I am too big for my pony and my mare is too old

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Berkeley

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Ok here's the scenario, I have two horses, and I don't know what to do.

OPTIONS:
a) Sell both and get something right for me. I want to hack, cross country, few fun shows
b) Keep her, sell him
c) keep both and be grateful for what I have got
d) ?

1. TB MARE 20 YRS
Good points: bomb proof on roads, had her for a long time, love her
Bad points: Can't hack out in open spaces as she gets too silly, she's old, doesn't hack out alone, eats money as I don't do much with her not value for money. Costs £80 p/w

2. NF GELDING 5YRS
Good points: huge bond, brought him up from scratch, sooo much potential, going well
Bad points: I'm too big for him (he's 14h, quite slight and I am 9st8, 5"5), he's not grown as much as I thought so I can't jump him because I am too big (so people say), needs allot of work to build muscle and I don't have enough time to do that quickly. Costs £30p/w

HELP :(
 
Just my thoughts but the mare is only really a companion and she sounds like an expensive one too .It seems to me a little unfair to sell her at her age and I am not sure that she has much value anyway given she doesn't hack alone and is expensive to keep.
Is there anyway you can cut her costs .Some sort of retirement grass livery with good grass and plenty of shelter rugged up with supplementary feed in winter she may do ok particularly if retired and not working.
IMHO you could sell the 5 year old though the market is pretty low at the moment and really good horses are not selling for good prices..
If you could reduce the cost of keeping the mare and sell the 5 year old could you manage to take something on loan to do what you want to do.
 
Berkeley said:
I'm too big for him (he's 14h, quite slight and I am 9st8, 5"5), he's not grown as much as I thought so I can't jump him because I am too big (so people say), needs allot of work to build muscle and I don't have enough time to do that quickly. Costs £30p/w

HELP :(
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Who says you are too big to jump him? Have you tried? I don't know as I haven't seen you on him but you don't sound too big. I would have thought that, as you have brought him up yourself, it would be worth spending time building his muscle up and thinking about competing towards the end of the year. You would then be able to look forward to many more fun years with him.
 
If your pony is only 5 he will still muscle up more and also possibly grow a little. Who on earth is saying you are too big? You do not sound too heavy for him.
 
New forests are strong native ponies - he sounds perfectly fine to carry you and jump!!
But if he isnt what you want i would sell him and keep your older mare on grass livery or as a companion to lower costs. Too old to sell on IMO.
 
i woudl like to see pics of you on said pony

weight wise your fine imo

maybe height wise your not

pic would tell

there was someone on here looking for a companion, do a search and see if they are interested maybe
 
Loose a stone !!!!! eeeek at 9st 8 you are lighter than me and I ride a 14.1hh pony and a 12.3hh NF pony!

Why does your mare cost over twice as much? is it because she eats so much?!

Can you cut down on expenses, ie go barefoot if shod

I would keep both, easy for me to say as I have my own land so not as expensive as livery
 
My mare is on part livery and he is on grass. The grazing is very poor which is why I couldn't have her out on grass. Ideally I would love to have my own field and a couple of stables.
 
You are not too big. I am 5 ft 6, 11.5 stone and have a 13.2 welsh. Yes I am a little tall but theres a difference between a bit leggy and too big. We jump up to 2ft 6 which is fine with me.

I think your mare is too old to sell but realise a lot of people think differently. I personally wouldn't, and would look at cutting costs - can you not have her on DIY livery?

Ultimately, your pony will do what you say you want to do, it just depends on whether you want a 'proper' horse or not (I say that very much tongue in cheek - its been said to me many times)
 
brighteyes said:
Lose a stone and keep both.
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WHAT?!?! If She Lost Any Weight There Wouldnt Be Anything Left!!
tbh with you, she doesnt sound too big, or too heavy. i ride a little 12.2hh sometimes, im 5ft 4", no idea what i weight, prob something like 10stone. he carries me absolutely fine and enjoys every minute of being ridden (i only ride him every now and then for a little excersice as no one rides him anymore)
RidingDandy03.jpg

RidingDandy04.jpg

so...if a little 12.2hh pony can carry someone like me with no problem, i dont see why a 14hh pony cant carry someone smaller....
 
Your height and weight sound fine for the pony - I am 5ft 8 and the same weight and I frequently ride a 14hh NF who has no problems bombing off with me!
 
