Would you feel a prat....

[minesadouble]

Hunting a 13.2hh pony as a 5'6 adult? My daughter has outgrown her 13.2hh N/F x and moved on to a 14.2hh. My mare is now a bit stiff behind and so I've been riding daughter's 13.2 I'm only 9 stone and apparently don't look big on him. I really enjoy riding him and have decided to keep him as he's just so easy to keep/feed so straightforward and honest and is as tough as old boots.(also would cry my eyes out if he went!)
He loves his hunting and is a fab hunter ......
So would you look at an adult hunting a pony and think they were a prat?? I am gonna bite the bullet and do it anyway but interested to hear what others think!

 

[Kenzo]

Well I'm the same size as you and I would feel a bit of a pudding, I mean that in the nicest way possible.... but you did ask lol!

I really cant imagine myself turning up at a meet on a 13.2 .... (well I can, put its funny thought) I used to hunt a 14.1 so I'm not prejudice to adults riding ponies...not at all but then again we are talking about hunting, not just a hack out for a an hour.

Depends on how bothered you are, how fit the pony is, a days hunting is hard work and more so with some one bigger on board, its not just the weight but the balance, you will be riding in a forward seat quite a lot and doing fast work, just because a pony seems willing to go, doesn't mean he's comfortable, because the adrenalin is pumping and there too busy enjoying the moment at 5'6...your not exactly small.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Nah! My OH did the opening meet last year on my feisty 14.3hh coblet AND he got carted over a hedge most peeps queued to go round :shocked:

 

[BigRed]

Don't be silly - I am 5'11" and while I was in-between horses I was grateful to ride one of my friends 14.2 Section D's. Lovely pony, great hack. He had no problem with my weight and because they have horse size bodies (just shorter legs), he took up my long legs.

Have fun.

 

[faerie666]

I was crash test pilot out hunting for my old boss's daughter's new pony once, I'm also 5'6" and said pony was bang on 13hh. I felt a bit of a prat at first, but nobody gave me funny looks or anything, and I actually had a really fab day Enjoy, I say

 

[minesadouble]

Am not bothered about weight/height issue - he is a chunky little chap and know he will carry me fine. When my daughter was 13 she was already taller than me and is now a good 2/3 inches taller and she showjumped him in a 3'3 class at the weekend - they won it - and she looks only a bit too tall for him - he does really take your leg up. When we bought him he was a boy's hunting and tetrathlon pony and the boy was as tall and heavy as me then (he was 14) and he hunted all day with the whipper in every week and twice a week in the school holidays!
Am simply bothered about it from an aesthetic point of view.
Thanks for the positive replies also!

 

[1275gta]

You will have more fun on a pony, two friends of mine who have horses often go unting on 2 pony's as they have far more fun.

 

[Starbucks]

I think you should go for it!!

I'd be scared on a pony now though!!

 

[Kenzo]

Well if you think you think your pony will be fine then why the devil not, I recon it will be fun, sorry dont take what I was saying in the wrong way, I guess I was just trying to put myself in that your postion and what thoughts would be going around in my head if you know what I mean so I was just being honest, my opion is neither right or wrong.

Piccys are must though! have fun!
:grin:

 

[Starbucks]

Depends on how bothered you are, how fit the pony is, a days hunting is hard work and more so with some one bigger on board, its not just the weight but the balance, you will be riding in a forward seat quite a lot and doing fast work, just because a pony seems willing to go, doesn't mean he's comfortable, because the adrenalin is pumping and there too busy enjoying the moment at 5'6...your not exactly small.

I do see your point, but there are enough fat kids that hunt ponies and no one seems to think they should get a horse!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

My 5'10" OH on my 14.3hh coblet out hunting:

 

[Starbucks]

It's a bit small!! He looks fab though!

 

[minesadouble]

Thanks for your opinions - Landgirl am gutted cannot see piccie - am on Windows Vista now and can't get to grips with as well as good ol XP!
So general consensus is will not have the field falling off their horses with laughter then! :grin:
Kenzo - am not offended at all - I asked for honest opinions - to be honest one of my best friend's said 6 months ago when I was talking about selling the 13.2 - "I wouldn't sell him I would keep him and hunt him yourself" - and I thought 'no way would I be seen hunting a 13.2hh' - so your views matched my initial reaction!
I don't think twice about my daughter hunting him even though she is bigger than me it's simply the issue of being an adult on a pony!
Am quite excited about it really - just wish he had a longer neck to land on!

 

[cazmoreton]

this was 2 years ago when i was 5ft 5ish.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q269/jelly-babe-caz/dylannn.jpg
On Dylan who's 12.1!!!
go for it, hunting with poniess is so much funn

 

[Haniki]

I would go for it though you may be expected to do a few gates if you are on a pony! At least that's what I found when I hunted a 14.2 section D for a season. (I'm 5'7" by the way and in those days was 9 stone).

 

[chalel]

My mum has hunted my 13.2
Most people wanted to buy him

 

[JenHunt]

there's a few few folk in our hunt who as adults ride ponies.... and i wouldn't hesitate to recommend it if you are of a size that can ride a pony (at 5'9 i'm not tho!!) - you can go just as fast as most horses, but feel like you're going faster, and you can get back on more easily should you come off! ;-)