Small Ponies Adult Riders

[Zarkaz]

I have read a few forums covering this subject but i would like to ask the question myself.
What do you think to adults riding small ponies? Do you think its right? Im asking this mainly for the fact that i am one of these people. I have a 12.2 Welsh B (not the fine type) and i am 5ft 2. People who know me are used to me riding such a small pony and i feel comfortable riding and pretty sure iv never hurt my pony- Well hes never had trouble taking me round a jumping course at intermediate level! The thing that does annoy me is people at shows giving me the 'evil' eye basically saying i should not ride him and im cruel- yes i may look tall on him and yes i have seen small children riding much bigger ponies than my own but i trust him 110% and feel he would be hard to replace.
I would love to hear from people in the same boat as me and piccies

 

[PoniesRock]

I'm 19 almost 20 and I've had my 13.2 new forest pony since I was 15... No intention of swapping her! Love her millions, and like you I feel very comfortable on her. We do loads of fun rides and hacking O and I'm 5'4"ish

And this is us going XC!

I ride horses at work but ponies are deffo more fun. So no, I don't see anything wrong with adults on ponies. And likewise mine's never had a bad back due to me riding her and she's more than happy to have a good blast with me on board

 

[toppy72]

I have just returned form a meet where there was an adult on a 13hh pony, the pony and the adult were having a great time the pony was clearly not struggling to carry the adult as it pulled for the entire meet.

I think we should remember that historically these ponies have been used to haul coal out of pits and generally carry all manner of demanding loads.

With anything that you ride it is important that you always keep an eye out for the stresses and strains of their workload -as long as this is done all should be well.

 

[JFTDWS]

I have a big pony, but I'm also a fair bit taller than you He's 14,1ish and I'm 5'8 and I'm not small built either. He doesn't seem to have a problem...

He can still avoid being eaten by crocodiles in the ditch too

 

[Janah]

Love the look on your face!

 

[mcrobbiena]

im 5'5" and still exercise my dartmoor pony, but he is a big stocky 12.2hh and he has only been lame once when a wee skinny 10yr old girl had been riding him for the summer. Iv seen far heavier fat kids on ponies but they get away with this for some reason?! Child obesity (sp?! didn't look right with a c either!) is a huge problem but you'd get shot down if you gave a fat kid a telling off for cantering its pony round and round the lorry park all day after being cross country in case the child ended up being anorexic. Hate seeing fat kids on ponies-especially when the ride like fat lumps too!!! (cue onslaught of abuse from parents with fat kids)

 

[mcrobbiena]

You look like you are more scared of the crocodiles in the ditch!! Hes just saving you...!!

 

[lcharles]

I dont think its a weight issue at all but.....when people are at a show for example showjumping and you have small kids about 8 on there little 12.2hh ponies and then an adult on a 12.2hh/13.2hh pony, i feel its a bit unfair when they zoom round and win.....they look ridiculous in a line up and i feel sorry for the kids with there much loved ponies that get a lower place because a clearly confident adult has kicked and yanked the pony into every turn possible!

i think an adult on a small pony would have as much right in a line up if they weren't confident or if that was there choice of pony but to see someone yank a pony about and use their height/weight and strength to get a pony to perform in a way a child suited for that pony couldnt do...i think thats unfair!

i am not saying that you are one of these people by the way! i just cant see how an adult can not be embarrased by beating 8 year old cute kids with plaited bigtails by yanking a pony around! those people i'd give funny looks!

 

[JFTDWS]

lol Janah, I should have looked more closely at that photo before I posted it!

mcrobbiena, I like that idea, he's my knight in shining armour... (he'd look good in a suit of armour!)

 

[lcharles]

i do however think its mean when a 13.2 welsh section d with a rider wider than the pony competes every week...in fairness it wins a lot (cant be having issues!) but because it wins the ever increasingly big girl doesnt want to move onto a much needed horse!!

 

[NinjaPony]

I am 5'7 and I have a 14.2hh Connemara, and I love riding him. I am slim, and he takes up my leg well- my height is in my legs! We have no problems.
Before him, I rode a 13.2hh, and whilst towards the end I wa a bit leggy for her, she had no problems either, I still ride her occasionally She is narrow as well.

