11hh pony or forever type 14hh for 6 year old child? help

[anydreamwilldo]

Have to make a decision, both lovely ponies. The little one she will love but fear she will outgrow it and be heart-broken when he has to move on. Don't want to over-horse her with the cob, but we could keep him forever ........ don't know what to do. Any ideas welcome, probably lots of things I haven't thought of? Thanks

[Muddiboots]

def the little one, overhorsing a small child is the quickest way to put them off.
Just logistically it hurts a lot less falling off an 11h pony than a 14h cob, let alone if said pony accidenally treads on you.
The 11h one she can groom, tack up (wouldnt be able to lift saddle onto 14h!) bath , lead about etc
If you want to do any pony club stuff, at tat age she will be a fish out of water on a bigger pony.
Think about a lifetime pony at the next change up :)

[marialuisa]

Am amazed at those saying go for the cob. I'd be concerned about whether your DD will be able to improve and progress as any 14hh cob that's steady enough for a 6 year old to ride is unlikely to be the sort of ride a confident 13 year old will want.

[JokersGiggle]

With the cob your giving her a friend for life rather than just a few years

[JokersGiggle]

Cob! My.parents did that for me when I was 8 (even though I was very short.....still am lol)
I've still got him ! He's ancient but can't part with him. I think having a small pony that one day the child still have to part with, even of it is just to loan will be very sad for her x

[Floralnomad]

You could just keep the little one when you outgrow it ,if necessary get a sharer or loan it out , as a family we have never sold a horse / pony on , that said I've never loaned or shared either . We still have our Dartmoor pony (11.1) that my son had when he was 6 , they're both 21 now !

[Lovesswimming]

I would for the 11h you'll be able to do much more much earlier and if you go to any little shows you won't be allowed to do the classes on anything over 12.2h in her age group (up to about aged 8/9 I think)
Also you never know what will happen. If you go for the 14hh you can't guarantee he won't go lame, be ill etc where you wouldn't be able to keep him. Your daughter at some point will have to part with a horse. My daughters 1st pony ended up with suspensory ligament problems after 2 years trying to sort it we re homed her. My daughter cried but knew it was for the best, was fine quite quickly and we have kept in touch over Facebook. I suppose what I'm saying is that by going for the 14h horse you are not guaranteeing that you won't have to part with a horse.

[MrsTomHardy]

I would go for the cob