Adults riding ponies

I'm only 5 ft 4 so feel that 14.2 to 15hh is a suitable height for me. But they need to be stocky cobs with plenty of bone in their legs.
 
Totally depends on height and weight of pony and rider. I can ride my friend's stocky gypsy mare, who is 14.1hh with no worries at all and I look absolutely fine on her because she takes up my leg. I went to try a very fine 14.3hh TBxWelsh and I looked and felt ludicrous. I'm 5'7" and quite solidly built.
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I completely agree with those saying that it is unfair for adults to compete against children, it is totally unfair. I was so glad when classes at our local dressage were split to make it fairer!!!! I was so fed up having my socks whipped off by the little bu@@&rs!!! ;)
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Totally agree, I am always being beaten by a 9yr old on an 11.3hh pony!
 
I am 30 and have a 13.2hh new forest pony! I am a tiny 5ft though lol, strangely I am happy riding any height, I have had horse/ponies ranging from 12.2hh up to 17hh and everything in between. My last horse was 16.1hh so I am still getting used to the new forest but I think that's mostly because he likes to do handstands lol!
 
i am an adult and have a 14h New Forest pony but I am only 5.1ft, sometimes I will do jumping classes that have kids in, but I compete at the level I feel competent at, I have never won a class the highest I have come is 4th and then I moved up to the next level.

In the beginners jumping you will see a wide range of abilities both equine and human. Actually some of the kids whizzing round perhaps should be competing at the next level up. I don't think I have ever seen an adult win any of the classes I have done it has always been kids. Yes it unfair if you are much better than everyone else in the class and could be competitive at the next level up but should be the case for riders of any age and is just about good sportsmanship.

Is a bit presumptuous to presume an adult is automatically a better rider than a kid or that a 17h horse is going to be a better jumper than a pony.

However I do think in some showing classes some of the taller adults look a bit big for the ponies and if your legs are very long and your feet are below your horses stomach I think it harder to use them in the classical way. Some people try to make themselves look less tall by riding with very short stirrups. You also have to take saddle fit into consideration as the saddle that may fit your pony may be too small for you.

I think the issue is being a suitable size for the equine you are riding more than the age as adults and children come in all shapes and sizes and so do horses so you should be able to find one to match your requirements.

In your situation cobs can be very wide and take up a lot of leg so you will probably be ok.
 
What I have noticed is how ridiculous small riders look being dragged around SJ on 16.2hh+, they literally cannot do anymore other than point the horse (just about) hold on and hope for dear life that they stop at the end. That sums up my experience of BSJA this year!
... It's far better to have a well fitting horse/pony to rider than being concerned with whether you are an adult riding a pony or a leggy teen riding a 16hh, anything goes these days.
 
I am 5' 6'' and ride a 14.1 Welsh D. Weight wise she carries me no problem. But I am a little too tall for her. I don't look top heavy - in fact the opposite. I have pretty long legs and combine this with riding quite long I do look at photo's and think I look a little big. At a show once the judge advised me to shorten my stirrups to give an overall more aesthetic appearance.
However, I wouldn't change her for the world. We compete in all disciplines (local level) and have amazing fun. But if I am unfortunate enough to have to ever get another pony I would get something a little bigger (15.2 max)
 
ponies are fab, i wish I’d got over my worry of looking silly years ago. I have 2 highlands, one is just over 14hh, the other just over 13hh at the moment and if anything the bigger pony is big for me to ride. I’ve also lightly backed one of our shetlands who is a full up leg at each corner type. Im 5ft4 and about 8 1/2st... i dont even look tall on the 13hander tbh.
 
_HP_ said:
There are many factors to this ..not just weight (can't see how height even really comes into it). Fitness of the pony, amount of bone, conformation of the pony and the riders ability come before actual weight for me.
I've always ridden my daughters ponies from her 12.2 , her 13.1 and her 13.3 aswell as her TB. I have ranged from 12 to 13 stone in this time and am 5'7. I am a very well balanced, sympathetic rider and all have managed with no problems at all.
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I'm with you on this one, my conne boy below has a height cert of 148cm which these days, 7 years after getting it, he's probably a little taller but only a tiny amount. I'm not little at 5'9 or lightweight at over 14st plus my saddle. he makes no bones about carrying me for miles, recently we did a ten mile ride and then rode around a schooling course of xc jumps and still he was bouncing. We have successfully jumped around open courses at affiliated level WH including PUK Shearwater finals (pic I'm not allowed to post 'cos I bought it?). He's a chunky type with plenty of bone just like me! :)

bobsatcampcrop_zps218e3b2f.jpg
 
Lovely picture bobbly.

I used to be concerned that I was tall on my 14.3 (I'm 5'6") and always thought I'd look for something over 15.2 for my next horse. In reality I'm not really wanting to go over 15 hands and would be perfectly happy with a 14.2 (just the small matter of getting on with it - I'm a bit all mouth and no action at the moment, not sure what is holding me back).

I asked a similar question on here last year and was rewarded with fab pictures of everyone's beautiful ponies. If I can remember how I'll put up a picture of my old chap.
 
No mention of arabs yet?! Perfect if you want a small horse that rides like a horse rather than a pony (conformation allowing ;-) )

I am 5'6", weigh 8 st 8, with long legs and ride long. My 14.2 pure-bred and 14.3 partbred have comfortably carried me up to 120km with no ill effects. Aesthically, I sometimes think I'd look better on something bigger, but I adore my ponyhorses.

As long as human and equine are both happy, I suggest we all just live and let live.
 