 

[JFTDWS]

lcharles, I very much agree with you. I prefer to compete where it's split jnr-snrs or compete him as a horse (he's close enough to get away with that at unaff). Not been in a position to have a problem as yet, he's a demon xc, but we're hopeless sj atm - our winter project The only time I've sj-ed him competitively I was against a 7 year old on a pony and a confident looking 18ish year old on a green but easily capable horse. I watched the kid jump with only 4 faults and thought, heck if I do beat her, I'll have to ask them to make me H/C... We racked up a cricket score, so evidently I was worrying over nothing.

The teenager won it and ponced around like she'd won Badminton :rollseyes: No matter how difficult my horse / new to competing /etc, I'd rather let the kid have the rosette!

 

[LauraWheeler]

HI I'm 5ft2 and 28years old (not that I look it )

This is me on the horrid one. 12.2 - 13hh forest bred, forester.

He came to me with so many issues. I'm shore i'm not to heavy for him as he can buck, rear, leap and spin with me ontop perfectly fine He's with me for life as he would never make a childs pony and if I sold him on I would be worried someone would then sell him on again as a childs pony.

And this is Lucy my old mare. 13.2hh welsh pony.

Who I had for 12years. We did everything together. The last time I hunted her everyone was laughing as we had been going all day and she was still pulling at the end. Everyone elses horse was tired, even the second horses. The oldest horse was 9 and Lucy was atleast 24

I love ponies they are so much fun. Merryn my other pony is the biggest I've ever had and he's 14.1hh.

Just so he doesn't feel left out

 

[Zarkaz]

I dont think its a weight issue at all but.....when people are at a show for example showjumping and you have small kids about 8 on there little 12.2hh ponies and then an adult on a 12.2hh/13.2hh pony, i feel its a bit unfair when they zoom round and win.....they look ridiculous in a line up and i feel sorry for the kids with there much loved ponies that get a lower place because a clearly confident adult has kicked and yanked the pony into every turn possible!

i think an adult on a small pony would have as much right in a line up if they weren't confident or if that was there choice of pony but to see someone yank a pony about and use their height/weight and strength to get a pony to perform in a way a child suited for that pony couldnt do...i think thats unfair!

i am not saying that you are one of these people by the way! i just cant see how an adult can not be embarrased by beating 8 year old cute kids with plaited bigtails by yanking a pony around! those people i'd give funny looks!

haha i totally agree i can honestly say i have been beaten by many kids. I dont do the jumping now on him (even though i do miss it) im more for in hand showing. I think its more the fact im moving to a new yard and worried about the comments i get. I did warn them that i did have a small pony that i would be riding but it did put me off when i seen a 9 maybe 10 year old riding in the school on a 14 hander and bearing in mind im 22 yes im 22 riding a 12.2 haha

 

[Hedwards]

Well I'm 5'10" and have regularly ridden my friends 14hh connemara, including on 30k Endurance CR's - he's always carried me around perfectly happily!

 

[Tonty Tont]

I'm not exactly an adult - I'm 15 - but I own a 13hh cob. I'm 5'3

Tont has no trouble carrying me as I'm quite light, and we have great fun together. I don't think I look too tall, but we have a wonderful bond and that's what matters to me

 

[Zarkaz]

Loving all the pics and messages. Some of you saying 'i ride a 14hh pony' im thinking woah thats huge! haha well compared to my little man even although i did own a 15.1 Arab x warmblood but he got arthritis

 

[Brandy]

I am 5ft 7 with a 13.2 welsh. To be honest, I wouldn't have bought him as he is a little small - as in I feel a bit top heavy on him. I don't think it would be an issue if he behaved its just when he is naughty I sometimes feel a bit unstable.

I don't have access to any pics of him, but this is me and my old 13.2h coloured cob, who I loved, and who I felt better on.

 

[Spotsrock]

I dont think its a weight issue at all but.....when people are at a show for example showjumping and you have small kids about 8 on there little 12.2hh ponies and then an adult on a 12.2hh/13.2hh pony, i feel its a bit unfair when they zoom round and win.....they look ridiculous in a line up and i feel sorry for the kids with there much loved ponies that get a lower place because a clearly confident adult has kicked and yanked the pony into every turn possible!

i think an adult on a small pony would have as much right in a line up if they weren't confident or if that was there choice of pony but to see someone yank a pony about and use their height/weight and strength to get a pony to perform in a way a child suited for that pony couldnt do...i think thats unfair!

i am not saying that you are one of these people by the way! i just cant see how an adult can not be embarrased by beating 8 year old cute kids with plaited bigtails by yanking a pony around! those people i'd give funny looks!

