Could I ride dd’s pony?

[MayDayHelp]

Bought a reg welsh section C today for dd, he’s a twelve year old 13.2hh.

I’m 5’8” and weigh 9.5 stone. Would it be a cruelty to the pony if I rode him once in a while? Our situation is that we have a cob which I usually ride but actually belongs to my DM. She has had a double knee replacement and is just starting to ride again, but it’s once in a blue moon and I ride the cob most days. My DM gets a bit nervous about riding out alone so I was wondering if I could ride DD’s pony on the rare occasions DM wants to ride? It would literally be a walk around the village (DM won’t trot at the moment) but there are steep hills.

[ITonyah]

I used to ride my dds 14hh and I'm 5 8 and was 11 stone. He was fine, evented with dd and hacked with me. I miss him he was lovely to ride.

[Vanhi]

You'll be fine. I'm 5'7" and 9 stone and I will ride a stocky 12.2. Don't go too far or too fast, dismount for anything steep up or down - downhill can actually be quite difficult for horses.

[Floralnomad]

I’m 5’8” and I sometimes ride a 14.3 hh and that would be as small as I’d go as I’m too big for her but she’s a very difficult ride and it’s hard to find smaller people who can manage her behaviour issues . The problem with being under mounted is that it does make you more unstable if they spook / trip etc although it’s obviously closer to the ground if you do part company .

[britnay]

You'll be fine! You'll look a bit tall, but weight wise you'll be no problem for a welshie of that size.

[VisionQuest]

I don't think he looks fine at all. He can easily carry your weight. You might look slightly ridiculous as you're quite tall but he can certainly cope with a plod around the block every now and again!

[maxelly]

I think you'll be alright to just potter in walk very occasionally, a typical welsh of that size will weigh 300-350kg, using the 20% rule as a guide his weight limit would be 60-70kg, so you are at the upper limit when the saddle is taken into account but should be just about OK. Get off and walk up the hills if you are worried about his back?

[frankie246]

You would be absolutely fine on him. You may look tall on him but weight wise ok. I'm quite shocked at people saying you would be too heavy.

[FurrySlipperBoots]

I really don't think it would be fair. You could just walk him out on the lead reign while your mum rides hers.

[MayDayHelp]

There’s no danger of me doing too much on him. It would literally be a walk around the village once a month at the most. I did ride him today when we went to try him and he lived to tell the tale .

[lastqueenofscotland]

He looks quite fine you’ll probably be very tall on him but light enough for a walk around the village. I wouldn’t want to be doing too much with him.

[Troels]

I think your too tall for him.

[MayDayHelp]

No idea what he weighs - I have a weighing tape so will weigh him when I get him home. Not sure on tack either yet, I am hoping I have a saddle to fit him as he doesn’t come with tack but again won’t know until I get him back to our yard.

[Booboostwo]

You will look very tall on him but you are slim enough provided you are a competent and balanced rider. That is, a heavier but balanced rider will be easier to carry than a lighter rider who loses their balance often.

[Rosieposy4]

What does he weigh, what does your tack weigh?, absolute max is 20% of horses weight with dressed rider and tack. If doing any more strenuous work then should be less than 15%.