My daughter is 5ft 7 weighs about 9 stone and still rides a 13.1 Welsh B
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He 's always raring to go and doesn't seem to have any trouble carrying her but she is finding that they can't jump as high as they used to when she was shorter because of balance mainly. People do make comments, but neither of them seem to care. He is the kind of pony that would let you know if he wasn't happy.

So, no I don't think you're too big for your pony, and I hope you can find a good solution for your mare too.
 
I agree it doesnt sound like you're too heavy for the pony so as long as he seems happy dont worry what other people say - unless they are qualified professionals, i.e vet who have your pony's health in mind. can you put your mare out on loan as a companion? i wouldnt sell her if it were me, personally, and this is just my opinion, once your horse reaches that age you have a duty of care towards it and I wouldnt sell it. you say she's old but the school i ride at has just got a 22 year old TBx Shire and an 18 year old TBx ID and they are both raring to go and full of life so age isnt necessarily a barrier - although probably is to what you want to do.
 
Agree that selling the mare is probably a no go and that retirement livery/loan would be a better option. In your shoes I would be out riding and enjoying your pony, which you are absolutely not too big for.
I'm 5'6" and was 9st9lb ish when I was riding my 14.1hh mare (she is now in foal). It didn't occur to me for a second that I was too big for her. We happily hacked/galloped/jumped. Get some muscle on him and get riding! He'll also then be a better proposition for selling if needs be.
 
Sorry I don't quite see the problem - does the mare have physical problems that prevent her jumping/going to shows? 20 is certainly not too old to be doing things - when I was learning to ride many of the riding school ponies were in their 20s, with the oldest at 35 - and still jumping and in great health!

You're no way too heavy to jump your pony either, but if you feel too big on him then yes, you probably should sell.

I don't think it would be fair to sell your mare at her age.

Can you not find a field locally to rent, or move both to diy livery to cut your costs?
 
I think you are fine weight wise for your pony, I ride a 14.2h and I am a fair amount heavier than you. I think your fine for him, why don't you have fun with him, and do not listen to people who say your too big as I very much doubt you are tbh
 
I have a 26 year old Anglo Arab who is 14hh. I have put on a stone since having my daughter and now weigh 9st 12 last weigh in and am 5ft 1! My old girl hasnt noticed the difference and isnt bothered by it at all!
 
I dont think you are too big. I'm 5'8 and 10 stone and my pony is only 14.1hh.

At the age of 5, he had no muscle at all and even though i was only 13 then i looked bigger on him then i do now as he has filled out so much.
 
You are NEVER too big for your pony! (and he will fill out more)

I weigh about 9.5 - 10 stone and am 5ft6 and had my 14hh NF for 10 years. (sadly lost him last summer) He certainly wasn't stocky. I competetively SJ him 3ft, XC, novice dressage, county showing... everything.

at New Forest Show
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going XC
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he certainly never struggled


Go onto the breed websites and you'll see 6ft men riding them on round ups!
 
Thanks guys - everyone is so supportive in this issue. Its getting me down a bit and I hate that. I am just spending too much money and for two horses I cant do anything with - or this is how I am feeling about it anyway. Maybe I could get a sharer for my mare. Just didn't think, because of her age, I would get anyone that would want to pay.
 
In short :D:D

  • No way are you too big for your pony
  • Keep the mare, it'd be unfair to sell
  • Ignore any one who tells you you can't jump, they're mad!
 
Don't let it get you down :) Have you got a piccy of you on the 5 year old so we can see how big (or not!) you look on him!

If it's any consolation I have 3 that I can't really do what I want to with, Millie is too small (although watching her doing stuff is just as good), Pixie is too young and may be to small when she is older and my gorgeous boy Charlie has different ideas to fun then me, he would quite happily live out his days lazing around in the field, I however want to go out hunting, jumping, XC, Shows etc which I can't do with him so for now I have to be grateful with what I have got (which I am!) and except that the 'fun' things will have to go on hold for a while :)

It doesn't help that everyone keeps telling me to get rid of Charlie but that's a whole new story :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
I dont have a pic of me on him. They are all on my boyf's phone and he is away at the moment which is unhelpful as it would be good to show you all what I am talking about.
 
He looks almost identical to my boy. There is PLENTY of bone there and he would carry me with ease. If he is anything like H, he will have a good jump too.

Out of interest, do you know who his breeder was? Or which heard he is from?
 
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