Any photos of taller people riding ponies? When's too tall?

[Signal]

Can anyone share any photos of adults riding ponies. I've been offered a 14.3 gelding to take on. I'm just worried I'll look ridiculous. I'm used to riding 17hh+ and at 5ft9 this has always worked quite well. I really like this pony but worried a) I'll be too tall and unbalanced (I would hope to be a good enough rider to counter this), b) I'll be too heavy, but I think it'll be ok, I'm around 11st and the pony is chunky cob type - I'd guess cob X new forest breeding.

 

[dreamcometrue]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...4&set=a.1769664454106.93469.1614067314&type=3

My stepson on my 14.2hh sec D. He is over 6ft. Excuse the too small hat, he was just having a little go.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'm 5'6/5'7 and ride a 13.3-14hh native pony. It would have to be one hell of a horse to make me go above 15hh now.

I just adore ponies!

 

[Amye]

I used to borrow a 14.2hh Dales x cob pony so me and OH could hack out together occasionally. No photos but i'm 5'10" and I felt fine on her, she felt small and slimmer than my boy but I had no problems with balance and she was quite forward and when she got going she REALLY got going!!

If it's on the chunky side you'll be fine

 

[TheHairyOne]

Here are a pair of nearly ponies!

The bay is 14.3 and the rider 5'7 ish, the coloured is probably just over 15hh in this pic (he wont stop growing and has had most of the summer mooching!) and I am 5'8.

Too small is where you either 1, cant get a saddle to fit you on them (both of these are in 17.5" dressage saddles) or 2, you have to compromise riding well to fit on them imo.

But i love my little cobs...though ones not so little anymore!

 

[teapot]

I'm 5ft11 with uber long thighs and I've been riding a 14.3 connie type - he takes up my leg though which makes such a difference.

 

[alexomahony]

Hello I am loving this thread! I am 5' 9 and have a 15hands Welsh cob and a 14.2 connie x so it's great to see other adults on ponies out there!

OP - you'll be totally fine, go for it

 

[Annagain]

I'm 5'7" and my old boy (a Sec D) just squeaked past 14hh. When I first had him I was barely 5'2" and 14 years old and I didn't stop growing until I was 21 (I was a very late developer!) I did look a bit tall on him by the end but I never felt it and I adored him so he was going nowhere! He was very well built so took my leg up well and rode much bigger than he was - in fact when I got my current horse (16.3 IDx) I only noticed the size difference when I was in getting on an off! I'd love another but have put on a bit too much weight these days for a pony. At 11st you'd be fine. I would share a photo but photobucket won't play.

 

[Merrymoles]

Can't do pictures but my 5'10" friend rides my 15.2hh sometimes and looks exactly the same as she does on her 16.2hh ID.

 

[supsup]

Have a look at the Icelandic horse world championship page, currently ongoing: http://wk2017.nl/
None of these horse are above 14.2, maybe 14.3h, and on average probably more like 14h. They are ridden by adults of all sizes.
I'm not saying every adult will fit every Icelandic, but I think much of what is "too big/tall" is purely down to what you are used to seeing.

 

[phizz4]

I can't post pictures but I am 6 ft tall and ride a 14.3 Quarter Horse mare and no one has told me yet that I am oversized for the horse ( and certainly not my western instructor).

 

[Gloi]

Have a look at the Icelandic horse world championship page, currently ongoing: http://wk2017.nl/
None of these horse are above 14.2, maybe 14.3h, and on average probably more like 14h. They are ridden by adults of all sizes.
I'm not saying every adult will fit every Icelandic, but I think much of what is "too big/tall" is purely down to what you are used to seeing.

And Charlotte Cook is currently in the lead in P1 Pace Race 250 m Great year for the British team so far.

 

[Kat]

I'm 5ft8 and have regularly ridden a 13.2hh fjord, she took up my leg well and took the same size saddle as my horse. Her previous rider was over 6ft, he was looking and feeling too big by the time he got that tall but she was happy to carry him.

