Weight carrying New Forest Ponies

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This is me jumping my 13hh Forester, i'm 5'6 and weighed less then than I do now!
 
This is me at the beginning of July last year on my 3.5 year old Forest-bred NF gelding - it was the first time he had been sat on and you can see how bothered he isn't!! I don't know what I weigh these days but it's certainly 10 stone +. In the pic he is just 13.3hh to the withers and almost 14.1hh on his bum. Sadly, he was sold for peanuts at Beaulieu Road last October as Foresters round here are less than a dime a dozen :(
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I have to TOTALLY agree with this post!!! I had the world's greatest Newfie up until 6th January this year, after 14 amazing years! Not only was she brilliant, she had the heart of a lion and balls of steel! She wa not fazed by anything, and if I'd been given a £1 for every detrimental comment or pathetic insult, I'd be sooo rich by now - however, the look on their faces when she kicked their a*se was very much worth it!
She was just shy of 14hh despite others' comments, and built like a brick out house. I'm 5'2" and not the smallest person in the world, people always felt the need to comment, but when she won most of her novice tests, got placed at her first attempt affiliated dressage, xc, sj, showing, combined training etc!
Did have to apologise at a show when she was 17yo after she showed off her tummy to the judge and fidgeted, and the judge then wouldn't believe her age (they'd kept her waiting outside the ring too long for her liking so she decided to express herself how New Foresters tend to do oh so well - and clearly!)
We too went to Exmoor for a holiday and she was so sure footed, and went all day. Couldn't hunt her as she was too mental and each time I attempted it, I feared for my life! The last fun ride we did, she went around with too 16hh + TBs, not only did she keep up with them - she insisted on over taking them, and she as still pulling like a train when I got back - also managing to clear over 3'6" easily as if it were a cross pole.

Have since bought a 3yo with Farriers lines, but she is taller and finer but she is still growing in to herself and slowly filling out. Simba (aka Howen Twilight II) was known as 'The Tank' and often mistaken for a Welsh - even a Quarter horse once (how??????)

Foresters rock!!!!

Rest in peace Boogs - and behave!!xx
 
bakedbean said:
Well good for you.

Try channeling it towards something worthwhile now and again.
You never know, you might make a difference.
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Trying to educate people with their heads in the sand on here is pretty worthwhile in my opinion. So I will continue to comment whenever I feel that horses are being maltreaed, and that includes carrying too much weight.

I have already commented that I think the OP is fine for his 14.2 hh NF but I think the stone per hand is plain stupid. I mean, how convenient that exactly one hand can carry one stone. The odds ofthat eh? :rolleyes:

It's obviously just something plucked out of the air one day by some clueless person many year ago and it's been passed on. Nothing more than an old wives tale.
 
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Well I have found this thread very useful. I have always preferred a slightly smaller horse or big pony to a big horse since I have a horrid knee that makes getting on from the ground difficult and painful, and while I always use a block where I can, sometimes out on hacks that is just not possible. It's great to know that one of the taller, well bred Foresters could be a suitable pony for me in the future, when I am ready to look for one. One stone per hand is clearly a rough rule of thumb for an animal with good conformation and no underlying injuries, and in addition to this the original quote pretty clearly refers only to NF ponies and not to all equines so I don't see the problem. I would have thought it obvious that one stone per hand would include tack as well so of course that needs to be taken into account. Even with this however, I would now not be concerned about the ability of such a pony to carry me very easily.
 
Here's me on our 18year old NF Turbo, who is 12.3hh, He's carried me for 10 years, never been lame or ill, nothing but a pure pleasure to own, still going strong :)

Not quite sure what I'm doing here, probably trying to slow him down!

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Oh I am loving this thread ( well not the squabbling bits) as I have been dithering about getting on and backing my 13.2 ish ( he doesn't like the metal measuring tape so not sure of exact height!) 4 yr old forest bred ( Rushmoor) pony. ( both parent 13.2hh so think he must be there abouts)

He has had 6 yr old son on for short walks but son too wobbly and never really ridden before so not the best jockey to back a youngster as likely to slither off giggling!! LOL

I am 5ft 8 and 9 stone so I am booking a lesson and going to get off my bottom and enjoy him. He walks out regularly in hand like my big dog, we do pole work etc in hand , he wears tack happily the only thing missing is a rider......!

I must be brave...........I have leant over him but as they are at home I don't have a horsey helper - just call me chicken I know :D
 
Faithcat I cannot believe you let that handsome man slip through your fingers ;)

Loving the pics and the happy looking ponies :) If Willow wasn't an inch thick in mud I'd add him to the gallery ;0)
 
Beatrice5 said:
Faithcat I cannot believe you let that handsome man slip through your fingers ;)
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I advertised him all over the place including Horsequest and locally. I was asking £1250 including tack and didn't get a single reply from Horsequest and only two local people came to see him: one couldn't understand why I hadn't cantered and jumped him . . . he'd been backed two months . . . . . and the other was a vet from my practice who didn't think he was big enough (13.3hh to the withers, 14.1hh to his bum and a lot more growing and filing out to do . . . huh???????) He was an absolute star, all the groundwork done and really, really easy, I loved him to bits but he had to go to fund the home-bred (hopefully) eventer that he was bought (as a weanling) to keep company. He went to Normandy, France where they will get a lot of money for him but good luck to them. I wonder if they've discovered his party trick! I taught him to stand with his front feet on blocks of wood etc and if there was anything suitable around, he would just go and do it with a very smug expression on his face - "aren't I a clever boy?" - totally adorable pony
 
