Even if I become a size 0- am I still too tall?

Toffee44

Toffee44

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No CC on me please, these were taken during Sambas first jumping poles session so we are a bit all over the place plus I havent jumped for about 18months.

This summer I am making a big decision to either a) sell at what ever price and go for the better home for her and then have a break from horses obv still have Toffee (or maybe buy a foal and start all over) b) keep her accepting I am limited to what I do with her ie jumping out hunting might not happen.

I will be loosing weight this year and already making some steps in the right direction. Samba is coming along lovely, she is finding that cantering is fun and that it doesnt mean she will get jabbed in the mouth and told off. And from these pictures she has been introduced to some poles (when I first got her she wouldnt cross a pole let alone jump it).


So even if I lost loads of weight, would I still be too tall for her?? Would she just be better off with a smaller/ shorter rider (I am 5ft 6" so not really tall) She seems to have a very high shoulder?? which I think makes us look worse together?? Opinions please, oh and the baler twine you can see is keeping my saddle saver in place :)

Heres a few pics of her and me

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Shame this is out of focus

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What do you think??
 
I think you look absolutely fine on her. Your legs do not hang under her belly and you look well suited in my opinion :), but then I am an adult pony rider so I may be a little bias ;)
 
You don't need to lose weight and you are not too tall for her! You look great on her, enjoy her! The only thing I would say is that the saddle looks a bit small for you, perhaps see if her back will take a larger size saddle (she looks a tad compact in length so you may need to get some expert advice on a larger saddle).
 
I think you look good together and you are obviously both enjoying yourselves! You have brought her on to jumping from previously being scared of poles, if she thought it were too difficult and you were too big, she would have refused and run a mile in the opposite direction! Go for it and don't let what you think other people might think put you off!
 
Every time I see one of these posts I make the same reply: I am 6' 1" tall, weight 12.5 to 13 stone (closer to 13 at present :mad:) and ride Harry, 'the fat lad' who is a 14.2hh New Forest.


If you wish to lose weight, that's fine, that's exactly what I did so that H and I could do more / higher jumps, but your pony looks perfectly happy, and the pair of you look good.


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Just a few comments on the yard by a very experienced horse woman along the lines of shes turning into a lovely pony now but shes just on the small side for you, I do need to loose weight I just bought a pair of size 16 jeans, I was a 12 before I became a midwife (I am blaming the job!! !! !!)

Shes 14.1hh full up.

Thank you for nice comments. With regards to saddle it was a nightmare fitting her and this one fits, so I will loose the weight first and then see how it goes.
 
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Please don't lose any weight or much as size 0 or skinny is not attractive I don't think, u look fine as you are. U don't look to big on her either. Keep her and enjoy her I say it's a big bad world out there so keep her and enjoy :)
 
You look fine on her, don't stress :) Ignore the woman's comments, she looks to be able to carry you fine, you're not too tall or too heavy for her either, so just carry on as you are :)
 
U look absolutely fine, some people just seem to think ponies are for children. Both my boys are ponies and I wouldn't change them for anything. Loads of my friends ride ponies, at the end of the day as long as ur both happy who cares what anybody says!! X
 
Like everyone else has said, you look great on her! She looks happy too and has a nice jump by the looks of the third picture. Don't lose any more weight just because you feel too big for her because you certainly aren't :) x
 
He's the same height as my highland, I'm a couple of inches taller than you though :D And probably a similar build...

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Toffee44 said:
Just a few comments on the yard by a very experienced horse woman along the lines of shes turning into a lovely pony now but shes just on the small side for you,
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I know how that feels, I was told that I was too big for H and that he was struggling to carry me.

I sent a picture of H and I cantering along at a fun ride to his breeder, and she told me the comments were "utter rubbish" and reassured me that H was in no way, shape or form 'struggling' and that traditional NF's were / are bred to carry weight, just like Sec D's, Highland's, Fells, Dales and most other Natives.

People have some very funny ideas about the weight carrying capabilities of ponies and horses.
 
I think you look fine!
I'm 5'5 and have a 13.2hh Welsh, a 14.hh Arab and a 15.2hh Warmblood... None of them are particularly big but the WB feels huge in comparison :D
I probably am too big for the two ponies and sometimes I do wish they were a couple of inches taller, but they're great and I'd rather have a pony that I gel with than a horse I don't, just because I feel I 'should'.
 
Toffee44 said:
Just a few comments on the yard by a very experienced horse woman along the lines of shes turning into a lovely pony now but shes just on the small side for you, I do need to loose weight I just bought a pair of size 16 jeans, I was a 12 before I became a midwife (I am blaming the job!! !! !!)

Shes 14.1hh full up.

Thank you for nice comments. With regards to saddle it was a nightmare fitting her and this one fits, so I will loose the weight first and then see how it goes.
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Well if you want to lose weight for you that is fine but you shouldn't worry about being to big for your pony.

If the woman says anything again ask her why, challenge her, she's being very rude, not to mention completely wrong.

By no measure are you too big for your pony, your feet aren't below her belly line and she is carrying your weight happily. Ask her whether she would like to go and talk to Mark Todd or William Fox Pitt about riding horses that are too small for them as they both ride horses that they look much bigger on than you do on your pony (Mark Todd's feet hung below Charisma's belly when doing dressage, just look at the old photos).

Nasty woman is probably jealous.
 
I once asked on here how large a horse I should look for, and I seem to recall that I was told by some respondents that about 17hh should do it, and I'm only a couple of inches taller than you - people can have some odd ideas about how large a horse a person needs! Personally I prefer stunted cobs and native types with teeny tiny little short legs, they are easier to get on and it's not so far to fall:p:D Although large horses are excellent for being nosey when hacking as you can see over people's hedges (:p) I shall be looking for a shortie when the time comes. I can always hack with a periscope:D:D:D

I personally don't think you are too tall - losing weight for your own peace of mind and self-esteem may not be a bad thing, but you are not squishing your pony IMO:)
 
Kat said:
Ask her whether she would like to go and talk to Mark Todd or William Fox Pitt about riding horses that are too small for them as they both ride horses that they look much bigger on than you do on your pony (Mark Todd's feet hung below Charisma's belly when doing dressage, just look at the old photos).
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As do mine at dr length on Fergs... The SRS use swan necked spurs because their legs do too (unless I've lost the plot entirely). If it's good enough for them :D
 
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