Obviously a fine 13.2hh would be a different matter.

No photos of me on the 13.2 but my profile has a picture of my 6ft2 very long legged husband on a 15.1hh cob. He struggled to get his leg on when riding long for dressage but both were happy together.

 

[Signal]

Thanks all, you're making me feeel much better about it!

 

[ponies4ever]

I have a 14.3 cob and a 15.1 or .2 irish something and I'm 5'8. my larger horse has no front end and actually feels smaller than the cob. I look fine on both though although probably better on the cob!

 

[Landcruiser]

5 ft 7 on a 14.3 criollo, 9 years and probably thousands of miles now. I like a horse I can hop on and off without any bother.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

5'6 on various sized NF's ranging from 13.1 to 14.2hh.

 

[showjumpingharry]

5'10 on a 12.2 exmoor (shes as wide as she is tall!!) and 13.1 dartmoor hill pony. I'm 8 1/2 stone tho and i fit in their saddles better than my 15.2 intermediate show hunter!

 

[coss]

I'm 5ft8 an ride a 14.3 anglo arab x welsh section b - so a finer type! pony can't take bigger than a 16.5" saddle so I wouldn't want to go smaller
Jumping and dressage:

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Perhaps this is too tall?!

 

[cobsarefab]

I have a very chunky 13.2hh cob and I'm about 5'6"/5'7" I am quite leggy but when I rode her she didn't look small at all. You are nearly a hand bigger than me so I'd say you'd look absolutely fine.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

I jump a 14.2 (high withers) pony, and I'm 5'6. We are usually the only pony combination in our class as I'm 23 and jumping senior 90 and 1m on him I prefer something around 15.2 for XC and all round activities, but much prefer jumping a pony as they can easily make up a stride.

I feel a look a bit big on him, but I'm sure you will look fine and the pony will carry you easily if he's not a super-fine type.

 

[paddi22]

I have a little project sulkie racer in and she's 14.1. I'm 5.6 and i do feel huge on her as my other horses are usually 16.2ish. I find theres nothing in front of me over jumps and i feel untidy jumping her. But i absolutely adore riding her and she is a nice tiny pocket rocket!

 

[Mike007]

Never too tall ,heavy is different from tall

 

[Signal]

Never too tall ,heavy is different from tall

I agree mike007 but there are so many different guidelines on 'too heavy' it's challenging as a rider to know!

 

[buzyizzy]

Whilst 20% is the recommended total weight of horse and tack, and a saddle weighs around 9kg, I wouldn't recommend putting an 80kg person on top, given that the larger ponies weigh around 450kg. I'm too heavy for our Connie at present, but working on losing a stone so I can take him out again. I think weight is more important than height and obvs a well balanced rider will sit more lightly in the saddle.

 

[Fraggle2]

I'm also 5ft9. I regularly ride ponies between 13.1 and 14.2 hh I am only 10st and all ponies are native type. Exmoor cross lusitano. Welsh cob and new foresters. But never been told I'm too tall. And I do have long legs lol

 

[Fjord]

Me, about 5'6.5", on Bobbi, 13.3 on her tippy toes. She's broad, so is surprisingly good at taking your leg up.

 

[nikkimariet]

I'm 5ft8 and ride Fig who is 15.2hh and on his tip toes. Granted, I'm quite light but I have freaky genetics. Think you'll be fine on the horse described.

One miserable scrote whinged on facey b a while back that I was much too big for him. However, same person also whinged I can only ride in a double. I was competing PSG in a snaffle at the time so rolled my eyes lol.

 

[rowan666]

Im 5'6 and my last pony was a 13.2/13.3 cob and we Iooked fine. I'm currently breaking in my daughters pony which is 12.3/13hh but built like a brick outhouse and although she does take up my short legs very well, my long torso quite frankly makes me look daft but weight wise I'm fine and I'm well balanced and having great fun, pony desperately needed a job to do so it's worked out well all round