Big people and M&M

[Vicki&Milo]

I was just wondering whether the whole 'pleasing picture' works the same in M&M where most of the ponies/horses are bred to carry proportionally big weights.

I have seen 1920's show schedules where NF ponies had specific races with fully grown men on their backs, but this is obviously different these days.

I ride a 13.3hh NF, he carries me fine (with added bucks to prove it) but I am 5ft6 and therefore suffer from dangley leg syndrome when he's not really really fat. Would I be marked down for this in M&M classes. In my opinion, his ability to carry the weight should be a bonus.


Vicki xx

[Mehitabel]

it depends. officially, as long as your size is not causing the pony's way of going to suffer - for instance, if you're too heavy and it is causing the pony to shuffle and not stride out well - then it doesn't matter.

in practice, in a strong class, the judge's eye can be drawn to the more pleasing picture, or they might just look at you and think 'something's not right about that'. however, plenty of taller people do ride the smaller ponies, and i've seen plenty win when i've thought it'd look better with the rider chopped off at the ankles. so it's not a big problem, and a decent judge ought to be able to assess the pony on its merits. it's the kind of thing where you might be pulled in first lower due to the first 'picture', and go up on closer inspection if the pony deserves it.

[Wally]

Don't they have a class in the NF show for riders over 11 stone only. If you are a lightweight you are not allowed to enter!

You can be tall and ride a small horse and have dangly legs, in fact you are better to ride a small horse with a long leg as your leg weight acts as a counter balance.

It drives me crazy to see tall rider on small horses take theri stirrups up in an effort to make the horse look bigger. All they do is make themselves un balanced and hard work for the pony to carry.

Sadly this is a dreadful habit you see in the UK Shetland pony world. In Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany etc. there is a bigger tradition of tall folk on Icelandics so they know how to ride a small horse well. Here they stick a tall rider on a Shetland and hoik up the stirrups so the poor pony is struggling as is the rider.

[Mehitabel]

yes, they have a weight carriers' class at the breed show. skinny riders can enter, but have to have lead weights in a saddle cloth and all are weighed beforehand.

[Vicki&Milo]

yes, they have a weight carriers' class at the breed show. skinny riders can enter, but have to have lead weights in a saddle cloth and all are weighed beforehand.

I think Milo would run a mile at just the thought, he likes to think he's pretty pathetic. I'm not heavey, just dangley-muches off to find photo to prove point.

ETA And I definitely would run a mile at the thought of being weighed! :eek:

[Vicki&Milo]

Not the best picture (legs forward-big Milo belly, he's lost about 3 inches round his girth since then), but you get the idea
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/vickiollie/DSC_0824.jpg

[Mehitabel]

goodness, that's not leg-dangley! you'll be absolutely fine.

[Vicki&Milo]

That was with some serious belly though, OH has taken my camrea to work in his rucksack, so will find the new ones when he gets in.

My legs aren't disproportionately long to my body, just compared to a littler person it doesn't look too nice.

Vicki

[Vicki&Milo]

Updated pic.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/vickiollie/CIMG2050.jpg

[Mehitabel]

ok, side on you do look a bit tall - move the saddle back a good six inces so it sits flat on his back and that will help the picture a lot.

but in the ring, that size is not going to be a problem at all.

[Vicki&Milo]

I hadn't noticed that until you mention it, my saddle was really far forward (coughs) will assume it slipped while I was riding, I'm really embarassed by that, mind you, he is a typical whitherless pony.

Vicki

[Vicki&Milo]

If he is a witherless pony, try a crupper.

I suggested it to his mum (I'm his sharer/rider/part loaner-call it what you will) but instead he bought a non slip pad (rubber with gripper bits on). I tried it once and in my opinion it made it worse, as the saddle stopped fitting so well.

We are also going through a girth changing stage due to his enormous fat loss, so hopefully this is a good chacne to get it sorted.

Vicki xx

[Daffy Dilly]

Get a shortish hacking jacket, and wear tall dressage style long boots. Also wear a fairly short hat - veer more towards something like the Showjumper XP than the H2000. The short jacket will stop you looking as tall on top, as will the hat, and the long boots will stop your legs looking so long. Brightish breeches will also help draw the judges eye to the middle of you when they're looking at you, so again you wont seem quite so tall.

I don't think you look big (in pretty-picture terms) at all. Although if you want an excuse to eat lots of chocolate, you might look shorter if you were plumper. ;)

[Vicki&Milo]

I don't think you look big (in pretty-picture terms) at all. Although if you want an excuse to eat lots of chocolate, you might look shorter if you were plumper. ;)

Nice idea, I'll speak to the pony about it, although judging by the puffs of discontent I get when I approach with my riding hat now I don't think he'll approve.

Vicki xx

[Wally]

You look absolutely fine.

Don't know what you are worried about.

Here's me on one of our Icelandics

http://www.newrider.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20926&d=1117307873

[Vicki&Milo]

You look absolutely fine.

Don't know what you are worried about.

Here's me on one of our Icelandics

http://www.newrider.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20926&d=1117307873

Fair point I guess, somehow Milo just doesn't seem like he should have someone big on him, he's not particularly chunky-although it might help if his feathers were a bit more fluff and a bit less ud :rolleyes: maybe I am just turning into an old woman who feel like she's riding a kids pony.

Vicki xx

[Mehitabel]

the saddlecloth doesn't help the picture there either though - as it's big it covers his whole back and makes you look considerably bigger, i think.
honestly, you will not look out of place at all in the ring.

[Vicki&Milo]

Yeah, I'm not sure the disney saddle cloth does a lot for him, practical though! I bought him a cream numnah for christmas, but its way too big, so think I will have to track one down for a little sized show hunter saddle.

Show hunter ha ha ha ha ha

Vicki xx