My New Forest is a star, keeps up easily with his friend, a 18hh eventer, on a fun ride & does dressage, even has BD points. It would take more than a few pennies to buy him, does well in M&M too. he is a pretty dapple grey who everyone thinks is a Connemara.look on this website on the horses page. www.barrvalebeagles.moonfruit.org.uk . I am rubbish at computers so can't figure how to put a photo on here. to see a photo of him go to that website
 
bakedbean said:
Spudlet, try to buy a Forester as they tend to be thicker set and with more bone than Stud ponies as a rule
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Thank you! It will be a few years before I am in a position to support a horse properly (I know people can and do manage on very restricted budgets, but I would want to know that I have a financial cushion in case of problems before committing to such a large and potentially expensive animal) but foresters will be on the list of potential types when I start looking:)
 
Spudlet said:
Thank you! It will be a few years before I am in a position to support a horse properly (I know people can and do manage on very restricted budgets, but I would want to know that I have a financial cushion in case of problems before committing to such a large and potentially expensive animal) but foresters will be on the list of potential types when I start looking:)
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It's nice to hear someone saying they will have a pony when they can afford it, rather than the many posts I see of people who have bought and now realise they cannot afford.

It has to be said though that Foresters are pretty easy to keep. Our two are out 24/7 365 and Fol wouldn't go in a stable or shelter even if she had the choice. As she's getting to be a bit of an old Dolly, Fol has a few supplements, but H grows WAY too round just on grass and needs a grazing muzzle at times.

Of course there is tack, vaccinations, teeth, rugs and shoes, but Foresters (and Natives in general) are a blummin site easier and cheaper to keep than some equines.

I'm glad the bickering has stopped, I was rather concerned that this thread would get pulled. As far as my weight is concerned with regards to the Fat Lad, I will take the advice of his breeder and continue to 'Ride with Pride'.
 
What would say a true forester is, I know there is plenty of debate with regard to chunky versus the more sporty types which seem more popular now.

I have the old fashion substantial good doer type but there seems to be less of them about now as most people prefer the finer ones now.

bakedbean said:
lovely pics
and yes Neil, i agree 100% about stone a hand with regards to true Foresters..(assuming some posters on here actually realise what a true Forester is? :rolleyes:)
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JudyM said:
Ha ha, I know who you are now!!!


I too have a forester who's built like a highland, a 14hh mare by the late great Smiler of Sheepwash :)
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Hi Judy :D
Since everyone is posting photos of their beautiful ponies, here are mine too :D
My first Forester, aged 2yo, just after I bought her. She was forest bred and by Bakeburn Jethro
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Rising 3yo in her winter woolies
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In summer aged 3yo
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Her first ever rosette in a mixed M&M class, aged 3yo
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Recently backed, aged 4yo. I'm 5'7", was 10 stone at that time, and she was 13.2hh.
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Aged 5yo. This is one of the last photos I took, not long before she died :(.
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R.I.P. Florrie, and R.I.P. Sandpiper...Mother and Baby, Gone but Never Forgotten.

This is the pony I have recently bought, a 2yo forest bred filly, by Warren Playaway. I travelled over 1000 miles (round trip) to buy this pony.
In her winter woolies, in the New Forest
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Just arrived, her first steps on Scottish soil.
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Her summer coat
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Showing off to her new field mates
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Stunning ponies! And you can see that you clearly love them loads too.

So sad to hear that you lost your little filly so soon, she was a stunner and no doubt it was heartbreaking for you.((((hugs))))
 
Thanks elsbells :) I lost my black mare on 2nd April, just 11 weeks ago. She had delivered her foal about a month early, on 1st April (he was born alive but then died). She had to be PTS as she had contracted acute grass sickness. It was hard enough losing her beautiful colt foal, but to lose her too was totally devastating. I actually had to walk away from the computer when I posted that last photo of her, I still have tears in my eyes now.
Florrie gave me such a great introduction to this fantastic breed and losing her felt like my world had ended. I knew I needed another pony and that she HAD to be another forest bred filly. I had looked at adverts for foresters since the day after Florrie died, but nothing stood out. As soon as I saw photos of Callie, I knew she was "THE ONE" to fill the huge hole left by losing Florrie. When I found out that Callie was for sale I just HAD to buy her. Travelling the length of the country from near Edinburgh to beyond Southampton and back, didn't matter. I've had Callie for 4 weeks now. New Forest ponies are such a fantastic breed, and I won't have anything else now. :)
 
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Awww everyone's ponies are just gawguss!! :-D My NF is 21 and I've had him since he was 3. He is the love of my life! I'm 5'6" and 10 stone and share him with a friend who is 6' and 11.5 stone. My Dad's ridden him before and didn't tell me til after that he was 16 stone but Dandy didn't complain!!! He's is by Manor Boy of Howen and one of the chunky monkeys. Since he is older and has finally has his workload reduced ive just got myself another NF on loan. At 14.1 and age 7 she is over 100kg lighter than Dandy and very much finer... NF are simply wonderful and when I can work out how to post pics i will! :-)
 
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