Too Big for my pony???

do you know his weight? you need him on a weighbridge to know accurately.

your weight incl the saddle should be 15-18% of his if you are doing fast work jumping etc, can go to 20% for short walks.

height wise you are fine, i am 5'7 and have a 13hh sec B (in the pale pink) and a 13hh sec C (in the hot pink) -pics attached. its the saddle you need to be careful of also , my B can only take a 15.5-16, the C can take a 16.5.

looking at you i would guess you are ok, you certainly dont look huge to my eye and i teach and school a lot of small ponies now.

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Hallo2012 said:
do you know his weight? you need him on a weighbridge to know accurately. your weight incl the saddle should be 15-18% of his if you are doing fast work jumping etc, can go to 20% for short walks. height wise you are fine, i am 5'7 and have a 13hh sec B (in the pale pink) and a 13hh sec C (in the hot pink) -pics attached. its the saddle you need to be careful of also , my B can only take a 15.5-16, the C can take a 16.5. looking at you i would guess you are ok, you certainly dont look huge to my eye and i teach and school a lot of small ponies now.
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Just out of curiosity, can I ask what saddles you have on your two? You have such a lovely position and as a fellow leggy person I'm very jealous.
 
In answer to the OP I'd be another who would guess that under that bulky body protector you're probably okay! But it's hard to tell from a photo. Do make sure your saddle still fits you both though, if you've grown you may need a new saddle to make sure you're still properly in balance. I'd probably start by weighing yourself and saddle (as others have said) and working out what that is as a percentage of his optimal weight (he's obviously a chunky build but it's hard to tell under all that fluff whether he's chubby or not. If he is then use his optimal weight rather than his actual weight). Then if you're happy you're not too heavy to be riding him, get a saddle fitter (assuming you can find a good one you can trust) to come and have a look at the two of you.
 
I would get a saddle fitter out.

As you've grown taller there is a good change that you've outgrown your saddle (seat) and possibly saddle flap.

To keep your pony comfortable you need to find a saddle that fits you both well.
 
My sister was 5' 7" weighed in back then at around 9 st. She had a 12 hh welsh off the mountains and used to hunt him with the Pytchley. That pony would keep up with the big horses, cope with most of the jumping and hack home. He lived to be 30 and was only put down then as in the final stages of cushings and we were having to move to a field with no stabling. For most of that time he was ridden a felt pad. One memorable day the girth broke so she chucked it in the hedge and carried on bareback.
 
ycbm said:
Yes I'm sure. Trust me, I know what I am talking about. Trying to lose weight at 15 when you are a perfectly OK weight at the moment can lead down some very dark alleyways. You're beautiful as you are, please, please just accept that you're growing out of your childhood pony.
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Sadly I do agree with YCBM. It's not just about weight either, it's about your position and balance too, it's very hard to ride a pony well when you're too tall for it. I know people who struggle with weight issues and agree trying to get your weight down to ride a pony you're too tall for can lead down some very dark alleyways.

There are some people who get away with riding ponies their whole life but that is a minority not a majority.
 
Widgeon said:
Just out of curiosity, can I ask what saddles you have on your two? You have such a lovely position and as a fellow leggy person I'm very jealous.
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both in Black Country show saddles. These really suit natives and my fitter Bill Perratt is a total genius,
As the C matures he might move to a BC dressage saddle but we will see. Once you get used to the show saddles I do find them comfy and I gallop,Xc etc in mine!
 
Squeak said:
Sadly I do agree with YCBM. It's not just about weight either, it's about your position and balance too, it's very hard to ride a pony well when you're too tall for it. I know people who struggle with weight issues and agree trying to get your weight down to ride a pony you're too tall for can lead down some very dark alleyways.

There are some people who get away with riding ponies their whole life but that is a minority not a majority.
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I think it depends. I’m massively tall on both mine but the sec B is schooling adv medium, qual BD regionals and young pony etc and I ride several 11.2-12,2 that go well for me. You have to be aware of it but it’s not ALWAYS a hinderance
 
Reacher said:
You look great and pony looks a cracker!
(He looks the spitting image of my lad so I may be biased)
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I’m not sure how, but I missed the 2nd photo (post 12)
You do look bigger on him in that photo. Or should I say he looks smaller than in the first photo.

As per other’s posts you need to calculate your combined weight including tack and compare it to his ideal weight (15-18%). Getting the saddle fit checked to make sure it isn’t too small for you too is a good call as if it is too small it will be out of balance and may make him sore.
 
Emi and Theseus said:
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I just want to know if I look too big for him now. I have grown 4 inches since I first got him.
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I think you need to ask a professional that’s able to see you both in the flesh. Someone that looks at you both, ponies muscle tone.

if that’s not possible you could post a you tube video of you riding him him here so we can see more clearly.
 
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