Any knowledgeable horse lovers around?

[Boroncarbon]

Just read this article in the Daily Fail about Katie Price horse riding in Thailand. I know nothing about horses so I'm curious to ask, do these two horses look the appropriate size to carry the passengers they have? They look a bit small to me. Also, do you think they're happy? They appear to me to be a bit down looking through all the pics. Or am I reading it all wrong? I know Katie herself is very knowledgeable & keeps horses. I'm also curious to know what the two strings are all about that go from the mouth of her horse down between the legs? Is it something to do with not letting it throw it's head back?

I think if I commented I might be accused of being judgemental.

Put it this way, I wouldn't have ridden them and I would never let someone that size ride one of my ponies.

The horse KP is on looks fine for her, however her companion is too tall and prob too heavy for his pony. That said, these native ponies are often extremely strong and sturdy.
And the strings are most likely to,stop the horse tossing its head too high.

Both too small but Katie probably doesn't weigh that much. He on the other hand is enormous and far too big.

The strings look like a cheap attempt at a standing martingale to stop the horse throwing it's head up. You do need them on some horses but I prefer a proper running martingale.

She's ok weight wise for the horse, he is far too big. The strings are a cheap standing martingale, to stop the horse throwing its head up. This one is far too tight and standing martingales are grim anyway. I'm surprised KP thinks it is ok to ride these horses. Shame on her given her knowledge.

I agree with others on here , she is ok but only just , he is far to big as a standard should your feet should come in line with the horses belly but that does depend somewhat on the type / breed of the horse and the weight of the rider.
The string is a very crude Martingail, even in very experienced hands they can do lasting damage, and imo standing Maringails should be against the law they are designed to stop a horse from throwing it's head around ( normally done because they are in discomfort ) however if a horse that is wearing one stumbles it's much more likely to fall because it can not balance its self ,, it would be like you stumbling and not been able to put your arms it's to steady yourself.

He is far too big for that pony, and both have got very strong bits which will cause the horse pain, hence both are carrying their heads quite high

She can't ride very well, despite throwing money at good horses and instructors

I saw a video of a dressage exhibition class she did at Olympia a few years ago and the average teenager in Pony Club can ride better than she did

Look at her feet in the second photo - toes pointing down
There is no way an even slightly competent rider would ever let their feet do that. It's second nature to keep your heels down or at least flat

He's too big. And "celebrities" should never ride without hats.

The one she is on looks fine,but the one he's on looks far too small. He looks quite tall and muscular so is probably quite heavy,too heavy for a horse/pony that size. No idea what the strings are for. Btw,love the way you call the riders 'passengers'!

Agree with all the PPs. Her pony can carry her fine...he should be carrying his! Native types can carry quite a load - I am v tall and have jumped on kids ponies when they are really playing up for 5 mins to get them to concentrate a bit, but would only ever attempt that on a breed I know can carry me and then, only v briefly. I wouldn't have got on either of those!

I very much doubt they are “riding”- a pootle about and a photo op more likely.

Firstly wearing shorts on a saddle is incredibly painful- your skin gets pinched between stirrup leather and saddle.

Secondly- those boobs in a bikini top? She isn’t doing anything more than walk about slowly

The horses look well cared for. So i’d say they’re probably fine for a 5 min hop on, photo of them “riding”, hop off again.

I think my toes would point down if I rode for more than 3 minutes in shorts and bare legs.....

The one she is on looks OK but the guy is too big for sure.

KP is probably quite light too, sometimes people can look tall but chunky ponies can carry more than you'd think. I am 5'8 and used to ride a 13.2hh chunky Welsh when I was about 10st, maybe just under. If you know how to ride you are usually less 'heavy' for the horse as you don't bounce around so much too. I was definitely top end for her though, and she'd have never had a beginner of my weight on her.

He's ridiculously big on that pony and it looks really uncomfortable. She is a little big for hers but probably doesn't weigh too much for it, she's half inflatable anyway.

Re her heals being up, it's quite common when the rider's leg is too long for the pony, as hers are, for the rider to lift the heal to give the horse aids (signals) as to what to do. She ought to be using her calf muscle.

It's an ugly photo in general, not the romantic shot she was probably hoping to stage.

For the person who mentioned her boobs in a bikini top whilst riding... There's a video of her cantering in the Mail somewhere & those boobs don't budge an inch in a bikini! I couldn't believe it when I watched - they're welded on!

Mind you, our chunky 14hh Dales could carry practically any weight.

I speak as a long term horse owner .... this is grim is all respects. She’s about ok with hers (just) but he’s way too heavy for his. I own a chunky pony of similar size which was bred to be a weight carrier and wouldn’t let him get on it. Katy can, at least, ride but just no .....

They're fine. I've ridden a lot of ponies on overseas beaches and they are constituted differently to our UK breeds. Thin withers, short necks, spindly legs, yet they have the stamina to gallop up beaches, through deep wathes of seaweed washed up on the sand, yet you try to hold them back. Strong as oxen.

As for the poster who criticised KP's toes in the second picture, it is perfectly normal when coming at a standstill, ready to dismount, to let you feet go a little. Ball on stirrup heels down is for dressage, not for the end of a beach ride. KP is a good rider.

saggi

With all due respect, that is absolute nonsense

Any half competent rider will have an good enough seat to maintain a proper leg position throughout a hack

Look again at the picture. There is no contact at all between her leg and the saddle, let alone the state of her feet and heels. That's the sort of riding I'd expect from someone on their 3rd pleasure hack and just screams that she isn't someone who rides regularly

Stirrup on the ball of the foot and heels down is basic safety, not some fancy dressage move

She really isn't a great rider. Try and find a video of her doing 'dressage'. She sits on top of a school master wobbling and giving clunky aids. It's embarrassing

Sorry, looking again at that picture

How tight is that curb chain? Awful

And it looks like that horrific lashup standing martingale is attached to the curb bit ring?
I can't imagine how uncomfortable that pony must be, and I strongly suspect that someone who has that little regard for proper tack has probably given no regard for how well the saddle fits

It is quite horrific that she paid money to ride that poor animal rather than spotting the glaring problems