Sugar_and_Spice
Well-Known Member
I've come across the negative attitude to ponies a lot, mostly from people connected to riding schools eg at livery on a riding school yard, taking lessons, riding instructors. I think it often comes from ponies being used for novices, never taught to work in an outline their whole life and rarely pulled/trimmed to look smart. It seems to lead to an attitude of its ONLY a pony. The same can be said for many horses but that seems to be overlooked!
Then there's the fact ponies are often more sure footed than horses, have a "fifth leg" and are very good at thinking for themselves. This makes them good at helping the rider out if they get into difficulty or don't get the aids for a movement quite right. So then ponies get the reputation of being easier to ride than horses, therefore you're not really a rider until you can ride horses.
Cobs get a similar attitude I've found. Like, if you ride one you must be a nervous novice who can't really ride! Unless your cob is hyped up on 3 scoops of racehorses mix, ridden in a pelham or gag, with the riders hands up under their breast and leaning back in the saddle at all times, while the cob bucks farts and tanks its way round the local bridleways. Obviously if you ride such an animal you must be a very good rider ;-) You get bonus points for being good enough to ride an "exceptionally difficult" one that constantly rears (when its not bucking if tanking off).
I've even seen a small but significant amount of horse snobbery going on. Eg if its under 16.2hh its not really a horse. Ditto if it doesn't go in an outline (regardless of whether it can only be achieved with draw reins).
I don't see so much of this attitude now I've moved, it was a lot lot worse when I lived in SE England.
Then there's the fact ponies are often more sure footed than horses, have a "fifth leg" and are very good at thinking for themselves. This makes them good at helping the rider out if they get into difficulty or don't get the aids for a movement quite right. So then ponies get the reputation of being easier to ride than horses, therefore you're not really a rider until you can ride horses.
Cobs get a similar attitude I've found. Like, if you ride one you must be a nervous novice who can't really ride! Unless your cob is hyped up on 3 scoops of racehorses mix, ridden in a pelham or gag, with the riders hands up under their breast and leaning back in the saddle at all times, while the cob bucks farts and tanks its way round the local bridleways. Obviously if you ride such an animal you must be a very good rider ;-) You get bonus points for being good enough to ride an "exceptionally difficult" one that constantly rears (when its not bucking if tanking off).
I've even seen a small but significant amount of horse snobbery going on. Eg if its under 16.2hh its not really a horse. Ditto if it doesn't go in an outline (regardless of whether it can only be achieved with draw reins).
I don't see so much of this attitude now I've moved, it was a lot lot worse when I lived in SE England.