Why did you choose your pony?

[No_Angel]

I thought it would be interesting to ask why the adults chose thier pony.
Is it because ponies are safer? Smaller? More fun? Easier to buy? Cheaper? Less scary?

I find my ponies real fun, and they are so much sharper and quicker than my horses, I wouldnt say they are always easier as Shay manages to drag me around alot more than my big tb mares.

[lor]

I chose mine because i had spent many holidays on Exmoor, Somerset since a child and had seen the ponies on the moor. They are mystical wild, and hard to spot on the moor. After owning thoroughbreds and competed at BHTA level, i decided to try something different. I always dreamed of owning an exmoor and now i do. I think you actually need to be a decent rider to ride a pony. You have to have better balance, they move much quicker, in any direction and have a different mind to a horse. I am a better rider since owning my exmoor pony and do not wish i owned a horse instead, although i have owned some fantastic horses who i will always love dearly.

It helps that ponies are tough, sound and think for themselves. I dont think anyone should make their mind up about adults riding ponies until they have had a fair bit of experience of them themselves. Infact, lets keep it quiet, so there are more ponies for us lot:D

[NoviceNic]

Im not that confident on the ground. Used to ride a 13 3hh pony in my lessons so was happy to own a 14hh max pony. Went to meet Captain a 14 2hh pony.:eek: Talked myself into not worry about the 2 inches when he groomed me the first time we met......Fell in love instantly, the rest is history.:D

[notpoodle]

i'm not the most confident person either, and am a lot happier handling something that isn't 16hh or something! even though i learned to ride on big horses, loaned a big horse and none of my riding schools as a kid had ponies, once i had sampled the smaller ones on holiday at an icelandic horse stud, i was hooked. everything seemed a lot easier and i find the little ones have more er character :)

i'd seen exmoors in books as a kid and always thought they must be pretty amazing (all the descriptions in my pony books said they're very strong and can carry a grown man easily! i thought that was cool cos then i would never grow out of one!), but didn't really think i'd find one i like because they're so rare!

angel forced herself upon me by means of an ad with no picture! she sounded absolutely perfect for me as my first pony :)

by the time i saw her little ears poking over the stable door when i first saw her, she had already sold herself (before i even tried riding her or anything), i just knew we'd get along like a house on fire :D

three years on, she has not disappointed me once (ok, she threw me off but that wasn't her fault!). i could easily do without the sweet itch and her breathing woes though :)

JUlia
x

[ShariN]

Easier to get on and off of. Cheaper to feed, more hardy....and so on.:D
But I will tell you.. Icelandic's are not cheaper in price. We have tons of big gaited horses in this country..for a lot less money.

[tabithakat64]

because I felt sorry for her, because I loved her strong will and her speed :D

[Showjumper]

Because Dolly is simply amazing! :D Ponies are great fun, cheeky characters, whizzy, intelligent, hardy, cheap to keep, easy to get on and off and did I mention great fun? :D

[holiday]

I bought my 12.2hh stallion as a 5 month old colt, with the intention of breeding lead rein ponies, i then showed him successfully at county level, then continued to break and compete him at dressage, he has just proved to be consistent, reliable, correct, trainable, superb in his temperament, works hard to please, tries his best even when mum says lets try even harder!!, and most of all hes pretty, handsom, gorgeous, kissable, cuddly and just pocket size!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate to think of the day i dont have him!!!!!! We have just had a foal by him but i would like him cloned just a tiny bit bigger as 14.2 to 15.2 is just about right for me!!!!

[baybabe]

because im only 5ft 3 and weigh about 8 1/2 stone i decided 14.2 was big enough easier to get on off tack up groom etc....
husband would have loved it if i bought a huge chunky cob/clydesdale.
but he,ll just have to buy his own.
plus ponies have more character

[Bobbin]

I'm still trying to figure out how I ended up with a 14h pony when I wanted a 15.2 tb x type. Still I don't regret the decision. I tried loads of horses and this was the only one that I just HAD to have.

No if's, no maybe's, I just felt safe on her and you can't put a price on that.

Now I love the fact that she's fiesty and forward going......

[Libbyo]

cause he was perfect. he fitted my description perfectly, and i felt safe riding him!

[Herbie's mummy]

Umm...well i am 15 and my pony is 14hh so the right age and height for the classes i do.
Any bigger abd i would be out my class!

[Bronya]

Well - I paid for the pony because she was sweet, and protected my horse from being bullied by the others, and because she was a natural jumper.

She became my boyfriend's because she decided that was the way it would be - one human per equine - my horse and me, the pony and my bf. She has always liked him, and he likes her cheekiness, and the fact that it's not far to the ground! She adores him and is rather cute, so how could he resist? I will still jump her though when we finally conquer the saddle fitting woes, hopefully with Poohsmate's help!

