Ok guys, following my post from the weekend, am I too big for my pony?

I am so pleased you asked this question because I have had times when I have thought I was too big for my little pony, she is 12.2 sec B and I am 5ft 1.5" an weigh just 7st, friends have said I'm not too big for her and you certainly dont look any bigger on your pony than I do on mine so hope you feel as good about your situation as I do about mine now haha :D xxx
 
ticketyboo said:
I am so pleased you asked this question because I have had times when I have thought I was too big for my little pony, she is 12.2 sec B and I am 5ft 1.5" an weigh just 7st, friends have said I'm not too big for her and you certainly dont look any bigger on your pony than I do on mine so hope you feel as good about your situation as I do about mine now haha :D xxx
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Super! Feeling allot better! I am so pleased you feel better too
 
If it helps, this is my 14hh NF mare in our endurance days... we did 100's of competitive miles together - up to 80 miles in a day:
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I think you look fine on him! If your big then im definately pony squashing!
I've got a 14.1hh welsh x and im 5'9 and nearly 10 stone.
I look alot better on him now then when i first got him when he was 5. He has filled out and muscled up so much, an unbelivable amount in fact. I can dig out some photos if you want to see tomorrow of him when i first got him.
 
Seriously??? you are perfect for him, After seeing you I now I feel like I am too big on my 13hh New Forest.

Don't let anyone tell you other wise!!!!
 
OP, I'm sorry to be the gloomy voice here but yes, I'd prefer that pony with a smaller rider. He doesn't have much muscle yet and you're just not really 'in proportion' with him anyway. Non-horsey OH saw the vid (because I was wondering if it was wrong of me to say to someone they are too big on an open forum) and said that even he could tell and he wasn't expecting to be able to. About you he said 'not fat, just really, really tall'. I'd say the same. You're not fat, you're not even /that/ heavy for the pony. But you're too big for him, yes, definitely. Sorry :-(
 
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Berkleley, I have just showed the vid to my OH. She has over 40 years experience and came through the 'old system' of working at a local yard for rides under a VERY demanding YO. My OH said she did not know what all the fuss was about and that you looked great.

She also made comment that in the 'old days' the YO pointed at a pony and said 'him / her' and you groomed, tacked up and rode, size was never considered by the rider, as the YO will have done that, so the rider could end up on anything between 11.2 and 15.2. As an aside, I learned to ride at the same yard, and despite being 6'1" I never rode anything bigger that 15.2hh and never had a problem with either weight or height.

As a late returner to riding, there seems to be a modern trend towards bigger and bigger and it seems that many people believe that unless you are on 16 hand plus, you are squashing the poor horse which is just not the case.

I DO know how you feel, I ride a pony myself :D
 
Also bear in mind that the taller the horse gets, the less strong it runs the risk of being, as it has more to carry on longer thinner legs!

People automatically move onto horses as they worry about squishing ponies and also what people will think and they want to look good and in proportion. But providing you choose a suitable breed and are reasonably trim, theres a native pony for every adult rider.

I went back from a 17hh hunter to a 14.2 Haflinger, and Im 5'7". The only thing I do less of is jumping and thats just cos theres no neck in front of me any more! Also fast work in the manege is a bit like riding a mini motorcycle but thats OK. My body looks a bit tall on her but not stupidly so and shes round enough to take up leg. My neighbour is 5'5" and used to have a 12.2 Icelandic! she now has a 13.2 Fell mare.

My Haffie is now 6 (RI and I backed her) and we are doing our first endurance ride on Sunday :-)))))
 
NeilM said:
Berkleley, I have just showed the vid to my OH. She has over 40 years experience and came through the 'old system' of working at a local yard for rides under a VERY demanding YO. My OH said she did not know what all the fuss was about and that you looked great.

She also made comment that in the 'old days' the YO pointed at a pony and said 'him / her' and you groomed, tacked up and rode, size was never considered by the rider, as the YO will have done that, so the rider could end up on anything between 11.2 and 15.2. As an aside, I learned to ride at the same yard, and despite being 6'1" I never rode anything bigger that 15.2hh and never had a problem with either weight or height.

As a late returner to riding, there seems to be a modern trend towards bigger and bigger and it seems that many people believe that unless you are on 16 hand plus, you are squashing the poor horse which is just not the case.

I DO know how you feel, I ride a pony myself :D
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Thanks so much for making such an effort to respond. This is to everyone. Many thanks. There have been loads of positive comments on here, and useful constructive ones. Cheers guys!
 
I wish I looked that good on a pony :D
Sadly I'm now having to squish my 16h TB :O
You look very balanced, have a nice leg position, and look very at home :)
He's only a five year old, so no need to worry about him being unbalanced-that will all come in time
Lovely ponio :D
 
You look absolutely fine. He's going forward nicely....no sign of legs buckling lol!

I ride my daughters pony....he's a 13.3 highland- rising 6 so still not very wide accross the chest but he's getting there....I feel a bit daft but I've seen myself in window reflections and we look ok. He can carry me fine (I'm 5'5'' and weight about 9st)......don't stress it:D
 
Don't worry about it, you look fine. I am a pony rider so I know how you feel. Personaly I'd be more comfortable on a 13hh chunk than a 14hh very fine pony. I'm 5.2 and I would look in the 13-14.2hh range for me, back when I was 7/8st and 5.2 I'd ride smaller but now at 9/10st I think a minimum of a chunky 13hh is about right.

I think I look far sillyer on a great 17hh bast where my feet barely come past the saddle flaps than I do on a 13hh pony.
 
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