Re: Am I too heavy... What size do you think I SHOULD ride?

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Thelwell_Girl

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As title really! I'm quite interested :)

I am 5'1, weigh 11-11.5 stone. I have ridden a 13.2 happily and have also ridden a beastly 16.2 TB type (and sat on an 18.2 Percheron!)
 
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A 11 stone light nice rider would be able to be carried comfortable by a 13-13.2 native (of good type).

Wether you'd feel comfortable riding something that small is a different question!
 
Would be helpful if you could put height and weight? Or at least a general weight? Hard to tell just from pics as they don't give the whole picture.
 
Anything you're comfortable on and don't feel like you're too big for.

You're miles under most RS's limits so you have a wide choice. How tall are you? I find I'm uncomfortable on a smaller horse even if it carries me fine-felt a right prat on my 15hh boy next to the 17'2 WB in the school today.:(
 
Thanks

I would say 14-15hh would be your ideal height, but if it were a cobby type of 13.2hh then I wouldn't think there was a problem. Smaller ponies are physically able to carry you but I would be uncomfortable to ask them to, just in case. I'd hate to think of a pony even slightly struggling under me and would imagine you would feel the same.
 
It really depends on the horse/pony and what the build is: I would not want to say 'here is your ideal height/build equine'. Saying that, a friend just sold her 17hh and got a 15hh instead as she felt way too small on him and at 5'9, I feel too tall for my horse of 15hh, even tho he's a cob and takes up the leg well.
 
Lots!

Anything smaller and cobby or taller and well-built. I was suprised when, at 13st a friend said she would be happy for me to ride her wb/tb type. I'd never have thought I'd be ok but it all depends on the horse itself :)

As a general rule if I were you I'd go for a native type (just because :p) and around 14-15hh :)
 
i would say anything from a cobby type 13.3 - 15hh thats what would suit me i am similar my pony is 14.2 but i would be perfectly happy on those sizes too have ridden 16hh at RS aswell but happier on my 14.2 as less far to fall allthough a while ago i did ride my neighbours little 11.2 welshie :D she didnt mind at all and still went like the wind
 
Thanks for the responses guys!

I mostly ride 14-15.3hh natives, I love em! Have to say, cantering that 16.2 TB beast up a portugese mountain/hill thing was terrifying but AMAZING!

Hehe, monkeybum, that's Bonnie! my face pony at my Rs at the mo. She is evil but FAB!!
 
how tall are you TG? i'm roughly your weight at only 5'. my horse is 14.3h tbxhighland. i went for him mainly due to his height and that he wasn't too fine, i think we are fairly in proportion. This is us:

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pageId=100&id=111791&start=0&lightbox_page=&search_mode=

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pageId=100&id=120413&start=0&lightbox_page=&search_mode=

I have very short legs, plus in these photos am in jumping length stirrups, so don't always look so short he does have a deep girth though.

at our weight, we could easily ride a taller finer horse or a smaller cobbier horse, but i wouldn't feel very secure on anything under 13hh i think. I wouldn't break a section A by sitting on it, but i wouldn't want to do much more if you know what i mean.

anyhow, as has been said above, ride what ever you feel comfy on, although i know it's tempting to take up any offer of a ride when you haven't got your own pony, i volunteered to ride anything, (normally far too big or wild) just to get a shot when i was younger.

weight is a sensative issue on this forum, there is always someone (or many) ready to criticise and comment negatively, just ignore them. You did the right thing asking for advice and you come across as someone who adores their animals. just don't get on anything offered though in case you get hurt or it dents your confidence.
 
Ok, many may murder me because I properly pony squish...

I am 5'6, 12and a half stone and I ride a 14hh pony. She is cobby as they come though. She can still gallop flat out, jump and generally be her merry little self with me on board so she isn't struggling!

So personally if you are 5'1 and at least a stone lighter than me I would say a chunky monkey of about 13.1hh or taller.

Something finer though, I would say 14.2hh :)

Don't forget that those little 10hh shetlands used to carry burly scottish farmers and a full sack around. They are strong little beasts and so size does not always equate to strength. ;)
 
Thanks guys!
I will use my judgement but prob won't get on.
Obv I would NEVER hurt/ put an animal at risk, I couldn't live with myself if I did!
 
thelwell_girl said:
Thanks guys!
I will use my judgement but prob won't get on.
Obv I would NEVER hurt/ put an animal at risk, I couldn't live with myself if I did!
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i know you wouldn't, but you mentioned that wee pony is a bit naughty, i would be more worried about you being hurt or at risk. Whether you decide to sit on this one or not and regardless of size, a good piece of advice would be to never get on ANY horse without seeing someone else/the owner on it first. wee ponys can do as much damage as big un's.

ETS (unless you are at a trusted establishment like a RS or your lovely irish treking centre!)
 
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If you are riding at a responsible riding school then i don't think you need to worry too much as they won't put you on a horse or pony that they think you are too heavy for.
 
SO1 said:
If you are riding at a responsible riding school then i don't think you need to worry too much as they won't put you on a horse or pony that they think you are too heavy for.
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Wouldnt say that...I'm 5''4' and was probably about 12st when I started and they tried to put me on an 11.1hh Welsh Mountain pony! I was like big mistake, NO WAY and refused!
Must have been a mix up! :p
K x
 
Eep! If my RS tried to do that, I would be very worried! The lesson sheet with all the riders and ponies for the day is up in the office anyway, so I rush to go check who I'm riding in the morning :D

Of course, my instructor just LOVES torturing me so last week I had to go bareback! ON DAWI! He gas the most violent trot ever, and withers sharp as a knife. Ouch!!
 
I'm 5'2" and weigh 10 1/2 stone, so just a little lighter but about the same height.
I've got a 14.3 coloured cob, he carries me with total ease and is spot on size wise, I feel I've got plenty of horse under me but am also not over horsed.
But I think a cobby type with plenty of bone 13.2hh+ would carry you fine also, but if the finer type I would go for 14hh+ :)
 
You're about the same height as my mum and she's totally over horses on anything more than about 14.2. She could get away with a fine 15hh but they're too big for her really.

Height wise I'd think you'd be most comfortable on some thing 14-14.2, and a fairly stocking build of that height would carry your weight very easily.
 
I would say 14hh-15hh, that way you also have a little bit of lee-way (sp?) if you grow any more! I'm 5'4 and relatively comfortable on a cobby 13.2hh, even if I look very stupid :D But I do prefer something around 15hh, and am also happy on a 16.2hh. Anything bigger than that and I feel dizzy :D I think you look perfect on Bonnie!! xx
 
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