[julia gulia]

I didn't choose him...I really do believe that he chose me...I feel privileged that he did:o

[KateWooten]

I chose Rosie because she is so very sweet, Summer because she was so cheap, and Tiny because she is just so beautiful (and cheap). JoePony doesn't count, since he's not a pony and I didn't choose him.

To answer the question though - I have ponies and smaller horses because I'm small (5ft) and so I don't need a bigger horse ... and because particularly over here, there is no market for these animals, so they are really cheap - throwaway prices. Of course ...all that's about to change with Teddy o'Connor's big successes - knowing americans, there'll be a huge pony buying spree and I'll be sitting on a fortune, and DH will be after me to sell my friends ... and I won't ... and then there'll be a divorce ... Ho Hum.

[julia gulia]

You can come stay with me Kate:D

[KateWooten]

Do you have space for 2 and a half ponies ... and half a pair of dogs ....

[Kadi]

Was just one of those things that was meant to be call it Fate, destiny, Whatever!:)

I had been horse hunting for 3 long and frustrating months unsuccessfully!:mad:

DP's previous owner and her mum came to our yard to use the floodlit menage one evening at the beginning of December as they had no facilities at theirs.

They had thought about getting something a bit bigger than a pony for daughter to carry on with pony club on.

They hadn't advertised as it was just a thought at this moment in time.

Got chatting to mum whilst daughter was riding, told her I was looking for a horse and she suggested I had a ride on DP.
I did and fell in love, it just felt sooo right I knew I had to have him.

Went to their yard a few days later to take him out for a hack with the Mum.

She suggested I took him home for a trial which I did, and three weeks later I bought him.

Five months down the line I still think it's the best decision I ever made, apart from marrying DH of course! (had to add that just incase he sneeks a look on NR as I suspect sometimes does)lol :D

xxx

[Flony_Pony]

I'm 18. My first pony is 13.3 I got her because she was perfect for what i wanted to do. Happy hacker likes keeping herself to herself. She is very strong and don't think id cope with her any bigger.

My other 14hh was by chance. I had her on loan as i wanted to learn how to back and break, so with lots of help from ppl who knew what they were doing I had ehr on loan and eventually baught her!

I think ponies are more appealing as they are cheaper to keep and buy. And are just the most fun and cutest animals on the planet!!!

[flashy33]

i cant really say but i was at a horse and tack auction to buy some rugs and unusualy i went round to see the horses i saw this little light chestnut foal and i knew i had to have her so went in and bid on her against the meatman i payed a huge £15 for her

[lachlanandmarcu]

I already had a 17hh IDxTB bought so my hubby and I could share, 7 years ago, but this time I decided I wanted an unspoilt youngster just for me.

I knew I wanted something smaller and simpler to keep than my beautiful hunter, and had ridden friends ponies so knew they had go faster stripes.


I was going to get a Highland (am 5'7" and 10.5 stone) but decided they were too strong and also wanted to do long distance riding so looked for something a little smaller but still very strong. Since Ive always had a weakness for duns and palominos (terrible I know) I looked at Fjords and Haflingers, and went to see Haffy breeder first - and fell for my lovely girl! the blonde bombshell....

She was unbroken but now is broken and riding out, and is the light of my life!

[Purple Hugs]

well.. the first one was love and pity at first sight.
He's a section A and was skin and bone, i immediately felt sorry for him and he got under my skin. My daughter was re-gaining confidence after a fall, and needed something from the ground up i felt.. so he was it! decided on him that night with hubbies approval.
Peanuts is now a fully fit lovely lad, ready for his first show :) My daughter.. loves him! is still shy of the odd thing, but is now riding weekly so she can be 'ready' when he's 3 this autumn (he's a late baby). :) he's responded well to training and we love his size. :)

my second.. was this january, and after looking after and sharing 2 16.2's, i found it hard to groom, a whole load more mess, and basically a nightmare to tack up if they put their head in the air... so... i decided it was a pony for me too. :)

I looked at natives as i'm kind of inclinded to support them, and asked around a bit (here included) about New Forests. Weight carriers, good doers, etc etc.. so went for a 'tall' foal.. and although wild as anything he is now a fantastic looker, and a super gentle yearling who adores me! He's around 12.3 already and everyone on my yard is convinced he'll go over his sires height of 14.2. I'll be happy if he makes 13.3 - 14.2
I've even started jumping so that i'm 'ready' and able when he is old enough! :p

I love my ponies and don't feel at all daft with them. Now ride ponies in my lessons also, as figured needed to get away from 16 and 17hh's to enable me to be comfortable with the change of stride etc.

