adults riding ponies

TheLadyInBay

TheLadyInBay

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I am 22 and ride ponies. Both of mine are ponies, one 14,2 and one 13.2. I'm only 4'11 so only teeny myself so why do people always seem so surprised that I'm riding a pony? I sometimes get odd glances when out and about or people seem to be really surprised when I tell them. Surely it's better than me riding a huge horse that is too big for me as that's what adults ride? So what's the problem with adults riding ponies?
 
There is none! I am 5 ft 5'' and have never owned a horse over 14.2hh and have had no comments or issues.

I hunt regularily and we have very wooded and hilly country so a pony is far more suitable than a 16.3hh anyhow!

The only riding issues I have ever had are when SJ as often the bigger courses are set up on a horse stride, but take that into account and pop in an extra one if a combination etc.

I think in general people associate ponies with kids and adults with horses, but as long as you are the right height and weight, it really shouldn't matter which you ride.
 
I've just taken on a 14.1 pony after owning 15.3+ horses for several years and can't say I've noticed anyone reacting differently to me having a pony. If you enjoy riding your two don't worry about what others think!
 
I think the issue only comes when the rider is too tall or too heavy (whole other thread!) otherwise go for it. My moo is only just 14.3 so could probably squish down as a pony but I am 5ft 5 and just under 11st so dont look too big on her
 
GG2B said:
I've just taken on a 14.1 pony after owning 15.3+ horses for several years and can't say I've noticed anyone reacting differently to me having a pony. If you enjoy riding your two don't worry about what others think!
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Same here, and I'm nearly 5ft8. No one has made any comment to me at all!
 
I've had more people (vets/saddlers/physios) telling me I should ride them (Exmoors) one is 12h and 19, back in work this year after a 2year hiatus. The other is 13.1h and just being started at 4yo. he's being kept as a riding pony for me but wont be in proper work until next year. I am 5ft6. The only way to keep the 12h happy and fit is to work him-he's not a child's pony and will not ride and lead and is too awful in traffic to drive. The alternative is to keep the poor sod in a 10ft square of grass and muzzled 24/7-would rather walk the legs off the little ****** :D
 
It's probably just me then :D I Do think some people sort of associate horses with adults more. As well as you don't seem to see many people riding ponies above the age of 10. Although there are a lot of "14.2" ponies with kids on that tower above my 14.2 beasties. But from a height point of view I much prefer not having to reach all the time and like how nippy smaller horses can be.
 
Tbh ponies are generally a lot stronger for their size than horses, so altho taller riders look a bit funny and balance may be an issue, weight wise within reason I think ponies cope with a lumpy rider better. That's partly down to the simple fact that ponies are the size that equines are designed to be, hence why they live longer and don't have so many leg, colic etc problems, and back problems too.

I 'upgraded and downsized' from my 17hand hunter to my 14.2 pony and it was the best thing I ever did. More exciting too, you know how fast you feel you go in a go kart when you are close to the ground.....same thing! And less far to fall.

The only thing I find less good is jumping, cos I'm 5 7 with a long body and ponio has quite a low head carriage, I miss having big neck in front of me as an airbag if it goes a bit wrong!
 
I've told my gangly daughter I will disown her if she ever gets too tall to ride ponies. I refuse to have a horse about the place :p :D
 
I have the other issue, I'm 13 & 5ft6 so I ride a 16.1 gelding purely because I'm also about 65kg so I'm pretty heavy! I have a lot of people telling me I shouldn't be riding something that big and I should go back to my 15.1 but I personally feel more the right size (and honestly, a bit safer)! On my big horse, so yup :)
 
Im 6ft and my Coblet is 13.3 :p it would be a whole other story if he was a fine 13.3 but in all honesty I don't feel huge on him and we compete in all sorts together :) ok I feel more at home on a 16hh+ but we don't have the room or money for another :)
 
I'm pleasantly surprised at how few horsey people comment about my exmoor. I have had the odd rude comment about size ratio, but only snobbery I've had recently is with saddlers! Last yard manager was a bit condescending, but she was soon put right when he demonstrated more stamina than her thoroughbred or her friend's Arab. Ha!
 
