Horses v Ponies - Which do you find easier?

[marmalade76]

Having had just ponies for a while (between 12 hands ad 14.3) and now have a bigish (16/16.1 so not huge, but still considerably bigger than the pones) horse again has made me consider the difference between the two.

Ponies are definitely easier to do in every way, easier to clip, wash and plait. You have more choice re size of stable and transport. They are also easier to keep going, ie, I can take mine out to a low level comp without much practise and come back with a rosette virtually every time. They are also cheaper to feed.

But I do find horses easier to ride, I find them more comfortable and 'slower moving' (everything is so much quicker on a pony) and it's certainly easier to fall off a pony! Jumps look so much smaller from the back of a horse than the back of a pony. But horses do need more schooling, more practise, more 'keeping going'.

I have concluded that, all things considered, I'm better off sticking with ponies in the future. Your thoughts?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I like the 14.2hh - 15.2hh height range. It would take a really special animal to make me move away from arabs though.

 

[_HP_]

Six of one, half dozen of the other 😀

I have 2 horses and 3 ponies. Winter is easy....ad lib grazing.
Spring, Summer, Autumn....harder work ,which consists of restricted grazing, poo picking, constant digital pulse checks, weight checks, sweet itch checks, sunburn checks etc .
This is no different for the ponies or the horses tbh...they are all good doer natives☺
None of mine have a feed as such....just a token balancer so no difference feed wise...same for hay...a token amount due to good grazing.
I don't rug as a rule and tbh, pony rugs cost as much as horse rugs alot of the time.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I have five ponies and one horse. The horse is 15.2. Someone said to me on wed that my "wee pony is coming on well". It took me a few hours to realise that she had just called my big one a wee pony

I would definitely choose ponies, although my 14.2 is a big horse with short legs she has a pony brain. Wish I was a foot shorter tho!

 

[marmalade76]

I like the 14.2hh - 15.2hh height range. It would take a really special animal to make me move away from arabs though.

I don't doubt! I would like an arab one day, had a couple of PBs in the past and loved them. I would say they give a ride more akin to a pony than a horse (see my 'slower moving' comment re horses).

 

[marmalade76]

I would definitely choose ponies, although my 14.2 is a big horse with short legs she has a pony brain. Wish I was a foot shorter tho!

See, this is where I have a range of choice, I am only 5'.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Yes, such fun though... and less far to fall. There's something nice about a pony/horse that just puts a smile on your face, you know you've got the right one for you when that happens.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I like the pony brain and love the fact they are low maintenance. I don't really do big horses either these days, my horse is 15.2h. I also have a 13h who is just such a happy chappy that he never fails to put a smile on my face

 

[Dave's Mam]

Ponies! I have 13.1hh Welsh B (loan) & 12.3hh Exmoor (my own). I love their personalities, their intelligence & yes, the fact that the ground is closer! Ponies are the reason I love being a short a**e!!!

 

[Damnation]

Horses. I am only 5ft 3, but would be more at home on a 17hh horse than a 13hh pony.

Current horse is 16.2

 

[Deltaflyer]

My boy is 15.1 and definitely a big pony rather than a small horse and I love that about him. I'm definitely a 'pony' person. I'm only 5ft so feel more at home on smaller animals. I love the pony way of thinking. I've had a 15.3 and a 15.2 who were both 'horse' brained and a 14.3 PBA. My current boy and the PBA are the two I had/am having the most fun with out of the four I've owned.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Horses. I am only 5ft 3, but would be more at home on a 17hh horse than a 13hh pony.

Current horse is 16.2

I used to prefer a bigger Neddy (I am 5'3" too), but now I am getting on a bit, I prefer the ease of getting on & off a teeny!

