14.2 Pony

[Theresalotgoingon]

Buying our daughter’s first horse after many years in riding school. Wanting something safe, lovely temperament, easy in all ways but something that she can have fun with and start doing more than just riding school eg jumping and trying cross country. Seems it’s really hard to find!!! We’ve been looking for months and either the horse isn’t as simple / safe as the ad says, or it’s too young (lots of 5-7yr olds), over budget, it’s being sold by known dodgy dealers or its failed vet check. It’s a minefield.

We’ve finally found one she loves and she’s ridden it a couple of times. Exactly what we need temperament wise, 10yrs old and in excellent health. However she’s 14.2hh. My daughter is 15, 5ft 2 and is 10 stone. I’m very conscious after reading the active thread this isn’t far from the 15-20% limit. But I’m thinking we buy her and if she can build confidence in a year then we can move up to 15+ hands and our options will open up with her being a more skilled rider. What are people’s thoughts?

@beamberpandai can believe you still think your heavy 17 year old “child” is fine to ride a 12.2hh pony after we all told you yesterday you were bang out of order.

what are you thinking??

it’s cruel to put an overweight adult on a little pony not much bigger than a shetland. if you dont believe us ask your vet.

even the place you tried to get your 17 year old onto a tiny pony for the summer pony club (or whatever it was) refused. it’s not all of us. it’s you who is being unreasonable.

you seriously need to take a hint. you are being cruel. stop it now for the pony’s health.

If you saw her you wouldn't even think that. she looks fine and rides really lightly. happy to prove it.

@BeAmberPanda riding light is bollocks , you may be balanced but 12 stone is 12 stone , it can’t be lighter or heavier than that .

could your scales be wrong and shes lighter than she thinks?

if the scales are right she should not be on that pony. far too heavy. i’ve seen two ponies with sway backs due to this. they must have been in pain.

due to this? how on earth do you know

Thank you all for your comments and discussion it’s been really helpful and interesting! We decided to go for it and took delivery of the 14.2hh pony 2 weeks ago. She has been a dream and apart from minor settling foibles she has been lovely. We have had her back and saddle checked by a chiropractor and explained what she’s needed for and he has confirmed she’s in excellent shape and condition and the saddle fits well - all meaning that she is absolutely fine for my daughter to ride.

I’m really pleased we made this choice - she is absolutely the right horse for now which is what @maxellycommented. Also I should add as this is our first horse when we’ve had a few settling in issues like her not wanting to go into stable or being a bit scared by tractor, I am SO glad she is 14.2hh and not 15.2hh!

And as a few people have commented - in just 2 weeks of horse ownership my daughter has seen her fitness rocket!

So glad it's working out well for you!

Very pleased that it’s working out for you all @Theresalotgoingon

fitness rocket and weight come down?

She gets weighed once a month as part of medication she’s on so we’ll find out then but I’m confident she’s certainly not put any on!

I think you’re underestimating it a bit. It’s been 3 years since we had our pony in a digital weighbridge but he was a gangly 4yo then coming out of a winter living out and was no taller than 14hh probably more like 13.3 and he was 410. He’s now grown a good couple of inches, filled in to his frame, built muscle, gone up 2 rug sizes so I’d expect him to be quite a bit heavier. Dc are starting to look big on him now at around 5’4 though and I agree showjumper 14.2 and average riding horse 14.2 are 2 entirely different measurement scales 😆. Pc friend recently brought her 148 show jumper to a test training day as her pc pony was lame and it towered above ours. Same in pony racing the 148’s are all actual tb horses and our little pony is dwarfed 🤣

That’s useful as you can monitor quietly without having to draw too much attention to it

Definitely true for many showjumping 148s 😀 having said that, those huge 148s were measured in a while ago, as measuring is MUCH stricter now. I think because of complaints about Team GB ponies being huge at previous Europeans, the FEI is super strict with measuring now. It's very difficult to get a big 148 measured in (especially FEI) nowadays.