does size matter?!

[SarahRicoh]

I love ponies-always have and will. Just prefer them to horses so my new pony is a 14.3hh ish gelding.

So my random question is in the title! Does size matter? In terms of performance... Can ponies compete just as well as the bigger horses as long as they have the scope.

Obviously some couldnt compete due to a lack of talent/scope but some horses lack that too...

Dont think iv really explained it well what im trying to ask but anyone got any opinions?

 

[StormyMoments]

there is a point where i think it would possibly become physically impossible for a pony to jump certain heights, like 2metres or what ever where as a horse with enough talant and ability would but i dont think that ponies with that talant and ability just in a compact size are not able to compete to a high level.

just got to pick the right pony... like any horse certain horses are better at different things have fun with your pony dont worry about whether they are better or worse then a bigger horse

 

[Orangehorse]

If you read Dr. Deb Bennett, she says that the largest "natural" size for a horse is about 15.2. Once you get over this there are simply built-in weaknesses, which is why big horses have leg and wind problems. And why ponies generally remain sound and healthy, as they are "over engineered" by nature.

So many people will say of a pony "if only they were a couple of hands taller" but it is the fact of them being that size that makes them so good. I have a book written by the first RSPCA horse vet, who said exactly this. He said get any group of horsemen round the fire talking about their favourite horses and you can almost guarantee that they will remember the 15hh15.2 marvel, that jumped and galloped and was never lame, sick or sorry and always ended on "pity it wasn't taller." But it was the fact that it WASN'T taller that enabled it to be so good.

Enjoy your pony.

 

[McNally]

I think that if your talking entering a 3' jumping class then having a pony or horse will make no difference (obviously as long as both are able) In fact i found ponies take the turns quicker etc so could have an advantage?
There would come a point where a talented horse is better than a talented pony because of physical limitations but lets face it a good pony could often preform to a perfectly good standard for the average riding club rider.
The best jumper i've ever personally known was 11.2 and used to clear 4' which is you think about it is probably like a 16.2 jumping the moon!!!

 

[Feathered]

I was only thinking about this today actually. I was marvelling at how easy it is to put a rug on my 14.2 coblet. Which got me thinking about the bonuses of little horses and I couldn't actually think of a negative apart from perhaps they don't look as good or cool or whatever, and that doesn't really bother me... And I'm not about to jump round badminton anyway so don't need something capable of jumping 5ft.

 

[Spiritedly]

Look at Marion Mould and Stroller! When a pony/horse has ability it's height is immaterial.

 

[SarahRicoh]

Orangehorse-thats very interesting!! I guess thats a good point.

Il have fun dont worry he has far more scope than i have confidence haha. For some reason i was just wondering haha...

 

[SarahRicoh]

You all have very good points!

 

[Mince Pie]

Obviously there are exceptions to the rule - Pheobe Buckley's Little Tiger for one

Sorry I meant to quote McNally!

 

[rockysmum]

Look at Marion Mould and Stroller! When a pony/horse has ability it's height is immaterial.

But how many on here are old enough to remember him. He was fantastic

 

[tazzle]

the legendary Stroller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R4XXicTwJU&feature=related

 

[Welshie Squisher]

At all the yards I've been at, the horses have been blown away by ponies and cobs, so no size doesn't matter.

I think its just the same as what breed, up to a certain level it doesn't matter what size or breed, only once you reach quite a high level does it come into play.

I like my 14.2hh cobby types, and they will both be what my daughter and I make them, we're not aiming for the olympics

 

[A Beary Merry Christmas]

The best horse I've ever had was a 14.3 welsh D mare, even though she was an absolute cow when I inherited her. She was Jet black with a blaze, tough as old boots, and much admired by everyone, Mr Hoity Toity Warmblood breeder/trainer ect. wanted to know What I was going to do wth her. Said she belonged in the show ring, he offered to buy her many times despite being scared to death of her. (she bit him).

She passed away at 33 in her paddock after 23 wonderful years together.

Enjoy your littl'uns they're terrific.


