Update on pony viewing last night :) with PICS

[Hippona]

It makes me laugh when people pronounce you too tall if your stirrups come below the horses belly.
It's only in relatively recent times people feel the need to ride wopping great horses....

Give me a pocket rocket any day

 

[Holly Hocks]

It makes me laugh when people pronounce you too tall if your stirrups come below the horses belly.
It's only in relatively recent times people feel the need to ride wopping great horses....

Give me a pocket rocket any day

I agree with this - I think it looks worse when you get a short person on a whopping big horse.

 

[wren123]

It makes me laugh when people pronounce you too tall if your stirrups come below the horses belly.
It's only in relatively recent times people feel the need to ride wopping great horses....

Give me a pocket rocket any day

As a returner to riding after many years, if and when I buy again I would go for the smallest I could get away with just because it is less far to fall and also feels safer!
However wouldn't it make it difficult to apply correct aids if your legs are too far below the belly?

OP, other than the above worry for me, you look fine, and to be honest a pony you feel safe on and can enjoy is a priority.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Don't worry about being too tall, you're not. You look very good on him and he's well able to carry your weight. The horse and rider's height is actually more to do with fashion than practicality. Icelandic, Mongolian and Uk native ponies were all bred to carry adults.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I think you look fine on him. A different saddle will pro help a bit but he has a nice long neck so any jumping you feel you are able to do that will help

in 5'6 and my sister is 5'9 and we uses to ride our 12'2 welsh c out on hacks and he was bombing around like mad!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

It makes me laugh when people pronounce you too tall if your stirrups come below the horses belly.
It's only in relatively recent times people feel the need to ride wopping great horses....

Give me a pocket rocket any day

this, definitely.

 

[FlaxenPony05]

It makes me laugh when people pronounce you too tall if your stirrups come below the horses belly.
It's only in relatively recent times people feel the need to ride wopping great horses....

Give me a pocket rocket any day

This completely....I think you fab on him. Really really lovely type, and sounds perfect for what you want to do! So what if you look a little tall on him, if he can carry you fine then what's the problem. Gorgeous lad, hope you have fun with him

 

[Haniki]

This completely....I think you fab on him. Really really lovely type, and sounds perfect for what you want to do! So what if you look a little tall on him, if he can carry you fine then what's the problem. Gorgeous lad, hope you have fun with him

I agree with this. He looks a lovely pony.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I'd say you look slightly tall but hey...who cares??? You really like him and he gives you confidence...job done

When do you fetch him home??

 

[Auslander]

A few extra inches of leg never seemed to bother Mark Todd!

I think he's a really lovely pony - looks kind, genuine, and more than capable of carrying you. I'd be biting their hands off for him if I were you.

 

[L&M]

Isn't that WFP?!

Sorry I digress - you look fine on him and he makes you smile, and you feel safe, so to me it is a no brainer. Due to his age I would have a heart/lung/eye check but he looks great for his age. Also we have an 18 yr old on my yard whose coat is very similar, so I wouldn't be concerned.

Keep us posted and good luck!

 

[Auslander]

Isn't that WFP?!

Sorry I digress - you look fine on him and he makes you smile, and you feel safe, so to me it is a no brainer. Due to his age I would have a heart/lung/eye check but he looks great for his age. Also we have an 18 yr old on my yard whose coat is very similar, so I wouldn't be concerned.

Keep us posted and good luck!

Nope - Mark Todd on Charisma at the Los Angeles Olympics

 

[EmmaC78]

I also think you look fine on him. Buy him

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Charisma may be my favourite horse ever!

Good luck with your little guy, OP! He sounds fab!

 

[Parker79]

I think you look fab! smile says it all, definitely not too heavy in any way and actually not big on him either x

 

[catwithclaws]

Thank u so much everyone am going to see him again tomorrow evening so will update u all then! Eeek excited

 

[FfionWinnie]

I don't think you look all that tall but I would listen to shadowboy's advice re saddle because I have had exactly the same issue with my natives. If you want to buy him I'd get a saddler who specialised in natives to attend before you do to see what options there are and test it out to check its going to do all the things you want to do with him without slipping etc. Saddles are the absolute bane of my life.

