This makes me cringe

Big Ben

Big Ben

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I just don't get this, I believe it is a cultural thing, I want to see a kiddy on a pony, not a horse, and I get all twitchy when I see a little one with no helmet.

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There's quite the debate going on, ponies are seen as evil, and helmet wearing is seen as freedom of choice.
 
Looks scary. Having said that the smallest pony is so much stronger than a tiny child. Do think a helmet would be sensible. Depends on the horse/pony. I wouldn't allow it though.
 
I'm sitting on the fence with this, I think its amazing for such a young girl to control a horse (who is a saint) of that size but I think it's incredibly stupid to let any child to ride without a hat. Being from a different culture does not make your head less breakable.
 
I think it should be compulsory for children to wear hats whatever country you're in, takes away any question over whether it looks cool or whatever, then they can make up their own minds when they're adults. I've just never really thought about not wearing a hat! I wouldn't let my child ride without one anyway.

Not too bothered whether its a pony or a horse, although I do think its quite funny how their little legs don't come past the saddle, doesn't make it dangerous though.

Who says ponies are evil! Poor ponies!
 
Children should wear hats. They can't make an educated decision at that age and so it is up the parent/ guardian to make one for them, and I would be concerned about anyone not ensuring their child wore a hat. At that age, you get £30 lightweight helmets as well- no excuses.

But in terms of size of the horse? Cute as, and probably safer than the horrors me and my sister rode as children!
 
I learned to ride on horses like that at age 7 (in the US). You don't see many teeny ponies out there, especially in the west. First lesson horse I ever rode was a 15hh QH named Papa Bear who was about 30 years old and I probably looked like that on him. Always wore a helmet, though. But in 23 years of being around horses, I don't think I've sat on anything less than 13-some odd hands. Ever.
 
Awww papa bear sounds wonderful!

I don't think I've ever ridden smaller than about 14 hands to be honest, I was quite freakishly tall by the age of 9 when I started learning to ride so was quite often on 16-17 handers!
 
A well schooled horse is probably a safer mount than a pony. It looks very odd to us that children don't wear hats, but it is the norm in the USA.
 
3Beasties said:
I'm sitting on the fence with this, I think its amazing for such a young girl to control a horse (who is a saint) of that size but I think it's incredibly stupid to let any child to ride without a hat. Being from a different culture does not make your head less breakable.
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Agree with this. I also think it is quite stupid to let her ride a horse of this size purely because it IS that much higher to fall - having fallen off my 17.1hh a few months ago, I fairly noticed the difference from falling off my 16hh! I guess its ok just for a little pootle about nown and again (WITH a hat) but cantering about on it? I remember watching one of those barrel racing fail videos on You Tube and one clip was of a really tiny girl who must have been about 6 racing a horse and obviously coming off - just plain scary. My 14 month old "rides" my shetland and my 13.2hh so he looks tiny on the 13.2hh but I am holding him on so can whip him off if need be! When he goes it alone, he will start with the shetland until he grows into the next size up!

The hat thing is the norm in the US, not sure why in this age though. I must admit as a kid I DID ride some quarter horses over there when I was only about 10 and didn't wear a hat, I would have done given the choice but the barn I went to literally had none to offer! Now Im older and wiser, I'd never ride without one.
 
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I do have to admit that the biggest reason I bought the new horse, 16 hh and change, was because it suddenly hit me that I would trust him to carry my precious little grandson without doing anything stupid. Still going to buy him a pony though
 
I fell off 14hh+ horses as a young kid on a regular basis. I guess you'd have to ask my husband if there have been any adverse effects. :-)
 
Beautiful picture of a neat little rider on a horse that knows its job.

I probably spent half of my time on horses as a child without a hat. The child in the picture looks far more competent than some of the nervous ladies who hack locally to me, armoured in hats, BP and floor-to-head hi viz.

The most effective way to stay safe is to learn how to ride and this little girl looks just fine.
 
I'm used to seeing little kids riding big horses and it doesn't bother me. I wouldn't let my little kid that age ride without a helmet but that's up to her parents I guess.
 
Having broken my hat this week after a rare flying lesson, i believe it should be a legal requirement that ALL riders wear a proper hat. Had it not been for mine I'd have been very much dead, and I'm certainly no child or inexperienced rider!
 
Hmm I'd like to be all pro helmet, but I have actually posted pics on here of my son, hatless atop a 17hh ID. I'm just returning to the horse world, and wouldn't let him up top now without a hat on Boyo or any other horse/pony
 
I personally have no problem with kids riding bigger horses, but I can't ignore the no hat!!
That's just terrible :( there's a big difference from taking cute pictures of your child on a big horse, hatless, with you near by and letting a tiny child canter about like that with no hat!

It's a long way to fall without protection :(
 
Would definitely want a child to wear a hat! I used to have a four year old girl at my old yard who rode Blaze, my cob mare. She is 15hh, very gentle and totally bombproof. She had her own lead rein pony but it was a ****** off the lead rein and she wanted to ride alone. She was a totally fearless little rider and a great help on the yard too!
 
horserider said:
Beautiful picture of a neat little rider on a horse that knows its job.

I probably spent half of my time on horses as a child without a hat. The child in the picture looks far more competent than some of the nervous ladies who hack locally to me, armoured in hats, BP and floor-to-head hi viz.

The most effective way to stay safe is to learn how to ride and this little girl looks just fine.
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totally agree with this !!=D
 
I think everyone should be entitled to do as they please in the comfort of their own surroundings. However, if you are part of a forum and post photo's up or put video's on youtube then you immediately take back your own privacy and are open to criticism. If someone else is posting photo's of an unknown then it's pretty unfair as the other person cannot defend themselves, but then they shouldn't have to anyway.

I would personally never get on a horse without a hat and I wouldn't let a child or adult under my supervision on one without a hat either but then that's just me, everyone else can do as they wish.
 
I think its a great picture. It's up to the parents if they don't put a helmet on..personally I'd not let her ride without one but they must trust the horse. I've let my brother up on my 13.3 without a hat once because he didn't bring his and we didn't have another small one. I've had my mare 8 years and know her inside out so I knew he'd be fine. Always worn a hat since!

Personal choice, ranting about it on a forum isn't going to make a blind bit of difference to these people who we do not know from Adam.
 
Little people on well mannered big horses I have no problem with. Years ago I let a 6/7yo (with her mother's permission) have a go on a 16.2hh plodder instead of the little 12hh she usually rode. She thought it was the best thing ever. But I have always had the rule that no hat=no riding.
 
justabob said:
Well I think they both look fantastic, born in the saddle.
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I agree, the child looks completely relaxed. Less stressed than many I have seen in the ring on their lead rein show pony. I learnt on a horse & graduated to my own pony when I was thought competent enough for one. Then it was get on & go !
 
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