Advice needed.....12.2 Dartmoor too small?

[emdanmum]

Hi,
I've re-started riding recently, after a 10 year kid-break, and have well and truly got the bug again (it's been lying dormant all these years!!)
So, have finally convinced DH that I'm getting a pony for me and DD to share.
We have a family friend who has a business selling lead rein/first ridden ponies, and have been riding a 12.2 Dartmoor that she has for sale.
Here lies my problem. He's a gorgeous pony, really tries so hard, and would be fantastic for DD, but I think (despite his owner and a friend at the yard telling me otherwise) that I'm too big for him. We've just been doing short hacks when it comes to my turn, but I have this niggly voice in my head all the time......."you're too big, you're too big".
I'm 5ft7 and 11st-please be brutally honest

Yes, too small, I would say. He can probably carry you but I think you will be a bit limited if you want to do faster work and jumping. You'll probably also find your legs are too long on him to use them properly.

I'm 5'7 and 10st3, and have just bought a 14.3ish pony for self and kids. The smallest we looked at was maybe 14hh but was a Fell and built like a tank, so he was actually OK height wise. Get someone to take photos and video of you on this pony and look at them objectively.

Thank you planetEarth.....a wise voice!
He's been fine just hacking, but like you say if I try any more he'll struggle I think.
Such a shame because he's lovely.
Also my DD's fairly tall (she's nearly 8 but 135cm (ish) so I don't think he'd last her very long.
I have seen a 14.1 welsh x gelding who sounds more suitable-do you think he sounds better?

You are way too big, sorry. You need a cobby 14.1 if you're going that small. Make sure whatever you get has plenty of bone. I'm quite suprised how irresponsible the Dartmoor's owner is to try and get you to buy him when he obviously isn't suitable, not to mention your friend. Try to find someone independent with no vested interests to help you find a suitable pony.

yes too small - by far

Yes, i am 5ft3 (and a half!) and have ridden 12.2hh/13hh ponies for people but only because they have been misbehaving and needed a bigger rider iyswim? There is no way i would be happy riding something that small regularly. My mare is 15hh and TBH i would not have anything for myself any smaller than her.

Thanks guys-I think that's what I wanted to hear!
Just to say though, the owner isn't pushing him upon me........I know he's for sale, and have ridden him a bit, as she has 2 small children and can't do it herself. She's a lovely, professional and knowledgable lady. I just had the idea that he'd be better for DD, but now think I need to look a little more for me. The comments from owner and friend about me not being to big for him are based on me riding him on an ad hoc basis.......haven't asked her opinion re. long term riding of him, as didn't want her to take it as interest in him for DD. Think your idea Callisto of finding somebody else to help is a good one-will do some research.
Thanks again

How old is DD? It may not be possible for you to have one pony to share as it is important you don't overface her.

Our DD (7) has two 11.1 Sec As and a 12.2 Sec B - which is she is now doing First Riddens on.

The Sec B is ridden in at shows by his producer - a 21yo skinny but normal height girl. She is fine for working in but is way too big for normal riding.

DW has a 14.1 connemara which she rides out with DD and hopefully DD can inherit her when she is about 10 - about the time she'll have outgrown the 12.2

DD did have a Dartmoor when she was 5 and he was too much of a pony for her then - hence the change to Welshies.

Butkin-DD is 8 in September, but often gets mistaken for older (due to height, maturity, build etc). I don't think a 14.1 would overface her.......could be wrong
She's also ridden this 12.2 Dartmoor, who "fits" her now.........but not sure how long she'd be able to stay with him-depends how quickly she grows!!
You say your DD will inherit 14.1 at about 10-this is the age my DD gets mistaken for.
She's also ridden an 11.2 Dartmoor who just looked tiny for her, though obviously he could carry her well.
This has helped. Going to do a bit more thinking.

Butkin-DD is 8 in September, but often gets mistaken for older (due to height, maturity, build etc). I don't think a 14.1 would overface her.......could be wrong
She's also ridden this 12.2 Dartmoor, who "fits" her now.........but not sure how long she'd be able to stay with him-depends how quickly she grows!!
You say your DD will inherit 14.1 at about 10-this is the age my DD gets mistaken for.
She's also ridden an 11.2 Dartmoor who just looked tiny for her, though obviously he could carry her well.
This has helped. Going to do a bit more thinking.

Whoops-got a bit carried away there!!

It depends on the build of the pony too. A 14.1 cobby type may be too strong, whereas a 14.1 araby type will be fine (not talking temperaments here btw, just build).

You also have to consider that getting the wrong pony for your DD could result in her losing confidence and you having to sell the pony for much less than you paid for it because it has been allowed to get away with too much and isn't schooled so well etc, etc. I have seen this so often, and I always feel sorry for the pony, who through no fault of it's own has ended up in the sale ring yet again. And in the present climate of too many ponies and not enough owners, that is no joke. So as well as getting a pony to suit your DD, please consider how you will improve/maintain the pony's chances of going to another loving home once your DD has outgrown it.

My kids are 10 and 12, the 12 year old is 5ft and the 10 year old a bit smaller. They're not overfaced with our 14.3, but then I am always there to help with handling etc. In fact some of the ponies we saw, it looked like my 12 year old would soon be too big, never mind me! (She has v. long legs).

We wanted a pony/horse that would suit us for life, or as long as we wanted. I think your DD is at a more tricky age TBH.

Maybe you need to decide who the pony is mostly for. If it's for you, buy a bigger one and if she doesn't ride so much now, so be it. If it's mainly for her, you could get a smaller one and sell in a couple of years.

