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Original poster

Future proofing pony choice

36 replies

Blankscreen · 12/04/2025 00:30

I've posted on here recently about the issues with our new pony. I completely misjudged my daughter's riding ability.

It's been a rollercoaster 3 months but we have just sold our pony and whilst we need to reflect I do want to get another one. I enjoy having a horse in our lives so I am considering options.

Dd is 11 and 4'11. The pony we have just sold is 14.1 but quite slender. A couple of people commented that she could probably go bigger if I want the pony to last.

I'm at a loss as to where to start.

Anything suitable in 14.2 range are £12k plus.

Step down 13.3.-14.h and they are circa £8.5k which is my max budget.

I just can't afford £12k.

Part of me thinks just get the best pony I can for what is right for now and be happy if it lasts 2-3 years by which times she'll probably be ready to step up or hold out for something slightly bigger in the hope it lasts her 'forever' in terms of size.

I'vee seen a nice 14h chunky gelding for sale that sound wonderful but I'm worried he won't last that long. He takes up the leg as he's round.

I'm not sure I can buy a pony for an 11 year old that will last her forever but find the whole process overwhelming I can't face doing it again anytime soon .

What would you do?

OP posts:
nancypineapple · 12/04/2025 06:08

I'm sorry it hasnt worked out for your dd- personally I would buy the pony that's right for your daughter now and get both your confidence up. So probably a 13 2 if she's only 4ft 11 - my dd still has her first pony as we will never sell her due to her age(24) Dd is now 5ft 5 and 13 but is very slim and we still gently hack her. She's been such a confidence giver -I could send them both out together on a small off road track and know she would bring dd home safe.
So my advice would be to get the safe not exciting option- an older school master/ mistress.
We have a new young 148 competition pony who is beautiful but a handful and very strong ( warmblood) There's no way dd could have handled the new pony when younger as she's spooky and very lively. Also not bombproof especially when hacking- I've had to stop traffic when out with them both before so dd is not allowed to hack without an adult as the mares too spooky. I've been having doubts over her suitability this winter but dd adores her and has learnt so much and the mare is kind and not nasty.
Good luck in your search-word of mouth is probably your best bet now to find a good solid pony.

Original poster
Blankscreen · 12/04/2025 06:39

Thanks for your words of wisdom. Thats what I'm thinking but I so doubtful after I got it so wrong last time.

Absolutely don't want the exciting young option - that's what we've just sold and it's
been a disaster for my dd's confidence. 😢

OP posts:
Pleasedontdothat · 12/04/2025 08:02

I don’t think it’s possible to get a pony that’s going to last her forever - not just size-wise but ability-wise too as what she needs now may well not be what she needs in 2-3 years. Once you get to 14.2’ you’re in the section of the market where lots of people are going for the same ponies as smallish adults can ride 14.2s as well as children. Dd has recently had a 9 year old Connie in to sell for his owner and she was overwhelmed with genuine interest as soon as his ad went up. He was up for £12k but she could probably have put him on for a bit more.

The ideal for your dd now would be to have a long term loan of an outgrown pony - if you’re in pony club that would be the best way to find one. In our branch there were a couple of stalwarts that had taught the ropes to several families and were still going strong in their mid-late twenties.

Original poster
Blankscreen · 12/04/2025 08:55

We're not in the pony club i'd love to be but work pretty much full time so just can't get to the rallies etc.

These are my thoughts, no pony is likely to last her forever. There is a real peak of prices it seems at the 14.2 range which then tales off at 15.1 ish.

OP posts:
Nellieinthebarn · 12/04/2025 09:54

For what its worth I rode a 13.2 Fell pony as a 5'3'' adult, and had a sharer who was 5'6''. He was absolutely fine, he did pony club things with her, popped a good jump, and hacking and low level dressage with me.

A nice well sprung native pony or cob will last a lot longer than you think. They really take up the leg.

Pleasedontdothat · 12/04/2025 11:39

@Blankscreen it would be worth checking out other nearby pony clubs - at ours the rallies were almost always at the weekend - there would be the occasional weekday rally in the school holidays but the majority of parents were working so it had to work for us as well as our kids.

Sherbert77 · 12/04/2025 13:30

I have a stocky 13.2hh cob allrounder and I’m a 5ft 8 adult. My pony is a fantastic confidence giver and I do all sorts-jumping/dressage/showing/funrides. Most important is the confidence giving-confidence is hard to build and so easy to lose

BrickHedgehog · 12/04/2025 14:46

It might be worth trying to find a share or loan for a few months to get your daughters confidence back and then look for a stocky cob type around 14hh which may well last her .

Original poster
Blankscreen · 12/04/2025 14:59

The one we've seen is 14h and stocky described as confidence giver etc etc. from a dealer with an excellent reputation. She will offer a trial and no quibble return.

