What size pony? Advice needed

[Perfectpony07]

Hi all,
I posted yesterday about conflicting between two ponies.
We’ve been for a riding lesson today & sort advise from the instructor about what hands pony to buy my two daughters 3&5.

We were going to view an 11.3h
Pony on Sunday, but instructor suggested we buy something bigger around 13h mark so pony last longer. Pony would start as a lead rein.

So I’m after opinions and experiences if possible?

My main worry is, 13h will they be over horsed and over powered is it better to get something small to build confidence but then in 3/4 years sell on when they’ve outgrown, obviously I know selling on comes with the heart break (been there with my own pony when younger). In an ideal world, 13h would be great if it’s quite and tolerant, obviously if we get a Welsh type with some stock I could sit on it myself too I’m a small adult.

But really want to do best for my daughters.
Photo to see size of elder daughter on an 11.2h pony.

Thanks

 

[Perfectpony07]

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think I'd be inclined to agree with you more to be honest. She has years left in that size surely and i do think they learn to ride better and more confidently on a pony that's the right size to be able to use their legs.

My daughter started at 4 on a 14.1 simply because he was already mine. He was great but it was really when she loaned an 11.2 that she started riding properly. We managed to get one on loan who then went onto another small child when we had outgrown her.

 

[First Frost]

Definitely stick with something smaller and probably older. The last think you want to do at that age in over horse them. Riding needs to be fun not scary. They also need to be riding something they can at least get their legs around a bit!

 

[Perfectpony07]

I think I'd be inclined to agree with you more to be honest. She has years left in that size surely and i do think they learn to ride better and more confidently on a pony that's the right size to be able to use their legs.

My daughter started at 4 on a 14.1 simply because he was already mine. He was great but it was really when she loaned an 11.2 that she started riding properly. We managed to get one on loan who then went onto another small child when we had outgrown her.

Thankyou this is really helpful to know. I think my gut is telling me
To stick with the 11hands pony but really wanted advise from others & to show my other half too as he’s agreeing with the instructor, but he is not horsey at all.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Its really easy and sounds so logical to think bigger lasts longer, they will grow into it and all that. 13hh is pretty big when you're only 3 and 5. My friends daughter has only just moved up to 13.2 at about 9/10 so you could have years of fun in a littler one

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Thankyou this is really helpful to know. I think my gut is telling me
To stick with the 11hands pony but really wanted advise from others & to show my other half too as he’s agreeing with the instructor, but he is not horsey at all.

I'd be mentioning to your OH that a new driver is better off in a smaller reliable car than a family saloon or a sports car, a small child doesnt need a fully geared bigger bicycle but an appropriate one for their size, there is absolutely no need to go up in size 'to grow into'.

Yes, pony will get outgrown BUT not this year or likely next. He needs to know that there is no price on safety for little children starting out on their 1st pony. Too big and its further to fall, more difficult for them to groom or tack up, much easier all round to get an appropriate size now.

Ponies are one of the few things you dont get oversized for children to grow into, it rarely works out.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Stay smaller and older so your children can do jobs and handle the pony easily. A bigger pony which they can’t reach May put them off. Join Pony Club so you can tap into the loaning and borrowing of ponies suitable for each stage of riding ability. It can be heartbreaking selling a loved pony on when outgrown and if your children stick with it they can get through many ponies before the teenager horse is bought

 

[maya2008]

11.2hh - 12hh is a good size. That’ll do you until your children are 10-11 years old unless they are very tall.

Our outgrown small ponies have nearly all gone to homes where the parents initially over horsed their children by buying something too big ‘to last’, which they then found their poor child had no control over whatsoever once off the lead. It’s also too far down when they fall. Updates are glowing and happy, about children finding their confidence and being able to do more themselves.

My 9 year old daughter has just gone onto a 13hh pony. She adores her but cannot reach easily to tack her up or put a rug on. In contrast we still have her 11.2hh second pony - who she is completely independent with and will not go anywhere until she is big enough to be independent with the larger one.

 

[sbloom]

Smaller - as a saddle fitter I'd want to see the riders feet at least at the widest point of the pony, ideally lower than that. Then select a saddle that only has a little growing room, going too big leaves them swimming and unsupported, especially as many of the best fitting pony saddles have flat seats with no curved support for the pelvis.

 

[Gloi]

View attachment 144670

That looks a perfect size for her.
Children will learn much more quickly with a pony they can handle, tack up and mount without an adult needing to do everything for them all the time.

 

[Perfectpony07]

Thankyou so much everyone this has been so so helpful. We will continue to go see the 11hand pony this Sunday

 

[dorsetladette]

I'd stay with something under 12hh. Most children will be OK on something stocky of that size until they are 9/10/11 (or older if small).

My cynical first thought was that your instructor might have had a pony in mind when you asked for advise that they may have earned some commission for selling. I've been a seller who lost out on a sale for that very reason - instructor didn't even stop for breathe (or leave my yard) between saying 'it's lame' (he wasn't) and saying 'I've got just what your after at my place'

We need photos of the new family member when they arrive!! it's HHO rules!!!