I have a pony, jump him as a senior which means I am never competing against the kiddies, they are far braver and quicker than me anyway!!!

My pony is 14hh if he stands on tippytoes but Sharer who is 5ft10 doesn't look big on him at although she doesn't get on with him. He'd probably seriously damage a child so I think in some instances some ponies are better off with adults and as someone said, the short ones historically have been used to carry real weight.

 

[spotty_pony]

I'm 20 and 5ft8 and still occasionally ride a 12.2 Exmoor pony! There is nothing wrong with it, he can carry me easily and he is too strong for most of the kids at the yard!

 

[Megibo]

this is me on my neddy, had her 6 years. i'm 5ft 4 and pony is 13.3.

currently doing my best to get back mum's old horse who is full up 14.2/3 so think i'll always have ponies!

 

[Brandy]

I'm 20 and 5ft8 and still occasionally ride a 12.2 Exmoor pony! There is nothing wrong with it, he can carry me easily and he is too strong for most of the kids at the yard!

I also have an exmoor, as well as the welsh cob. I don't ride her anymore as I have put weight on and she is 12.1 and 24 yrs old. however, I was 21 when i got her and 9st and rode her almost daily for many years.

 

[rhino]

I'm 5'4" and just under 8 stone. My 'preferred' horse is 15.3 - 16.1 ish but I do ride everything from about 12.2hh upwards (usually if they are being naughty )

Think this pony was about 14/14.1 but super lightweight (racing pony). This is at the end of an all day ride and he certainly wasn't struggling with me.

(ps please ignore 'armchair' seat, my back was a bit achy by this point )

 

[Paint Me Proud]

this was me on my previous pony. She was just about 14.2hh and I am 5ft4 and approx 9 stone.

She was very round so she took up my leg. I do however now ride a 15.2hh who my instructor says suits me much better (and i do agree to be fair)

HOWEVER - if i had my own land i would be buying a 12 -13h pony to whizz about on - nothing beats a good whizzy pony!!

 

[Firehorse]

i'm a pony riding adult! i'm 5ft 3 and my pony is 13.3. he's got some tb or arab in him which makes him more like a small horse than a pony. i weigh 8 1/2 stone and wudnt put more than 9 stone on him. only because when a friend's daughter rode him, who was a little over that, he obviously wasnt happy with her. but he's mine for life and there's only me who rides him and once in a blue moon my kids (8 and 12) might sit on him. he goes like the clappers and outruns his larger friends but miles! if i ever bought another neddy, i'd always choose a pony. that's just my opinion, they suit me and the life style i can offer them. i'm a happy hacker who wants something safe, but zippy, cheap to keep and i do like to be able to put on a saddle without the need for a stool!!

 

[starryeyed]

I don't have a problem with it as long as the rider isn't obviously too big or heavy for the pony & it's not struggling. Ponies are way more fun, and people tend to forget how strong they can are!

 

[Vicki-Finn-Perry]

I wouldnt ride anything bigger than 14-15hh tbh! I just love ponies!

I dnt think its a problem at all, aslong as the saddle fits properly which i think is quite big problem with adults riding pones but other than that why not!!

My lad is approx 13.3h...im a midget at 5 foot 1ish

He doesnt feel like a small pony at all tbh, he feels more like a horse! He is built like a tank though!

 

[fallenangel123]

I have just joined the 'adults on ponies' group again. My 15.2hh mare has retired and I have now got a 13.2hh Fell pony. I was a bit dubious about going to see her as she was so small but I'm so glad I did!
I am 5ft 5ins but look fine on her as I have short legs and she is very wide. Only trouble is she rides so big I forget when I get off and hit the floor before I can bend my knees!!!

 

[OldNag]

I'm a pony squisher-to-be...

I'm 5ft 7 and he's about 13.3 (will know for sure when he's vetted, have asked for him to be measured as I'm sure he's grown since he was certificated). My height is all in my leg, but I hope I don't look too Thelwell on him.

I've always preferred ponies, and the beauty of getting something this size is that my kids can get use out of him before very long - even if only on lead rein for now.

 

[Aoibhin]

seeing lot of adults on Big top end ponies (13/14h) my lad is 11h1", i rode him untill i was grounded (medically) & im a 30yo, prev owner did (30+) as does my hubby (30+) none of us are over his weight capacity & he is till more than willing to test your stickability!!!