Children's ponies (again... I'm sorry!)

[Christmas_Kate]

I've been to see a lovely lovely little pony today. Just over 13hh, and with a sweet nature.

My friend rode her first, and found her nice and responsive, so i rode her, and liked her. Popped my son up and his feet barely went past the saddle flaps. He's never been a 'strong' rider, and the pony did what any pony would do and just went her own way. He's simply not assertive enough...

The idea is the pony would be ideal for my mum and I to ride and would be a 'next step' from the shetland for my son, to give him confidence off the LR.
he's only 4ft tall but the pony isnt the type to bolt or take total advantage. I think she had a 16 inch saddle on, so would matters be different if we got a smaller saddle? Would they be shorter in flap length?

Would you go for it? for such a safe pony.. we're thinking we could go and buy a 12.2hh and he be outgrown it in 18 months...

How big pony do you think a small 7 /8 year old should have? Is it wise to get a pony for him to grow into? He would have lessons on her until he was good enough to ride her out hacking off the LR.

 

[william99]

I belive the best years for a child are when they are allowed to outgrow the pony,my daughter is 11 and has outgrown 4 ponies and had loads of fun. first had 11 hh lead rein then 12hh first pony then 12.2 second pony and now have 13.2hh and lots of fun.

 

[PurplePickle]

Well if the pony is quiet and is good for you and your mum then I would go for it, nothing wrong with your son staying on the shetty until hes ready for the new pony.

Also when the pony is your you have time for him to try her out and maybe him to have lessons, its not enough time just trying a pony out when buying.

13hh isnt very big at all, I'm sure he will grow into her quick enough.

 

[rara007]

I out grew a 11.3 at 12, and my sister out grew a 10.3 at 10. The different saddle may make a difference, those cub saddles fit all don't they??? I was 7 when I got my 11.3, she was fab, and a real competition pony, which is what I wanted. As you probably know we have our 13.2's, and my large 8 nearly 9 year old sister is not confident with them on the ground, they are mostly good, but she can't lead them if they want to go for a slight deviation. She is fine with our 10.3, but just too small for the bigger ones, and she could never tack up the bigger ones for another few years. When I was 7 I was told 12.2 was too big for me, on the ground, for showing and jumping. TBH if you want a share and your 'normal' size you probably couldn't go much smaller than that, but you would have to help your son alot, and ride the pony your self. If not, then your son would probably progress quicker on a 12HH, but you probably couldn't ride that. Just BTW my 11.3 did all pony club team stuff, open SJ, HT and the like when i was quite young, if I had had a bigger pony I would have probably had to wait longer to have such contol.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

we havent room for two ponies, the shetty is for sale.

 

[colleenmurtagh1]

I agree I think its better for them to outgrow a pony rather than grow into them to be honest, It may well help with a smaller saddle ? but its really up to you and your son , whether you think he will be able to manage said pony .

 

[FMM]

Toby is about 3'8" and looks tiny on his 11 hand pony. I think that 13hh is miles too big for a 4 foot child. Toby will probably be fine on this pony for another year and then I will probably only go to 12hh for his next pony.

You said the pony "went his own way" and then said that you didn't think the pony would take advantage. I can see the reason for buying something that you can ride as well, but if the idea is to get a pony for your son, then I think this one is just too big at the moment.

 

[Skhosu]

TBH, my sisters and I grew into our first pony. We didn't enjoy him until we were big enough to ride him. I would get something he can ride now.

 

[Honeypots]

I think 13hh for a 7yr old especially going from shettie is a big step. You need to be careful about overhorsing your son and spoiling his confidence. Personally I'd stick with the shettie for a while longer.

My daughter is a very tall 11 yr old and is only just getting tall on her 13.1hh pony but will still happily ride her.

 

[FMM]

I know you are probably sick of seeing pics of Toby and his pony, but if this give you an idea of size - Toby is 116cm and the pony is 118 cm. I reckon he has all of next year and probably the year after that before he is too big for the pony.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

The problem is, in winter we have limited grazing, so I end up walking the pony out twice daily. It would be much easier if I could ride said pony myself. The shetland is fab on the lR and in walk and trot, but he almost stops there, and I feel he cannot take my son any further.
We tried to find a 12.2hh safe pony last year, and it was impossible. 12.2hh is the smallest I wouldbe happy hacking out for exercise.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

This is Josh on a 9.3hh.

 

[Weezy]

No way would I buy a 13hh for Benjy, who is the same height and age as Josh

I think he looks small on a 12.2hh and thinking about confidence and rideability, I would want him on a 12.2hh until he was at least 10 - more confidence and fun to be had on something they do not feel too high up on

 

[Honeypots]

Loads of growing room...at least another year. I'd stick with what you know..

 

[Honeypots]

I thought pony had done pony club stuff and hunting??? Why can't he take son any further?

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Ginger has been fabulous, but sadly doesnt 'do' jumping, which son now wants to try. Ginger is a LR (walk trot canter)- and- very- first- time- off- the- LR -plodding- at -walk- and- trot- pony

. Otherwise I'd keep him.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Because he's done it all on the LR. Done mini camp etc, but again, on the LR.

