surely i am too heavy?

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lucy_jw

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5 December 2010
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hi all, i have taken quite a long break from riding but start some lessons next week. A good friend of mine has said i am welcom to ride her old plodder to gain confidence on when i feel ready, he is a kids pony and is very patient. My problem is that he is only 12h and at 5ft5 and 9st 7lb surely i am too big?! She insists he can carry up to 10stone and that dartmoor ponies are very good weight carriers. He is very stocky and is not of slight build but i am worried about hurting him as he is not my pony! I have never owned a dartmoor so do not know anything about the breed. He is not a young pony either, is between 17-19yrs. Any thoughts? I am not a big built person and wear size 10 clothes if that helps. Thanks guys its been bugging me all night
 
I can say your not to heavy dartmoors can carry men just remember that was what they used for years ago not saying it right but they did just try and sit still and dont wiggle around to much we had a dartmoor at our stable no twenty stone man could stop him bucking them of little sweetie
 
wow must be strong little fellas! He is basically wasted just standing in a field so it would do her a favour too, i would only be pottering on him, no jumping or anything like that. Thank you for help its been drivin me mad all night lol
 
As a Sec A rider, adult, you will know if you are too heavy by riding him. If he can't stride out in walk underneath you, you is too heavy, although I seriously doubt you will have any problems.
Have fun,
Bryndy:)
 
Hi, we had a little dartmoor at our yard who was owned by a farmer & used for rounding up the moor ponies. He was quite a stocky chap (very tubby in summer!) and used to carry adult men for rounding up etc. He was also regularly ridden by adults probably slightly heavier than you for about 45 minutes at a time & had no problem with hillwork etc.

I am not saying this is right, just saying he coped with it very well and seemed to enjoy his work - evening putting in the odd buck in canter :)

I rode him once as he was playing up a bit and am heavier than you. He took off with me at a very fast canter even jumping puddles in his haste to get home, and although I felt big on him I didn't feel he struggled at all.

IMO you should be fine to plod around for short periods of time but despite the above I don't advocate working him hard on a regular basis.
 
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