Run free sweet Meggie, I miss you with all my heart darling girl.

 

[PingPongPony]

i think ponies can perform very well against horses jumping wise, to a certain point. However, i think in dressage, horses have bigger and more expressive paces and movements so dressage wise i do think size matters but so does the ability of course, i am thinking of top top levels here thou. Because at lower levels ponies do great too isn't 14.3hh technically a horse thou? i always get confused about that.

 

[Spiritedly]

But how many on here are old enough to remember him. He was fantastic
/QUOTE]

They were before my time too but my parents used to talk about them a lot so I read up om them. There's not many horses who could clear a 6'8" puissance wall let alone 14.2 ponies

 

[A Beary Merry Christmas]

i think ponies can perform very well against horses jumping wise, to a certain point. However, i think in dressage, horses have bigger and more expressive paces and movements so dressage wise i do think size matters but so does the ability of course, i am thinking of top top levels here thou. Because at lower levels ponies do great too isn't 14.3hh technically a horse thou? i always get confused about that.

Yes, you are spot on. 14.2+ is technically a horse albeit a small one, It's the height of the 'Galloways' that baffles me. Is it !4.1 to 14.3 or lower than 14.1 ? and why do they need their own class? The only Galloway class I watched at a show was full of finer boned types. I like mine chunky. So I thought galloway was a height but going on that, you would think it was a type. I'm confused now.

 

[SarahRicoh]

Yes 14.3h is techincally a horse but hes my little pony

glad to see everyones positive! I do feel when you get to a certain age/height people feel you should come off ponies and move onto horses. Truth is id have a pony anyday(&my pony would kill a child rider lol)

 

[sheep]

I can't help but refer to my loan mare as a pony, she is 15hh on the dot but I prefer to think of her as a pony She is half Connemara though so I suppose she's 50% pony.. she's my favourite so far (sorry Fatty and Thomas), the previous ones were a 14.2hh very cobby chubby beastie (farrier said, how can you ride that thing, it should be pulling a cart!), and a lanky leggy 16.3hh tb.. now I'm somewhere in the middle, I suppose

 

[Lollypop82]

Being a tad on the short side I get to ride a lot of ponies and over the years having ridden huge horses I've decided I much prefer ponies. Size wouldn't matter to me at all. My current ride is 13.2! As long as I am light enough and I don't look too big I will always choose a pony over a big horse. I like their cheeky personalities and so much easier for a short a**e to tack up or rug!

 

[MagicMelon]

No, I dont think size has much to do with it. Although obviously I think its more of a "sure thing" that a 16.2hh of decent built can jump say 1.10m course easily than say a 13.2hh. However, there are some seriously talented ponies out there (have you seen the BSJA ponies, 128's jump 1.10m I think??). I personally think that ponies are more talented than horses in that some can match a horses jumping abillity.

 

[Sarah1]

The best jumper i've ever personally known was 11.2 and used to clear 4' which is you think about it is probably like a 16.2 jumping the moon!!!

Wasn't a little grey section A called Twinkle by any chance? I don't know what are you're in but this sounds like my niece's old pony!

I think there are lots of talented ponies and smaller horses out there - we have a 14.1hh welsh x TB who could jump like a stag when he felt like it - not much could beat him. We also have a 15.1hh ISH who is a XC machine, anything he can't jump he'll climb over!

In general though, exceptions aside, I think size does matter if you're wanting to do the bigger classes - it stands to reason that a 17hh horse will find jumping 4' easier than a 14.2hh

 

[arizonahoney]

Size matters a lot! The ground is so much closer for starters

I would always pick a pony over a horse, but then again I am 5'!

 

[NeilM]

I do feel when you get to a certain age/height people feel you should come off ponies and move onto horses.

I don't subscribe to that train of thought, as I am 6'1" tall, 52 years old and ride a 14.2hh New Forest (tank).

 

[PaddyMonty]

But how many on here are old enough to remember him. He was fantastic

Remember him? Hell, I saw him compete live many times. Feel very old now