I had some dreadful woman last year saying how that Exmoors were only fit to drive-impossible to train for riding. I just replied that it depended on who was doing the training-some people just weren't very good at it ;)
there are some awesome Exmoors about competing successfully, hunting and doing endurance and some being top class family ponies in the true sense of the word.

not at all unusual to see adults competing at endurance up here on ponies.
 
FreyaB said:
I have the other issue, I'm 13 & 5ft6 so I ride a 16.1 gelding purely because I'm also about 65kg so I'm pretty heavy! I have a lot of people telling me I shouldn't be riding something that big and I should go back to my 15.1 but I personally feel more the right size (and honestly, a bit safer)! On my big horse, so yup :)
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Erm I weight more than you and ride a 14.2 65kg is NOT heavy
 
If anything I'd have said it as the other way round re:exmoors. It's much easier to get off when riding, but I don't think I'd ever hitch my mare up to a cart! I have a friend who competes in dressage and trec on hers and didn't one complete a top end endurance event, recently? Something of The Golden Horseshoe ilk?
 
Fransurrey said:
If anything I'd have said it as the other way round re:exmoors. It's much easier to get off when riding, but I don't think I'd ever hitch my mare up to a cart! I have a friend who competes in dressage and trec on hers and didn't one complete a top end endurance event, recently? Something of The Golden Horseshoe ilk?
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they make great driving ponies-very famous Exmoor breeder in Cumbria used to drive 4 in hand, cross country :D and there's Dunkery Berwick who won a big driving championships a year or so ago.
There's a lady who competes an Exmoor in his late teens in endurance up here-amazing pony and yes, there were several on the Golden Horseshoe this year I think.
 
I've done 1000 miles on my 13hh Icelandic in the past year. He's no spring chicken any more but he's fit and never seems to get tired and has never had any back/leg trouble. I've never had anything over 14.2. I just prefer the attitude of little 'uns.
 
Ponies are fab & you can have more fun on them sometimes so I have no problems with adults riding ponies - the objection I have is heavier adults riding kids ponies that they are obviously too heavy for , but they think it is fine :(
 
I ride one of my shetlands at the odd show because she quite simply isnt a kids pony in the slightest. I now try to avoid shetland only classes due to the mothers of the children on the other ponies. Aparently I am a pot hunter when I do this - not the fact that my wee mare is cracking and very well schooled compared to their ponies. When I take her up against the weshies and dartys no one says a word.

The funniest one I did at a show was ride my shettie into 2nd place, scoot out of the ring, change into long boots and hop onto my 17hh ex-racer :D that turned a few heads and got a laugh :D
 
My friend is 5ft 6 riding a pony that measures in at 138. The rider is light and the pony is built like a tank. They win every native working hunter class they enter. The only time they encounter a problem is trying to get the distances between doubles when jumping 1.10 horse tracks. I'm also 5ft6 and ride a 14.3h and I don't see the point in getting something bigger
 
FfionWinnie said:
Same here, and I'm nearly 5ft8. No one has made any comment to me at all!
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i wish other people wouldn't make an issue about my kittt being "only 13'2" and i'm only 16 :( despite the fact she easily and regularly outjumps all the "proper horses" she is still basically considered severely disabled due to her height :(
 
when it comes to distances my little kitty doesn't have any issues.....
in fact my friend rides a 17' horse and just the other week we were jumping a double (upright to spread roughly 1m) out of trot her horse put in 2 nd a 1/2 strides and kitty put in 1 without straining herself at all....although my instructor proceeded to have heart failure and introduce my little sister to a whole new range of vocabularly :D
 
MotherOfChickens, might I know this Exmoor endurance pony? Are you in Scotland?

I'm 5' 5 1/2" and my endurance pony (of unknown breeding) is 14.1. I also have a 16+ warmblood on loan, whom I also feel fine on.

At 4'11", I'd say you sound a perfect size to be riding ponies!
 
I have a 13.2 new forest, never had any bad comments but people usually think I'm about 12! Was recently at a show and I got talking to an elderly man and mentioned I used to come here years ago when I was a kid. He laughed like I was being silly and I said "well I am 26!" He said "ooh sorry, I thought you were about 14"
I had my 8 year old son with me at the time lol!
 
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