I have a 13.2hh newforest pony, im 5'9/10. I don't give two hoots what people think of me riding him! lol! I do everything on him, he does everything I want him to do and he is worthless to others due to previous injury/navicular. I took him showjumping the other week and im taking him to dressage in a few weeks time.






Hope the links work. Photos are from last week
 
LittleRocketRider said:
I'm assuming that this is said with heavy sarcasm.....don't what to start an argument or anything just checking because my noggins on a go slow today :)
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given JFTD has 2 super sporty, vertically challenged highlands I image you are right ;) :p

My 2 have really good length of strides and are not choppy in the slightest :)
 
I will technically be an adult riding a pony (5'4" human on a Connemara), in a few years, once the Camel has matured. But he's looking likely to reach over 16hh, so folk will probably think I wanted a ridiculously tall horse to ride...can't win!
 
LittleRocketRider said:
I'm assuming that this is said with heavy sarcasm.....don't what to start an argument or anything just checking because my noggins on a go slow today :)
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Deadly serious. I feel genuinely sick at all these posts of people over the age of 12 squeezing themselves onto ponies... Vile.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I've started riding Titchy these days. It's safer as less far to fall.
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That is the biggest bonus of the wee ones! It's not far to the ground! And the bonus of shetlands - you just put one hand out and push yourself back in the saddle before you actually hit the floor and bobs you uncle you back on board lol!
 
Ponies ROCK! Can't be doing with folk who buy by size - My now ex co loaner (long story) is tiny but would not entertain us buying anything under 15.2hh or anything black! So she bought a coloured dressage cob in her teens mare with glaucoma in one eye without consulting me (we saved up together), We fell out, she paid me back my half of savings back respect where respect is due, and I bought the hairy black beastie that is Dolly, never been happier :D
 
I'm 5'3 and I have a 14.2 haflinger - almost didn't buy her because I thought she was too small - would have been the biggest mistake as she is just perfect for me.

At my yard there are 6 pony squashers - with our haffies, highlands, section ds and new forests - we're taking over ;-)
 
Surely it's horses for courses - if you feel comfortable and the pony isn't struggling, what's the bother?

I'm 5'6, and I know that my comfortable zone is 14.2 - 16hh. Anything under a well-built 14.2 is too small. I had a 14hh cob at one stage, and it was safe to say I looked ridiculous on him. He carried me okay and we had pony-sized fun for a few months, but it just wasn't a happy picture.

Differing widths and barrel sizes will carry taller riders better, so there's always variation within the sizes. If you're happy on a pony, what's the problem? :)
 
throughtheforest said:
What I have noticed is how ridiculous small riders look being dragged around SJ on 16.2hh+, they literally cannot do anymore other than point the horse (just about) hold on and hope for dear life that they stop at the end. That sums up my experience of BSJA this year!
... It's far better to have a well fitting horse/pony to rider than being concerned with whether you are an adult riding a pony or a leggy teen riding a 16hh, anything goes these days.
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This is very true! It's definitely better have a well fitting horse and rider match. You've hit the nail on the head anything goes these days.
 
SO1 said:
i am an adult and have a 14h New Forest pony but I am only 5.1ft, sometimes I will do jumping classes that have kids in, but I compete at the level I feel competent at, I have never won a class the highest I have come is 4th and then I moved up to the next level.

In the beginners jumping you will see a wide range of abilities both equine and human. Actually some of the kids whizzing round perhaps should be competing at the next level up. I don't think I have ever seen an adult win any of the classes I have done it has always been kids. Yes it unfair if you are much better than everyone else in the class and could be competitive at the next level up but should be the case for riders of any age and is just about good sportsmanship.

Is a bit presumptuous to presume an adult is automatically a better rider than a kid or that a 17h horse is going to be a better jumper than a pony.

However I do think in some showing classes some of the taller adults look a bit big for the ponies and if your legs are very long and your feet are below your horses stomach I think it harder to use them in the classical way. Some people try to make themselves look less tall by riding with very short stirrups. You also have to take saddle fit into consideration as the saddle that may fit your pony may be too small for you.

I think the issue is being a suitable size for the equine you are riding more than the age as adults and children come in all shapes and sizes and so do horses so you should be able to find one to match your requirements.

In your situation cobs can be very wide and take up a lot of leg so you will probably be ok.
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That's what I am thinking as he's looking pretty wide at 2 now so I'm sure once he fills out he will make a good study mount who will take up my leg :)
 
Bobbly said:
I'm with you on this one, my conne boy below has a height cert of 148cm which these days, 7 years after getting it, he's probably a little taller but only a tiny amount. I'm not little at 5'9 or lightweight at over 14st plus my saddle. he makes no bones about carrying me for miles, recently we did a ten mile ride and then rode around a schooling course of xc jumps and still he was bouncing. We have successfully jumped around open courses at affiliated level WH including PUK Shearwater finals (pic I'm not allowed to post 'cos I bought it?). He's a chunky type with plenty of bone just like me! :)

bobsatcampcrop_zps218e3b2f.jpg
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Great to see! :) you both look fab together!
 
Kadastorm said:
I have a 13.2hh newforest pony, im 5'9/10. I don't give two hoots what people think of me riding him! lol! I do everything on him, he does everything I want him to do and he is worthless to others due to previous injury/navicular. I took him showjumping the other week and im taking him to dressage in a few weeks time.






Hope the links work. Photos are from last week
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Lovely photo's. What a jump he has! You look fab together, it's so nice seeing everyone's lovely ponies :)
 
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