Just curious - What is the smallest I could ride?

Shantara

Shantara

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Hypothetical question, as I can barely afford Ned at the moment, let alone another! But I was looking at adverts for some adorable ponies!

I am 5ft 8 and 120lbs/8.5 stone and I think I'm a pretty balanced/light rider!
 
Well I'm just under 5'10 and 10stone and have a 13.2hh newfy, I would quite happily let you ride mine, he is a chunky (not overweight) pony so may be different if he was fine.
 
im 5'8 & 10 stone & I rode 13.2 connies at work, schooled jumped, xc'd them fine although I did feel a bit too big but I happily rode & jumped the 14.2's a very decent height.
 
I love ponies too. Unfortunately I'm 5'9 and 10 and a half stone. I am dieting to get under 10 stone to back my 14.3hh WB.
 
There's just something fun about them, isn't there?
Though we had a rule about not mounting from the ground at work and I remember thinking "How am I going to get on this little thing from this huge mounting block?!"
 
"Am I being unreasonable? I was trying to do dressage on my welshie and another competitor's warg bit his head off as we trotted past in the warm up. I had to ride the whole test with him spewing blood everywhere - and the judge said he wasn't into the bit :( "
 
JFTD said:
"Am I being unreasonable? I was trying to do dressage on my welshie and another competitor's warg bit his head off as we trotted past in the warm up. I had to ride the whole test with him spewing blood everywhere - and the judge said he wasn't into the bit :( "
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PMSL!!!

"I bought a wargadoodle off facebook, but I think it might be a regular poodle :( I don't think it'll make ridden height...free to good home, anyone?"
 
Chan said:
Ooh that would be amazing :D thank you!
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Facebook me! I am desperately looking for a rider for him, no jobs, no money and all expenses paid trips out to competitions and clinics etc. Even if you could only come and have the odd sit but then turn up for the fun stuff, I'd be over the bumming moon! I'd even come and pick you up :lol:
 
FrankieCob said:
Facebook me! I am desperately looking for a rider for him, no jobs, no money and all expenses paid trips out to competitions and clinics etc. Even if you could only come and have the odd sit but then turn up for the fun stuff, I'd be over the bumming moon! I'd even come and pick you up :lol:
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Hehe! Aww, thank you!
I plan to get out and about with Neddy a bit this year, but I'd love to come and have a sit every now and then :D That would be fab!
 
catkin said:
A chunky pony would carry your weight, you may find the limiting factor to be how much 'saddle-room' a pony has.
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Agree with this - the length from your hip to knee will partially determine the size of saddle seat you need. If you are riding a pony short in the back it may not be able to take the size saddle that you need ( our NF is 13.3 and cant take most 17" saddles due to being short in the back) so while your weight may easily be okay you might just physically be too tall, and hence need a bigger saddle seat - this is not necessarily to do with the size of your bottom!
If you do ride on a saddle that is too small for you (and its possible to see loads of people who are quite tall on ponies doing this ) then the riders weight is not distributed properly, and in time the pony's back becomes sore.

Also to consider is the length of your leg when mounted - if your leg sits long behind the ponies front leg it is possible for your leg to knock the back of the ponies elbow and dead leg them.

So in answer to your question, it really does depend on the pony, length of its back and its build
 
catkin said:
A chunky pony would carry your weight, you may find the limiting factor to be how much 'saddle-room' a pony has.
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I have an older-style flat pony saddle on my little pony, who has the shortest of backs. That works for both of us, as a saddle with short panels takes a much larger rider - none of it is taken up by huge built up pommel and the cantle area extends beyond the back of the panels.

Alternatively, lengthen your stirrups - you won't be able to put your leg on, but if the pony's forward going (and narrow enough!), not a problem :D
 
I'm 5ft8 and ride my friend's 13.2hh pony, she takes up my leg just as well as my horse and takes the same size saddle. The only time I notice how little she is is when I get off!
 
Smurf's Gran said:
Agree with this - the length from your hip to knee will partially determine the size of saddle seat you need. If you are riding a pony short in the back it may not be able to take the size saddle that you need ( our NF is 13.3 and cant take most 17" saddles due to being short in the back) so while your weight may easily be okay you might just physically be too tall, and hence need a bigger saddle seat - this is not necessarily to do with the size of your bottom!
If you do ride on a saddle that is too small for you (and its possible to see loads of people who are quite tall on ponies doing this ) then the riders weight is not distributed properly, and in time the pony's back becomes sore.

Also to consider is the length of your leg when mounted - if your leg sits long behind the ponies front leg it is possible for your leg to knock the back of the ponies elbow and dead leg them.

So in answer to your question, it really does depend on the pony, length of its back and its build
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Ah, that's interesting, thank you! The little pony at work seemed ok, but I remember having to move off the 12-something ponies at my old stables when I was competing one and I took down the pole with my foot!!
 
At your weight you can go quite small as long as you feel balanced. I think if the pony has a nice sloping shoulder, not too narrow and deep chested you'd feel more balanced than on something narrow with an upright shoulder. I love ponies and hoping to have a go on that little 14.1 Palomino Section D chap down at Hydro soon. I also love riding Dolly who's only 13.3. Mind you I'm only 5ft, so pretty pony sized LOL. I think Freddie, Saffy and Sonny all look fun too. Which was the 13.2 you rode?
 
Deltaflyer said:
At your weight you can go quite small as long as you feel balanced. I think if the pony has a nice sloping shoulder, not too narrow and deep chested you'd feel more balanced than on something narrow with an upright shoulder. I love ponies and hoping to have a go on that little 14.1 Palomino Section D chap down at Hydro soon. I also love riding Dolly who's only 13.3. Mind you I'm only 5ft, so pretty pony sized LOL. I think Freddie, Saffy and Sonny all look fun too. Which was the 13.2 you rode?
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Oooh I'd love to have a go on the Palomino :D He looked soooo gorgeous!

It was Sonny, I think he was about 13.2 ish? :) I never did get to ride Dolly, I was put down to ride her a few times, but something always happened which meant I didn't get to. I would have LOVED to ride Saffy, she was a babe!
 
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