How many adults riding smallish ponies?

The fact that she is only 13.2 and carries 16 stone is amazing. Does she carry this weight just a slow paces or can she work in a faster mode with your friend on board?
Click to expand...
My 6ft, 12 stone son rode a 13.1 Highland all summer at a polo yard where he was working- all paces, in polo matches and they both absolutely loved it!
 
Gloi said:
Not necessarily, but surefootedness , self-reliance and hardiness are some of the first things I want . I know that living in a herd on a mountain somewhere produces that so I'll always buy something that has had that sort of upbringing.
Click to expand...

I can tell mine wasn't raised on a mountain - falls down a lot, races over any terrain without thinking to check first and if I had to rely on him to survive we both would have karked it years ago! He is tough as old boots though, despite having matchstick legs that im sure ought to snap in a strong wind! He is certainly fun, but then i just watched a vid in picture gallery of a big horse chasing a plastic bag, so clearly that isn't pony only territory!
 
I have got a ISH pony and he is fab...! My dream pony......jumps for fun, super hack and wins at showing and dressage with marks in the 69/70%. Love him so much....very forward though if he was a big 16.2h horse - he would be too much for me but the fact he is under 15 hands means I can control him better as I'm only 5ft.. X
 
Rider:
5ft 4& 1/2
23yo
11st

Pony:
Highland
11yo
13.2
we jump,show,dressage,pony games and hack. Cant wait to see what this summer will bring as have only owned her since the end of July 2012.

hh_zpsca472531.jpg
 
I am loving the photos, please keep them coming. It is great to see so many adored and adorable ponies. Yes I know they are often much naughtier than horses but that is because they usually have a brain and in addition have 'survival' ingrained in their DNA. Ponies can be a challenge and for me this is part of their charm but the paradox is that while small ponies are suitable for children size wise, temperament wise they can be just too much 'horse' for a nervous child or inexperienced child. Which is exactly why I started this thread.

Given that we live near Dartmoor and see so many of the wonderful hill ponies being just bred for meat it is uplifting to see more and more ponies being ridden by adults, as it means they are less likely to be sold on to an uncertain future when outgrown.
 
I ride a 13.2hh new forest we do lots of showjumping, whp and xc. She won 2 unaffiliated ode s last year and this year we intend to attempt be 80! I.downgraded to a nf after selling my tb who cost a fortune in feed! Wouldn't change her for the world!x
 
rhino said:
Find the generalisations rather amusing, so now all ponies are 'more' fun, hardier, cheaper to keep and more intelligent than all horses?! What happened to them being individuals?

I'm not bothered what size a horse is if I get on with it and it does the job I want to do :) Have never had any issues, but then as shown by this thread, snobbery works both ways!
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this OP you do realise that some of what you have said is quite insulting to those of us with horses.
 
I'm 5'10 & 24 stone & ride an 11hh sec a, because they were bred to carry men up mountains & I ride light.
Not really, I'm 5'10 & just under 9stone, & still ride my full up 14.2 connie x tb. Competed & hunted at this size too. Never had any negative comments, except very rare ones from the type of people who sit & slag everyone & everything. I'm mainly legs though so I look fine with jumping stirrups & she takes up a lot of leg. I normally ride very long, & often no stirrups or bareback but because my upperbody looks fine my too long legs are less noticeable. Was very tall before I was 16 so tbh I never really put any thought into looking a bit leggy. Also rode everything from chunky 12hh upwards, I used to be lighter still, but wouldn't go under 12hh regardless because my height would unbalance anything smaller. I won't ride anything too small & fine either, a 13hh chunk I have no problems getting on in public, but I wouldn't ride a 13hh sec b as I'd be too heavy. I crave a ride on daughters very whizzy 11.1, but as she's fine, even if I weighed the 6stone max I'd want on her, I'd have my knees halfway to her head if I had stirrups short enough to keep my legs from tripping her up.
 
I'm 60 years old, 5ft 1 and weigh 8 stone on a heavy day. My main ride these days is a 14.2 new forest. I have just bought a 12.1 exmoor who should finish at 12.2 and occasionally ride one of my Shetlands. I still have my 15.2 semi retired Arab and on the occasional times I ride her, she feels very tall and very narrow, lol
 
I have a 13.2hh rising 6yold New Forest stallion, I'm 28 now, 5'2'', and 11.5st. He's great fun! I fully intend to most things, XC, jumping, dressage, but ultimately aiming at riddens and affiliated workers. He's got a lot of bone and is awesome fun!

Also have a rising 4yold 14hh New Forest gelding who is hopefully going to be another Workers pony, but in the next height class up from my stallion... Fingers crossed he keeps growing!

My 14hh 22yold welsh x retired boy was a fantastic allrounder for me, right in to my early 20's. Never out of the ribbons in anything we tried :D (Mostly jumping & workers).
 
I'm 5'3 and 7.5stone and ride a 13.2hh welshie, he also used to be ridden by someone of similar hight but weighed 9st. I also used to ride a friends shetland pony on the advice of vet and farrier, she coped fine, although it did look a little odd as our legs came down so far!:D
here is my boy
P9050227.jpg
 
mulberrymill I love exmoors but feel I am just too heavy for one of those - but you are going to look fantastic on one. I am jealous! Do you have a picture of your new baby?
 
