I honestly can’t decide what pony to buy

P

PuddingSummer

Member
Joined
31 January 2022
Messages
17
Visit site
Honestly what a first world problem but I’m completely stumped.

I’ve gone to see two ponies who are almost identical in what I need and want.

Both mares are 4 years old, both 13.2hh and both have been lightly backed and hacked. They are both equally lovely in temperament, both super quiet with kids (would have been my deciding factor but they’re both great!). To clarify, this pony is for me to happy hack and lightly school. One is new forest and the other is welsh. The single only thing that puts me off the Welsh is that she’s cremello and I’m worried about the pink skin and blue eyes given my field has no natural shelter and although can come in when the weathers super hot, I ideally want them living out as needs to go out with my other pony.

The Welsh is a bit more athletic and it’s always been my dream to compete showing and dressage so might be a bit more suited long term but equally in saying that I have very young children and unsure in the next however many years if I would have the time to actually get to compete. On the flip side the NF is extremely quiet so could have the potential of being a better share if my children decide they want to ride and would equally make a fantastic show pony. I think the NF would keep me a bit safer out hacking and at this stage in my life I definitely need to be able to get home in one piece.

I have absolutely no idea how to make this decision and I feel awful at keeping these people waiting! How do I make these kinds of decisions, I’ve never had this problem before
 
PuddingSummer said:
Honestly what a first world problem but I’m completely stumped.

I’ve gone to see two ponies who are almost identical in what I need and want.

Both mares are 4 years old, both 13.2hh and both have been lightly backed and hacked. They are both equally lovely in temperament, both super quiet with kids (would have been my deciding factor but they’re both great!). To clarify, this pony is for me to happy hack and lightly school. One is new forest and the other is welsh. The single only thing that puts me off the Welsh is that she’s cremello and I’m worried about the pink skin and blue eyes given my field has no natural shelter and although can come in when the weathers super hot, I ideally want them living out as needs to go out with my other pony.

The Welsh is a bit more athletic and it’s always been my dream to compete showing and dressage so might be a bit more suited long term but equally in saying that I have very young children and unsure in the next however many years if I would have the time to actually get to compete. On the flip side the NF is extremely quiet so could have the potential of being a better share if my children decide they want to ride and would equally make a fantastic show pony. I think the NF would keep me a bit safer out hacking and at this stage in my life I definitely need to be able to get home in one piece.

I have absolutely no idea how to make this decision and I feel awful at keeping these people waiting! How do I make these kinds of decisions, I’ve never had this problem before
Click to expand...
I think given your young children I would say the NF. You are right you need something that is as low risk as possible! I recently sold mine for this reason as i wasn’t happy taking my daughter out on her pony with something that could have its moments! Your perspectives definitely change!!
 
Think about how you'd feel about each if you rung up to arrange collection but they'd been sold.

Whichever you'd feel sad/dest about in that scenario, buy.


However I will say my choice would be the new forest - but I am very biased and think they are one of the best breeds with infinite capability of becoming fun safe but athletic family friends, which it sounds like is what you do want/need.
 
You will be able to do lots with the NF as you would with a Welsh but you’ll be forever washing it and worrying about sunburn, flies and the amount of bathing you have to do. What so,our is the NF? A welbroken schooled one with miles on the clock will be very popular should you need to sell.
 
They are both about to turn 5, so the next year might be rather more exciting than they present as right now.

Do you know what they weigh? What do you weigh? I would be confident that a 13.2hh New Forest should take a small adult, but a 13.2hh Welsh might not. I have a 13.1hh sports pony who looks like she will take an adult but is in fact only 300kg and quite clearly is not happy with anyone over 8 stone. In contrast, I have two smaller New Forest ponies who would cheerfully carry 20% without blinking and can carry a 9 stone adult - the 13.1hh cannot.
 
maya2008 said:
They are both about to turn 5, so the next year might be rather more exciting than they present as right now.

Do you know what they weigh? What do you weigh? I would be confident that a 13.2hh New Forest should take a small adult, but a 13.2hh Welsh might not. I have a 13.1hh sports pony who looks like she will take an adult but is in fact only 300kg and quite clearly is not happy with anyone over 8 stone. In contrast, I have two smaller New Forest ponies who would cheerfully carry 20% without blinking and can carry a 9 stone adult - the 13.1hh cannot.
Click to expand...
Why do you say a 13.2 Welsh may not? They can still be very chunky, likely moreso than even the 'cobbiest' NF but I'd imagine (not a Welshie person!) it would depend a lot on lines/breeding. But that would apply to the new forest too, they have been bred finer more recently for showing.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
Why do you say a 13.2 Welsh may not? They can still be very chunky, likely moreso than even the 'cobbiest' NF but I'd imagine (not a Welshie person!) it would depend a lot on lines/breeding. But that would apply to the new forest too, they have been bred finer more recently for showing.
Click to expand...
Is this Welsh pony or Welsh pony of cob type? Welsh B or Welsh C? Height limit 13.2 for both.
Personally, wouldn’t touch anything in cremello, or any of the other similarly-bleached out colours, now rather fashionable.
Sunburn, uvetis, dermatitis, washing all the time - I think they look permanently rather ill and generally ghastly!
 
Personally, very generally speaking, I prefer riding welsh to NF. I find welsh better movers, more forward-thinking and off the leg. I have ridden a fair few NF and found them a bit backwards and inclined to buck.
 
millikins said:
I think the decider for me would be which would be the most sane when one of your children goes down with chickenpox then it blows a force 8 gale for 2 days and you realise you haven't actually done more than pat the pony for 10 days.
Click to expand...
Yes! This! 🙌

Or that will happily stand there while one or the other runs around his legs or, in the case of my friends children, drive a toy car into his legs 🤪🤣
 
I used to ride a NF who had been a fantastic show jumper in his youth. He was a brilliant pony, a speed demon when he had the chance, and the kindest nature. So I know which I'd choose!
 
Personally I like a welshie, so I'd be going Welsh.
Which did you actually like the best? All else being equal who is the one that made you smile when you tried them? Go for that one :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top