Mums: your advice please? *ponderings*

[Christmas_Kate]

Okay, it's now become increasingly clear that my eldest will have outgrown their pony sooner rather than later. I know I've been dithering, as TBH ponio's such a sweetie and we all love him dearly.
To say this last year hasnt been hard with him would be a lie. He's tested us that's for sure, but I really feel he's come out of this year a 100% better pony. He still has his moments though, but that's just him.
Looking for a pony last time was a nightmare. To get what we wanted, for the budget we had, seemed nigh impossible. And even when we found something (ponio) he wasnt exactly what we were after, but we'd decided near enough was all we were going to get.
So. This time we're after something bigger. Son wants to do lots more, he's now capable of hacking out off the LR, walk trot canter, and is quite confident. BUT I still feel needs something along the lines of a first ridden, quiet plod. During the winter with homework, dark nights etc he only gets to ride at weekends, which we found to be a problem in keeping ponio exercised when turnout wasnt always possible. I would end up walking him out in hand. So I *think* we might be better getting something which I can lightly hack out if need be. We don't have anywhere to lunge, so figured this would be a good solution.

Now, I'm 5'5 / 5'6, and weight about 9 stone. Son is 7, small for his age, and weighs about 4 stone.

Would it be too much to expect to be able to find a stocky 12.2 under 2k? We'd like something registered so daughter can do LR classes, maybe a NF? But more important is that it's 100% safe and sound. Would a 12.2hh NF be able to carry me? I think something over 12.2hh might be too much for my son, he's not very strong and not really more than I'd class as a 'confident novice'.
We're buying a trailer in the new year and have an instructor lined up to travel to lessons, and later in the year hope to do showing and start jumping.
Our other prblem is grazing. It's quite rich in places, and I do not want the battle we've had this last year all over again. Which is why I'm diverting away from welshies (which would have been my first choice) or anything else 'used' to sparse grazing in their native habitat. Am i right in thinking a NF would be easier to keep trim?

sorry for the long post!

 

[Binkybex]

It all depends on the pony but you should easily get a 12.2 NF for under £2000. Anything under 14hh seems to be under that. NF are less prone to getting as fat as welshies in my experience. Whether or not it can carry you is a different matter, it would depend on what you wanted to do. I would feel bad riding anything that small on a regular basis but if all you want to do is get on and sort it out occasionly then it should be fine.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

To hack it lightly maybe once a week, for a couple of miles, with a bit of trot work.

I am hoping to lose some weight this year though... maybe get down to 8 1/2 stone.

 

[Orangehorse]

Welsh ponies in general are a bit sharp - I know you can find the odd angel, but there are also plenty of little devils.

I think the New Forest have a quieter temperament I think, although every pony is an indivdual!

 

[Boysy]

Sorry but NF are actually harder to keep trim than Welshies due to the fact that they are used to living on far sparser land with varied poor vegetation and actually have to move around far more to get to better grazing.

They are however pretty fair weight carriers as long as you pick a breeding line that hasn't been influenced too much with finer breeds hence losing the bone.

Whereas Welshies, predominantly the B's, tend to stop when they are full, NF have an inbuilt radar that dosen't tell them when to stop stuffing and they are far less likely to budge around to forage if the grazing is lush.

Having said all that, they are a superb all round intelligent breed for adults and children alike and can turn their hand to anything, they do tend to test the boundaries more with children or the less strong rider but with careful groundwork to begin with and lines re-inforced, they do come round and are a most affectionate if not highly nosy pony !