exmoor weight carrying

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ellis9905

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so i have my heart set on buying an exmoor- now i am only 5ft 2 , however aware that i probably currently weigh too much to ride an exmoor ( good incentive to get dieting!!)

my question is what weight would a full up 12.2/13hh mature exmoor carry? im an experienced rider and whilst im aware this doesnt actually change my weight it does mean i dont sit like a sack of spuds!

i just want to enjoy happy hacking and maybe some inhand showing.

all opinions gratefully recieved :)
 
Well according to a judge in HH a good section A can carry up to 15 stone comfortably.Having met some of these real leg at each corner types I would say that is absolutely correct and an Exmoor at least the same.We don't do these little but tough strong natives any favours by limiting them to small children.They are cracking and economical family ponies that can carry most people and are better for some work.
 
Was the judge a showing one who said sec a's can carry 15 stone? Thinking maybe didn't mean rider weight but 15 stone in excess 'condition' itself?
They say an exmoor in peak condition can carry a stone per hand, but as a regular rider I personally wouldn't be happy with anything over 12 stone including tack on a 13hh, assuming its fit, muscular & in the prime of life. On a personal view, I'd only ride one if tack & I were under about 10.5.
 
I have a 13.2hh Exmoor and he carries me with no issues whatsoever. Am 5ft8 and weight 10 stone. Taking into account saddle weight etc then would say he's carrying 11stone with ease.

Vet has said he could comfortably carry him out on a days hunting and I would say vet is about 13 stone.
 
If you are looking at registered Exmoors to show, then you'll be aware that registered mares are up to 12.2 & the boys to 12.3hh.

Obviously height wise you are fine, weight for hacking really ought to be no more than 11 stone (in your riding gear, not nekkid! :D & don't forget to add weight of saddle etc as so many dont!)
If pinging jumps etc, then 9& half stone to 10 max.
If pony really substantial then prob 11 stone for hunting etc, I certainly would never have let anyone over 11 ride mine.

If a youngster, then you will really need to spend a few weeks slowly building up the muscles at walk by going on a fittening program. After all, an adult woman is said to be able to carry 20 kilo's easily (feed sack) but there are plenty who cannot due to not having got developed muscles.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
If you are looking at registered Exmoors to show, then you'll be aware that registered mares are up to 12.2 & the boys to 12.3hh.

Obviously height wise you are fine, weight for hacking really ought to be no more than 11 stone (in your riding gear, not nekkid! :D & don't forget to add weight of saddle etc as so many dont!)
If pinging jumps etc, then 9& half stone to 10 max.
If pony really substantial then prob 11 stone for hunting etc, I certainly would never have let anyone over 11 ride mine.

If a youngster, then you will really need to spend a few weeks slowly building up the muscles at walk by going on a fittening program. After all, an adult woman is said to be able to carry 20 kilo's easily (feed sack) but there are plenty who cannot due to not having got developed muscles.
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Although this is now only a preferred height range. My exmoor mare is 12.3 and has done fairly well showing I believe with her previous owners :) The bigger backed + ridden ponies seem to very rarely come up for sale though, I think because once people have one they want to keep hold of them :D.

I do think it depends a lot on the individual pony, although exmoors may from a distance all look the same, they are actually in all sorts of shapes and sizes! Generally for an up to height pony people tend to say 12 stone maximum, but the pony would have to be in good muscled condition.
 
There is a great lengthy discussion on this on an Exmoor forum, have a Google. The biggest issue for me, as a fitter, is saddle seat length. I've not met an Exmoor yet that can take a 17" saddle so that does limit the "real world" weight that a pony can carry. At 5'2" you should easily fit in a 16.5", and quite possibly a 16", depending on your weight. The rear panel may need to be deeper with a larger (taller or heavier rider) to keep the saddle level, and many saddles that you see for natives are very thin in the panel so won't help much. Look for something with 1.5" to 2" rear gussets to the panels.
 
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