Where Do You Draw The Line? (Small Ponies vs. Big Riders)

[QueenOfCadence]

Hey guys

With the recent chaos on HHO you've gotten me thinking, where do you draw the line between what is an acceptable rider to horse ratio?

It's obviously not just a problem in the pony world as I've seen rather large men/woman riding petite TBs or small WBs. How do you make the switch between what is acceptable and what's not. Should the breed even be taken into consideration???

Recently there have been a lot of "Im riding a Shetland" posts and I must say that even though some of the riders and ponies are the same size - I feel less comfortable with some and more comfortable with others (off of some random instinct).

I personally ride a 14.1hh Welsh Cob x TB gelding - so I'm one of the "pony" riders myself, but I don't feel at all underhorsed. Though I've gotten onto some 14.2hh ponies before and felt completely underhorsed. So where would you (in your personal opinion draw the line between what's "okay" and what's not) and should that opinion be based on appearances?

For example - I have a friend who is about the same size as me (maybe I've just gotten use to her... She's quite big boned and does weigh about 12st) who has been forced off of her Welsh x Pony by the YO because the pony was starting to develop back and joint problems because of the weight - yet nobody ever mentioned it to them at shows and she doesn't look THAT out of place on her pony (picture below)

Then of course you get people like me who ride their 14.1hh ponies without ever having a hiccup. I don't feel out of place, pony is comfortable and we work well together (example below. Sorry it's not a great photo, it was in the warm up thus the miles of give on the curb. I hate tightening the reins on the double bridle too much in the warm up):

Then of course you get the unfortunate few who buy TBs hoping to have a horse big enough for us to ride - and they too turn out to have a weak back that can't carry us (the example below is of the same friend in the first example who got a new horse. He is a 16hh TB gelding and she weighs about 12st as she does have a relatively big build. The horse in question has recently started developing back pains and the vet explained that it's due to the strain caused by the weight of his rider):

So ultimately to sum up a long winded story, where would you say enough is enough? Would you take into consideration the horse as an indavidual? What's your personal (not necessarily politically correct) opinion?

If you ever wanted to make comments on a pony's actual ability OR if you want to talk about how easily we can be underhorsed, this is the thread to speak out and to voice your opinion

~ Cadence

 

[JingleTingle]

Erm...is your 'friend' aware you are posting pictures of her on two horses that you blithely say she has injured due to her weight and size?

 

[blood_magik]

Well personally I draw the line at how comfortable the horse/pony feel as well a how comfy I feel.
for example - I feel less comfy riding my dads finely built 16.2 kwpn but fine on my bigger built 16.2 kwpn.
timberland hasn't had any issues carrying me but I just dont feel right on him

waffle over

 

[Tinypony]

Is your friend happy to have her photos posted here for everyone to critique?
I'd say it's normally pretty obvious if someone is too heavy for their horse or pony, by the way they move. If I horse has back problems but seemed to be perfectly happy at all paces, then I'd look first at the saddle.
Your poor friend doesn't look too big for either her pony or her TB, but nobody can judge without seeing them in action. I think most TB's should be able to carry 12st. So can my 13.3 hh pony. (Oh, and your friend doesn't look 12st in those photos, but of course they can be deceptive).

 

[QueenOfCadence]

Yes she is grumpyoldmare . I did ask her permission and she is fully aware that she is underhorsed and actually searching desperately for another horse to ride (a stockier, taller one) while also trying to loose some weight . Bless her soul, she loves her horses enough to put what's best for them above what she wants

 

[happyhack]

Erm...is your 'friend' aware you are posting pictures of her on two horses that you blithely say she has injured due to her weight and size?

Was wondering the same...this is a PUBLIC forum and your 'friend' could see this and TBH I would doubt very much that she would want to be your friend for much longer if you have posted without her permission!

