It's me - asking for advice again

TheBlackMoth

TheBlackMoth

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Ok. As Abby can't ride for a few weeks at least, I am taking the time to think about what we are doing. Someone has suggested that maybe it would be better for her to start Seniors as this would take the pressure off the next year.

What do you think. And if you do think she should move on to horses (she is 15, 16 next March), what size horse would you be buying?
 
I think temprament and training are more important than size, she isn't very big so in theory anything could run away with her..I guess in your shoes I would be looking for a slim TB type in the 16hh area - however you may stumble across something completely different that is willing to listen to a petite rider.
 
Irish sport horse all the way!! 15.3hh is big enough to make the distances but not over horse her. Can you tell i'm a fan of 15.3hh ISHs
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How big is Abby? )I'm no good at judging from pics) If she does move onto horses it has advantages in that she can take her time and build up a relationship with the horse, plus if you get the right one she could have it for years! how is Abby feeling now?
 
As said above you could end up with anything with the right temp, My friend found on her 15hh it struggled against the bigger horses but was too big for ponies. But I never know what im talking about so feel free to ignore that.

You just need one that suits it could be anything really could be the oppsite type to what you have been looking for that your daughter clicks with. Best to try different types and see how she feels.
 
She is taller than me - and I am 5 2 (or 3 when I hold my head up high). I have not measured her but would imagine she is about 5 4 or 5 5.

But you are right - she is quite slight and not the strongest girl in the world.
 
She's feeling much better. Still very stiff and we are still not sure whether her collar bone is broken or just battered and bruised. We have to go back to the hospital Thursday or Friday if she is still getting sharp pains. Just wants to ride again. Have had to tell her that she needs to get her steering back first!! Riding one handed is not recommended.
 
I have looked at her on the appalosa and thought she looked quite tall, so I would think that should definitely be considered.
As Kayleigh said rather than go down the warmdblood route I would highly recommend an IDx. If she gets something that has done a bit of RC or a small amount of BSJA, she should have a lot of fun and hopefully will save you a bit dosh cos a horse is way cheaper than a good 14.2!!!!!!!!!
ETS Touchy (the chestnut is 16.1hh and my 14 year old step daughter went straight from 13.2 to her with no problems and she can be a stroppy mare, well actully they both can!
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I think the size really depends on the horse, I'm 5'3 and can happily ride my friends 17.3 !! but he is great and a push button ride and looks after people then a 15.2 I ride I just get carted cos he is too strong for me, he doesn't respect correct aids to slow down ( not his fault , just the way he was ridden form backing) and you need brute strength to slow him down

Hope Abby feeling better soon !
 
Glad to hear Abby's feeling better.
I'm 5'5" ish and slim, and work well on anything from 15hh to 17hh. Anything above 16.2hh is probably pushing it but I have a "thing" for bigger horses! For a move onto horses in that case, I'd say look at 15.2-16hh ish, but again echo what others have said - if it feels right then size doesn't matter all that much.
 
As she is actually old enough to compete BSJA on horses then I would seriously consider going for the horse route as she is getting tall and if you got her pony as soon as she really gets on with it and knows the pony you will be needing to sell it to get her a horse.

I would also go for the Irish Sport horse approach, a nice IDx or WelshxTb about 15.2hh-16hh which has done some riding club and some BSJA would be ideal.

You can get some very good riding club horses that would suit a 15 year old. I got my horse when I was 13 she is IDxTB, and my sister got her horse when she was 15.
 
I am 15, and made the transition from ponies to horses over a year ago. I would definately advise you to get a sensible horse, as she wont grow out of it.

I would advise a horse with a lot of Irish Draught in it as it shouldn't get too excitable or strong. I have found my Irish Sports horse has an extremley good temperament and isn't strong at all.
 
I'd be inclined to go for a horse TBH. Its a lot of hassle buying a pony and then having to sell it a year down the line. Get her a well schooled horse that has experience BSJA, as horses are very different from ponies.
 
I picked up on Abby's accident; not sure how it happened but sorry to hear of it. I hope she is feeling better now though.

