Can I safely ride a Section A Welsh?

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WillowWelshies

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Would I be too large for a Section A Welsh pony? I’m just shy of 5ft and weigh about 6.5-7 stone. I would prefer a smaller pony and I’ve always loved them.
 
My Welsh A cross shetland is about 11.2h and 200 kgs so you would be a bit big for her, but depending on the individual pony may be it could work, or why not go for a welsh B?
 
My sister had a welsh mountain (off the mountain not a pedigree). He was 12hhs. She is 5'8" and at the time weighed about 9st. I was 5'2" and 8.5st. We both hunted him with the Pytchley Hunt, competed in gymkhanas and other Riding Club events. I couldn't hold him out hunting, regularly got run away with. The only lameness he ever had was cushings induced laminitis and he was finally put down at 30 having been with us since he was 4. Cracking pony, we both still miss him 26yrs on. You could do anything with him just about bombproof but far from boring. He had a great sense of humour to, didn't always gel with ours:D
 
I was a member of the Pytchley PC when I was a child! I hunted with them from Duston/ Chapel Brampton where the pony was kept.
 
I'm 5'3" & about 8 stone and I used to have to ride one of the more stockier ones regularly - or he'd dump kids in the riding school

Got a bit cocky once and thought bareback would be a good idea. It wasn't. I had sympathy with the kids that day!
 
scruffyponies said:
If you use one of the older style ("flat") hunting saddles, the seat extends behind the panels, and gives plenty of room for an adult bum.
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But the weight of the rider will be too far back, on the part of the back that should not weight bear. I don't think that is safe for the pony.
 
ozpoz said:
Can you find a saddle that will fit both you and the pony? That is the difficulty with adults on small ponies. Why not look for a section c instead? They look like scaled up section A's and will be more suited to you while still being small.
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given that at 5ft4 and considerably fatter i use a 16.5” saddle on a 13.2hh pony someone who is 4” shorter and a lot slighter should have no issues with a 16” which most section As can take.
 
scruffyponies said:
Are you too big? Absolutely not. Welsh ponies are very strong for their size, and you're both small and light.

Can you safely ride one? Well, having met quite a few of them, I would say that depends very much on the pony. :D
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I remember a jumping course on one...little ginger thing of 12hh...i was 5.5 around 7 stone, all i rememeber was hanging on as he careered round with all his might! Gorgeous pony...wish i could ride one now.....huge fun!
 
J&S said:
I was a member of the Pytchley PC when I was a child! I hunted with them from Duston/ Chapel Brampton where the pony was kept.
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That was further out than us. We were at Lilbourne near the M1. Used to hunt on Wed or Sat as those days were closer to us. Gave up about 1973 as got too expensive even as farmer's wife. Still in Pytchley country where we are now and friends host a meet only about a mile from us every year but I have only been on foot once.

Our pony, Mischief, (and well named) was probably stockier than the modern show types. He had a 16" flat pony saddle wich we could both fit on but can't say it was comfortable. My sister still has it.
 
ozpoz said:
Can you find a saddle that will fit both you and the pony? That is the difficulty with adults on small ponies. Why not look for a section c instead? They look like scaled up section A's and will be more suited to you while still being small.
Click to expand...
The key.

scruffyponies said:
If you use one of the older style ("flat") hunting saddles, the seat extends behind the panels, and gives plenty of room for an adult bum.
Click to expand...
ozpoz said:
But the weight of the rider will be too far back, on the part of the back that should not weight bear. I don't think that is safe for the pony.
Click to expand...

And the panel size still isn't spreading weight, though 6.5-7 stone in this case should be okay but yes, it can mean the rider is on the cantle and with a short panel it's much harder to fit the saddle in balance, they tend to tip back.

conniegirl said:
given that at 5ft4 and considerably fatter i use a 16.5” saddle on a 13.2hh pony someone who is 4” shorter and a lot slighter should have no issues with a 16” which most section As can take.
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No they can't, though it depends on the brand. Fylde 16" saddles will be smaller than almost all, but smaller for the rider too, so you might as well get a 15" in something that fits more sympathetically. Most are 14-15" in more "usual" sized saddles, the latter would be borderline for the OP, a 14" really not good. If you fit with the tree points correctly 2" behind the back of the shoulder blade 16" in most models will rarely go on a Section A.

I would fit almost all 5'4 riders in a 16.5" but would fit very few 4'11 riders in a 15", most would need 16" in our saddles which ride generously.
 
As regards being too far back on a hunting saddle, I have one, which I use for a small pony from time to time and find myself in much the same place as if I were riding bareback. Certainly I'm not 'sitting on the cantle'. (and OP, I am quite a bit taller and heavier than you are) Depends on the saddle, the fit and rider posture, I suppose. My pony is fairly narrow at the shoulder, with little wither, which does give maximum saddle space on his very short back.

Riding slightly long also helps.
 
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