Ponies VS Horses, which do you prefer to ride?

For me horses!

I have three equines, 14hh pony, 15.1hh and 16.2hh horses. I love riding my horses, i like the longer strides and i love the fact there is a neck in front of you and shoulders and rump to help you feel secure!!! Never quite feel safe on the pony although he is a star. So horses all the way. I still love them all!
 
Ponies! I can't even remember the last time I sat on a horse, probably about 15 years ago. I'm the proud owner of a 13.3 ish Highland whom I adore, she's certainly my pony of a lifetime. Hoping to get my weight down so I can share a Dartmoor with my daughter in a couple of years ;)
 
Ponies not so far to fall I am getting old now and find my Highland ponies far easier al round mind you they are big moving ponies can walk to match a 16.2
 
Ooooh, tricky one! We have both.... I love the pony for her character, her pretty rock steady attitude in the school and her rocket up the arse moments when she feels the need (hacking)... Sharp enough to make you think 'crap I am so going to hit the deck here' but also sensible enough not to do any damage to herself.... Unless you are out hunting.

Now the horse: I actually own 2 that I have never sat on and have no inclination of doing so. The loan horse I have is awesome, a retired legend of a horse, known across several packs for just being a leg-end. He's retired now pretty much but potters about the farm when the need to go for a wander takes me. He too is steady enough to not frighten me but spooky enough to keep life interesting.

I actually cannot say which I prefer as it depends on what mood I am in.
 
Depends how naughty they are ;)

I generally find my Connie more fun to ride than my TB but that is mainly because he is so experienced you can have a lot of fun rather than having to place them properly at fences etc but that's not the fault of the TB being a horse!
 
I have a 14hh cob X- proper plucky and fun little mare who loves nothing more than a fast gallop. Great fun to ride- powerhouse but safe.

16hh ISH- very spooky so overall a lot less fun! But I love the power of his strides. Find it difficult to switch between the two as the big lad feels immense after the pony.
 
Ponies are anything 14.2 and under right? Im 12.5 stone and 5'7 (Im a guy, i work out) ... Can i have a pony please? I fear im too big but i could squeeze a pony in without the OH noticing :( Or at least deny its mine due to its size more easily, lol :)
 
I'm 5'3" and weight nine-and-a-half stone.

I regularly ride a 12.2hh Exmoor (currently on loan) and a 15.1hh traditional cob. Also up to January of this year was riding a 14.3hh Welsh D mare, now retired.

The Exmoor is a whizzy, feisty little beastie with a mind of her own and opinions about everything! Everything happens at the speed of light with her; you need to have your wits about you coz she reacts very quickly to situations, whereas with a bigger horse everything seems to happen much more slowly, when I ride my traddie cob everything seems to happen at double-slow speed, they really are chalk from cheese.

Which do I prefer? Difficult one....... if I'm honest, I'd have to say that my ideal choice would be something like a Welsh D which is about 14.3hh, almost a horse but still a pony, and definately a pony's brain!
 
Ponies seem to be trending for most people! So much relatable stuff has been said. My quirky pony is a nutter at times, I think I'd be scared of the larger ponies - same mentality and further to fall! Haha. The other day I was out riding in the stubble and all of a sudden he sees something he doesn't like and woah, out of nowhere he started bronking. I went straight over the top... Splat. Sore butt, nothing too bad, and I was able to clutch my reins so he didn't do a runner (why I hack with cob to full size reins :p ).

I think I love horses because I was always put on ponies as a child, so I jumped at the chance to ride horses. I just think they are a lot easier! And I'm going to disagree - for me jumping horses has to be easier for me. The pony is very daft with his leg and won't clear anything if I don't put him on the right stride! Not the kids type where you can just point and jump.
 
I love ponies😂They just seem like more fun but now when I'm looking at ones to buy I'm thinking horses♥️That's mainly because I'm 5"4 and I still have a tiny bit of growing to do
 
Another that i going against the grain and saying horses.. The bigger the better (mine is a big muscly, chunky 17.3hh warmblood :D )

I just love the power of him, and how fast he is. I also love that we are partners because I want to be and more importantly he wants to be too. There is absolutely no way I could make him do anything he didn't want to, he weight near on 700kg (complete guess). Plus when I am tired I can use his bum to lean on. I don't have to bend down so far to pick up feet. He tries so hard to please and do as he is asked. And he has a big smushy kissable nose. (okay I am starting to sound like one of THOSE owners now!)

I have always been partial to a huge horses, but maybe it's him I love so much, and not just horses in general.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
And he has a big smushy kissable nose. (okay I am starting to sound like one of THOSE owners now!)
Click to expand...