 

[Perfectpony07]

I'd stay with something under 12hh. Most children will be OK on something stocky of that size until they are 9/10/11 (or older if small).

My cynical first thought was that your instructor might have had a pony in mind when you asked for advise that they may have earned some commission for selling. I've been a seller who lost out on a sale for that very reason - instructor didn't even stop for breathe (or leave my yard) between saying 'it's lame' (he wasn't) and saying 'I've got just what your after at my place'

We need photos of the new family member when they arrive!! it's HHO rules!!!

Haha I promise to update you when we get one.
I can honestly imagine the above happening so easily it’s so hard to trust people sometimes isn’t it.

 

[Fieldlife]

Thankyou so much everyone this has been so so helpful. We will continue to go see the 11hand pony this Sunday

I think it really depends on the barrel size of the pony, as much as the overall height. In the photo on the 11.2hh pony, your daughter has lots of growing room. The pony has a deep and wide barrel to take up a her leg for few years.

But the same height 11.2hh as photo but a narrower, finer, smaller barrelled pony and her legs could hang much closer to the bottom of the barrel. Maybe share a photo of daughter on possible pony with instructor and here, and can get an idea if have a few years growing space without being over horsed. Hope that makes sense.

I am 5ft6 with long legs, short torso. I was underhorses on a 16.2hh very narrow barrelled TB, my legs hung below his barrel and too low for good aiding with my legs. But I could ride a very wide barrelled 14hh Connemara stallion whose wide barrel took up my leg length.

Too wide in barrel though and your daughter might struggle with the width with little legs and little pelvis.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Definitely agree with most and stay smaller and she will end up with super confidence and it won't be an issue when she eventually moves up.

 

[follysienna]

Definitely smaller. I'm 30 and my ponies are 12hh!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Yes smaller, we got 12.2 for my 7yr old which was plenty big enough. She was tall for her age though. Her friend who has a 11.3hh pony is now 9 and ridiculously big on his pony, he could do with 13.2 really now. He is also tall for his age!

It does depend but at their age I would say 12hh or under.

 

[blitznbobs]

Little and ancient all the way for a 3 year old … been there done that sold the tee shirt and bought a some knitting needles cos it’s all a bit much now type.

You really need them to think that they want to go faster etc to build confidence . Nothing breaks confidence quicker than being over horsed at an early age

UNLESS

You really want to put them off so that this expensive hobby is forgotten then I suggest a 3 year old section c that has been to do hoys workers and scare the poop out of them!

 

[Snow Falcon]

I'd stay smaller too. My son had a 11.2hh when he was 5 and we had her for 5 years until he moved onto a 13hh. They need to be able to handle them safely and reach up. Let them gain confidence and have fun before moving bigger.

 

[HopOnTrot]

My 6 year old has a 12.2 and is almost always the child on the biggest pony in her class at PC.

We’ve had her 4 years and she has always been a bit big for daughter to deal on the ground with until this year.

My 9 year old has been riding my 13.2 and he no longer looks like a pea on a drum but still has years of growing room.

 

[Perfectpony07]

I think it really depends on the barrel size of the pony, as much as the overall height. In the photo on the 11.2hh pony, your daughter has lots of growing room. The pony has a deep and wide barrel to take up a her leg for few years.

But the same height 11.2hh as photo but a narrower, finer, smaller barrelled pony and her legs could hang much closer to the bottom of the barrel. Maybe share a photo of daughter on possible pony with instructor and here, and can get an idea if have a few years growing space without being over horsed. Hope that makes sense.

I am 5ft6 with long legs, short torso. I was underhorses on a 16.2hh very narrow barrelled TB, my legs hung below his barrel and too low for good aiding with my legs. But I could ride a very wide barrelled 14hh Connemara stallion whose wide barrel took up my leg length.

Too wide in barrel though and your daughter might struggle with the width with little legs and little pelvis.

Completely get what you mean, here’s a photo of her today on another pony 11.1h much finer in person than the bay. What do you think? Il deffo add photos on here once we view pony on Sunday too. Thanks

 

[Perfectpony07]

I think it really depends on the barrel size of the pony, as much as the overall height. In the photo on the 11.2hh pony, your daughter has lots of growing room. The pony has a deep and wide barrel to take up a her leg for few years.

But the same height 11.2hh as photo but a narrower, finer, smaller barrelled pony and her legs could hang much closer to the bottom of the barrel. Maybe share a photo of daughter on possible pony with instructor and here, and can get an idea if have a few years growing space without being over horsed. Hope that makes sense.

I am 5ft6 with long legs, short torso. I was underhorses on a 16.2hh very narrow barrelled TB, my legs hung below his barrel and too low for good aiding with my legs. But I could ride a very wide barrelled 14hh Connemara stallion whose wide barrel took up my leg length.

Too wide in barrel though and your daughter might struggle with the width with little legs and little pelvis.

This is a better photo.

 

[Gloi]

This is a better photo.

Plenty big enough

 

[Fieldlife]

Plenty big enough

Agree, I think this is a nice size for her.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Buy the pony they need now not one that fits in several years time.

 

[wills_91]

This is a better photo.

Still loads of growing room here