too big??

Hi was looking for some advice, am i too big for this pony? she 14.2 13yo, tb x conne, never tripped or anything when i ride. im 5'2, just womdered as a few people have said i am

thanks

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J

Jingleballs

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Well I'm 5'7/5'8 and weigh about 10 - 10 1/2 stone and my horse is 14.3h and I used to regularly ride a 14.1 pony.

You look fine to me.
 
She looks a fair bit older than 13 yo based on the lack of muscle and sunken eyes, is she yours? Have you had a vet ages her?

I don't think you're too big for her for general hacking and a little shooling but if you're wanting to jump and do fast work I think you should look for something round about the 15.2hh mark with the same sort of build or maybe a little cobbier depending on how confident you are
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I'm 5'1 and I ride a 14.2. We jump trailblazer and RC level (seniors) and No one ever tells me I'm too big for her, neither do I feel it. my mare is mid weight cob and although my weight fluctuates I tend toward a 10stone max.

While your pony looks quite light weight TB are weight carriers as I believe are connies (not too much knowledge on connie breed though). I have seen much bigger riders on much smaller ponies competing sucessfully. Get ponies back checked, if professional back person (I have mine all Mctimonied every 3-4 months) thinks your ok, I'd listen to them, they will see what state the pony's back is in, have a look at it's legs etc, and assess it's weight carrying abilities.

Alternatively do you have access to a riding instructor who can give you an opinion or next time the vet comes ask him the pony's weight carrying abilities.

Adults (and older teens) tend to look (and feel) less 'too big' on cobs, which I guess is one reason we ride them!! I wouldn't panic that you are doing pony damage but it obviously bothers you. A back check should only cost £30 to £40 and pony should be having them a couple of times a year anyway. This way you will get a professional opinion.
 
You don't look too big to me - far from it. However, it might just be my screen but your signature looks ENORMOUS!!

ETS: (but is very nice
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just googled connies and weight bearing, there's a few bits on there about hem being good for adults to ride and a q and a post thing where a woman asks for a pony to be recommended for adult use and loads of people answer recommending a connie, Can't get stupid pc to work to attatch links but have a google.
xx
 
I'm 5'10 and my little lady was 14.1, but I weigh just over 8 stone, it's hard to tell from the photo I would agree if its for very light work, but if you are looking to do more, I would opt for something bigger. Any more pictures?
 
I was wondering why 2 pics and the realised it was your sig(it's a bit big)

I used to ride a 13.2hh and I'm 5'2, never looked big on her but she was a cobby fell pony and I have a short body!

You do look a bit big on her, maybe it's because she's quite fine.
 
it's got nothing to do with your height, it's to do with your physical weight and the bone and carrying capacity of the pony. she looks quite fine, and not very well muscled over her topline. if she was chunkier, it would be fine.
i don't want to be rude and ask your weight, but i'm under 10 stone and won't ride anything under 15.2 for more than a 15 min schooling session on the flat... although that's also because i'm tall and look and feel stupid on them!
i sorted out a kid's vilely naughty 13 hander a while back, i was miles too big and heavy for it, but it didn't trip at all... that's no indication, tbh. having bucked the kid off and then tried to take her kid brother's head off, it then spent 10 mins trying to buck me off too (obviously its athleticism wasn't hampered by the fact that i was huge on it!)
as others have said, depends if you're going for a gentle slow hack for an hour, or planning on faster work and jumping... the latter she'll cope with, the others might be a bit much.
 
I agree with Kerilli I'm afraid... although a horse can of course technically carry a rider a bit heavy for them, it really isn't the best thing unless the rider can always make them work in a balanced way. And definitely not v good for jumping.

I am 5,3" and 8.3 stone and I wouldn't do more than a little light schooling/hacking on a horse of your size/build. (I actually feel kind of big on my share horse who is a 15.3hh TB but that is more due to me being used to riding bigger horses in the past)
 
Yes weight is definately most important, and how you ride. For example, seeing Geoff Billington at Hickstead, I'm probably going to annoy people by saying this, but he is a pretty big guy, but he rides so lightly, much lighter than the likes of a certain *coughellenwcough*. However this takes a lot of skill to ride so lightly and quetly., i think if you are riding on a daily basis and want to do more, something bigger would help
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personally i think you're fine. she could do with building muscle/fitness but she looks like she has good sturdy legs and you're not tall. with the connermara in her i'd expect her to cope with your weight. does she show any signs of not being comfortable?
 
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I'm 5'10 and my little lady was 14.1, but I weigh just over 8 stone

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Skinny cow!
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lol!

I would say you are quite big on her too as she doesn't seem to have a lot of muscle. But as others have said it depends entirely on what you are planning to do with her.
 
I would be nice to see a couple of ridden pictures/short video or at least a side view of you on the pony.
I think for light work you will probably be ok, but it's hard to tell from teh photo you've posted.
My 13.2hh Welsh x Arab could do light hacking and schooling with a short, balanced 11 and a half stone rider.
Many people really underestimate what native ponies, Arabs and TB's can happily carry.
 
I'm wondering if you've got your heights right. I'm 5ft 8" and look like this on my 14.2hh...

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I'm a tad too long in the leg for her but that's about all.

P.S Your signature is gigantic!
 
Its extemely hard to tell from a photo, specially the one you have put on the post...somebody needs to be there to see how you ride, making sure the saddle used fits you and bears the weight correctly across the ponies back, the ponies confirmation and fitness etc.

It also depends on if you are refering to looking big on pony or actually being too big as in a confortable weight.

You don't look out of place, your length of leg is fine, however from the photo I personally think you woud 'look' better on a larger pony or a smaller horse and I think that something bigger would accomodate you better for faster work and jumping etc on long term basis.

However be sensible on how you decide, don't get sucked in by poeples comments on first impressions, ...saying your too big for something, nor should you ever change for anyone. Ask someone who will give you an honest opinion rather than for cosmetic reasons etc.

I used to ride a 14.1 and I'm 5.6...I looked better on him than my other 16.1!.
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Here we go again everybody thinks if your over 10 sto ne you should only ride a shire, what bulsh*t.

I am no lightweight and ride a 14.2 cob, we jump, do dressage some XC and I will hunt this winter as well. Does he have a problem carrying me, no. Does he complain or have back problems, no.

I personally think if you are happy riding him, ride him.
 
I would say really you would have been better with a cob if you want to stay at the height of 14.2hh. As the way they are built makes them a lot more stronger so they can comfortably carry the weight that a bigger horse could. I think if you stick to just riding your tb x conne then you will be restricting your riding as you wont be able to do the jumping and everything which you could do with another horse.
 
Looks a very small 14.2hh for your height are you ure about the size?, I'm 5ft4 and looked around that size on my very fine 13.2hh....
 
Here we go again someone finds a reason to be offended (for no reason) and starts a sympathy campaign!!!

The OP asked for opinions we gave opinions.
 
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Here we go again everybody thinks if your over 10 sto ne you should only ride a shire, what bulsh*t.

I am no lightweight and ride a 14.2 cob, we jump, do dressage some XC and I will hunt this winter as well. Does he have a problem carrying me, no. Does he complain or have back problems, no.

I personally think if you are happy riding him, ride him.

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I think that is really unfair. The opinion was asked - its been given. Nobody has been overly harsh and most of what has been said has been backed up with a good reason.
 
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