 

[Enfys]

Ponies, and exclusively gaited ones at that - although gaited horses, like Arabians (which I have had exclusively as riding horses for over 20 years) are horses whatever their height. So I am size AND type specific. Fussy bint

I am a hobbit, an older hobbit at that, with knackered hips and knees. I like to be able to see over the back of what I ride, and tack up etc without having to stand on a ladder (I used to have to stand in a manger to plait up in the days when I was on hunter and racing yards )

I can also, generally get on them from the ground if I have to, with anything bigger than 14.2 I would be climbing up them like a monkey, or teaching them to bow ! I couldn't ride one side of a big striding horse nowadays.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

If I was in the market to buy I wouldn't want to look at anything below 17.2hh, so I am definitely a horse person.

Nothing beats being able to see eye to eye, and having a huge horse around you when riding, not to mention the sheer speed and amount of ground you cover when going for a hooley!

Yes transport can be a pain, and maybe stable size.. But nothing else really. I enjoy the partnership with a big powerful beast, (and being able to nose over hedges into peoples gardens when hacking).

 

[Deltaflyer]

If I was in the market to buy I wouldn't want to look at anything below 17.2hh, so I am definitely a horse person.

Nothing beats being able to see eye to eye, and having a huge horse around you when riding, not to mention the sheer speed and amount of ground you cover when going for a hooley!

Yes transport can be a pain, and maybe stable size.. But nothing else really. I enjoy the partnership with a big powerful beast, (and being able to nose over hedges into peoples gardens when hacking).

Downside, getting swept off your horse by low hanging branches when we on ponies don't have to even duck

 

[Orca]

It's funny. When I was a child, horses were something to aspire to. Having your first horse was a mark of maturity, of growing up, a right of passage. Young children rode ponies, teens and adults rode horses and that was that.

Now, I'm back on ponies ��. Admittedly, she's a family mare and if I were choosing one for me, it would probably a horse - but I'm really enjoying having a hardy, comical character in my life.

 

[luckyoldme]

i only ever rode a pony once, when i was younger the only horses i could get to ride were all 16hh and above in return for helping out . The thing about ponies is that they turn quick and i dont . I did go out a few weeks ago on my horse and with the ground being so wet we were sinking a wee bit. It felt like being on a pony...and i did like the idea that it wouldn t be so far to fall!

 

[muckypony]

Definitely ponies for me, I have 3 and my biggest is 14.2. I often think about whether I would like nice big 16.2 show jumper, but I don't think I would.

I also find ponies easier to keep going. Mine can be sharp at times, but I know that I could get on him after 6 weeks off and he would pop round a little course of fences no problems, maybe a buck but nothing unpredictable. He is nice and compact to ride, holds himself together well and knows where to take off in front of a fence.

I've worked with horses before, the last yard was full of big dressage horses. I hated being towered over leading them to/from fields. Most of them were ridiculously sharp, despite plenty of turnout, and I always felt really unsafe, so for that reason I like them to be on the smaller side! When I see my boys charging around the field playing with each other, I think It's nice. When I used to see big horses charging around, I used to be praying for them to stop before they pull something or kick the one another!

Not dissing horses at all, I have some old favorites, but I just think ponies are generally more fun and easier to keep!

 

[ljohnsonsj]

I'm only 5'3 and have always preffered horses to ponies, thats excluding my old jumping pony, Thumper, who I'd have back in a heart beat.

My 2 main horses are 16.2 and 17hh WBs, the 3rd horse who is coming back from the breaking yard tomorrow is only 15.1 ish, so I think it'll feel weird riding him!

 

[Patchworkpony]

Ponies every time! Never owned a horse. Wouldn't want to - my OH's were a pain in the neck compared to my natives. I think everyone should own and ride at least one pony - they definitely keep you grounded, develop your sense of humour and teach you humility (even though you often wish they wouldn't).

 

[Clare85]

I think I generally best suit 14.2hh to 15.2hh. I find the bigger horses much harder to manoeuvre and sometimes get frustrated by everything happening so much more slowly. I love a cheeky, whizzy pony I have to say. Esme is currently standing about 13.3hh and am hoping she'll scrape 14hh so will be just about big enough for me - I've got a bit more weight to lose before I'm happy to back her, nearly there! I suppose it'll depend how she rides as to whether I'll think about getting something bigger to run alongside her at some point.

