Adults riding ponies? Am I daft to be considering this size?

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Patterdale

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I'm 5'1 and I've been riding a 17.1 all season who is too big for me really.

I'm currently looking at a 14.1 and worried it will end up being far too small?

Any experiences of adults on ponies, especially pictures, much appreciated please!
 
I'm a tad over 5ft 4 & ride a 13.2 native, I do sj & xc mainly - we have a ball & haven't had issues about me being too big. She's keen to tackle most stuff & we do regular clinics too :)

Obviously things depend on the build of the pony, a LW 14.1 might not take up your leg as well as a more solid pony, you may well find the lack of 'bonnet length' in front of you a bit disconcerting to start with, but once over that, you should be fine :)

ps: go and search for the 'pony squashing' thread - that ran for ages!
 
Im 5'5 and Frank's 14.2 :p

Width makes a big difference, he is only in a MW saddle but does take my leg up, I look bigger on Mum's 15h anglo.

Having ridden bigger horses/ponies with longer necks recently though coming home this week his ears did seem very close!
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an older pic, probably as long as I ride/look on him
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5ft1 people are made to ride ponies. What are you waiting for!

I'm 5ft8 and have a 17hh WB and a 14.2 cob. The cob is by far the more practical size!

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5'6 and 14.2hh

I do wish she was bigger, but only because I ride fairly long and I wish I had more horse under my leg :o

But we haven't been laughed out of the ring yet, she's recently started BD advanced medium.

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I'm 5'5" and I don't like riding anything
bigger than 14.2hh! My most recent acquisition is a 14hh Connie and I am also breaking in a 13.2hh Welsh pony!
 
I'm 5'1" and recently hopped on a friend's 14.2" cob. The big difference from my usual 16.3hh was the sudden shortage of neck in front of me! I'm sure I'd get used to that - and the shorter strides - in time. And he was certainly a LOT easier to tack up and get on/off!
 
no, you'l be tiny on it!! i'm 5'6 and i recently got a 14.1 project trotter and i absolutely love her size! i have a few 16.2+ horses, but from now on i'l def get smaller ones!
 
I am 5' 2" and ride a 13.2hh Connie X, just backed 14.1hh Welsh D and 14.2hh New Forest. would post pics but no idea how.
I love riding ponies, I blame my parents who wouldn't buy me a pony when I was a kid despite many tantrums. Had to wait till I was late 30's. My dream as a kid was a palomino Welsh A, but have to accept I might be too tall for one.
Go for it.
 
I'm 5'5 and have just bought a 13.2h Fell pony. I also have a 12.3h Exmoor. Fell has masses of bone, amazing feet, takes my leg perfectly and feels like riding a 14.2-plenty in front of me. Both have backs like donkeys. Exmoor has plenty of front, bone and wont take me leg quite as well when fit.
 
I'm 5'6 and my native is 14hh on tip toes. We hack for miles & miles (and do plenty of cantering with some gallops so not just short plods at walk - not that there is anything wrong with that), we jump, have done XC fences & dressage.

Having a pony is awesome - they are such characters with quick brains and are easy to hop on and off if need be. I geniunely return from every ride smiling and laughing at him, it would take a lot for me to want to own a big horse again.
 
I am on a biggish yard where there are very few horses under 16h, and lots of smallish women. So my eye is not at all used to seeing adults on ponies and it often looks odd to me when I see it. However 5' 1" on a 14.1, as long as it's not a very spindly type, wouldn't look odd even to me!

I am 5'5" and my last horse was 17.1. When he was off work, a friend was kind enough to offer me the ride on her 14.3 heinz 57. Although that's a bit smaller than I would choose to look for when horse shopping, I have to admit we looked well matched size wise.
 
I'm 5'7 and ride a 13.3 Fell, and before that 14.2/3 Welshies - was certainly not underhorsed on any of them - if anything they rode/ride 'bigger' than taller horses!
You can only really tell when you get on though, they can be quite deceptive - the native pony breeds have a long heritage of being multi-purpose adult rides.
 
I'm 5'2 and under nine and a half stone. Will happily ride ponies and prefer ponies to bigger horses. Weight is more important than height I think.
 
I'm 5ft4. I used to ride my now retired mare who is 13.1hh. I also ride my 13.2hh New Forest pony. Despite being very similar in height they are/were very different to ride. The retired mare felt like there was absolutely nothing in front of you whereas the NF feels a lot more like riding a small horse.
If you are light enough then go for it :)
 
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