Horses v Ponies - Which do you find easier?

[Enfys]

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.

We call it happy cackling

https://www.facebook.com/camilla.willings/videos/vb.735865099/10153475401910100/?type=2&theater

 

[rachk89]

I dont really know, they both have positive and negative sides. But I guess I find ponies easier to stay on when they have a bit of a temper tantrum, horses when they buck I just find its so much power in it that you go flying, but ponies I rarely leave the saddle and can just ignore them. The advantage for me though with ponies is I am tall and can just wrap my legs around them, so I dont leave the saddle. Its a bit more difficult to do that with a horse. It does feel weird going from my horse to a pony though, just left going 'wheres the neck gone?!'.

I am so used to Highlands and Cobs too, my current horse is my first 'warmblood' and he isnt even a full one! Its weird, but its a good challenge. And he's an easy horse to have really, so I'm lucky. Not many can say that about their first horse, especially one like this. I will definitely own a highland or a cob though at some point in the future. I love the quirkiness of ponies.

 

[Phemme]

I find 14-15hh easiest I'm 5ft 3". It's a matter of what I'm used to and my comfort zone. My only horse atm is 15.3hh, but ponyish in appearance(stocky, shortbacked, little feet, big hair). He felt big and fast for a fair while. I'm planning to go smaller again next time I buy a horse.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Horses, all day long. The bigger and chunkier the better. I'm 5ft 11" with long legs and I feel a wally on a pony. I've always had 16hh to 17.2hh.
My current "horse" is approx 15hh and I'm really struggling with his height. My perfect size is generally about 16.2. The only advantage of the smaller boy I have found is the ease of getting on and off lol. To be fair he does take up my leg well but as I have Fibromyalgia I find his shorter, choppy stride a bit painful to deal with for any length of time
I feel a bigger horse will have to make its way to me before long.

 

[FfionWinnie]

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

First time I rode my 15.2 out hacking I found a lot of branches I had not noticed before

 

[MotherOfChickens]

smaller animals don't have to be choppy striding-lusitanos are renowned for being comfortable and the Exmoors and other small breeds can ride much bigger than they are.

 

[Equine_Dream]

I have a 13.2, a 14.3, and my boyfriend's horse who is 15.2. My 13.2 gelding always manages to put a smile on my face. He's quick as a flash under saddle and has the classic little legs of fury when you take him for a gallop.
However to be fair he is an angel to ride. Takes such good care of his rider. I have ridden some ponies who have been right little s***s. One sencond youre on board, then suddenly they dissapear from underneath you quicker than you can blink.
My 14.3 mare rides big. I would say she rides more like a horse. Her movements are not as sharp as a pony's. I can still mount her from the ground however and she can turn on a 6 pence when its required of her. So really its the best of both.
My boyfriends 15.2 is a big strong lad. He isn't sharp and nippy like a pony, but he's strong and powerful. Theres so much power behind his movements. When you ask him to move up a gear you worry more about stopping rather than him suddenly vanishing from underneath you haha.
On reflection Im not sure which I prefer. Both have their good and bad points. I dont think I can choose lol

 

[huskydamage]

I like ponies my knee likes them better too when I jump off. Horses I have groomed for just seem like all work and no play to me. Ponies are more of a laugh. I never got excited about riding the horses which would entail clonking round the school in all tack,boots and no horse lol but I loved exercising the kids ponies whizzing around. Sadly as I am a lanky git I will have to go for a horse if I ever get another after my pony. But I would go no bigger than 15.3 I would get my head ripped off on bridleways round here otherwise

 

[HashRouge]

