What size pony to loan for dd?

[allgonebellyup]

My dd is 11 and tall-ish for her age but slim build, i would say she's around 4'8 or 4'9.
She has got used to riding my mare who is 15'1hh but now at her riding school they have her riding a 12hh pony which she feels safer on.
We are trying to find an ideal height pony for her to loan but she is insisting she doesnt want one above 13'2hh, but i think she should go slightly bigger?
(also as i want to ride it too and i am 5'6!)
Im worried mostly that she may outgrow it fairly quickly- her dad is 6'4 and im not sure if she is going the same way..

We've got a chunky 13.2, I am happy on him (not when he is being a twit obviously) and I'm about your height I think (1.6m) or quite nearly? I've got short legs and a longish body though, it's weight rather than height isn't it?

I meant to say, a chunky 13.2 for my 11yo but got sidetracked by my own fascinating vital statistics there. If that's her upper limit it could work for you too, I suppose it depends how much bone the pony has.

What does she want to do with it? Even at our riding club showss she would have to compete against adults if she went over 13.2hh

DD is nearly 10, tallish and slim and has a 12.2hh section B we bought recently. She's got at least 3 years on him and it gives her the chance to develop her skills without being on something too big. I do have a bit of a thing about seeing kids "over horsed" though, especially when the horse ends up strapped down in tonnes of gadgets not because he's really strong but to make the child feel more secure.

I'm 5'7", 56kg and regularly ride a 13.2hh.

Wow, you all seem to put yours on much smaller ponies than we do! Ds at 8 is on a 13.2 (although he is a slight pony). Dd at 13 is on 14.2 (to keep her in pony jumping) but regularly rides my horse as well (the 15.3 not the 17hh ) but they are all carefully selected and we would never gadget them down, either the horse is suitable or they do not ride it IYSWIM. Dd2 is 6yo and on a 12.2 but regularly rides the 13.2. I am 5'6 and am far too big for dds 14.2, there is no way I could ride the 13.2!

Anyway, back to you
Could you convince her to try a larger pony at the school just to see how she feels? It does sound like she may have been overfaced a bit riding yours and decided to bring herself back down a bit?

Anyway

I think you are worrying to much about the possibility that she might sprout up in a little while. After all you are talking about a loan pony, I'm assuming you don't intend to keep it forever anyway. I'd let her choose the one she feels most comfortable on, but encourage her to keep an open mind and try out some bigger ones too before she rules them out completely.

Not sure whre the random "anyway" came from, sorry!

DGD got pony on loan when she was 9. He's 13.3hh but very fine. I'm beginning to think she's getting a bit big on him, (now 11, but no weight at all) but we've now bought him (because I am besotted with his loveliness, and he will never leave us) and he still has stuff to teach her. Better a bit under-horsed than over horsed at this age, and a loan horse goes back after she outgrows him

I'd go for confidence building, and get her the pony that makes you (and her) happy for her to push herself a bit. The right horse will find you!

I think between 13.hh and 14hh would be about right. And unless you get something of a fine build you would be able to ride it too. My mare is 13hh and very stocky - she is my main riding horse now since selling my ID, I am 5'7.

Get a 13.2 native type. I had a 13 hh newforest. She was marvellous, and although I'm short (5'2) I'm no lightweight.

Thanks for advice- have been looking for sturdy NF type!!