Rider outgrowing pony-how can you tell?

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peaceandquiet1

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This might sound a bit silly but my daughter is outgrowing her pony, but at what point do you decide that she is just too big? To me she looks still ok but her trainer says she looks "top heavy" now and for showing purposes you see her rather than her pony eek! She is quite sturdy and the pony is a show pony so that doesn't help, but her feet at still above his tummy.
 
can you post a pic so we can see? i guess theres two different points- one purely is a asthetic ( SP!) when she no longer looks in proportion when showing and a second when your daughter outgrows her pony and becomes too heavy/tall for him.

my daughters 11.3hh pony is regulary ridden by my friend in her 40's who is prob 5ft 3 and she rides no problem, but prob looks out of proportion
 
We knew my daughter had outgrown the 11.2 SecA she used to ride when it was daughter's feet that kept knocking poles down when jumping. By then I think she was about 5ft 2 or 3, and jumping 2ft3-2ft6 - over lower jumps the poles stayed up.
Maybe your daughter could be more careful in what she eats so she isn't as sturdy looking? Daughter has a friend rides with her, and she was beginning to look a bit big for our skinny 13.2 after the summer holidays as she'd put on a bit of tummy. However at the end of the holidays she cut out the crisps sweets chocolate and everything between meals and has quite quickly lost her chubbiness so last time she rode (last week or so) she looked a lot less big on the pony and much more in proportion.
 
my 15 year old is still trying to convince me that shes not too big for our 12hh pony?
So im not the best one to advice, but i think if the pony can comfortable carry you/child doing what you want to do then your fine. But as soon as you what to do things your pony can't, either because of lack of talent or height thats when you need to move on.
 
when the riders feet keep bashing the ponies knees?

Normally the rider will start to feel unbalanced before the pony is unable to carry her. Can the pony do everything she wants? That is probably more important than how they look together, a skinny teenager on a small pony might not look the best but it is better that they have fun together and the child is confident and happy than you make the transition to a larger animal too soon and wreck fragile confidence. Often a child is verging on too big before they feel truely confident on a pony and are able to utilise the ponies full potential.
 
If I could figure out how to post pics that would help! Yep its the aesthetics that matter because he's a show pony. I have suggested to my daughter that she watches her weight to to be fair to her she isn't overweight , just not skinny! She doesn't feel out of balance yet. I will try the picture thing. Thanks for all replies.
 
ponies build makes such a difference- myself and my friend both own section a's both 11.3hh however her's is a "show pony" finer type and mine a deeper bodied more workman like build. obviously mine will take up the leg of a bigger rider and a larger /taller rider looks less out of proportion

i dread the day my daughter outgrows out pony :(
 
Last edited:
horsemadmum1 said:
This might sound a bit silly but my daughter is outgrowing her pony, but at what point do you decide that she is just too big? To me she looks still ok but her trainer says she looks "top heavy" now and for showing purposes you see her rather than her pony eek! She is quite sturdy and the pony is a show pony so that doesn't help, but her feet at still above his tummy.
Click to expand...

The overall picture should be pleasing for showing. My daughter has outgrown her pony - first the legs and then the body, but she is still lightweight enough to ride her.
 
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