 

[rara007]

TBH, he is small on the shetty than most adult are on their horses. If the pony really won't jump, or properly off the LR, then why not another simalar just more foward going pony. You wouldn't beleive the fun we had chasing Ajay around with whips to get him to move.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Because i helps if I can exercise said pony when it's too dark to ride after school.

I can physically get on a 10hh pony, it's just not very fair on the pony.

 

[rara007]

Sorry, but I think your going to have to decide, get a pony it will take your son a while to really enjoy and make progress on, although he will be able to ride, or have a pony for you son you could ride but not really enjoy. Sorry, thats just how I see it.

 

[seabiscuit]

oops

 

[not_with_it]

I have to agree with rara on this one. You need to put your son first and find something that will suit him .

 

[parsley]

I think it rather depends on the child riding - I bought my son a 13.2 as his second pony and he did grow into him, but the pony did eventually learn that it could take complete advantage and scared my son out of wanting to ride anymore. My daughter is enjoying riding now and when we come to get her a pony of her own I will be buying smaller rather than larger.

 

[Nosey]

Having tried the bigger version we downsized to a shettie for my 7yo. Its all about confidence.. thats the most important thing as far as I am concerned with younger children. I would rather my daughter completely outgrow in size and ability before moving up.

 

[Patches]

[ QUOTE ]
Because i helps if I can exercise said pony when it's too dark to ride after school.

I can physically get on a 10hh pony, it's just not very fair on the pony.

[/ QUOTE ]

But you can exercise his pony without riding it. I lunge and long rein Tweenie and she's 11.2. It takes less time out of my day to lunge her, than it does to take her for walkies. Lungeing for when the field is dry enough, long reining when it's a bit wetter.

Hannah has Oliver who is 13hh tall and not overly chunky. Part of me thinks we should've had a 12.2 as she's found him such a shock compared to Tweenie, who is 11.2. His movement is huge, such a big stride compared to a choppy Section A. It's taking her a while to trust that it's just his way of going and not him rushing away with her.

Hannah is 4ft 7 too and 10 next month.

 

[katie_and_toto]

Well my first and current pony Toto is a chunky 14.2hh Connemara X. I'm a very petitie 13 year old and am about 4"11. I'm a bit small for him but I have to share him with my mum and my 17 year old sister. We got him a new saddle and it did help, it has a smaller seat so I don't look quite so silly

 

[zigzag]

Why don't you take up driving and break shettie to harness? you could exercise him that way,
sorry think 13 hands to big from the size of your son on the shettie I'd say 11.2/12hh max

 

[*hic*]

[ QUOTE ]
Why don't you take up driving and break shettie to harness? you could exercise him that way,
sorry think 13 hands to big from the size of your son on the shettie I'd say 11.2/12hh max

[/ QUOTE ]

Just what I was going to say.

If you want to put your son off then buy him the bigger pony and enjoy it yourself. If you want him to enjoy riding then a "sports" model of the one you have would give him a year and lots of fun and even after that, unless he has a humungous growth spurt, he won't feel in control of a 13hh pony.

btw driving is the way I used to exercise our Section A.

 

[Ravenwood]

Katy - obviously only you can make this decision but I would be very worried about putting your son off riding if he is overfaced with a pony too big for him - boys are so fickle and likely to give up at a drop of a hat (my son did).

We have just got a 13.1hh for my 11 year old daughter who is about 5ft and if you look at my Meet Holly post in the PG http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2457797/an/0/page/0#2457797 you will see that she looks just fine on her with some growing room still left.

Personally I would hold out until you find a 12.2hh and if you are petite you should be fine exercising it. I used to ride our 12.3 Welsh A when the kids were little. Kids are much happier on something they feel safe with and can control.

 

[Tia]

Tricky one.

I can't say much about buying ponies which are too big for children really as I bought Cloud as a 4 year old 12.2hh, for my 1 year old daughter. She wasn't able to tack up alone until she was about 3 years old and only because we had a bench in the middle of the yard which she used.......very resourceful child mine

.

Anyway, my daughter is now 11 years old and is 5'2" tall and she still rides Cloud almost every day. Yep she is too big for her, and even though she now has a 15hh horse aswell, I can't ever see a day when she stops riding her little Cloud.

13hh wouldn't be a big deal to me if it was a slim type of pony, however if it was a chunky one then I would have to consider it carefully.

I personally don't see anything wrong with you wanting something that you can ride aswell - that was part of the criteria for the pony I wanted to buy for my daughter. No point having a childs pony if a parent/adult can't get on the darned thing LOL!! I'd never consider buying a pony which I couldn't ride - I know what little childs ponies are like!

I'd also assume that you will be doing the majority of riding of this pony? Your son isn't going to be showing is he - just playing around on it? If this is the case then I can't see the biggie with you buying something which suits you both.

12.2hh would, for sure, be the best size but hey if you can't find one, you can't find one.