 

[teamsarazara]

Im about 8 stone, and i was schooling a 12.3hh chunkyish pony today, he was absolutely fine and my boss wouldn't put me on the ponies if i was too much for them. I think all these shetland pony posts have gone out of order and no-one else posting is too big! Its ridiculous! If you aren't huge on the horse, you don't thump down on their backs, and jab them in the mouth and they are happy carrying you then i think you should stop worrying.

 

[QueenOfCadence]

No she doesnt look like 12st. She's tall and stocky - not fat at all though she's forever trying to loose weight to have a bit of a wider spectrum of what she can ride

 

[PapaFrita]

20% of the horse's (correct) weight, assuming horse is healthy, sound, and with a reasonable level of fitness.

 

[lara b]

For me and this is just my personal preference I wouldn't want anything smaller than a chunky 14hh or maybe slightly smaller for a real weight carrier. I am 5.4 and under 9 stone and to be honest I actually prefer the 15 to 16hh mark!

 

[Piaffe63]

I think that if the horse is happy and comfortable then it is fine

 

[JFTDWS]

It's complicated as it really depends on the quality of riding and how the horse is trained to work as well as breed, conformation and height.

I have a 14,1 highland and a 14,3 cob... I'm 5'8 and probably the wrong side of 11 stone. The highland's 5, the cob's 18ish. Neither are exactly large. Am I underhorsed? Possibly. All I can say is I've been riding my cob for 12ish years, jumping up to his limit of capability and he's never shown any signs of struggling. The highland doesn't give indication of not being able to handle my lard arse either.

It's easy to look at a large rider on a small horse (e.g. the shetland threads) and be confident that regular or harder work is inappropriate - or any work at all - but the shades of grey in the middle are much more challenging. Undoubtably if I was riding a 14,1 LW TBx type I would both look ridiculous and be too heavy for the horse. Equally I've seen pure highlands who have heavy set bodies, long backs and less bone on the leg who I think would be too heavy for. A horse lacking schooling / encouraged heavy onto its forehand I would be concerned about too, whereas a horse trained to carry itself properly should be able to support a heavier rider less detrimentally to its joints and back imo.

 

[spottybotty]

Yes she is grumpyoldmare . I did ask her permission and she is fully aware that she is underhorsed and actually searching desperately for another horse to ride (a stockier, taller one) while also trying to loose some weight . Bless her soul, she loves her horses enough to put what's best for them above what she wants

I would love to be your friend.................NOT

 

[JingleTingle]

If you ever wanted to make comments on a pony's actual ability OR if you want to talk about how easily we can be underhorsed, this is the thread to speak out and to voice your opinion

Oh right then - we have your permission to join in a bitch fest at the expense of your 'friend' and the horses she rides. No thanks, I'll pass if its all the same to you?

 

[Noodlebug]

Oh my

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Lets see...

I am 5'7

Here is my old 14.1hh SecD cross.. here i weigh a (lovely!) 9-9 1/2 stone.
I felt fine on her and to my knowledge no issues arose from this.

Then you have my (a smidge over 14.3hh) cob x arab...and here i weigh a heathier 10 stone.

-and finally my new edition:

a 15.2hh cob x arab (i like the mix!) Here i weigh my most stable weight of 10 1/2 stone (no comments on tack as this was before she came to my yard)

So far, i dont think ive crossed the line.

 

[spottybotty]

If you ever wanted to make comments on a pony's actual ability OR if you want to talk about how easily we can be underhorsed, this is the thread to speak out and to voice your opinion

Oh right then - we have your permission to join in a bitch fest at the expense of your 'friend' and the horses she rides. No thanks, I'll pass if its all the same to you?

My thoughts aswell

 

[QueenOfCadence]

It's grumpyoldmare. It's not a bitchfest though (I'm not sure if you've noticed???) but I'm rather intrueged to hear both sides of the story (Large riders on small ponies AND the people who think it's wrong) - I was rather hoping that it would remain a peaceful discussion, and so far it is? No feathers have been ruffled and both sides are respected.

