Too big for my perfect pony?

[fairylesley]

Have had my wonderful 14.1hh pony for 6 weeks now. I'm 33 5'5 and weigh 9 and half stone. I've waited since I was two to get him and I'm absolutely thrilled. I didn't want a big one and we matched well. I'm just wondering what reaction other people have had to adults riding/buying ponies. I went to a tack shop the other day to look at saddles as his saddle feels a little small for me. The lady made me feel awful as she said something's gotta give maybe I should of got a bigger horse and then said looking at me she thought I would need a 15.2hh I was gutted. And explained I was wearing heels! She just looked at me funny. I'm more than happy with him but just concerned I might be too big for him. Others have said I look fine on him. Please let me know your thoughts, thanks x

 

[NeverSayNever]

do you have a picture? Im sure you arent too big for your pony and there are lots of adults who ride ponies too. The woman in the tack shop sounds like a know-it-all *insert nasty word* and Id just ignore her and be happy with your lovely pony. I am 36 and have a 14.2hh and was recently told by an RI how lovely it is to see someone not overhorsed for a change

 

[Boysy]

I would think not, she was probably jealous cos she's too big to enjoy ponies. I'm a lot older than you 5ft 3 10st and have 13.3 & 14.1 myself.

 

[Mince Pie]

I'm 5'4" and usually weigh about the same, this lad is 13.2!

 

[paulineh]

For many years I had a 13.2hh New Forest gelding and I did high level Endurance with him. This included the 100 mile Golden Horse Shoe. He was never lame or sorry for himself. Although I now have 2 x 15 plus Arabs I still have a little 14hh Arab mare who at the age of 23 is still healthy and winning Endurance rides.

I am 5ft 4in and weigh 10 stone. I have never had any comments about riding a pony. I would take no notice of what other people say. You could always say that you have control and at least are not over horsed.

 

[fairylesley]

Thanks guys these wonderful posts are making me feel better. Without seeing me on him she suggested I got 'something bigger!'. I'm not all about the big I prefer the pony! :0)x

 

[hoggedmane]

I am 5ft 10 and until I was 28 still rode my second pony who was about 14.2. When she was 23 (and I was 26) we won the riding club cup for the horse with most points over the year. I probably weighed about 11 stone.

 

[JFTDWS]

5'9 and mine are 13,3 -15hh. My main pony is 14,1. If you're too tall, I'm positively obscene!


BTW, my response to shop assistants who say things like that to me is "ah you don't want my business? No bother, I can probably get it cheaper on t'internet anyway". And walk away. The cheek of her!

 

[hnmisty]

I'm 5'1" and 9 & 1/2 stone, and I had a 14.1ish pony on share for a year. I now have a 16.1hh TB lol

 

[chorro]

I'm 5ft 1 and 9 1/2 stone and my Arab is 14.2 but even when I was 12 stone she carried me with ease.
If it makes you feel better better I read an article that said a horse can carry 25 to 28% of its body weight.
I'm sure you look fine on your pony just concentrate on enjoying having your dream pony :-D

 

[Supersonic2]

My ride and drive pony is 14.1 and I loved riding him, and went hunting with him a couple of times and he was much admired - no nasty comments! I'm 5'4" and over 10 stones.

May I suggest you forget about rude catty remarks from people who don't know any better - he's your perfect pony and why should you allow their silly ignorant comments to disturb your peace of mind?

Yes, saddles are made for people of all sizes, and ponies aren't just for kids - as recent articles in H&H have discussed.

Go to a different tack shop or get a different saddle fitter, is my suggestion. Do tell us how you get on! (I didn't get my perfect pony until I was much older than you!)

 

[fuze]

I'm 5'6, 9.5st, and my new boy is 14hh on his tippy toes.

Ignore nasty remarks, it's just jealousy because they can't ride something that size. Everyone knows that ponies are more fun

 

[fairylesley]

Thank you so much, what disturbed me was that she said (again without seeing him) that a larger saddle to fit me would harm him greatly. She just made me very anxious and like I was an idiot for buying a 14.1hh. Stupid woman hey!

