Welsh D's or similar???????

DipseyDeb

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The time is approaching to look for a steed for my daughter and I to share. My horses in the past have all been thoroughbreds or warmbloods of 16hh or over. But daughter is 9 (height of an average 11 year old) I aim to be in the position to start looking next summer. Obviously my usual choice will no longer be suitable for the task in hand, So would you say I would be too big for a 14.2 to 15.2 welsh D type? I'm 5'5" and my weight fluctuates between 9 1/2 and 10 stone!! I really want to go into this with eyes wide open, which is why I'm doing my studies now. I'm no stranger to owning but I was then a carefree single girl living with parents or a newly married woman with out children.
I have to be honest, I've always been a fan of the finer more accident prone types (;)) but I have a daughter to consider now so my ideals are changing....
Sorry for the ramble.....:)
 
A welsh D would carry you more than happily all day long! You are neither big nor heavy I think a D or similar would be a great mother/daughter share for you.
 
Absolutely not, you will be fine :) I was about your weight when I had my section D (pictured in the thread below :p) who was 14.3hh, never had any problems whatsoever :)

My main recollection of owning a section D is that if you give them an inch they will take a mile :D:D
 
If it helps, I had an Arab when I was a young girl growing up and she was bonkers! Im now 42 and have a Welsh D and a Dales. I love them both dearly, I miss the excitement with from my Arab, but now Im older I do need to calm down now.
My Welshy is 16 years old and has the life of a 6 year old. I'd recommend them anyday for your daughter as I would the Dales which is a solid and very clever horse. The perfect first horse I'd say.
 
Never too big for a welsh!

I hate when people say they outgrew welshies. A good welsh should take up your leg better than a lean, 16hh :D
 
Any of the larger natives would carry you with ease.....

Depending on how experienced your daughter is it might be worth looking at something with a slightly more *ahem* placid temperament.....(The D's can be a bit scatty IMHO but if you are both confident competitive types, you can't beat them :) they'll turn their hooves to anything)

There's Highlands, Dales, Fells just to name three that are often known for their reliability or a Haffie (I'm biased!) , nice LW cob, small TB????
 
it's really good to read all these replies because i think I'd already made my mind up, just needed the reasurrance:) The perfect one has come up for sale now (just wish i was in a position to buy now) :(
 
Any of the larger natives would carry you with ease.....

Depending on how experienced your daughter is it might be worth looking at something with a slightly more *ahem* placid temperament.....(The D's can be a bit scatty IMHO but if you are both confident competitive types, you can't beat them :) they'll turn their hooves to anything)

There's Highlands, Dales, Fells just to name three that are often known for their reliability or a Haffie (I'm biased!) , nice LW cob, small TB????



Hmmmm that's the thing I have the experience but she doesn't she's been riding about 4 years, but she's a very quiet rider so can quite easily get on with the more sensitive horses but she isn't very 'bossy' so it may take a while to find the right temperament!!! It's going to take me years I just know it!!!!!!!

I do like the haffy too........mmmmmm food for thought!!! ;)
 
i wouldn't worry about you squashing a welshie, but i'd worry about a 9yr old being able to handle one. they're stubborn little monkeys with a lot of attitude and def not for the nervous or novice rider. give them an inch and they'll take 3miles!
 
Yes they are can be stubborn little creatures, but they are all different.

Shadow for example has been the perfect antidote for several nervous riders I know...he would be ideal for a novice, but he is also a great responsive ride for the experienced rider.
 
Agree with all the above responses, they can be oppinionated and stubbon but they are great all rounders can turn their hoof to anything as long as they are in the mood.

They take time to bond with you but when they do they are yours for life, wouldn't ever be without my guy, he is with me for life and really makes me chuckle with his sense of humour. Although hubby wasn't impressed when he decided to play boo when he was trying to school his TB and jumped out from around his stable and made the tb jump halfway across the school.

