SummerStorm
Well-Known Member
I want to know - I really, really, really do - why some children at the age of 12, 5 stone and 4'10" demand, and get, their 16.3hh 5 year old Dutch Warmblood as the next stage after a 17 year old 12hh Dartmoor pony.
It's something I've been thinking about for a while now as recently I have been noticing a lot of children years younger and a heck of a lot smaller than me sitting on these 16hh+ horses that are clearly way too big for them and I really can't find a sensible reason as to why they are doing it
Is there something I'm missing in that seeing a kid ride a 17hh, out of control, clearly too large thoroughbred is somehow better/cleverer/more impressive than a kid on a 13hh Heinz 57 pony that is well ridden, well behaved and the right size?! I have been truly staggered on occasions at these 5' 13 year olds who have horses that they can barely reach to get a saddle on, let alone get on the thing from the ground on their own and that's all before they get to the minor problem that the rider's legs make it past the saddle flaps by what looks to be a few inches...?! Is there a rule now that says all small children need to go from 11.2hh, 10 year old pony club ponies to imported, 17hh, baby warmbloods? Because on several occasions, I've seen what looks like an accident waiting to happen as kids go from super little ponies, bypass the 14 - 15 handers and instead go straight onto these massive younsters that they look like a pea on a mountain on...
While I have absolutely no problem with the children who are taller or need, for whatever reason, a larger horse but I truly cannot understand why there are massively overhorsed little children on 17.1hh showjumpers entering the 1'6" class at local shows. I'm not joking - I have entered classes at childrens shows where I have been on one the smallest ponies there. That wouldn't concern me if I was sitting on a shetland but when I'm on a 14hh NFx...
When the children can handle the horse I'm all up for it but when they're just being dragged around the yard openly admitting that they are scared of it and would rather get back on their little Welshie something seems just bit wrong somewhere imho.
Thoughts anyone?
It's something I've been thinking about for a while now as recently I have been noticing a lot of children years younger and a heck of a lot smaller than me sitting on these 16hh+ horses that are clearly way too big for them and I really can't find a sensible reason as to why they are doing it
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While I have absolutely no problem with the children who are taller or need, for whatever reason, a larger horse but I truly cannot understand why there are massively overhorsed little children on 17.1hh showjumpers entering the 1'6" class at local shows. I'm not joking - I have entered classes at childrens shows where I have been on one the smallest ponies there. That wouldn't concern me if I was sitting on a shetland but when I'm on a 14hh NFx...
When the children can handle the horse I'm all up for it but when they're just being dragged around the yard openly admitting that they are scared of it and would rather get back on their little Welshie something seems just bit wrong somewhere imho.
Thoughts anyone?