 

[marmalade76]

It's funny. When I was a child, horses were something to aspire to. Having your first horse was a mark of maturity, of growing up, a right of passage. Young children rode ponies, teens and adults rode horses and that was that.

Now, I'm back on ponies ��. Admittedly, she's a family mare and if I were choosing one for me, it would probably a horse - but I'm really enjoying having a hardy, comical character in my life.

This is true of my generation, at 16 you wanted a horse regardless of whether or not you needed one (I have never needed one from a size POV) and they were generally TBs or TB crosses. Yet look back to previous generations and many adults rode ponies and most horses weren't actually that big.

 

[marmalade76]

I think I generally best suit 14.2hh to 15.2hh. I find the bigger horses much harder to manoeuvre and sometimes get frustrated by everything happening so much more slowly. I love a cheeky, whizzy pony I have to say.

Ye, there s that rage from 14.2 to 15.2 where they cane more like ponies than horses, he bay over the hedge in my sig was not quite 15.1 and rode like a whizzy jumping pony, he just didn't do slow!

I think now, if I had a big wedge to spend, I'd go and buy myself a nice JA to have a bit of fun on

 

[Enfys]

Nothing beats being able to see eye to eye, and having a huge horse around you when riding, not to mention the sheer speed and amount of ground you cover when going for a hooley!

Yes, you have a point there, I used to ride some massive NH horses and hunters and all that power is something to enjoy.

My teeny tiny gingerling couldn't, and doesn't, compare to them. Different strokes, I am no longer into popping Leicestershire hedges or work riding anymore, at this stage in my horse life I am content with my flashy little hummingbird, although I do wish she were nearer 14h than 13h Anyhow, practically talking, a big beastie would be useless where I live, narrow, twisty trails through forest, I'd spend a lot of time nursing cracked knees and hugging necks

 

[marmalade76]

Yes, I am finally accepting that I am unlikely to want to fly over hedges again, too many years have gone by since I last did it and I don't think my nerve will ever be the same.

 

[Damnation]

I used to prefer a bigger Neddy (I am 5'3" too), but now I am getting on a bit, I prefer the ease of getting on & off a teeny!

I have a bad back (24 with a knackered back!) and the faster motion of ponies just knackers my back. I get off crippled! Current mare is long striding and smoothe.. muuuch better!

 

[marmalade76]

I have a bad back (24 with a knackered back!) and the faster motion of ponies just knackers my back. I get off crippled! Current mare is long striding and smoothe.. muuuch better!

Yes, I totally understand that, I do find horses more comfortable than a lot of ponies.

 

[Honey08]

I like horses. My 16h mare has a pony brain though, she's quick thinking and meets you half way. I miss ponies in that they don't wreck the fields like my husband's big horse does, and they don't tower above me when they're prattling about! Also for the fore mentioned aspects of not needing big transport and stables, and less food etc. I would love for my horses to fit in a 3.5 ton box, but I've no chance! However jumps look tiny on my husband's 17h horse!

I've often thought, when tall riders on ponies post pictures of themselves on their ponies, that I'd like to see them on a bigger horse, they'd just look so much better. However if they're not too big for the pony and they're happy it doesn't really matter.

 

[southerncomfort]

Ponies for me. I have a 12.2hh welsh B, a 13.2hh welsh D X and a 14.3hh welsh D.

They all make me laugh so much. They are all far too clever for their own good and can be an absolute pain sometimes but they make me very happy.

 

[Orca]

This is true of my generation, at 16 you wanted a horse regardless of whether or not you needed one (I have never needed one from a size POV) and they were generally TBs or TB crosses. Yet look back to previous generations and many adults rode ponies and most horses weren't actually that big.

My first horse was indeed a beautiful little TB ��. I don't feel I need a big horse but another 15.3" TB would suit me well. I like dressage. I'm looking forward to the challenge of working my heavyweight cob. Step one is going to be working out how to wrap my legs around her!