 

[Mince Pie]

She may have a point there - depending on how long his back is will determine the length of saddle you can get. The saddle must not go past his last rib, sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here! Best way to go is to speak to a saddle fitter

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Or get a good quality treeless saddle (eg, Heather Moffett, Solution, Barefoot...), or a WOW saddle (2nd hand if new is too expensive).

 

[Anna*]

You are certainly not too big! I'm 5'3 / 5'4 and pushing 9.5 stone at the moment (newly loved up weight gain!) My girl is only about 14.1hh. I wouldn't swap her for anything. She is my soulmate and I wouldn't listen to anyone who told me that she is wrong for me

Lets see if the pics work - never done it before!

 

[Capriole]

I couldn't comment on whether you are too big or not since we haven't seen a photo, and am surprised other people are telling you you're fine, or not as the case might be, without seeing you both.

It's not all about height, build also needs to be taken into consideration. You've mentioned that she made comments about his suitability without seeing even him, but are asking us to do the same!

And she might have a point about the saddle, we don't know.
His back length will take what it can take, and for that you need someone to come out and fit a saddle properly. If you need a bigger seat size than he can carry it won't do him any good to cram yourself into a smaller size or have a too long (treed) saddle on him.

I'm the same as JFTD with rude assistants though, I will happily walk. But was she being rude or trying to advise you and you've taken it the wrong way?

 

[fairylesley]

How do I submit pics on here? X

 

[Clodagh]

From your description even if he is a little tb he should still be able to carry you.
I must weigh about 10.5 stone and am 5'7", I rode my sons 13.2 short backed welsh pony quite happily. TBH though I didn't fit her saddle, I have got long thighs and had to have really long stirrups or sit on the cantle, so long stirrups it was. She could only wear a 16.5" ( from memory,it might have been a 16"))
I would get recommendations for a good saddle fitter and get someone to come out with a selection of saddles to try.

 

[Capriole]

From your description even if he is a little tb he should still be able to carry you.

My point is, how can people slate the shop assistant for saying hes too small without seeing the pony, then happily say hes fine also without seeing the pony?

 

[xgemmax]

You're not too big, lots of adults ride ponies! I'm 5'5 9 stone and ride a 14.1 new forest and he's more fun than my 15hh who i feel and look tiny on haha (think its my short stirrups but still!)

 

[Mince Pie]

How do I submit pics on here? X

From FaceBook:
go to the image you want so that it fills the screen
right click
click 'copy image url'
type [ img ] (without the spaces)
paste the url
type [ /img ] (again without spaces)
there should be no spaces between the [] and the url.

From Photobucket:
click copy image link
paste here

 

[MiniMilton]

I'm 5'6, 10 stone and ride a 14'3 pony that has a fairly light connemara type build. I don't think I look too big on him. Just have a look at william fox pitt riding some of his horses. He looks bigger on his horses than I do on my pony and I don't see anyone making objections to him.

WFP and Henton For Fun
http://www.foxpitteventing.co.uk/horses/current-horses/

Me and my pony (excuse the dodgy position)
http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/Aoifemac/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zps887521d4.jpg.html

 

[fairylesley]

 

[fairylesley]

Stirrups are very long on this pic :0)

 

[Capriole]

Never mind about that, better than cranked up so your knees are round your ears :biggrin3:

Have you got any side on pictures?

Pony looks lovely

 

[fairylesley]

Thanks for your help x

 

[fairylesley]

Unfortunately not at the mo but I can take some and post. Hubster is not the best photographer!

 

[Clodagh]

My point is, how can people slate the shop assistant for saying hes too small without seeing the pony, then happily say hes fine also without seeing the pony?

I get that, I wasn't slating the shop assistant, although she sounds like a real find for her employers!

 

[JFTDWS]

My point is, how can people slate the shop assistant for saying hes too small without seeing the pony, then happily say hes fine also without seeing the pony?

Because if I understand the OP correctly, the shop assistant hadn't seen the pony either, thus has no basis for her assertion that the OP is too big for it?

Besides, it's pretty rude to say to someone that they're too big for their beloved pony - her job is to help find them a saddle, not criticise her choice in horse. I'd be annoyed if someone said it to me, and I think it's inadvisable for any company wishing to keep their clients to employ people who say things like that without seriously good cause!