Could I compete Dolly?

Ambers Echo

Ambers Echo

Still wittering on
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13 October 2017
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Ok this is probably a stupid question because I have had a 14.1 pony before and he was fine. And I schooled Katie's very cheeky 13.2 welsh section C sometimes including jumping him. And he had no problem carting me round a 7 mile farm ride at speed...

BUT feel HUGE on Dolly. I've only ridden her 3 times. She is a 14.2 Connie, rising 6. Sporty not chunky. I am confident I can ride her for short periods but I am wondering about actually eventing her. Can she really jump a XC course with me? I am very nervous of getting back on Amber and so my vague plan is to let Amber stay with Harry for a while longer while I get back into things on Dolly. And just ride Amber over at Harry's for now. And even when bring Amber home I am not sure I want to event her anytime soon. But I could event Dolly instead maybe? If I can prise her off Katie!!

I am 5.5 and 91/2 stone.
 
I don't see why she couldn't carry you easily, one of my liveries is taller and heavier and has often ridden similar types some of her own some for owners, I think you need to feel comfortable and balanced yourself if it is going to work but no reason to not give it a try, a decent saddle that suits you can make a huge difference, I am not sure how Katie will feel about sharing her pony though, unless maybe she gets a go on Amber to see how they get on.
 
She is your daughters pony so maybe you should be asking her how she really feels about it.

I don’t see that your height weight would be a problem but you then have the issue of getting the pony going for you and your daughter riding a totally different way. If it were me I’d shelve my plans, get some lessons and improve confidence then see how I feel after my horse is back and let my daughter enjoy her pony.
 
showjumpingharry said:
You would be absolutely fine I would have thought! I agree one the saddle front though, you may find that a different saddle suits you better. However if I was Katie, I wouldn't want to share a pony as cool as Dolly;)
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Katie would be ok about it I think. She wants me to ride her for her once a week or so whenever I am back on board to keep her ticking over as she is short of time just now. She is doing her GCSEs this year and from Easter till end June does not want to compete BE herself as it takes too much time but just stick to NSEA SJ qualifiers. By July I hope to be feeling ok again in Amber. Though the saddle issue is a good point.My lardy arse won't fit into her little saddle.

I'll talk to her tonight. I obviously won't compete her if she does not want me to but I'm glad no-one thinks I would squish Dolly!
 
I don't think you are too big or too tall. The issue will be the fact you feel too big on her. You can't ride her like you're too big for her, especially if you're going eventing. You need to convince yourself that you're the perfect fit ?

I don't think there's any harm in getting your confidence again on another horse (be it Dolly or a riding school horse, friend's horse etc), so that you can get back on Amber feeling 100% committed and positive. Or at least doing a good impression of someone who feels like that ?

Sounds like Katie has a sensible head on her shoulders. this could be a win/win- you have a nice pony to ride and she gets a nice fit pony who is ready to go, after she's finished her exams.
 
Cheeky Chestnut said:
She is your daughters pony so maybe you should be asking her how she really feels about it.

I don’t see that your height weight would be a problem but you then have the issue of getting the pony going for you and your daughter riding a totally different way. If it were me I’d shelve my plans, get some lessons and improve confidence then see how I feel after my horse is back and let my daughter enjoy her pony.
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This is a very good point to consider, I no longer school my younger sisters horses as we ride very differently and how I ride and school them doesn't suit her. If you and Katie ride similarly and are a similar height (This is what we have a problem with, her legs are half the length of mine lol) then you should be ok.
 
I am heavier than you AE when in full kit and with tack, an inch taller and ride a 141.5cm native. Mine is a lean fit pony, we can - and do - everything at RC from xc, sj to polework etc, if I go M&M opens we need to pop 1m which she is capable of.

Yes, you will feel big to start with but get into some regular work and you'll wonder why you were asking in Feb x
 
I don't think you're remotely too tall or heavy - unless Dolly is wildly different in real life than she looks in the photos / videos you post!
 
Of course you can, what a brilliant idea! My daughter did FEI trials on her 14.2 conniexTB and she was 5'10 and somewhat heavier than you are. Fortunately she was long legged but short body but look at WF-P, he's long bodied as well as long legged, well he's just bloody tall and he rides some smaller horses over huge jumps. Go for it and keep us posted.
 
I rode my 14.1 1/2 hh New Forest mare in every possible discipline, at the time I would have weighed about 8 1/2 - 9 stone max, height 5ft 5" and I never felt too big at any time. Did serious M & M WH etc.
 
Ambers Echo said:
Katie is fully on-board. Hurrah! I think after riding a 16.3 brick outhouse, she just feels tiny but I would get used to her quite quickly I think. I competed Max BE and felt fine and he was only 14.2 Perception is a funny thing.
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It won’t take long to adjust.
Having spent 2 1/2 years on my giant, while he was off over autumn I rode a 16.1hh for a friend. It felt teeny tiny to start with. A few rides later it felt normal
 
Ambers Echo said:
I have to say, riding a sweet, kind 14.2 is very tempting right now. She may only be rising 6 but she is a very wise head on young shoulders.
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Go for it. I think it's good for a young horse/pony to have different riders, they need to learn to adjust to how different riders feel. Dolly will benefit from you riding her and hopefully so will you. I hope you are making a good recovery. x
 
if she was mine i would try her out tentatively, if she copes all well and good i would carry on, a lot depends on her balance and movement, if she moves easy and balanced and you use her considerately, why not.

i used to ride my 13 hand pony who was fine but beautifully put together, she had no probs and i was 9 1/2 stone
 
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