It's a long drive and couldn't face going all that way for him to be too small.

In the pictures he looks a bit small but I've checked and the person on him is 5'11 so that probably explains it!

OP posts:
WelshPony · 12/04/2025 17:36

Whereabouts in the country are you, I might know of a loan pony that would suit?

countrygirl99 · 12/04/2025 17:44

I know plenty of adults riding ponies. I used to ride a 13.2.

Pleasedontdothat · 12/04/2025 18:46

Blankscreen · 12/04/2025 14:59

The one we've seen is 14h and stocky described as confidence giver etc etc. from a dealer with an excellent reputation. She will offer a trial and no quibble return.

It's a long drive and couldn't face going all that way for him to be too small.

In the pictures he looks a bit small but I've checked and the person on him is 5'11 so that probably explains it!

Is that L R at Bxxxxxxll Stables by any chance? Just a note of caution - every single horse there is described as a confidence giver/suitable for a novice .. chances are they can’t all be …

Yes you get a week’s trial but a week is no time at all to find out what a horse is really like - the horses are taken back and refunded if not suitable but the buyer still has to pay for transport there and back which won’t be cheap if you’re not local.

Original poster
Blankscreen · 12/04/2025 20:54

Yes that's the dealer.

That makes me worry 😩

We're in Surrey

OP posts:
britnay · 13/04/2025 11:36

Realistically, how tall is she likely to grow? Does she carry her height in her legs or her torso?
I'm a 5ft3 adult and my ponies are 13.1hh and 13.3hh. I have short legs, and both of them carry me easily, both height and weight-wise.

WithoutACherryOnTheTop · 13/04/2025 18:14

I'd go smaller and would ask your local pony club/s (there will be contact email/phone numbers for them online) if anyone has something suitable coming up for loan. Often people won't sell on their ponies (especially if they are getting on a bit) once their child has outgrown them but are happy to loan them instead.

Ineedanewsofa · 13/04/2025 18:23

DD is 9 and 5”2’(!) already, her loan pony is a 13.2 Welsh B cross and we hope they’ll be together for a while yet as pony takes up the leg really well. Hoping to skip the 14.2s entirely and move her straight to horses when the time comes!
Edited to add - we found our loan exactly how PPs above are advising, asked local pony clubs and DDs instructor to keep an ear out for us. Pony has to stay on owners yard so we can’t move but it’s a small price to pay for a fabulous pony

RedPony1 · 14/04/2025 14:51

Get the pony that's right now, for sure!

sheep73 · 17/04/2025 22:47

How did you sell the pony? was it via sales livery?

As people have said it would be an error to buy one to 'grow into'. Might be better to have some more regular riding lessons before taking the plunge again?

Original poster
Blankscreen · 17/04/2025 22:58

Yes we sold him. He sold Monday.

I advertised him and was inundated but in the end a girl at our yard bought him.

They always liked him and she tried him and fell in love.

She's 16 and exactly what he needs. It's nice because he's not had to be disrupted and we still get to see him. I was worried DD would find it hard but she's fine as the girl is 5 years older and DD understands that's she's more experienced.

Looking back I don't know what I was thinking buying a rising 6 pony for my 11 year old daughter.

I've cried lots of tears but seeing what the new girl is doing already makes me realise how mismatched my DD and him were

OP posts:
sheep73 · 18/04/2025 06:02

oh wow that's lovely he's gone to someone you know. well done!

liveforsummer · 18/04/2025 11:07

My tall 15 year old is still riding our 14hh/14.1 at a push. He’s a cob cross but doesn’t especially take up the leg. I ride him and am 5’8. You’ve already over horsed her once so I wouldn’t be looking to buy bigger than she needs. You also probably don’t need to spend the sort of money you describe if you aren’t looking for a competitive type of pony. What is it that your dd wants to do?

Sugarcube84 · 18/04/2025 11:25

As an adult I bought my myself a 4 year old fell pony he matured to 13.2 and I still ride him (5ft2 no idea in weight but size 10/12)

I wouldn’t be looking purely on size she’s not overly tall for her age.

Bourbonbonbon · 18/04/2025 11:29

I would get the pony that's right for now because her needs and interests may be different in the future. But don't buy too quickly.

Bourbonbonbon · 18/04/2025 11:34

It sounds like you're believing that the ponies for sale are as advertised. This is not a good idea unless everyone says they are to be trusted.

You have to be prepared to get in the car and drive to an investment like this. Or pay for someone like Elsa Rice from Golden Ponies to go and try him.

Needapadlockonmyfridge · 18/04/2025 11:38

A loan might be worth looking at , if you can find one? My kids had loans for the most part.

I am in a different area, but apart from in school holidays, rallies were at weekends. Most of us PC mums were working f/t. PC was always a good place to find the next pony, too. Definitely worth seeing what your local branch setup is, it might be more accessible than you think.

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