I have so many things to consider.......that's why I'm asking questions now, and not regretting it later.
I would be the main rider of any pony we get (DD is obviously at school, so would ride 2/3 times a week). I'd be able to ride (school/lunge/etc) 4/5 times a week.
The yard where pony would be kept is owned by a lady who can teach, so learning for pony and child would be on going.
My idea of getting a 14.1 welsh x (he's a good weight carrier) is that he wouldn't get outgrown, at least not for many years!
Does this situation work for anybody else, or is this just a pipe dream?

PlanetEarth-though I would be the main rider, I still want DD to get really involved, so maybe I need to put my "dream" of 1 pony for life on the shelf for a couple of years and concentrate on getting DD sorted.......I'm just too impatient
Especially as I've seen THE perfect pony in this Welsh x

Working for us so far! (Only got him 6 weeks ago though). Pony does for my 6ft 12stone husband as well (something bigger would suit him better, but for the occasional ride he's fine).

If the Welsh x is perfect, what's stopping you .

Emdan - sounds good plan to go for the older pony. The only thing I'd say (based on our mistake of going for Dartmoor when DD was too young) is that your DD may look like a 10yo but does she ride like one?

I only ask because we're finding that although DD is a beautifully tidy rider (showcraft) she can't think quickly enough to cope with unusual situations she can meet out hacking.

A 14.1 Welsh X may be right size for her but just make sure he is well schooled and not too strong otherwise when he canters he may be too quick for her.

DD couldn't ride the connemara for a good while yet - although she doesn't look too small (and she does ride her round the field at walk/trot) we know she'd be overfaced on a hack - especially cantering.

I agree with Butkin, but my cousin is big for her age (11) and nervous and she has been on my old connemara (who is a big 14.3hh and about 16/17yrs) for 2yrs now but to start with was almost on the lead rein with him. She is now doing really well but has been around this pony all her life and got to know him before ever riding him iyswim?

It can work but it may take a very long time. Is it possible for you to get the welshie for you (and DD later) and DD carry on riding the dartmoor for your friend while getting to know the welshie?

Alicetheinvisible - the pony will be there for as long as my friend has him for sale, though there are also others that she could ride, so maybe that'll be best-get a pony that I can ride in preparation for DD.
Butkin - DD would be on the lead rein for a bit anyway, until pony and child get aquainted with each others habits, etc.
PlanetEarth - going to come clean now - the thing that's holding me back is that welsh x is 5 years old and not done much, though is sensible, sweet and has so much potential.
I have ridden ponies like him before (pre-kids), have ample help/advice on-tap, I will be the main rider and DD would be involved with care and riding as and when he is ready. If we went down that route then Alicetheinvisible's idea of DD riding Dartmoor would work well alongside Welsh x.
This is my dream - unspoilt pony, learning/developing with us and being our friend for many, many years.............am I crazy? (Not too harsh please!!)

Then go for it

At 19 i bought an unbroken 3yr old TBxID. She was the first horse i had broken single handedly and the only mare i had really had anything to do with and she is 9 now and an absolute star.

Hi emdanmum... my new horse is, umm, wait for it, 4 years old! And he's my first horse. No idea what he's done, no history for him. I really, really wanted an older, been-there-done-that horse, in fact I wouldn't look at anything under 7 at first, but it just didn't happen.

When I first saw him at the dealer's, the dealer said he was 6, I thought, "Good, not too young." Then he looked at his teeth and said 5. Got him vetted, and the vet said he was definitely 4 . But I'd already decided by then .

Every now and then though, when he does something wrong (like spooking at everything in sight on solo hacks...), I think OMG I BOUGHT A FOUR-YEAR-OLD !

I'm amazed you guys haven't been shouting "NO" at me!! That makes me feel like shouting "woo hoo - I'm not mad. My dream is not crazy!"
Alicetheinvisible - that's what I want....a lifelong friend for me and eventually DD.
PlanetEarth - that was a bit of a suprise for you, I bet.
As I'd be main rider (for a while) those "hiccups" would be for me to deal with, as DD would only be riding under strict supervision/handling.
So you guys reckon go for it??

If it is the right horse and you have the right support then why not?

Pixel (don't know if you have 'met' her yet) has a youngster and has suffered with her nerves, but is getting there with help from a good instructor.

My grandma (who is very knowledgeable, an instructor etc) bought me a green 5yr old when i was 13. This pony (the connemara mentioned above) had only hunted in ireland and done nothing else and we had a load of 'teething' problems but he is now on the 3rd member of our family, having doing PC eventing and hunting with me, PC area and affiliated dressage and hunting with one cousin and is now pottering around doing the odd bit of dressage and some hacking with another cousin.

It is when someone comes on with "I have been offered this 16hh horse for free, it has had some problems in the past, but as i used to ride my friend's shetland, it will be fine won't it?"

Good luck and keep us updated

I would say trust your judgement. Re age, everything I've ever seen says Don't buy a youngster if you're a novice, i.e. stick to 8 and upwards. However, everyone at the yard, who has actually met my horse - including the vet who gave him a tooth inspection the other day with a realy scary looking contraption - says what a lovely temperament he has , and how he's better behaved and calmer than many of the older horses there. Of course, by definition, they haven't seen him on his spooky solo hacks lol. He's a different horse though with someone walking beside him (as I do with the kids), and I'm hoping that time and repetition will give him confidence when he goes out on his own.

People seem to have teething problems whatever horse they get. One woman at the yard bought an 18 year old and had problems catching him for 6 months...