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

The older ones are the worst i think!

Great to hear positive things.
Alicetheinvisible - the connemara sounds lovely and it just shows that green ponies can turn out to be good ones, with time and patience.
PlanetEarth - your horse sounds lovely. You must be relieved after discovering his age that he's so sensible/calm/good tempered.

Yeah, he is lovely [smiley]. And sensible except for the spooking (farm machinery fair enough, but wheelie bins? rocks? puddles? My horse is a wuss!) I did know that when I bought him though - the hack I took him on at the dealer's was my spookiest ever , but I'm banking on him growing out of it. Don't think I'd have bought such a spooky horse if he was 10!

Well I have recently bought a 4yo section A for DD. He was a bit of a rescue case and extremely cheap. I was prepared for him to not be suitable for quite some time if ever but he is the softest, sweetest most bomb proof pony I have ever met. I keep expecting him to do something awful but he is comnsistently brilliant and my DD's riding has come on so much since we've had him. The only downside to him is he is tiny (only 11hh, but DD is only 5 still) and he has some sort of pollen/dust allergy.

Emdanmum - I'd go for it too if you feel the Welsh is right for you. You obviously have experience and a conscience - two things that far too many horse owners seem to lack.

Callisto that's great news about your sec A....you must be so pleased
And you're right, I do have a conscience
A bit too much of one sometimes........DH took a lot of convincing to get this far. Now I'm worried I'm being too pushy, and may lose my nerve!!

Just wanted to give a little update.
At the end of the summer hols we bought the lovely Dartmoor pony for DD (after lots of thought-and a price reduction -decided to concentrate on DD's riding for a while). He's super. My DS has also had a ride on him and the pony seems to switch easily from lead rein to a bit more lively for DD.
Had decided that Welsh pony would not happen. However, he's now been reduced in price and DH has said he'd like to buy him for me as a Birthday pressie
I am going to look at him within the next week, and can't believe my luck!!

Delighted that your Dartie is working out!

Careful though Emdanmum, that's how our herd started, with a pony that couldn't carry the adults!!!!

Hope you love the Welshie. What a nice DH you have! Does he ride?

fab news all round emdanmum, hope the welsh x purchase happens

Thanks everybody

Butkin-He's a star. DD loves him :)

olderyetwider-a herd-how many do you have??

DH is lovely. He has his cars, so it's only fair that I get a hobby! He doesn't ride, but I think he could be pursuaded to have a little go.

Loshad-I hope it happens too. Already fallen for him