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

From the photos your friend doesn't 'look' too big btw, just my opinion from a photo however :), in your friends case and in many other of these weight issue posts (not referring to the latest ones re the shetties) but just in general as in adults riding ponies etc, I think the important factors are that saddle fits well, the rider rides well and the horse or pony is fit, well muscled and sound enough for the job there being asked to do.

Lots of horses and ponies have back problems and I bet only 10% of them are caused by the actual weight of the rider.
 
Kenzo said:
Lots of horses and ponies have back problems and I bet only 10% of them are caused by the actual weight of the rider.
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^^ Couldn't agree more Kenzo :). My friends TB is straight off of the track though and lacks the muscle tone at this stage to carry anybody who is even borderline heavy. Though I'm sure with some muscling up he'll be a decent horse. As for her pony, she's the wrong side of 19 and was not only over taxed by her rider but also by the transition from Novice to Elementary dressage (the more collected movements were a bit too much for her).

I think the saddle is the usual culprit for a sore back though :p
 
I'm 15, about 5'3 and 7 stone, and I own a chunky 13hh cob. He was given to me a few years ago as an unbroken 14 year old when I was horseless and desperate. If I was more logical, I probably should have waited to own a pony of a more suitable size, but I love him to bits and wouldn't change him for the world :)

I'm constantly paraniod that I am too big, but he doesn't seem to have any problem carrying me on the occasional hack.

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Festive Pie said:
I'm 15, about 5'3 and 7 stone, and I own a chunky 13hh cob. He was given to me a few years ago as an unbroken 14 year old when I was horseless and desperate. If I was more logical, I probably should have waited to own a pony of a more suitable size, but I love him to bits and wouldn't change him for the world :)

I'm constantly paraniod that I am too big, but he doesn't seem to have any problem carrying me on the occasional hack.

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Wow don't worry Festive! He actually looks like he is just the right size for you!
 
JustFindingTheDecorations said:
plenty of other threads to contribute to :confused: why complain on this one?
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because I came to this one first, I'm working my way through them :D and I feel grumpy!

QueenOfCadence said:
Go for it Christmas Cake :o! Who's stopping you?
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I did, I put up a real nice feel good post up today about my boy who I'm totally chuffed with today and made me think how lucky I am to have my own horse and actually how luck are we all to be lucky enough to have such gorgeous animals in our lives - even when some of them are small than others ! :D
 
Christmas Cake said:
because I came to this one first, I'm working my way through them :D and I feel grumpy!



I did, I put up a real nice feel good post up today about my boy who I'm totally chuffed with today and made me think how lucky I am to have my own horse and actually how luck are we all to be lucky enough to have such gorgeous animals in our lives - even when some of them are small than others ! :D
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I'm glad Christmas Cake :o! And the occasional grumpiness is acceptable:D. I'm glad you had a good day with your boy today :)
 
Im about 11 and a half stone and 5ft1 in height and I ride a chunky 14.3hh Welsh D X I also have a 15.2 WBxTB whos rather on the lithe side but not as fine as a TB but not as chunky as a WB.

I have had people tell me I am too heavy for my guys but when you look at the pics do they really look like they are struggling ;)

Piccies of both

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Black Beastie said:
Im about 11 and a half stone and 5ft1 in height and I ride a chunky 14.3hh Welsh D X I also have a 15.2 WBxTB whos rather on the lithe side but not as fine as a TB but not as chunky as a WB.

I have had people tell me I am too heavy for my guys but when you look at the pics do they really look like they are struggling ;)

Piccies of both

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You look wonderful on the Black Beastie :)! And you're right, you defintely don't look like you're causing them any discomfort :p. They look like happy horses to me:o
 
QueenOfCadence said:
You look wonderful on the Black Beastie :)! And you're right, you defintely don't look like you're causing them any discomfort :p. They look like happy horses to me:o
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Thank you!!! I have been told to get a rider for the black beastie but the day he doesnt tank me round 12 acres of barley park and love every second will be the teller for me :D

I wouldnt have forced your friend off the pony. And TBF did she get a second opinion on the TB's back. as thats a new one to me as your friend looks thinner than me :o
 
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I think it all comes down to whether you are a light rider whos backside just sits like a feather in the saddle or one who thumps down on it. I also think alot of it also depends on how much muscle the horse has to actually carry itself and the rider.

