More adults on ponies questions (with some sensitive content)

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Silvermiyazawa

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(Sorry)

I have my eye on a couple of 14.2 ponies a the mo. I haven't completely decided to take the plunge, we have had a rough few weeks as I contracted parvovirus (slapped cheek) a few weeks ago. I was very poorly with it and I was also pregnant, sadly a scan on Tuesday showed the baby had died. I had surgery yesterday and I'm back home taking things easy for now. So I'm not rushing into things but rather examining possibilities.

I have a little girl already who would be able to learn at a riding school/friends' small ponies so any pony of mine could, over time become a mother/daughter share. We are still hoping for another child (hence the caution), but a little bit of time off won't hurt. I realise not all the above info was strictly necessary but I wanted to be clear why we are dithering when it seems some people are able to buy them like bars of chocolate!

One question is about competing. I know I can do dressage which is what I did with my old 14.3 but what about xc, are there age/height restrictions? How about rc equitation classes, my local rc doesn't have an adults on ponies jumping option but I know some people have asked for it so I think they are considering.

Final question is price. Budget would be up to about £4000. When I'm not seriously looking I see loads I love, when I potentially could buy I get all suspicious! I have seen 2 nice looking neddies on horsequest, both less than £2000 so I think "hmm, why so cheap". Then I see ones at £3500 and I think "bit steep in this climate!". I saw a lovely looking connie but when I checked the Connemara Pony soc registration she was a year older and an inch smaller than stated in the advert, again - made me suspicious. I think I may actually be insane (or at least I will be if I do much more horse hunting!).

Well done to anyone who made it through my ramblings.
 
I'm sorry to hear about your baby.
With regards to the competition question, apart from Trailblazers, which does have height /age restrictions most of the clubs and equestrian centres round here don't mind whether you're an adult or a child on a pony. We split on experience and horse/pony regardless of rider at the club I help run.
Hope that helps - good luck
 
Really sorry to hear that, I hope you are feeling ok.

I don't think it matters too much for unaff, and you can register a pony as a horse, but obviously the courses are designed for big horses. There are quite a few of 14.2 who can cope with that though and some have done pretty well with no one realising they are so small!

I think your budget is quite high! I've seen loads for under 2500 this year (quite a lot under, and some including tack) when this time last year I was looking and finding nothing! Depends what you want like if it needs to have a comp record and be super bombproof, but I wouldn't discount any that seem too cheap, some sellers are just cutting their losses on livery still being paid etx, and the market is soo competitive prices are being driven right down!

A nice Connie will hold its value better than others, what about a highland?
 
Thank you. I'm up and down at the moment obviously but I feel that we took the right route with surgical management.

I have googled the phone numbers on two of the neds I liked and the "private" phone numbers take me to what look suspiciously like dealers. Neither of them have any mention of the advertised ponies on their sites.

Blimey I'm sure it wasn't this hard when I bought my old boy in 1989. I did go to a dodgy dealer, we knew he was dodgy but decided to look but didn't buy! I tried one that fortunately reared just BEFORE I handed over any money. One that turned out not to actually be for sale (obviously that one appeared perfect!), a couple of unbroken ones that would have been a bit too much for me at that stage and then I found my old lad, a connie cross who I had the pleasure of owning for the next 21 years. Are my expectations too high?
 
Oh no so very sorry about your baby. Bless you.

I feel exactly the same as you about seeing horses for sale - see them all the time when I am not buying, then when I am, they are all bogus! And the prices yes I have exactly the same reaction! Unfortunately I am too heavy to ride ponies but I definitely would If I could fit on one as they do seem to be incredibly versatile and TBH I tend to feel safer nearer the ground! Good luck with the search.
 
Very sorry about the baby and I hope you are feeling ok or at least looking after yourself.

Regarding ponies, check out local pony club/ riding clubs and put a wanted ad on the noticeboards of any local equestrian centres/show venues.

Good luck and don't fret....you'll know when it's the right one.
 
Silvermiyazawa said:
(Sorry)
One question is about competing. I know I can do dressage which is what I did with my old 14.3 but what about xc, are there age/height restrictions? How about rc equitation classes, my local rc doesn't have an adults on ponies jumping option but I know some people have asked for it so I think they are considering.
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I used to compete my 14.2hh as an adult. You can do everything RC-wise, I did the SJ and dressage champs on mine (including equitation SJ). I personally dont see why you'd want an adults-on-ponies jumping class, its so much easier to beat adults on horses when on a pony! And striding is not a problem, mine would simply put 2 easy strides in a double.

I think for £4k you could get something pretty decent. I'd watch connies, I find they always tend to be a bit pricey.

Very sad about your baby. x
 
So sorry to hear you lost the baby, I remember your last post, how very sad :(

What about broadfordqueen's lovely connie she has for sale? I think you should get something super for 4 grand (with some change).

I do everything on my 14.1. I suppose the striding might be difficult if you want to jump massive heights but otherwise don't think there is an issue (and that may not be one either).
 
I'm so sorry for your loss, how awful for you :(
I don't know exactly what you're looking for, but as FfionWinnie says, my connie is for sale. She has just come back from her first 80cm ODE with a 34 dressage and double clear (report is in C&T). She is only 4 though, but is well within your budget.
I hope you find something suitable when you're ready!
 
If you get a registered native pony this opens up your options more, if you jump you can do the WHP classes. I think the open heights are 3.6ft as well as all the showing classes and NPS also have dressage competitions.

RC you can do anything on a pony no age restrictions. The new forest ponies ethusiasts riding club have done really well at the riding club championships. I think a new forest pony even won the open cross country.

I think if you want to event or SJ affiliated then that is where you can have problems.

