Does anyone else think ..

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Jade2007

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that everyone seems to be obsessed with being too big on their horses these days! I'm 5ft4 on a 14hh and have had a few comments about me being big on him. I really don't believe this because if you calculate how much weight Boomer can take I've still got a good stone to go (including saddle, boots etc)

I know a girl who was the perfect size for her 13.2 and sold it to buy a 15.2 cob because 'she was too big for the pony'. I know of about 5/6 other similar cases. Everyone seems to be selling their ponies and buying horses that are a good 1 or 2 hands too big for them.

Or am I obsessed with having ponies that are too small?
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It's not just height prejudice either, but weight;

If a TB can carry 12 stone 7, around the Grand National course, then why can't a big cob at a riding school carry more than 12 stone? So many riding schools are imposing limits of 12 stone now on their horses - I can understand having a weight limit, but this should be assessed on a horse-by-horse basis.

Also, how many spindly endurance Arab's do you see completeing 100 mile rides with their big heavy Sheiks or Middle-Eastern riders?

My friend is 5'7" and has just bought a chunky 13hh pony, that she adores - she doesn't like riding horses, but weighs next to nothing. All she does is hack out and the odd bit of schooling at home - she doesn't jump or compete. Yet, she gets told over and over again that she is too big for her pony.
 
No; but I think it depends on what you feel underneath you. Some people like the feel of a big, powerful horse, others like having that fifth leg and quirky sense of humour ponies have! I personally swapped my 14.2hh for a 15.2hh when my feet were knocking the poles off fences, rather than his feet! I'm only about 5ft5 and I now ride a 16.2hh, pushing 16.3hh ISH. He's probably far too big for me but he's a gentleman xD
 
no i think you're right... i hunt with a couple of people who are really only 'average' height, and yet are comvinced they need a 17.2+ horse, when a 16hh would probably be fine!

hving said that i also know a few folk who hunt on fell ponies/ small cobs with no problems!
 
is it a nationwide thing for kids at 13/14 to be selling their perfectly good ponies to buy 16hh+ horses? or is it just around here? It becoming a bit ridiculous IMO. And from what i've seen lots of them can't handle them/ need the forgiving ponies not hot headed tb types, end up ruining them and selling them on. Cant count how many horses ive seen ruined and turned into rearers from kids with heavy hands and sharp legs, and using both together.
 
I'm 16, 5 foot 4, nearly 10 stone and ride 13.0-1HH light weight section B's. (Often beating most warmbloods at dressage
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My 13.1 section B, Rory pulled me, a lady of similar weight and a 150Kg carriage round a 20 Km marathon with water and mound obstacles and was still full of going at the end. I don't beleive he struggles carrying just me for 30 mins in a menage.

In 2 years I may consider getting a horse
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. TBH I think my HackneyTBX has given me preparation for the unforgivingness for horses
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All the kids round here are going onto horses at 14 ish as well. I know that the PC officials are not all in favour of it.

What happened to riding ponies until you were 17 or 18.

I have just sold a 15.3 and bought a 14.2 HW cob, the only time you know he is smaller is when you get off him. He carries me fine to do hacking, jumping etc and I am not a size 10 lightweight rider.

I think you do have to take into account build and what you do but I personally think riding ponies is far more fun.

I think teenagers go onto horses before they can physically cope with them. Most are not strong enough to keep them in line and often an adult has to square them up and remind them of manners.
 
I went onto horses at about 11 or 12 years old, but my instructors thought i was ready and i found them lovely to ride, but i've still always favoured my ponies, and when i was looking for my new one i wanted something around 14.2 MW, but my instructor insisted i get nothing smaller than 15hh im glad i got him, because although he is classed a horse he rides like a pony and I think he's a lovely size that i wont grow out of :]
 
Yup I had a 13hh and had so much abuse about being cruel, too big for my pony etc it had me in tears at times (I'm 5ft3 1/2 and was between 8.5 - 9 stone at the time). There is a huge size prejudice in the country from my experience and it's utter rubbish, our native ponies are bred to originally carry men and I don't know many ponies who are totally childrens rides....especially the 13-14.2hh range. It doesn't help that there is nothing for adults on ponies besides showing really IMO.

When I buy I'll be looking to buy a 16hh-ish horse...not because I feel I should ride a horse (I LOVE my ponies and have confidence issues on horses) but because I want to do RC jumping so I have to have a horse and TBH with the right horse I'd look at going bsja and distances/heights are easier on bigger horses.
 
I'm not saying that it's a bad thing for children to be riding horses - I jump my mums 16.2 occasionally and we get on brilliantly. It's just when people sell their perfect ponies claiming that they are too big for them when they aren't!

I sort of ditto Rara_2008 - I'm 5ft4 just and under 10 stone. IMO Boomer carries me fine considering he does 10 mile rides with no problem, competes in BSJA up to 1m which occasionally consist of courses of 18 jumps and pops round 2ft9-3ft3 cross country courses no problem.
 

It happens all the time.

I want to get a 12.2 ish pony as on anything bigger I don't feel as comfortable. My old 14.2 felt too big & I did feel over horsed sometimes.

I'm only 5ft & 7st so I could get away with riding a Shettie if I wanted!

I think it's stupid when kids go from ponies to horses before they are ready or before they have the need.

I also hate the snobbery that some people have with ponies as in, they are seen only as suitable mounts for children. I love ponies & much prefer them to most horses!
 
The urge for kids to have horses served me well, I bought the Appy from a family who had had her for six months, they had bought her for their 14 year old 5'2" lightly built daughter. The mare is a 15:3 Appy with arab and Tb as her dams parents, a very forward going and opinionated mare, who is lovely but absolutely no good for a child.
 
I luv ponies!!!

i'm about 5'6 and own and ride a 13.1hh. he can carry my weight easily and we do everything! my horse is a chunky 16hh though, but i would actually prefer it if he was a hand smaller! and pony a hand bigger
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