My big fella has one of these noses too. He always smells great and has a muzzle you just want to snog. I even caught our back lady giving his nose a quick kiss - she was mighty embarrassed about being caught.

The pony on the other hand would pull a face and squeal if you so much as thought about kissing her nose!
 
As Nico is a pony, I had better say ponies!
I do prefer the pony character. I had a 13.3 cob mare for ten years and she was lovely, taught me such a lot, including how to repair fences.
 
I'm regressing as I get older and appreciating ponies more and more. So much fun - even the frilly flounces, down to earth and with fewer hangups :-).
 
Never had a horse and to be honest don't ever remember riding one either in my youth although I must have at some point, my ponies are 12.2, 13.3 & 14.1, I don't ride the 12.2 as he is a fine Welsh B but the other two are Newfies and so much fun, I like being nearer the ground in my advancing years with creaky bones.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
I'm 5'3" and weight nine-and-a-half stone.

I regularly ride a 12.2hh Exmoor (currently on loan) and a 15.1hh traditional cob. Also up to January of this year was riding a 14.3hh Welsh D mare, now retired.

The Exmoor is a whizzy, feisty little beastie with a mind of her own and opinions about everything! Everything happens at the speed of light with her; you need to have your wits about you coz she reacts very quickly to situations, whereas with a bigger horse everything seems to happen much more slowly, when I ride my traddie cob everything seems to happen at double-slow speed, they really are chalk from cheese.

Which do I prefer? Difficult one....... if I'm honest, I'd have to say that my ideal choice would be something like a Welsh D which is about 14.3hh, almost a horse but still a pony, and definately a pony's brain!
Click to expand...


I hear you about Exmoors. Crikey mine's going to be fun when he's backed!
 
Ponies all the way for me. I have a 15.1 connie x and he definitely is a big pony as opposed to a small horse. That was one of the features that drew me to him. I just love his cheeky character and pony intelligence :)
 
Both :p I've had very horsey ponies (70% arab, 20% TB, 10% welsh bred) and 13.2, who was awesome, but tbh no 'pony' character- he just did what he was told! And also very pony horses (big welsh cob, so obviously actually a pony). I prefer more blood than a cob but I enjoy anything that tries!
 
Deltaflyer said:
Ponies all the way for me. I have a 15.1 connie x and he definitely is a big pony as opposed to a small horse. That was one of the features that drew me to him. I just love his cheeky character and pony intelligence :)
Click to expand...

I've been out of the game a long time but when i was on ponies they were classed as 14.2 and under so dont you have a horse? *confused*
 
I've always had horses, I brought a 14.2 last year and never have I regretted it! He is a welsh D so if he was any bigger he would be the devil, but he is intelligent, cocky and extremely brave, I could never get a horse now! He does everything and more my old horses have done :)
 
Heart says ponies but I'm not sure if that's my rose tinted memory as my old Sec D was my horse(pony) of a lifetime. Head says I'm too heavy for even the strongest ponies now. Having said that, both my boys (16.3 and 17hh chunky monkeys) have pony blood in them, one ID x Connie (we think) and one TB x Sec D x Shire. One in particular is quite quick and clever like a pony, especially with jumping so maybe I've got the best of both. Horse size and pony brain :D

Also, jumps look smaller on a 17hh than they do a 14hh!
 
I love my Spanish horse said:
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!
Click to expand...

This is so great to hear! I started on ponies and then transitioned to horses for quite a few years competing. Ive just gone back to a 14.2hh. Im also 5.7ft and 9st something and hes a cracker!
 
I'm another pony fan. My 14.2 highland is the joy of my life. I downsized to him from a 16.1 warm blood mare and never looked back.

Pic of us on the thread "Highland pony fix" in picture gallery. I'm 5ft 7 and there's plenty of pony there for my longish legs!
 
Mine is a big pony, he is 15.1hh sect d so only just a horse but definitely pony personality. I wouldn't buy anything over 14.2hh again, I am 5'3" so not too tall but need to lose a few stone.
 
Horses, definitely. I just feel more comfortable in terms of my own height, although at 5'7" I'm not super tall. I don't buy into the whole "ponies are more fun" rubbish that a lot of people have put on this thread - it's all about the individual animal, not their size! I've ridden ponies that have been about as fun as watching paint dry, and horses that have left me buzzing long after I've dismounted. I really think it just depends on the individual character of the horse/ pony and whether you as a rider feel more comfortable on something that is a bit smaller or a bit bigger.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top