Ponies or Horses?

J

jumpthefence

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 June 2016
Messages
53
Visit site
I have been thinking and does anyone have an opinion on what i should do: do i get a 148 pony to enjoy my last 2 years of ponies on or do i go straight to horses?
I want to start on ponies and crack on with them whilst i still can but I'm not sure if its the right thing to do for BSJA.
 
I think do what you want to do. Personally i think ponies are wasted on kids so if you can still ride em .. ride em, they are so much fun :) ... no wait .. its easy ... get both :D
 
You can compete a 148 in seniors - although something too much smaller might struggle. The height restriction only applies to juniors - unless they compete either with seniors (no bar on that ) or in Children on Horses classes.

Its a hard call - ponies or horses. Try turning the question upside down...

Are you going to sell this possible new one once you turn 16? Is it only for competition for these last 2 years - or would you look to keep it on afterward?

If this is only for 2 years and you'll sell it later then it rather has to be a 148. Given your lack of experience and the fact that you'll be competing against kids who have been doing this for 7 or 8 years more than you.... buy the best you can afford and treat it like a tool. You will be looking at double figures for something decent and that can hit the ground running. You don't have the time to waste building a relationship etc. It is there to do a job and once the job is done it will move on.

On the other hand - if you're going to keep it after you turn 16 then actually the horse itself is more important than its height. You want something you can build a relationship with, work with and generally have fun. Its a companion - not a tool.

You have a growth spurt still to come most likely (although my daughter didn't - most kids grow a couple more inches at about 16). If you are already tall then you might be better off getting something taller that will take your leg once you are 18/19. If you are quite small now and it looks like you might stay smaller then you can get something a bit smaller that you are not going to grow out of and break your heart over.

In the usual non competition type conversation about ponies v horses I would go for a pony every time if you are short enough to be able to do it. They are generally easier to keep, less injury prone. Less far to mount, less far to fall. Easier gaits to sit to - and I love the fact they tend to think rather than just react. But that is a generalization - you get ponies that think like horses and horses that think like ponies.

Competition obviously puts a different slant on it because of the height restrictions - but even those are not a deal breaker. My daughter's last 148 who we kept when she turned 16 has a LHC at 147.5. But in shoes or a bad mood probably comes in about 15.1hh. He jumps pony tracks as happily as he does horse tracks - you just ride the stride a little differently.

The only other thing to think about if it is BS specifically that you are fixed toward that juniors / ponies is very competitive and rather difficult to get anywhere with one animal. Seniors isn't the same and you can progress quite far with just one. Although don't forget there are several very nice unaffilliated national series going now as well as the BS Club structure. If you get a fairly full up 148 that could go on to seniors that would give you the best of both worlds. But equally if you get something a bit over that because its a really nice horse and you get on well just start in seniors. Or head for eventing. Or Pony Club.
 
If you can still get away with riding a pony then pony every time!! I have so much more fun riding my 13.2 than I do riding my 16.2 in my oppinion horses are more serious
 
thanks so much that so helpful. yes i have come to the decision to get a pony but now I'm stuck on whether to get a full up 148 or something smaller. i say this as we have found the perfect pony but he is 143cm (14.1hh) and is not very full up at all. i am worried will get very attached and end up not being able to continue competing with horse when i get there as of not being able to sell him. but i was thinking about putting my current pony out on loan or do it that she will always come back to me - i have become so so attached to her!! so what should i do?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top