Could I ride this pony or would it be a bit mean?

[Islands81]

Going to see a pony for dd who is 13.2hh. He’s 7 years old, no health problems. As you can see he’s not exactly the leg at each corner type, but not super fine either. Current rider is an adult and weighs more than I do, although she’s a fair bit shorter. I’m 5’8” and just over 9.5 stone (and on a diet so that’s going down!). I know I will look tall on him but weight wise do you think it would be ok to ride him? Will just be to hack him out (once or twice a week tops), and we wouldn’t be going that far. There are lots of hills near us though that you can’t really avoid.

[Booboostwo]

Are you joking? Neither you nor his current owner should be riding him!

[Greyhound22]

Of course it absolutely fine

I've always had ponies - my last was 13.3hh and I weighed what you do now. Difference is I'm 5' so your legs will dangle a bit but I can't see a problem with you keeping him ticking over as long as you are a fairly balanced rider?

[Greyhound22]

He's not spindly either - got a fair bit of bone. V nice OP.

[JuniperBeer]

Riders should not be more than 10% of the pony or horses weight. How much does he weigh? Work it out

[sleeplessinsomewhereelse]

He looks lovely!

I'm 5'8" and I wouldn't just because it feels so wrong. Like unstable?

[Greyhound22]

It's 15% only recently reduced from 20%.

I often see 8 stone riders ride like a sack of spuds and think 'poor animal' and 15 stone riders ride beautifully and light.

Check out Mark Todd on Charisma - makes a huge difference how you ride.

Below me breaking in my 3 year old 13.3hh Spot and 1DE on my 14hh Anglo Arab. Although I was probably more 9 stone there. I have really long legs for my height and ride long too.

[Islands81]

This is his owner riding him and I don’t think she looks big on him at all, and she weighs more than me.

I think I’m quite a balanced rider. I think the height is more of an issue than the weight, but it’s just to keep him ticking over and making sure he doesn’t get into any bad habits (dd is 8 and fairly competent but if he felt like taking the piss he could quite easily!).

[Greyhound22]

She looks fine to me. I wouldn't hesitate - and as someone who judges BD/BE I fully admit to sucking my breath in a bit when some people enter re their weight in relation to their horse.

[kindlyplay]

I would just buy a pony more suited to your DD. You don't mention her age/ability but if you are planning to hack her pony because he is a young pony who needs regular exercise I think he isn't the pony for her.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be bothered by that weight/height on the pony. How you ride is much more important.

[SeventeenTwoChestnutMare]

Surely a tall person is harder to carry than a short person of the same weight? Centre of gravity sort of thing.

[britnay]

An unbalanced short person would be more difficult to carry than a well balanced tall one..

[mrslaughan]

To be within the guidelines- he would need to weigh 400kg - I very much doubt he would.
It doesn't matter how it looks - loads of people ride horses/ponies they are too big for - it doesn't make it right.

[RatherBeRiding]

Couldn't agree more with mrslaughan. It's the ratio of horse's weight and rider's weight (plus saddle etc) that is the key - doesn't matter how tall/balanced/experienced you are. If you're too heavy, you're too heavy.

Guidelines are rider plus tack should be no more than 15% of the horse's weight.

For the very occasional light hack I wouldn't be too worried, but no more than that. It gives me the rage seeing grossly overweight riders on horses that are simply not up to carrying them. And by grossly overweight, I mean in relation to the size/weight of the horse rather than the rider being obese.

[Islands81]

Well went to see him today and turns out he was definitely more like 14hh, and pretty solid. He’s a new forest too so I think he definitely could have carried me no problem. However he was very fizzy and sharp, and definitely way too much for my 8 year old, he would have been a fun pony for me but dd wouldn’t have been able to ride one side of him. Back to the drawing board!

[OrangeJuiceandLemon]

Ah what a shame. He looks lovely.

[Belenus]

A shame it didn't work out. I think his current rider looked too big on him, especially to jump him. I think at 9.5 stone you'd have been fine for the occasional hack. I ride 12.2 ponies from time to time. It's fine if you've got well fitting tack, aren't hammering them around and aren't doing long treks. Frankly, some of them need it!

[Kohliewobbles]

I love the look of him. May I ask where he was advertised?

[Islands81]

He wasn’t advertised, I’d put a wanted ad up and someone messaged me on Facebook. I’d pass on her details but not sure what’s going on, I have a friend who would be very interested in him and asked the owner before I left if I could pass her details on and she seemed keen, but then she hasn’t responded to my friend’s calls or texts so 🤷‍♀️

[PinkGin24]

Sorry it didn't work out OP. For the record, I aslong as you are a well balanced rider the height will be ok. Weight no concern.

[Islands81]

Something will turn up! Trying to find something of that size that would be quiet enough for dd is a challenge. We want something old that wants a quieter life life really. My mum has a horse that I can ride if dd is riding too, but it would be good to have something big enough for me to be able to ride too if me and mum want to go riding together.

[Booboostwo]

I don't think it's realistic to have a mother daughter share with an 8yo. Your DD will be tiny compared to an adult and she shouldn't be overhorsed. An older pony, suitable for plodding about off lead rein in an arena and taking on a hack with an adult on foot would be ideal for your DD but no good for you.

Realistically you need a 14.2hh minimum and that's pushing it.

[Belenus]

OP I don't know where you are in the country but I would look for a Dartmoor Hill Pony. They are quite variable in size. I'm 5'7" and around 9st 7lbs so a similar size to you. I have ridden a 12hh DHP but only to sit on and try out. I would not ride her with any frequency. However, about once or month or so I ride a stocky 12.2 - think something like an Exmoor pony. He's well up to my weight for an occasional hack but is suitable for smaller children as well.

I think if you're prepared to compromise you can find something that your daughter can ride that you can occasionally hack. I wouldn't see that as a mother/ daughter share as such since you're not wanting something to compete, have lessons on or ride with much frequency. Because DHPs are quite varied in size you could find something stocky of around 13/ 13.2 that would take your weight but be sensible for your daughter.

No, it's not very Pony Club, or what any of us would do if we had lots of money. But as a small child I was riding horses that were far too large for me, and often they were kinder than the tearaway little ponies. And now, as an adult, I still enjoy riding and I get on with the quirky horses other people give up on. I did learn a lot from it!

[Sparrowlegs248]

Weight wise I think you'd have been fine. Height might be more of an issue though. I felt big on a very chunky 13.2 Welsh at 5ft 7. There seemed to be no neck in front.