Am i too big to school a pony?!

J

jadeD

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Just wanted other peoples perspective on my dilemma...
I have a rising 5yr old cobby pony (unkown breeding rescued him from gypsies) whos 12.3hh (didn't quite make the height we thought) Im 5'5 and weigh just under 9st i broke him in last year and gave him a break over winter. Now i want to start schooling him more to hopefully loan/sell him as a kids pony in spring/summer. I have tried to find a capable child to help school him but only had interest from beginners. He is VERY well behaved but is only 4 so need someone who can at the very least ride! I suprisingly dont feel as huge as i should on him as hes basically a mini heavy cob (complete with full mane and feathers bless him) but im not sure if im TOO big/heavy for him to be cantering/popping a pole on him?! *I will try to upload pic..
 
No I don't think you are too big. I am 5'3 and weigh a bit more than you. One of my ponies is a stocky 12hh, she carries me fine, has had her back checked regularly and there is never anything wrong. I am even being encouraged to take her out and do some dressage this year!

You may even find that you love riding him so much that you won't want to rehome him later. Some people will have their opinion that adults should not ride ponies but I think as long as your pony can carry you and is happy then it is better than seeing a very overweight rider on a bigger horse.

Have fun at the end of the day isn't that why we own such noble creatures anyway!!:)
 
I would say you'd be fine I ride my daughters 13hh newforest all the time i'm 5'11/2 and just over 9 stone I have jumped him although no higher than 2 foot I would just say as he's young don't over do the time but that's true of any baby.
 
You will be fine on him, as saids a 9 stone rider is less heavy than a novice 7 stoner.

Many the time when I was a mere 10 stone I got on small ponies to sort them out for their young riders, none ever buckled at the knees (except one who when he realised he couldn't buck me off would throw himself on the ground!)
 
Im 5'4 and weigh the same as you and ride a little fell pony who is 13hh on a windy day Lol! I was worried id look huge on him rather than squashing him, as he is a very stocky boy, but have been reassured by very straight talking OH that i look fine and he would be the first to say it looks ridiculous :o
 
i am 5ft4 and about 9 st and i am hopefully going to be breaking in a 13hh and a currently unmeasured section a this spring. I am not worried about weight, horses are stronger than we give them credit for :)
 
Oh thank god! Im gutted he didnt make more in height but he is a
funny little thing and very chunky! He got his new saddle today so
we are raring to go now!

Neddymad- i'd love to keep him
but he would be wasted with me
as i have two others. He was
bought to fatten up over winter
and sell as a youngster but 3
years on and hes part of the
furniture more like a dog than a
pony..follows me everywhere!

Thanks everyone for your replies :) much appreciated!
I'd like to put him on loan for a few years then get him bk for my nephew :)
 
The weight shouldn't be too much of a problem as long as he is a chunky monkey. I don't think it ideal for starting him though as it is the very upper limit of what I'd put on a mature pony that size (including tack he will be carrying around 10st).

However I don't think you should sell him as a child's pony if he has never been ridden by a kid though, very irresponsible in my opinion.
Kids ponies need to have been handled ridden groomed and cuddled by children before they can be considered safe.
Most ponies will behave when they have an adult's weight on their back, a 5 stone child is a very different matter. Like most ponies will behave with a confident adult handling them, a nervous child will often be taken advantage of though.

No chances should ever be taken when dealing with pony's for children it is just too dangerous.
 
Hes been called a midget shire by a judge before ha ha. Legs are like tree trunks. definately a chunkster!

I totally agree with what u are
saying about kids pony etc but
he has been ridden by children
possibly the most laid back pony
i've ever met in that respect even
stops when his old saddle
slipped a bit to let the 6yr old on
him rebalance herself. I know
what an unsuitable pony could do
to a child its not a good mix.
 
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