[Laura+Phantom]

I have no idea :confused: Lol I was 12 when we went to look for my first pony and bought the first one we saw, Phantom, a new forest yearling to make 14.2hh. Well he made 14hh and that's just fine, he's 13 this year and I feel he is the perfect size for me, i'm only 5'3 and he's deep barelled aswell.

Cassie was supposed to make 14.2 and is 13.2 max, and the shetlands are for company! I got Saphy because I wanted a confidence giver on loan who would preferably fit into my pony trailer and at 13.3hh she's great! Phantom does feel the better size as he has more front and substance, but I love ponies, they are fab, so much fun.

Horses are 'serious' to me for 'serious' work but there's no reason I can't do everything I want to with my ponies, I could affiliate P one day when we get going in dressage, and I can do showjumping and XC unaffiliated up to 3'6 if I really want to one day! Being an adult on a pony doesn't mean many restrictions unless you want to be a pro one day.

Ponies are unpredicatable, big characters, lots of fun, cheap and easy to keep, and easier to groom and get on! :D I have 5!

[yvonnemiller]

he only cost £ 50 and i felt sorry for him as he was skin and bones and i had a bad experience with my newforest x tb pony and a loan pony and had lost my confidence, and being a shetland he cant rough me up altrough he tries ! he has so much character and personality and is lovable he has definately made me a sheltie fan.

[Mehitabel]

I thought it would be interesting to ask why the adults chose thier pony.
Is it because ponies are safer? Smaller? More fun? Easier to buy? Cheaper? Less scary?


none of the above! i used to have a poncey warmblood on loan, and he was thick as two short planks, awkward and annoying! i loved him to pieces and he taught me plenty but i wouldn't have another one. he went on loan to someone else and i started helping with the beginning of the stud YM now owns - we'd just gotten the first broodmares and had our first few youngstock. then petal got given to YM as a birthday present as a weanling from her breeder, and i fell in love! the rest is history.

being 5'2 they are a more sensible size for me, and now that i haven't ridden a big horse for so long it does take some readjusting, but i've got nothing against big horses.

[Teehee]

Actually I bought one of my ponies off of a cow farrier (sp?) he saw our pens and showed my parents a picture off of his mobil phone... and they let me know this guy had a mare for sale, so I said, if it's grey I'll take a look... and she turned out to be grey... so I went for a look... liked what I saw, tried her out, she almost bucked me off, but had a very comfortable trot, and I bought her anyways!!! :eek:

Then the other one, all I wanted was a smaller, gentle pony so my sister could ride, and it turned out that a neighbour had one for sale, so we popped over, I rode her a bit bare back... and bought her too... :o

No vetting, or any of that jazz I know I should have done... but things here are done a lot different, and so far, I'm very happy with their temperments... and behaviour... :D

[appaloosahoney]

Since I got old enough and tall enough (5'4) have had horses. Lost my last one after a long illness and was offered a 14.2 arab x loan. Luuurv it!! small enough for me to think (perhaps stupidly) that I have an element of control. If she faffs around or goes up, I think yeah whatever and instead of thinking about how much power they have, I tend to think, OK we will just work this through... I do think it has a bit to do with the fact that as kids we all had ponies and just rode them whatever their behaviour, and as adults on horses we tended to think OH no we have a problem. Whatever it is I am having sooo much fun on a pony I think I'm forever spoilt for horses!!

[chickflick1066]

Cos she's just so darn CUTE :D

I didn't intend to end up with a 14hh ish dales x pony, I wanted a 15.2hh cob but now I'm slimming down, I feel just right on my baby girl.

[EnduranceAli]

I was tentatively looking for a pony/horse to loan or cheap to buy. Had been offered a few by the ILPH, but none seemed quite right. Went on the NativePonyMart website to check out an advert for my friend's Fell stallion, and had a look at the other pages as well. Frayne and her half sister were the first entries on the Exmoor page. She sounded right for me and was only £1000. I emailed the owner to ask if she would consider a loan with view to buy (when I earned the money :rolleyes: ), which she said no to, but would let me pay in instalments. Even my non-horsey hubby took a day off work to come to Wiltshire with me to see her. When we found out her registered name is Amber (my stepdaughter's name), then it just seemed even more right :) I rode her out down the lane and then in their field, and she went beautifully. 3 weeks later we repeated the 5 hour journey with a borrowed trailer. That was back in September, I have restarted her using Parelli and she now hacks out brilliantly alone or in company. She is the most bombproof pony I have ever met, has given me my confidence back, given me a new interest in life and is just totally wonderful :) I can get on and off easily, her little hooves are easy to pick out, easy to groom/tack up/rug, can put my arm over her neck to put on halter/bridle ...... I rode a neighbour's 15.3hh hunter - and I needed a mounting block to get on, hurt to dismount, couldn't cope with lifting her hooves (I have arthritis), couldn't reach back to groom properly, no chance of throwing a rug up there, just felt she could easily knock me flying. I am thinking of buying a 13.2hh pony and she feels big :D Ali xx

[beccylovespurpl]

I got landed with her! I sold my welsh cob when I went to Uni. My mum had Sky, wild off the Forest, and not enough time. When I came home in the holidays I got persuaded to break her to sell but 10 years later and we are still together. I call it fate as I could have spent years searching and not found a horse or pony better suited to me.