Connies and Highlands tend to be expensive as they are very popular at the moment esp if they are of show quality. I have a new forest and am an adult and do all different activities with him, the only thing that holds us back is my riding! I think with new forests as they are less popular with the showing crowd you can get a better quality pony for less money as they are often bay they are easier to keep clean than the connies who are mainly grey!
 
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mandwhy said:
I don't think it matters too much for unaff, and you can register a pony as a horse, but obviously the courses are designed for big horses.
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No they're not ;) They're designed based on the average length of a canter stride - that's not the same thing! I have known 14.2s who cover as much ground in one stride as horses 2 hands taller. Most 14.2s can cope with standard distances perfectly well.
 
Thanks folks, I'm finding it hard to accept as at the scan a few days before I became ill everything was fine.

I think I'm drawn to connies as my old lad was part connie (and grey - so I know how fond they are of sitting in poo the night before a show). I know no new horse is ever going to replace him.

BroadfordQueen, your link didn't seem to take me to the right place. Are you a breeder? I saw a nice 14.2 connie advertised on HorseQuest. Sadly I think you are just a bit too far away from us. Obviously if I could get something when I'm ready for lots less than my budget that would be grand - I can put the excess into a healthier wagon fund!

I have access to a horse to ride so there is no great urgency, but it's not quite the same as having your own (no vets bills, no stressing about going away, no rushing back from an afternoon out, no 6am alarm calls - remind me again why I want my own ....).
 
BroadfordQueen said:
I'm so sorry for your loss, how awful for you :(
I don't know exactly what you're looking for, but as FfionWinnie says, my connie is for sale. She has just come back from her first 80cm ODE with a 34 dressage and double clear (report is in C&T). She is only 4 though, but is well within your budget.
I hope you find something suitable when you're ready!
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I've just watched your C&T vids. She is so lovely and she IS the lovely connie I'd spotted on Horsequest! Someone will buy her, no consolation but if I had made up my mind to buy and you were nearer I'd definitely have come to see her.
 
BroadfordQueen said:
I'm so sorry for your loss, how awful for you :(
I don't know exactly what you're looking for, but as FfionWinnie says, my connie is for sale. She has just come back from her first 80cm ODE with a 34 dressage and double clear (report is in C&T). She is only 4 though, but is well within your budget.
I hope you find something suitable when you're ready!
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Your sig link doesn't work any more, did you know?
 
So sorry to hear you are having a rough time. I cannot imagine how upsetting it must be for you.

There is nothing worth having that isn't worth a little trouble. I've just sold a Highland pony to people who came all the way from Germany and made a mini holiday out of it -- and I'm in the Scottish Highlands and definitely not a dealer!

So don't limit yourself to a 50 mile radius from home! Plenty of lovely ponies in Scotland, usually better quality and cheaper than you will find further south (though I could be slightly biased!:D).
 
I did see a nice one advertised in Scotland, I might be a bit lowlier than the current owners are after though (not sure I understand actually as surely so long as you can look after the pony properly, does it actually matter how much/what level of competing pony goes on to do?)

Certainly wasn't cheap though!
 
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Xc & dressage we didn't find a problem anywhere, absolutely nowhere round us allowed adults to ride ponies in showjumping though ,unless we only stuck to BS & registered him as a horse :/ ) as jumping is the daughters main love, we sold the pony & got a little horse.

So sorry to hear about the baby xx
 
Silvermiyazawa said:
I did see a nice one advertised in Scotland, I might be a bit lowlier than the current owners are after though (not sure I understand actually as surely so long as you can look after the pony properly, does it actually matter how much/what level of competing pony goes on to do?)

Certainly wasn't cheap though!
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It can be to a breeder wanting to promote his/her stock. And I think it says the price is negotiable.
 
I have a Haflinger and he is ace! can do everything with him, he's cheap to keep, an excellent weight carry and immense fun! for your budget you could get a brilliant, registered pony. x
 
You'll get a cracking pony for your budget but don't rule out the ones that seem too cheap - doesn't mean they're any less quality, lots of people need to move them on before the winter. Lots of ponies come up for sale at the end of the summer holidays as well, so don't panic if there's nothing out there at the moment.
I've got 2 horses but got a pony to break & sell a couple of years ago & it was great fun. There was nothing at the local riding club shows that I couldn't do on her because she was a pony, the entry fees where cheap (compared to BS anyway!) & washing / plaiting / grooming didn't involve risking life & limb teetering on a box!
 
You could buy two of mine for your budget so dont worry about things being too cheap. I am a highland fan through and through they are the most versatile of all native ponies they run, jump, carry weight and are kind enough for kids in the main. A registered pony is always the way to go to be honest as there is so much more you can do with them. You can even do more than with a big horse mostly, mine have won and been placed at dressage, meter showjumping, showing, eventing, working hunter pony all at local county and affiliated classes You cant beat a good pony and to be honest they are cheaper and easier to keep less prone to illness and lameness and fit in normal size everything so the gear is at the cheap end even if you do have to be quick to get it.
So I suppose it depends on how much you want to do
I was saddened by your loss I feel for you take care of yourself and your mind will clear and you will be able to make the decisions when you are ready
 
What a rotten time you've had, I hope you're bearing up.
Measles on here has some lovely Connies at 14.2 for sale, why not send her a pm? I'd go no smaller than 14.2, then you can BE and compete in horse classes. Yes the Connie's are pricey because they're fashionable, but classic fashionable than a flash in the pan, so you won't lose your money. Plus, they're ace :)
 
I would also add the nearer the pony is to 14.2 the more expensive it is likely to be. If it goes to 14.3 then price tends to drop a bit because too big for the affiliated pony classes.
 
Thanks folks. I will take my time and not rush into anything.

On another note DD (nearly 3) asked today if she could have a horsey so she could go clippety clop! AND we tried riding hats on (all too big).
 
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