 3 stone rider

 

[Quigleyandme]

I'm 5'8" and I had a 14.2 Dales that I did absolutely everything on. He had such a good front and barrel and took up a lot of leg and never left me feeling under horsed. He was healthy, happy and handsome.

 

[Talism4n]

I'm 5ft 4 with long legs and now on my second Arab type. My old 14.1hh Welsh cross took up my leg very nicely and happily jumped 1m20 for years. The current lunatic is a smidge below 15hh and purebred, but feels bigger than he is and is coming along beautifully. I love an Arab brain, much more consistently forward going and keen to work than some of the native types I've had previously, though I do still have a soft spot for a small Welsh.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

http://www.arabianlines.com/for_sale/index.htm is a good place to start.

 

[whirlwind]

You need a fell! Ours hunt up front all day, event up to 90 level, do fun rides, riding club, show at county level and everything else. And enjoy a pub ride!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I used to loan a Fell x and he was lovely. It's a wonderful breed.

 

[tda]

Dales all the way for me, they can turn their hoof to anything, but if you want a hairy for jumping a fell is generally better 😁
NF are very underrated I think too.

I recognise your pics Whirlwind (alex) I used to own this lovely pony 😁

 

[whirlwind]

Dales all the way for me, they can turn their hoof to anything, but if you want a hairy for jumping a fell is generally better 😁
NF are very underrated I think too.

I recognise your pics Whirlwind (alex) I used to own this lovely pony 😁

The lovely Winnie the wonder pony! And the smaller one is the Balmoral mare Lilly. She doesn’t have quite so much of a pop as Winnie but she’s a lovely pony to hunt and isn’t quite as sharp!

 

[BBP]

I’m 5’3 and approx 55-60kgs. Pony is 14.1hh and is 1/4 welsh b and 3/4 PRE. I wouldn’t want him any bigger, he’s fun, feisty, and would probably scare the bejeezus out of me if he was 16hh! Ponies rock!

 

[Auslander]

Definitely not too big, and I had thought about mentioning it when we were chatting the other day! You can get nuttty TB type ponies too!

 

[terrierliz]

5'2" on a 13.1 quirky but fun, definitely not a child's pony

 

[CrazyMare]

Don't forget there is also the warmblood sports ponies. I have three of them. I'm afraid natives, cobs and things with hair just don't do it for me.

Mine are super sharp, big moving and stuffed with attitude.

My 14.2 would be utterly terrifying at 16h but that's what makes him so fun.

 

[Ambers Echo]

Max is a Fell X TB and rides like a mini horse. It's a good mix! I also had a fell pony mare who was fab. We evented unaff - just at 70 as that was as high as I dared go then!

I am 5.6 and never felt too big on either of them.

Max

Cally

 

[pixie27]

These ponies are just awesome, some absolute crackers! Now next question - where did you all find them?!

Auslander - think you probably figured it out before me ha! Nutty TB type pony is exactly what I want!

Totally agree with what’s fun on a pony certainly wouldn’t be at 16hh+
Some of my best horsey memories include very naughty ponies, can’t believe it’s taken so long to go back to them. Time for proper pony shopping now I think!

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

I'm 5'6 and I've only ridden ponies for years. I have NF ponies who turn their hoof to everything. Badminton grassroots has had a couple of NF's competing very successfully. NFED is a good place to look.

 

[windand rain]

Raised my own either bred them or bought at weaning/youngstock

 

[nikicb]

Me at 5'4" on my 14.1/14.2 Welsh/Arab/Appaloosa mare at our recent Regionals. She's safe, but a lot of fun, but pretty clever and I would only put some teenagers on her, not all. x

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I've been exercising my friend's cobby pony who is approx 14.1/2...I'm 5ft 11"..!!!!! I do feel a bit silly as I'm used to big horses but she's a fun little thing ❤