Patchwork pony. I don't have any pics yet, but will put some on once weather is better. An exmoor can comfortably carry 12 stone, they are little rhinos. We have started backing her and she is now at the "walk round the yard with dead cowboy on her back" . She did 3 circuits last weekend without batting an eyelid. I know I don't weigh much, but that was still pretty good for a titchy 3 and a half year old.
 
I am 5'9" with 34" inside leg, around 10.5 stone and ride a 14.2 Section D. I have always wanted a D, but went through my 20s and 30s on TBs and warmbloods. Finally got my D (as a a 7 year old entire) 4 years ago, and I have had THE MOST fun on him. He BD'd to elementary then last spring I had his nuts off so he could be a PC allrounder for my kids - and I did some BE on him last year and my daughter is now doing pony BS. He is so honest to a fence and scopey. He is easy at a show - no silliness. I don't feel like I am riding a pony - he has a decent stride and length of neck. It is just when I dismount and the ground arrives so quickly! My legs do look long in a dressage saddle and my heels are nowhere near his side - but he responds well to the seat and calf.
 
Cadefan - glad you are a section D fan, we had them for years. We showed them at the top, hunted them and drove them. If you get the right breeding they are very versatile. We also won at the hunter show with a filly that was a quarter D and that is what gave her beautiful movement.

My section D could keep up with all the thoroughbreds and my husband's 17.1. In fact he was the better jumper and much more sensible and more to the point he stood still if you had to make an emergency trip to the bushes which is more than any of my OH's big horses did! Oh sorry do I sound unfair to horses.
 
I'm 5ft6 and 19 years old, this is me on my not-as-stocky as one would like (or I would like!!) 14.3 Irish crossbreed (Connie x Welsh D?)

I do a bit of everything with him, also sadly I wish that he was a typical cheeky, smart pony but instead he's a tad dim sometimes. But a sweetie nevertheless :D :D

IMG_2606-1.jpg


use30.jpg


use33.jpg
 
Patchworkpony said:
Windand rain - I love the pics of your highland. I am toying with the idea of buying a highland but don't know a huge amount about them. Your little mare is such a great advert for the breed. The fact that she is only 13.2 and carries 16 stone is amazing. Does she carry this weight just a slow paces or can she work in a faster mode with your friend on board?
Click to expand...

She can go any speed you like even jumps with an adult and has in fact jumped a TREC course with wimpy me and I am more than 14 stone. Height at 6ft 4 was more of an issue his feet were well past the girth level but she happily carried him in walk and trot but he had never ridden before so faster was beyond him not her
If you want a nice highland I have a four year old for sale this pony's daughter can be backed and ridden away here or sold without so you can do it yourself . She is bombproof and as safe as houses on the floor while being interested and forward when walked out goes out alone or in company without trouble and has been tacked up so wont take much to finish her
 
Flicking back through so nice to see so many highlands , I have three but hence my name you may have guessed but lots of lovely welshies, conny, haffs( love them ) fjord etc.... So nice to see. I always think adults on ponies are looked down at


... And yes before anyone says... I have a horse, 15.1 ( only just a horse! ) but bless her little brain but can't be helped or blamed because sheis a horse. She just was last in the que when the brains were allocated!
 
Highlands - I do so agree that there are people who look down on adults on ponies but I have also noticed that lots people on larger horses are frightened of them and have no mutual bond with them whatsoever. Ponies are generally much more canny than horses which is why some people don't get on with them. You can't bully a pony, it won't forgive you BUT you can forge the most amazing bond if you are prepared to form a partnership - this is why it is often best to have a pony young and let it grow up with you.

I know there are people on here who think I have a downer on horses - I don't; they so often can do a job that ponies couldn't hope to achieve but a horse and a pony are NOT the same type of animal and they do think and behave differently. I have been around both for more years than I care to admit to and I personally always prefer a pony when in a tight spot. Sadly though nowadays some of the natives have been so highly bred for the show ring that they have lost their workmanlike qualities. This thread was about how many adults are riding ponies and I am delighted that so many people have embraced the theme of it.
 
windand rain - your highland is certainly gorgeous and such a lovely colour. Where about are you? I might come and look at your youngster. Could you PM the details about her?
 
5'4, 21 and around 10 stone- I have a couple of ponies I ride :)
13.3 Pip who does everything low level- gets 65%+ elem dressage, SJ 2'9 and did one 70cm ODE
PipJump1.jpg

Pip-2.jpg

Also had a 13hh welshX arab to play with a few years ago:
IMG_5527.jpg

And hop on mums 12hh solid A
IMG_2359.jpg
 
I don't think it is common to look down on adults who ride ponies at all. I'm almost 32, I've had my 14.2 since I was 10 & she was 2, so for the majority of that time I've been an adult with a pony. And although tall I'm light, so ridden plenty of ponies, had projects of my own & done a lot of pony riding in public, comps, hunting, local unaffil, at big yards etc. And I can honestly say the only snotty comments I've had have been from people who insult everyone regardless. Infact I find the opposite, at comps I was often singled out for compliments on having a pony do so well. I've had the odd question about would I not prefer something bigger & sportier, always followed by a request for first refusal if I change my mind, which is hardly insulting.
I like both horses & ponies, & I don't think its mega important what other people choose or that there are hidden reasons. It's just personal taste. I prefer Connies to highlands or sec D's, not because the latter are horrid, I just like connies best. Same as with horses I prefer sports horse types & mw to anything very heavy or superfine. My child likes show pony types, sec b's & tbs rather than chunky sec a's, or exmoors. We all just have different tastes, there's no right or wrong or better involved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top