 

[suffolkmare]

I hope you don't mind a pic of my daughter and our 14.1hh boy here, at their first dressage test. I'm 5'4, daughter is just shy of 5'7 and we are both a bit heavier than you...but I am very happy with a lovely, genuine, easy and economical pony! Could they be related??! All the best, and hope your next ride goes well. Oh and our lad hangs on to his coat too,

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Fantastic. You could could look at dozens of bigger horses and not get the safe feeling you have with this little man, thats worth a fortune. I would be seriously considering him. If you are worried about cushings have a test done, even if he was cushenoid its not the end of the world. I love him BTW (I am biased as I have a 14.1) and little ponies are much easier to hop on and off.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

You look very happy and confident on him. I have a few NF's ponies and am 5'7. I rode a 13hh and she carried me fine. My eldest (who is 21 now) has always held onto his coat until the end of June and then it starts to change again mid-august .

Hope your 2nd viewing went as well.

 

[Jnhuk]

OP I would go for it. For what you want to do the pony sounds ideal. If you were wanting to do lots of SJ then the longer leg may cause an issue but otherwise fine. My hubby and I rode Icelandics last year and they coped fine and my hubby is over 6ft tall and riding a 13hh was funny!

I hope you don't mind a pic of my daughter and our 14.1hh boy here, at their first dressage test. I'm 5'4, daughter is just shy of 5'7 and we are both a bit heavier than you...but I am very happy with a lovely, genuine, easy and economical pony! Could they be related??! All the best, and hope your next ride goes well. Oh and our lad hangs on to his coat too,

Suffolkmare - Just in case you didn't notice but just had to point out that your daughter's bent leg stirrups are on the wrong way.

 

[LauraWheeler]

Havn't read all the replys but wanted to say he looks like a super pony and your face says it all.

Foresters are a hardy breed and lots carry men across the forest for a full days hunting or on a drift (when they round the feral ponys up for there yearly health inspection)

Re the coat Herbie is still hanging onto his. He's a forester who has lived out all winter rugless.

Herbs is only 12.2hh ish, i'm to tall for him but we have loads of fun doing dressage, jumping, showing, hunting ect. Foresters are a fab breed. Which is why I have two of them

 

[JFTDWS]

A few extra inches of leg never seemed to bother Mark Todd!

I think he's a really lovely pony - looks kind, genuine, and more than capable of carrying you. I'd be biting their hands off for him if I were you.

I model myself on these tall male eventers whose legs hang below the horse. That's why I own midgets (and compete them ). Tall schmall, that's what I say

(eta- that's a go for it!)

btw for reassurance, this one's schooling medium and has his elementary debut later

(think this one shows the leg length well enough!)

side on:

This one I'm loosely aiming for low level eventing (no pics at dr length, but I jump pretty short and they're still not far off being below him!)

 

[southerncomfort]

I think you look great on him. I'm another proud pony squisher! Looking forward to hearing how the second viewing goes.

 

[pistolpete]

CWC he is so cute! He can be a buddy to Pete!

 

[GinaGeo]

You feeling safe and happy on him speaks stronger than any "picture". I'm 5ft 6 and I ride and compete 14.3hh to 17hh. I adore riding the pocketrockets. Love a pony brain. If I were you I'd snap him sharpish before somebody else does!

 

[misskk88]

Haven't read all the responses, but you weight wise, you definitely do not look too heavy for him!

I am 5ft7.... I am completely the opposite in that I always look tall on my top half.. it is mighty long, and my legs don't quite match up (boo to never being of the 'leggy' variety!). I ride a 16h Warmblood and I can gaurantee I look 'tall' on her.... just because of how my body is put together!

What matters is how you feel! Would horse and rider be a happy partnership? As long as you are well balanced, I don't see your height being an issue. Would you have a lot of fun on him? And on top of that, would he help give you your confidence back? If you see a potentially budding friendship with this little cutie... GO FOR IT