I would never say looking at your friend that she is 12st and personally would not say looking at her that she was 2 heavy for the horse. I'm 11st and people are shocked I weight that much as im a size 10 and 5ft 8. I have ridden everything from 12.2 wpb to 15.2 arabs and 17HH hw without looking over or under horsed. I think you become to big for a horse height wise when you have to shorten your leathers so much that your knees come over the front of the saddle.
 
This is the smallest I've ridden recently (Last year, I am 5ft 8 and I was just under 8 stone (Am now just over 9))

She was very good and I only rode her for about 20mins in total :) I couldn't see any signs she was struggling, it was her idea to go fast XD

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QueenOfCadence said:
She looks like she has a rather strong topline annilusian and I can't see that she'd have a problem with a nice ride along the beach:)
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Hehe yea, she can be a tank when she wants to be :P Some of the smaller kids warmed her up, then I took her for a speedier ride along the beach ^^ I do think she enjoyed it, even if we had quite a big spook at a wave :P hehe
 
Certainly don't think she is under horsed either on the pony ot the hack. I would be looking at other reasons for the sore back - how well does the saddle fit, has the horse had a fall in the paddock or pulled back?

Joint wise - I would be looking at the surface the horse is working on - the amount of work and how much jumping is done on less than suitable surfaces.

Generally horses can carry a considerable weight - what can affect them is how 'light' the rider rides, does she plop back into the saddle or control her body so that she sits softly.

I'm 5'7" and rode a 14hh pony until I was in my early 20's - my 15hh mare was a lovely ride and the size I enjoy riding most is around 15.2 to 16hh.
 
Ahhh my next horse will be a draft, so i am sure will carry my 10st! In the past a riding school kept putting me on a 13.2h skinny pony, week after week i said that i was to heavy but they didnt believe i was 10st i took scales with me one day and i never rode pony again!!
 
As others have said, usually it's the saddle and a lack of correct work, muscle development that causes the problems (other than a tweak in the field, etc.).

As my saddler says, it's getting the right saddle and pounds per square inch :cool:

I'm five foot eight and a bit, fourteen stone and ride a 16.3hh DWB. Vet happy. Physio happy. Saddler happy. Farrier happy. Bowen lady happy. Dentist happy (not sure what the dentist has to do with it, but thought I'd add her in for completeness :rolleyes::D). Oh, and most importantly, horse is happy. When I was a stone lighter I rode Little Cob every now and then, he's 13.3hh - all the above people were happy with it.
 
Not getting involved in the 'debate' but would ask if your friend has had her own back checked? Someone i know went through a few (loan) horses that all developed unusual (dangerous) behaviour and bad backs (totally unheard of before she took them on). When we went for a lesson with a biomechanics instructor she could very quickly tell that my friends back was crooked. This was putting uneven pressure on the horses backs and was resulting in the 'bad' behaviour. She had no back pain herself and was probably born like it - but it explained why one particular horse frequently 'helped' her out the left side door with a huge rodeo in canter transitions.

Just a thought
Trina x
 
I honestly don't really care what anyone else thinks about how I look, I've recently decided on a 12.3h exmoor as my first pony, I'm just over 5'5, 9 stone and feel perfectly happy on her. She's built like a brick ****house, could probably carry up to 12 stone, and can carry me quite happily thank you very much. Just ride what you're comfortable with, if the pony can carry you fine, what's the big deal? Who cares what people think? Use some common sense - a 12.2h fine show pony is very different to a 12.2h chunky native, it's quite obvious which one wil be able to take more weight. The same way that a standard shetland pony can probably take 10 stone of weight, but a miniature can't.

And why is it so wrong for a taller rider to ride a small pony (perfectly within their weight limit) but it's fine for a smaller rider to ride a huge horse?
 