I would suggest going for an older D who knows their job, less likely to ahve toys thrown out of thrown out of the pram na d just occasionaly reminded of thier place :-)
 
I would suggest going for an older D who knows their job, less likely to ahve toys thrown out of thrown out of the pram na d just occasionaly reminded of thier place :-)


wouldn't bet on that. my old boy is 24 and needs reminding of his place in life every single day. he'll still walk over anyone given half the chance, esp if there's a possibility he might get some food! i got him aged 15 because the people who had him got fed up with him throwing his toys out of the pram, rearing up and pissing off with them. He was totally misunderstood and just needed firm, but sensitive handling. He has never and will never be suitable for a novice, and neither is my new youngster. They are amazing horses, but few of them would be suitable for a 9yr old.
 
I'm 5ft5 and 10.5 stone adn my 15hh sec d could carry me all day long and then some without noticing.

On a different note, mine isn't stubborn but he is a bit sensitive and wary - whilst there's no tricks to him riding wise and he's generally very easy to do, he can get into a bit of a tizzwozz about things if he's not handled in the right way. Whilst I wouldn't have a problem putting a 9yr old on mine if I was there to supervise (and pref not too far away) - I would worry that they wouldn't have the experience or 'horsesense' to know how to deal with him in a given situation.

Having said that, I love mine to bits and he has a brilliant temperament - once he understands what you want he will try his heart out for you.
 
i wouldn't worry about you squashing a welshie, but i'd worry about a 9yr old being able to handle one. they're stubborn little monkeys with a lot of attitude and def not for the nervous or novice rider. give them an inch and they'll take 3miles!

I agree with that! I absolutely adore Welsh D's and sold my one last year - he was a very testing horse on the ground at times but what a rolls royce ride he gave, he was quirky (would buck with excitement etc.) but felt so solid and safe at all times. They are fantastic horses - he's the one horse I regret selling :( Their temperaments are amazing, they'll love you to pieces!
 
I have a Dales and i'm 5"7 and 9 stone and shes absolutely fine carrying me. I've had her since i was 11 and she was no problem to handle as she has a nice temprament and she loves children. She even allows a 2 year old to help brush her.
I really would recomend a Dales for younger people, but section D's are just as gentle when they want to be.
 
i wouldn't worry about you squashing a welshie, but i'd worry about a 9yr old being able to handle one. they're stubborn little monkeys with a lot of attitude and def not for the nervous or novice rider. give them an inch and they'll take 3miles!

I must be the only one here not to agree!! My "D" stallion is now 13, (had him since a foal), and he couldn't be nicer to handle in every way, as are his kids. He will go according to who is riding him, see pic of a 7 yr old handling him,
misc067.jpg

yet will jump the moon with an experienced rider.Hes done just about every job asked well, and is a real "jack of all trades" I think a lot of "D"s have the wrong mix of bloodlines, there's certain stallions I wouldn't touch.
 
I must be the only one here not to agree!! My "D" stallion is now 13, (had him since a foal), and he couldn't be nicer to handle in every way, as are his kids. He will go according to who is riding him, see pic of a 7 yr old handling him,
misc067.jpg

yet will jump the moon with an experienced rider.Hes done just about every job asked well, and is a real "jack of all trades" I think a lot of "D"s have the wrong mix of bloodlines, there's certain stallions I wouldn't touch.

He looks like an absolute gentleman!! Mine is similar, he behaves according to who is riding or handling him...he's an absolute saint for my dad...who wouldn't know a Section D from a Shetland!!

Haha...I know what you mean about certain stallions. There is a certain bloodline I wouldn't touch with a barge pole, not because they aren't quality animals but in my experience their temperaments and mine are like oil and water!!
 
She's 9 now.....but then plans is this would be in about 2 years. I have known section d's that would be suitable but was just enquiring as to the weight think as I've always ridden bigger. I
 
In fact there was one came up for sale recently would have been ideal on the temperament front etc.....I'd hoped that it would give me a horse for the next 2 years or so, while she continued to have her lessons, by the time I felt she was ready, she would be 11 or 12 (very tall for her age) and would have been riding for 6 or 7 years. :)
 
From personal experience I would steer clear of Welsh D's as they can be very bolshy etc

Mine tests the boundaries the whole time and although he's capable of carrying a novice on a slow hack he really wouldn't be suitable for an 11 year old although I'm sure some Welshes would be suitable.

New Forests, Highlands, Fells, Fjords and Dales tend to make fantastic family all-rounders and would easily carry your height and weight.
 
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