Tell me about your natives

[Patchworkpony]

I have a lovely young Exmoor mare. Opinionated, determined character, who is willing have a go at anything. Great ride, very comfortable and responsive. Have had TBs and Arabians for years. Decided to down-size for my dotage! Quite a culture shock, but enjoying re-discovering the joys of Exmoor pony ownership. I last had one sixty years ago!

Can I ask Burmilla what size she is and what height you measure? Does she feel small and does she carry your weight easily? I'm considering getting one as they are lower to the ground for my dotage but they are indeed proper natives. I'm thrilled that your last had one sixty years ago as I keep thinking I'm now too old to ride but you have inspired me.

 

[DD265]

I've had my Welsh D for almost 11 years and I wouldn't change him* or give up the times we've had for the world!

*unless I had a magic wand to take away his aches and pains. Working on it, but rather than a magic wand it appears that this requires wads and wads of cash

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I have two Exmoor geldings. One I got as a very low mileage 14yo who had been kept very fat. I got him somewhat fitter, rebacked him, taught him to do lateral work in hand and jump on the lunge, would also take him for walks with the dog and he could pretty much get over/around/under any natural obstacle! He also gave my disabled step kids pony rides. We never did get him over his unpredictability with traffic though-he's 12h and I am 5'6. He rode much bigger than he is. He's now retired and 21. He has some trust issues from being bandied around scrag end sales for the first 4 years of his life. He's hilarious and keeps me very grounded. I've never known anything eat like he does.

The other I got off the moor as a weanling and he's now 5. Backed him this year. He's just 13h and built like a brick outhouse. He's also the happiest, most honest equine I've ever met (bar an arab I knew years ago) and has taught me loads about how I'm communicating with horses (which sounds very hippy dippy but its not until you get a semi-feral foal and have to do stuff with them on your own that you realise what you don't know!). He's great in traffic and proving a great nanny to my 3yo horse. He'll also pick a trail through most anything. Love doing stuff with him, he's always really pleased to see me

This time of year I have something of a break and chuck them out 24/7-I absolutely never have to worry about them in rubbish weather. They aren't rugged or shod, they are expert foragers and break the ice on their water if needs be. They are far harder work in the summer when I do have to monitor weight carefully and the younger one is a bit sweet itchy unfortunately. I also had one as a kid and think I always will from now on

 

[Rapidash]

Can I ask Burmilla what size she is and what height you measure? Does she feel small and does she carry your weight easily? I'm considering getting one as they are lower to the ground for my dotage but they are indeed proper natives. I'm thrilled that your last had one sixty years ago as I keep thinking I'm now too old to ride but you have inspired me.

A good sized Exmoor can carry your average person all day very easily. I've never felt too small on one and I'm 5ft 10. You get used to it, and I prefer not having the head miles in front and the ground miles below!

They're easy to look after too. And they have bags of character

 

[Dubsie]

I have come to realise the 6 year old bright bay NF we bought for my daughter, 5 years ago I actually bought for me...such a lovely character, kind, willing but fun, fun, fun, he's turned his hoof to everything from bareback showjumping, swimming down rivers, sidesaddle, dressage, xc, you name it he's done it and enjoyed it. He's fab at loading (unclip leadrope and he walks on - but then he *is* food orientated and knows there's hay), will stand for hours by the trailer or to be groomed, he is happy to hack out alone or in company, he might snort at stuff but he will go past if you tell him its OK, likewise with scary fillers if you are confident he'll jump often without looking at it but every now and then he will go extra high (just in case of the trolls) and will sail over with a foot to spare! Show him a grid and he'll happily jump it all day. Above all my daughter has progressed so well with him from being afraid to jump over 2ft and being nervous, to sailing round in superfast times (he is very competitive and adores jump-offs!) at venues such as Windsor and the BRC finals at Lincoln! Sadly I don't ride, bit too heavy for him anyway, so I really will have to write an advert for him this year as daughter is taller than me and has outgrown him really, she also now has a horse and GCSEs this year.

 

[Splashy pony]

Oh wow how lovely to read about all your fab ponies. I just love the idea of using the equines of this land for the work they were bred for. So great to read of so many of you riding even decades beyond where I am too. (Mid 50s shhh) My little Connie has inspired me so much and I don't ever think a TB of WB could be anywhere near as rewarding.

 

[tabithakat64]

I have two welshes, love them but they do tend to get a bit hysterical and given an inch tend to take a mile.
Also had two Fells which were awesome, brave and versatile. Loaned a Newfie who was awesome as have all of the other new forest ponies I've know been.
Have wanted a highland for years though.

 

[NeverSayNever]

I have a fell, he's awesome. We've done allsorts including pony camp,showing, workers, mini eventing and we've recently turned our focus to dressage and affiliated. Only at prelim at the moment but he qualified for area festivals in his first 2 outings then came 4th in his section at area festivals, currently half way to prelim regionals qualification and then hoping to move up to novice in a bit and also try some music. He's my little hairy superstar!

like a lot ^ <3

I had a welsh sec D mare who was a very special girl. She's about 14.3hh and the only horse in 30 years of riding I have never come off haha and I credit that to her! She could be quite sharp and was very forward going with a huge engine, she did really well in unaff dressage and jumped a bomb too. She took me clear round her first ever XC and I was bricking it! There were many occasions when I was *nearly* off but she saved me - she spooked once out on a hack at a heron who erupted from long grass right next to us, I was unbalanced and hanging off and any other horse would have put in a wee buck or stormed off but she stopped and shoved me back in the plate. Sadly I came to the end of the road with her and sold her a year after I became a Mummy, she was the type who needed more regular input and in the 3 years I had her she had developed from a unbalanced and immature 6 year old to a strong and powerful little horse; add that to having to hack straight out onto the road in winter as we have no facilities and only being ridden once a week and neither of us were happy.

I now have a wee Highland 4 year old who is far smaller than anything I thought Id ever be comfortable riding. She is only 13.1hh! she is forward going and fun but it’s fair to say a lot less sensitive and ‘easier’ than my D ever was.

I think the major difference is that when my D got razzed up or spooked that was her, she wouldn’t calm down for the rest of the hack and would come home jogging and fretting. If she was wound up she wouldnt eat, going anywhere she would even refuse a carrot in the trailer. My Highland will have a look, a spook.. then decide its not worth wasting energy over, assess the potential of whatever it is to be eaten and then carry on as normal Recently trailered her to the beach, on her own, given she has only ever been out a couple of times in the trailer anywhere this was a big thing for her and she was a wee star! Eyes on stalks to start with and attempted to leg it back to the trailer at one point but that was more driven by the haynet she knew was waiting for her and that fact she was having to work quite hard than anything bothering her

 

[Crugeran Celt]

I always wanted a welsh d having had two d's x tb mares, mother and daughter that were both great but wanted a full d. Bought a 5 year old 15.1hh gelding 7 years ago and lets just say he is quirky. Both the mares were very brave but Celt is a nervous wreck and I think healways will be. Love him dearly but he is completely neuritic. Also have 3 minis and they are amazing.