From horses to ponies.....?

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Parkranger

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I've found a loan home for Ty so am starting to look around at something else for me that I can go and have fun on.

I'm seriously considering a pony because a) I don't care what a pony does when I'm onboard (I have height issues) and I've had a couple of really fun one off lessons on ponies who are just kick and go when it comes to jumping.

Just wondered if anyone had made the transition and how they got on? My boy rides quite big so I guess double time trotting is going to take some getting used to!
 
After riding horses for a number of years I got Paddy on loan (15hh connie). It was a little strange at first as I'm 5ft 8 but great fun. In the 2 years I've had him I've had a wonderful time and am a pony convert! You might find it a little odd the first couple of times you ride/stand next to them but you'll soon get used to it.

You're down my way so there are lots of NF's
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How big/small are you planning to go?

I had a 16.3 Tb when I was 15 and went progressively lower. My comfort zone heightwise is about 15h, but my arabs were about 14.2 and rode like horses.
I used to ride the NF (13.2 ish) and he wasn't too 'double timish' at all, in fact he had a lovely sittable trot. It's when you get to the 12 handers that you tend look like a wind-up toy at trot.

Have fun pony hunting.
 
I went from a 16.2 TBxW to a 14.3 cob type pony.
Previous to the 16.2, I had a 13.2.

I love ponies, they're just so much fun.
I couldn't see myself getting a horse again, I just feel so much more comfortable on a pony.
 
Completely agree with Quirky!!
Iam a 'pony addict'. My little mare is 15hh and I wouldn't go any bigger now. Used to have 3 TB's at 15.3hh, and 2 16.1hh - looking back, I don't know how I coped!!
Ponies are fab!!!
 
I did it and I loved it....went from 16hh tb types to a mental 13hh pony and felt at home. I went back onto a horse who was 15hh who felt ok but I'm not sure I would want to ever gt anything bigger than that.
 
My first horse wasn't huge, 15.2hh on her tiptoes, but I'm now a fully fledged pony squisher
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I have 5 ponies, 3 of which I ride, they are 13hh, 13.2hh and 14.1hh. I'm not overly tall, 5 foot 4, and I do feel a bit tall on the 13hh but he carries me fine so I guess its not hugely different to a 6 foot 2 bloke on a 16hh.
 
I ride both, and I find it's just the first few moments that are disconcerting: if I've just gotten off the Spooky Pony and onto a 17hh, I feel very high off the ground, and very ground-covering, for about 1/2 an arena, and when I get back on the Spooky Pony, I wonder uneasily where the horse's nice long neck has gone, and just how fast this little thing can move sideways if it wants.
 
I've gone from a 16.3hh HW hunter to a 15hh welshxarab and it's great! When my pipsqeak cob is broken next year I'll be down to 14.2hh ish. I'm tall (5'8) so ideally the bigger 16hh+ horses take up my leg better.

I've always loved the movement of the big horses but there's nothing as much fun an hooneying about the countryside on a surefooted pony. Plus you can get on and off for gates and don't get decapitated by low branches.
 
Oh I love riding my pony, but then he does not have your typical quickstep pony strides! It did take some getting used to having, or rather feeling like you have nothing infront of you...but then before i backed Lukey, (who stands just over 14hh) i had been riding a 16.2 effalump lol
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I've done it - used to regularly ride 16hh+ and now riding ponies between 13.2 and 14.1 max
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Took me about 2 rides to get used to them? As not having to fold as much jumping wise but I'm a convert despite being 5ft 11 and when I come to buying a horse one day, I'll deffo be looking around the 14hh/14.2 mark max
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And before anyone says I'm riding something way too small - they're hardy NF ponies and easily take up my leg
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oooo JM07 please let me have details! I'm trying out a 14.3 tomorrow - I'm only 5.6 but not small (size 12/14) so hoping she won't collapse ;-) I want something I can go out and hoon around on, do cross country without worrying and have a go at hunting.....at that height they just don't scare me it's weird. I hadn't ridden for 18 years and used to hack out with my friends point to pointers on a 14.2 mare - she was a bitch and used to rear in the road with me and I laughed - if Ty did that I'd poo my pants and probably never ride him again!
 
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