Haven't read the whole thread but would have issues with vet thinking 12 stone is too much for a tb to carry....12 stone is the weight horses carry in point to points (mares claim 5lb and 4year olds claim 7lbs) so I would be inclined to think that if a full grown 16hh tb can't work with a 12stone rider there is something wrong other than the riders weight given that when racing (pointing) they carry 12 stone for three miles in often testing conditions! even inside the rails horses can carry up to and over that weight!

In answer to the original question...well a heavier rider who rides in balance and correctly is a far easier weight to carry than a light rider with no balance!! It all comes down to individual circumstance
 
MuesliMoo said:
And why is it so wrong for a taller rider to ride a small pony (perfectly within their weight limit) but it's fine for a smaller rider to ride a huge horse?
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Because the weight of a small rider is very unlikely to harm a large horse... :confused: Whereas a heavy rider may well do so with an unsuitable horse (height/conformation/age/fitness)
 
Hi! I'm 5'7/8" and just over 10st. I last year quite happily hacked out on a heavy weight 14hh 15yo Irish cob gelding. Next year have been offered the chance again as although he is now 17yo he is still a cheeky monkey and very fit. I'm not too long in the leg and don't at all look silly.

Before my accident the bigger the horse the better, since the accident I prefer middle weight 15-15.3hh as I find them easier to keep together. Saying that I did ride a friends 15hh very slim tb and felt very uncomfortable and too big, hence only rode it out once. MW all the way!

I too do not look my weight and am myself naturally muscular and athletic, people tend to think I'm 9 stone... A eight I havnt been since I was about 10 lol.
 
rhino said:
Because the weight of a small rider is very unlikely to harm a large horse... :confused: Whereas a heavy rider may well do so with an unsuitable horse (height/conformation/age/fitness)
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Yes, but I'm talking about when the rider is clearly within the ponies weight limit, what's the big deal? My friend constantly gets rude comments when out hacking on her exmoor about her pony being so small. I think she looks perfect on her, whereas I think small riders on really big horses can look a bit silly :o
 
I'm 5'6 and weigh 9stone when I have all my riding gear on (hat, boots etc).

My primary pony is 14hh haflinger. There is no way he struggles to carry me.

I have also just adopted on loan a 12.3 Welsh/Arab from a rescue centre primarily for my daughter as a leadrein but also for me to bring on as he was only backed 9 months ago (he's 5). A real 'dope on a rope' when lead but very green under saddle. The rescue centre did not seem to have any concerns at all about me bringing him on and I reckon (although I obviously did not ask) that I weigh considerably less than the girls that backed him.

I think it is important for people to be aware of how much they weigh in all their riding gear though as it can add more than half a stone. A lot of people don't take this into account. I think you have to look at how the pony copes as well, a balanced heavy rider is easier to carry than an unbalanced light rider - I know this from RDA teaching where they have very low weight limits for the horses but still regularly need to treat them to physio etc to keep them comfortable.
 
MuesliMoo said:
Yes, but I'm talking about when the rider is clearly within the ponies weight limit, what's the big deal? My friend constantly gets rude comments when out hacking on her exmoor about her pony being so small. I think she looks perfect on her, whereas I think small riders on really big horses can look a bit silly :o
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Sorry yes, I didn't read your post properly :o I have no issue with some adults riding the smaller native ponies (I do myself) but there does need to be a limit... Comments are usually more 'surprise' at an adult riding a pony than condemnation IME.

Personally I would err on the side of caution, yes small ponies were ridden hard by adults in times past, but that doesn't mean they always did so happily or suffered no ill effects. Life expectancies for horses have changed somewhat over the last 100 years.
 
rhino said:
Sorry yes, I didn't read your post properly :o I have no issue with some adults riding the smaller native ponies (I do myself) but there does need to be a limit... Comments are usually more 'surprise' at an adult riding a pony than condemnation IME.

Personally I would err on the side of caution, yes small ponies were ridden hard by adults in times past, but that doesn't mean they always did so happily or suffered no ill effects. Life expectancies for horses have changed somewhat over the last 100 years.
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Yes, I guess I would have thought people would be able to use common sense to work out if they can ride the pony or not happily, but some people have limited common sense!
 
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