Ponies VS Horses, which do you prefer to ride?

Kafairia

Kafairia

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 August 2016
Messages
137
Location
Linc / Cambs border
Visit site
Hey all, just curious what people prefer riding wise. Probably would be interesting to hear what height you are too, just because it's interesting. :D Me, I'm a horse convert. I had my first true proper lessons on a 11hh bonkers strong as houses Heinz 57. He was a legend and he went like an absolute rocket, although I had some of my worst falls from him. I slowly progressed up the riding school, not taking much notice. I think the biggest I rode while learning must have been a maximum of 14.2hh, probably the slowest there. Before leaving on the adventure of getting my own horse, I rode an ex event at about 15 ish hh. I bought an unbroken 13.1hh, who was a bit feral, after all he was abused! ): I hit the deck so many times in pretty sure he's given me permanent damage to my back. Up until a few months ago, he was the tallest Id ridden in years. I've definitely near outgrown him now though as he's very leggy due to the TB in him methinks. I tried a 16hh Tb and fell in love. I struggle with my pony equitation sometimes - it's horrendous. They're so speedy that I just love the longer strides of my big guy. However my TB sprained himself a few weeks ago and needed time off. He was a jerk and flybucked so high for no reason I faceplanted his neck (thank lord for fixed peaks!!) and I got away with only stabbing my lip with my tooth lightly. He's generally a star, and I honestly don't think I'd of sat to the pony equivalent! It's nice to have a good bit of neck in front of you, and I think my guy rides quite low so I can't tell I'm another few hands up. :)

What about you?? :p

NB - sorry if I've made some typos, didn't have time to preview as I should be doing other things! :eek:
 
I have three; a 13.2 pony, a 14.3 mare and my boyfriends 15.2 gelding.
As much as I love the grace and strength of my horses, theres something about the cheeky character of my pony along with how much fun he is to ride that never fails to put a huge smile on my face :D
 
I can definitely agree my pony has more character than my horse !! :p I've had him 6 years and hands down he is my favourite little man. He's so cheeky and lovable! I find my horse a lot easier to ride also however, and I feel safer on him despite him being greener than the pony. :D
 
Ponies! I am 5'3" and just under 8 stone. I have previously loaned a 13.1hh Welsh B & now have a 12.2hh Exmoor, though he's not broken yet.

I just love the Pony Attitude.
 
Ponies defo, I'm on my first Welsh cob after a lifetime of horses. Hes 14.1 and although I'm 5ft7 don't feel big at all and he's just the most fun ever, it's also nicer being closer to the ground when he starts with the usual cheeky Welshie antics!
 
I've just returned to a pony due to my big mare being retired to the field. He's a 14.2 sec D x gelding who was a neglected and naughty cheapy that I'd planned to straighten up and sell on, but I have to keep him as I absolutely love him, he's perfect in every way with me, we just click and I'm loving it!
At 55 and a bit creaky, it's so nice to be able to get on and off, open gates with ease, canter along verges and sneak through gaps in hedges like a kid again and also for the 1st time in years, enjoy jumping and have just......pony fun!
 
... I actually prefer horses the bigger the better.
But reckon that's all down to me being so small and always riding ponies.
That said they are much easier to jump and have much more character!

So I'd say.... I prefer to go flat school a horse. But for hacking and jumling ponies.

Changed my mind PONIES.
 
Camilla's Aunty Em said:
Hahahaha! Bless him!
Click to expand...

Cant say a bad word about him tonight! Tonight he performed so brilliantly in my lesson , (his lesson) .He has NEVER EVER gone as well. 18 months at walk , trying to establish the basics , last six months we introduced trot into the schooling. Tonight he was from start to finish in a lovely soft natural outline ,straight (ish) .we were even doing sholder ins across the school at trot. Easy stuff for most horses but he is a bit speshul.He looked quite shocked at his own performance.Maybe he is just a large pony afterall!
 
That sounds fantastic! If I could just get mine to settle to walk in hand without having a canary at everything out of the ordinary, we'd be going great guns, but we are in good hands & making steps forward.
Well done Bob Notacob. (& you too, of course!)
 
It takes a long time to do something worthwhile. And on that note ,I broke it to my instructor (and bob) that I wanted to try to do the WobbleBerry challenge. Once I had explained what it involved ,she didnt know whether to laugh or cry. She settled for a comment of "well you both fit the criteria..............in spades!"
 
I haven't found anything I love riding more than my 15.3hh Irish type, she's so comfy :) however I do have a pony around the 13hh mark, do the occasional ride on her, I'm 5'7 but don't feel/look big! She's a new forest. She is so fun to ride and I find myself laughing!! However I do appreciate the size and my balance on my horse a bit more!! (pony is my comfy armchair hack who fills me with confidence though!) :D
 
Me and my daughter were having this conversation the other night whilst riding our highland and exmoor across the stubble, why would anyone want a horse when you could have native ponies. So definitely ponies for us.
 
Going against the grain here. Horses all the way. At 5"10 I just feel awkward and gangly on a pony even if I know it can carry my weight (although I am 9.5 stones!) I also can't stand having no neck and the quicker strides often jar my back and make me feel as though I'd bounce off.

Saying that I previously had a 17.2hh built like an outhouse, my new 16hh ISH feels a hell of a lot smaller to me and people look at me like I'm mad when I refer to her as my little pony XD
 
Definetly ponies, horses just feel big and clonky to me, like trying to turn a lorry around in a small space lol Plus the bridleways near me are so overgrown good luck with anything 14hh plus! Unfortunately I am too lanky for ponies so I will have to go for horses in the future when my beloved pony retires. Of the horses Ive ridden I only really enjoyed two. So there are some cool horses out there I guess it would take me a while to find one I liked though
 
Horses. Every single time. I like big, muscly, warmblood looking 17+ hands between my legs. My mare measures at 16.3, but is on the big side of that (170cm), and she's not little horse in any way. She's truly a gentle giant and I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
I'm 5'1, so all through riding as a child, when I was substantially smaller, I was put on the 11hh - 12.3hh ponies. Which was fine. I weigh about 8 stone, so skinny legged ponies isn't a problem either.
But I'd also ride the horses, and not shy away from getting on something 17.2hh
Doesn't bother me.

Saying that, we've had my Cob (actually a TB in a hairy fat suit) for 11 years now, and although she's small at 14.1/2hh, she rides a hell of a lot bigger than the majority of horses around the 15.2h mark.

Then I bought a mare to back etc myself. She was 13.1 when I bought her, and when I finally got on her for the first time, I did think 'Christ, I hope she grows, I feel enormous!' Something I never thought I'd think!!
She's an Arab, and has gorgeous strides, and fortunately, over the last 4 years, has grown considerably - now we're at a lovely 14.3h, I'm far happier getting on.

Now looking for another, and I honestly don't care how big it is.
As long as they have a good stride, and I'm comfortable, we're all good.

But being so short, I like being able to reach without a step ladder to put tack on.
Previously riding a Friesian, and trying to put his medieval saddle on [jousting horse] was such an effort. Like, before I even rode, I was shattered trying to lift this damned thing onto his back lol

So something under 15.3 so I can reach is always pleasant, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't consider a giant :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top