Will a 14.2 be too small for my tall, slim 13 year old dd?

[naranji]

Have found a lovely pony that dd loves. He is 14.2 and not hugely built (welsh x wb). She looks great on him. She's about 5.5 I'd say, I am 5.8 and shes a couple of inches shorter than me. A few people have said she'll have outgrown him in a year. We have looked at a couple of 15.2's and she felt overhorsed on them. Feeling dithery!

I'd keep her on ponies if you can, especially if she competes. She sounds like my 13 year old, who I was having just the same dilemna with earlier this year. I think that as long as the pony isn't too old (or young!) then a good 14.2hh will always sell on once she's outgrown him (and that may not be for quite a while). If she feels overhorsed on a bigger one then I'd listen to that, you don't want her to lose confidence.

Agree with 50 - keep her on ponies. 14.2 isn't so small and if she is happier on a smaller size then go with that. As someone said to me when I was looking for a pony for my DD last year, buy the right sized pony now, not what you think the right size will be in a year.

I'd go for it, DD is 12 and 5'4" but looks fine on her solid 133cm welsh b. Her friend (who is a couple of inches shorter) was bought a 15hh and they have had to keep the 13hh on as friend can't cope with doing a lot of her preferred activities on 15hh as it's just too much.

Our DD is only just 10 so can't imagine what she'll look like as a 13yo but I'd definitely recommend the 14.2. This is the same size as our Connemara and she is fine for adults and teenagers whereas my old boy was 15.1 and was a proper step up.

Also with ponies you can compete much easier as a teenager.

Thanks. Just had a good reference from the pony club dc - his last owner was very nervous and he looked after her. Dd is NOT a nervous rider - far from it :-/ - so hope he will be sparky enough...

Me and my sister have had our ponies for about 10 years, I'm just short of 6' and weight about 9.5 stone and she's a solid 14'1 fell, I kinda look like a spider on a pin head but still love riding her, to the other bigger ones and she's more than capable of carrying me, my bigger ones have come and gone but she's still there being a stroppy little mare!!

When I got my first pony , a welsh x Arab 14.2 dainty pony, I was exactly then same size and age as your dd . She lasted me 32 years , and we did XC , pony club , mounted games and long distance , and she never ever slowed up . If she loves him, then do it . I think there s a fashion to go bigger , but it's not always better IMO .

Thank you! All reassuring. There is definitely a fashion for big big horses. I don't really need to worry about him being outgrown because I have two younger dds who both ride who can move onto him - just not sure how I will fund a move to a bigger horse in a few years!

You'll just do without everything for yourself (again) to fund the replacement in a few years

Also, re sparkiness, it's easier to spark up a good pony than slow down a nutter. GD's first pony only got wizzy once she was competent and confident. Till then he just looked after her. You'll probably find that the pony goes up a gear with your dd, especially if she regularly does exciting stuff with him

im 5 4 and ride a 14.2.

dd is learning on same pony - she is 5ft 7 and 7st 12. she is a bit tall but its fine.

14.2 is perfect for me though. RI said the same other week....i sometimes ride a 16.2 HH cob but he is massive for me. gentle as a lamb though, but not a novice ride.
(im very much a novice!)

My DD is 13, 5'4 and rides a 14.2 as of this week so it seems reasonable to me.

I'm 5'7" and happily ride a 15 hander. He has the heart of a lion and rides like a big horse (and having spent 8 years riding a 17.3hh hunter I feel reasonably qualified to know what a big horse feels like!) He happily pops 5ft hedges out hunting - he is not especially 'sparky' to hack or hunt, but I suspect if I ever get round to competing him he will wipe the floor with the fizzier-looking bigger horses out there!

I am constantly bemused by people who worry their teenager will grow out of a 14.2hh pony. Most teenage girls I know who ride are leggy, slim things who who don't look out of place on a pony even if they are tall. As you say, there is a fashion for big horses. But there are also a lot of over-horsed kids out there.

Keep her on ponies, especially if you have found one she loves.