My own mare is 14.2hh and slightly built, and I rode her from the age of 11 right through to her retirement when I was 22 (I am tallish, but very light). I always thought she was a fine size, and I remember when I got my first job with showjumpers, I was shocked by how huge the horses are. But you very quickly get used to that sort of thing, and when I moved my pony down to where I was working, she suddenly seemed so tiny and delicate, like a little china pony! My first job was a non-riding position, but the second one we rode a lot and so I got used to riding big horses. We had the odd one on the yard that was smaller (15.2hh-16hh) and they seemed tiny. Completely unexpectedly I found myself much more comfortable on the ones that were 16.3hh+. I find them much nicer to ride and even though I don't *need* a horse that big, I doubt I would buy anything under 16.2hh if I'm ever in the position to get another one. But at the same time, I'm grateful for my pony, because she is much easier to do than a big horse and it means I can leave her at home in the care of my Mum and sister while I'm doing my Master's, without worrying that she is too much work.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I like the height range of 14.2 to 16h I have two Arabs currently one 15h the other is 15.3 so I suppose they are small horses, I did have a 16.3 warmblood who I loved riding she was just so safe so I would consider getting a larger one as long as the temperament was good, the only downside to the Arabs is they can be sharp but it does teach you to sit properly or you would be hitting the deck quite often.

 

[emmad96]

I'm both too tall and too big for ponies, but I do have a 15/15.1 hand Clyde QH cross gelding who rides a lot bigger than he is - and not too far to fall! I have just bought a big clyde cross mare, who stands at a whopping 17.1 hands. I like big horses, i feel a lot safer on them and I like having a fair bit of horse between my legs.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

RE choppy strides and smaller horses, it does depend on the individual horse in question. My back is knackered and I do have to be aware that some horses/ponies have movement that will set off a lot of pain, however none of mine do luckily.

Another point RE very big horses is that out of the ones that I have personally known, they have had more lameness issues. Suspensory issues, in particular, have gone hand in hand with the bigger horses that have been in my life (although not owned by me). Now whether this is bad luck or some cause unrelated to their size I don't know, but it is a significant trend.

 

[Flame_]

I'm also a little horse fan now. My friend had a big horse, probably 18h or near enough, and kind of hunter build. He had some joint and other lameness issues which would have had surgical options but she was told the risks and logistics of anaesthetising and operating on a horse his size made it at least inadvisable or possibly impossible.

 

[marmalade76]

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).

Being bitten by that Shetland put you off ponies for life??

 

[marmalade76]

I'm also a little horse fan now. My friend had a big horse, probably 18h or near enough, and kind of hunter build. He had some joint and other lameness issues which would have had surgical options but she was told the risks and logistics of anaesthetising and operating on a horse his size made it at least inadvisable or possibly impossible.

Yes, I do think smaller/more lightweight animals have more chance of staying sound, they probably suffer less concussion on hard ground and have less weight to bog them down in heavy going. I also think they have more stamina than bigger/heavier animals.

 

[catkin]

smaller animals don't have to be choppy striding-lusitanos are renowned for being comfortable and the Exmoors and other small breeds can ride much bigger than they are.

this.
My Welshie has a lovely smooth action, better than many horses

As far as which is easier - having had big TBs and native ponies I'd say it evens out. For example: the natives need quite a lot of care in the summer to keep them trim whereas the TBs could work from grass, the ponies are easieer to groom tack up etc but finding tack to fit them is more difficult and expensive.

 

[pennandh]

Much as I love Mr. H to pieces, I do sometimes feel a little tall for him - I'm 5'7"; he's 13.1hh.

If I was buying, I think I'd be tempted to go for a smallish horse (15.1-16.2hh sort of thing) of proper hunter type, just for the extra flexibility in trying to find a side-saddle (H's took over eight months of searching because he's very wide and very short-coupled).

Still, if I did buy a horse rather than a bigger Highland from the same stud (they breed the loveliest island-type ponies), I'd want something with a bit of native wile - probably a TBxID or a TBxCB - because I like a mount that can get itself out of a tight spot without too much help. No imported warmbloods for me (in defence of warmbloods, the ones I have ridden have all been very sweet, just not nearly as sharp-minded and handy as I'm used to).