What rider weight for backing a Welsh Sec A pls?

kerilli

kerilli

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Just opinions really please, what would be the maximum weight of rider you would want on a Section A for backing? I have an idea but would like other opinions.
One comment I've received (elsewhere) is "these welshies and native types are right weight carriers"... hmm, I'd agree about Section Ds, and Highlands, and Fells and Dales, for e.g., but not about New Forest ponies and Section As. But I don't know tons about Section A's, just going on what I've seen.
Thankyou.
 
We had a welsh sec a given to us (we are a riding school) and the rider who started her was about 7-7.5 stone and she seemed to cope fine . TBH itwas more the height rather than the weight that gave us an issue :) Pretty sure the pony could have taken heavier but no taller .
 
Ah, okay.
This isn't my pony or anything, but a heavier rider than that (at a guess possibly heavier than me - I'm about 10 1/2 stone at the moment, and I certainly wouldn't back a Sec A!) has just backed him and been reared off a few times... :( :( :(
 
Just remember that they were originally shepherding ponies used to carry men up hills... also worked 'down pit' for years so they're tougher than they look... as long as they're not on their backs for ages... i wouldn't worry too much

Blitz
 
Not sure how much help this is but this is weight guide from the PC games rule book from the website. I'd say that you could go a bit over these weights if it was just gentle work - I'm assuming there will be no canter mounting going on :)

"Dressed to compete - A rider weighing over 54kg, may not ride a pony
128 cm or under. A rider weighing over 60kg may not ride a pony 133cm
or under. A rider weighing over 66kg may not ride a pony 138cm or
under"

I'm 47kg and would have no hesitation getting on most size of ponies, but then I'm pretty tiny. Maybe I should really by hiring myself out to break teeny ponies :)
 
Hi, I would say up to around 8.5 stone, but it does depend on the build - some are finer so obviously will be able to carry less, but a true to type Sec A should easily manage 8.5s.
We have breakers in and specialise in ponies - I weigh around 7st 12 and have just broken a slight dartmoor pony of 11.3hh and he carries me fine too.
Another section A i was riding earlier on in the year used to jump up to 3 foot with me on board, so these native types are strong little gits!

Having said that, the rider that is backing it now is IMO too heavy and sounds like the poor pony is trying to say so too!
 
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My 12.2hh dartmoor when I was a child was happy carrying adult women so probably up to 10 stone. People used to tell me how they'd carry a 13 stone farmer on the moors.

However section A's tend to be lighter weight & to back a youngster I'd expect them to carry less weight than a mature pony. So I'd say 8 stone to back a section A.
 
I think it depends on the pony. I schooled a little 12hh section A and he seemed quite happy with me at 8.5 stone. But a friends 12.2hh section B (finer than the As in my opinion) was not happy to carry me.
 
blitznbobs said:
Just remember that they were originally shepherding ponies used to carry men up hills... also worked 'down pit' for years so they're tougher than they look... as long as they're not on their backs for ages... i wouldn't worry too much

Blitz
Click to expand...

I've often heard that analogy but that was when Welshies were true Welsh Mountain ponies before they were bred (I think with Arabs and others) to bring about the showy types that the As and Bs are nowadays. I wouldn't want to go over 8 stone for a Section A although I rode our B when I was about 9 or 9.5
 
I back quite a few section A's and I'm 7 stone. I also back some very dainty little ponies who don't mind my weight, so for a well built section A I rekon 8 stone max.
 
A good modern section A should be a weight carrier and still have plenty of bone. Not always the case however.

10 1/2 stone is very much too heavy especially for backing. I used to school a section A when I was 9 and a half stone (those were the days.....) and he coped fine with me. He was 12 hands of muscle and bone and took the pee out of his child riders mercilessly!

It very much depends on the build of the pony, if it is one of the finer ones, then 7 stone, or if it is chunkier with bone, then more. But still, I always prefer lighter for backing.
 
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