As for it being at the expense of my friend, if she doesn't mind and would love to hear the answers herself - how is it at her expense? It at all I was worried that it might hurt her (even after she'd given me the go ahead) I wouldn't have done it. I've known her for about 13 years so I respect her.

As for not joining, I don't mind. I was asking for opinions of the horse vs. rider ratio. Not on my friend's riding or on her horses.

Let me share my opinion while I'm posting aswell though - I'd personally never ride anything smaller than say 13.2hh because I'd send myself on a guilt trip though I also don't enjoy riding mammoths (with the exception of the 17.3hh horse I'm currently showing). I believe it's up to personal preference. Some people believe horses are "work animals" and thus should bare the burden they're given - others are very natural and believe horses should be left to be themselves and to express freedom and what not

I hope nobody takes this post as something disrespectful towards anyone as I can assure you that it was started 100% neutural

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

When a horse the size of a large dog, physically buckles under the weight of person, shows his discomfort by napping and walks as though he's got a pole stuck up his ar5e.

 

[Merry Crisis]

Havent we all had a guts full of this topic today? FFS!

 

[spottybotty]

When a horse the size of a large dog, physically buckles under the weight of person, shows his discomfort by napping and walks as though he's got a pole stuck up his ar5e.

Agree.

 

[spottybotty]

Havent we all had a guts full of this topic today? FFS!

Yes.

 

[JingleTingle]

Havent we all had a guts full of this topic today? FFS!

Amen to that

 

[FionaM12]

I rather think this subject's been "done to death" today.

Also OP, even though you say she's happy about it, I'd rather not get involved in a discussion about your friend. If you were posting pictures of yourself (possibly) underhorsed, fair enough. But this doesn't feel right.

I'm off.

 

[SamanthaUK]

Well i'm 5ft 10 and I weigh 9 stone (measured myself this afternoon) and I ride a chunky 14hh New forest pony. And he's fine with me...

 

[spottybotty]

I rather think this subject's been "done to death" today.

Also OP, even though you say she's happy about it, I'd rather not get involved in a discussion about your friend. If you were posting pictures of yourself (possibly) underhorsed, fair enough. But this doesn't feel right.

I'm off.

Like. I am off to.

 

[ridefast]

I'm wondering if it's not so much your friends weight causing the bad backs but perhaps the way she rides ie her position? Perhaps she's sitting heavy, not encouraging them to work from behind, or maybe saddle isn't sitting right/doesn't fit. Because I wouldn't have thought 12 stone for either of her horses would have been too much for them to carry... I don't know just ideas
As for me, I'm 5'1 and 8stone however am very long in the leg, so most people assume I can ride tiny ponies when in fact I feel really underhorsed on ponies below 14h. Although I have ridden 13h stocky gypsy cobs and felt fine, at the same time riding 13.2 stream lined ponies and felt like I was going to fall off. My 4 year old is 15h and I feel just right on her although I look a bit like a pea on a mountain!

 

[popularfurball]

I think it is based on the horses stature, tack, rider ability and type of work expected.

My riding pony is 12hh welsh. We hack for an hour or so at the weekends in walk as she is not that fit. We have lesson once a fortnight. We don't jump. We dabbled in trec obstacle section late in summer (not in the orienteering though as not fit enough).

Kids do ride her, but she does not enjoy it. She doesn't like children.

She has a lot of health problems, and so riding can be very intermittent. I have a treeless saddle as while I fit in a 15" saddle and saddler sad I fit fine, I wasn't happy that my bum wasn't pinging on the cantle. Added to the fact she hates treed saddles which doesn't help.

 

[Jazzy B]

If you have a small pony and you have a fat bum and your pony's back is sagging you probably shouldn't be riding them.

Boring, boring, boring please can somebody change the subject!

 

[QueenOfCadence]

I think it is based on the horses stature, tack, rider ability and type of work expected.

^^ agree! Especially on the type of work the horse is expected to do . Your mare is lovely by the way