Nuala I actually think this is probably the best thing to do, to be honest. Good 14.2hh's are really difficult to find and they cost a bomb! If you were to go down the route of, in particular, looking for 15.2hh's you will find a massive price difference. I don't think I would be looking to go over 16hh if she were my daughter, and again this will keep the price down as this bracket is not an expensive one generally.

Best of luck. I think you are being very sensible.
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Sounds like most people think a horse is the right route. Oh well horse hunting here we come (again). Hopefully she will be able to test ride in a week or so!

Thanks for the comments everyone.
 
Hi Tia

Hope you are feeling ok.

Abby got thrown into an arena fence by one of the ponies we were trying out. We had put a coat over a jump (which sparked a big debate) to make it look different and it spooked the pony. It got over it but missed another jump and tripped and chucked her. She has some very nasty grazes and bruises, soft tissue damage, pulled ligaments in her neck and a possible broken collar bone.

She is fine if a little frustrated that she cannot ride.

I think we will go the horse route - it seems to be the most sensible thing.

Also big advantage for me will be that both the girls will be competing at the same shows - so less time hanging around waiting for the ponies to finish and the horses to start.
 
I went onto a 15.2hh at age of 14 and it was fine. I personally loved going onto a horse made me feel adult!
Our family does exactly the same with the coat thing its our final test before buying.
 
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and we are still not sure whether her collar bone is broken or just battered and bruised

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Ouch indeed.

The only thing about horses and BSJA is there are a lot of grown ups! I hope they wouldn't intimidate her as there are also some very big horses whizzing about in the collecting rings and a horse's mentality is very different from that of ponies.

Good luck in your revised search - I think it's probably the easiest route as good 14.2's are very thin on the ground.

Don't get a wide one.
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That's all!
 
My son went from a 12:3 welsh to a 15.3 medium cob - best thing we ever did. My daughter is now in the transition of doing exactly the same. I think as mentioned above, temperament is by far the most important thing and I think you'll have much more choice.

Hope your daughter recovers soon.
 
I have to say i couldnt see the point in buying a 14.2hh to change it a year later, when Abby's already a good little rider and could easily start off BSJA on horses.

Get her something as slightly built as she is and they'll fly!

But then I know c*** all about BSJA so ignore me!
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I was just 12 when I got Ellie - then a 5 year old 15.3hh SFxA. i was 5ft 2 then, and at now 19, i havent grown at all!!!! never been overhorsed, so would certainly recommend a light - medium build in the 15.2 - 16hh region. also, whilst i was looking for ellie, i had the ride on a 16.2 dutch boy, who was beautifully mannered but, if im honest, a bit too much horse for me. hope this helps!
 
Good decision Nuala & dont worry to much about size (perhaps not a 17hh though) The right horse is the right horse regardless. She will know when sitting on it. Will take some pressure off you also when travelling to shows with both daughters instead of going in different directions.
Good Luck
 
I'm fine Nuala - just very sad for a couple of days and then the mad rush of haymaking!! I don't have time to sit on here for very long these days as hay making takes precedence over everything LOL!!

I can imagine the debate that sparked off
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. No big deal, it's what us SJ's do I'm afraid; absolutely no point buying a horse if it won't jump an out of the ordinary jump, in my book! If the pony had an issue with a blooming jacket on the poles then it sure as heck ain't no showjumper, LOL!! Anyway that is side-stepping from this post; I think this is a smart idea, there won't be quite so much pressure on the pony in question and if the horse you choose turns out to be a good'un then you can keep it for a bit longer. Everyone's a winner!
 
My daughter went from a 13hh to a 15.2hh, she was 14 and about 5'5". The main reason we did this is because we're not very good at selling ponies and I didn't want to add a 14.2 to the collection. Although it took her a little while to get used to a horses stride, and the fact you couldn't motorbike turn a horse the same way in a jump off, she has been fine. She is now 19 and still with same horse . At 15.2 he has never had trouble with strides in courses. He is ISH type. Another advantage is that now she is at university I can exercise him and would have felt a bit big on a 14.2. I do think this would be the most sensible way to go and am sure she won't have a problem moving up to a horse. Now is probably quite a good time to look for a horse as there are a lot of sad sales as people go off to university (not all parents are mugs like me!).
 
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