[Trewsers]

I can't decide if Storm is a horse or a pony!!!!!! I guess she has more pony characteristics - she gets fat off fresh air, can be very cheeky and naughty, is wick and has the fastest canter on earth (which is very choppy if you know what I mean). She is 15hh tho, so I guess technically a hoss! Anyway, reason I chose her - very bizzare I know, I LOVED the way she smelled and she was soooo pretty. There, I've confesed to buying a horse on its smell....no, not as mad as it seems...........!!!! Plus, I didn't think she was too far to fall off, not like Joe who is 16.2 hh and for me at 5 ft nothing is a long way up..........

[Brandy Snap]

lovely tales of why everyone bought there beloved ponies!

I wasn't looking to buy when I went to see B. I was looking to loan but his ad came up and he wasnt too expensive and sounded perfect. So I went to see him. He looked about 12.2hh in the flesh (he's around 13hh, advertised as 13.2hh) I was convinced on first sight that he was too small for me. But I asked my questions and had a shot on him (I nearly didnt, but we had traveled quite far to see him) and riding him was what sold him to me! He was sooo good. Did what I asked and even popped the tiniest xpole ever with me quaking like a leaf on his back!

He's the best thing I've ever treated myself to! He truely is becoming part of the family with my 2 1/2 year old niece keen to start riding him and even my totally un horsy mum likes him!

As for why a pony, I've always felt safer on ponies. I dont find it scarey if I have to give one a row from the ground, I dont even feel scared when having to give three a row when I'm leading them and in the middle of there squabbles! Plus they suit my mindset and personality! I'm on the same wavelength as ponies!

[Sparklie]

I didn't...he chose me :D

I love ponies, always have and always will. I just don't feel right on anything over 15.2hh maximum

[H & Bailey]

i wasnt looking for anything myself at the time but was being a crash test dummy for a friend when we saw B tethered on a chain,i tried him bareback and he took the piddle a bit but could see he had no harm in him and figured a home with me would be better than what he had.i thought he be a good project and something for the kids in the future? best thing i ever did and he is MY pony and not for the kids!!!!:D.I really dont think i would have a big horse again i think about 15hh cobby type would be the biggest for a few reasons..they suit my grazing,live on fresh air, easy to keep ,can carry weight , lots of fun and cheeky.
my next pony was to be Beth a 14.2hh chestnut mare, welsh d x cob who had just turned 4 1/2 who needed breaking.I had known her since she was 2 days old.,i have been after her since i have known her and she lived in the field behind my house so would go and fuss her everyday.. we had a little bond going andI had saved enough money to get her and the owner had agreed to let me take her.unfortunately someone has set fire to her stables at the start of the month killing her and her stable pals:(
its annoying as she would have been in my field today if she hadnt gone down with lammi and was recovering before the owners let me take her....
i have all her tack upstairs ready for her..its heartbreaking..

[laceyfreckle]

i found mine dirty and dishevelled in a field in norwich. She was cheap, old and filthy! They tried to tack her up with so much dirt on her that i couldn't tell what colour she was (she's grey) and her bridle was held together by god knows what. she needed her teeth doing and was unvaccinated and unshod. A childs present that was easily bored of.

Anyway now she's fit and fast! doesn't show her age and i recently uncovered she has impeccably welsh b breeding (registered) and was a top driving pony up and down the country. she was originally bred by the well known Wharley Stud.

I paid very little for her and now have my ideal pony! I went and rode a friends horse the other day standing 15.2hh and it felt really odd....couldn't wait to get back to the 'pony feel'

[walterthepony]

I already had a 17hh IDxTB bought so my hubby and I could share, 7 years ago, but this time I decided I wanted an unspoilt youngster just for me.

I knew I wanted something smaller and simpler to keep than my beautiful hunter, and had ridden friends ponies so knew they had go faster stripes.


I was going to get a Highland (am 5'7" and 10.5 stone) but decided they were too strong and also wanted to do long distance riding so looked for something a little smaller but still very strong. Since Ive always had a weakness for duns and palominos (terrible I know) I looked at Fjords and Haflingers, and went to see Haffy breeder first - and fell for my lovely girl! the blonde bombshell....

She was unbroken but now is broken and riding out, and is the light of my life!

those highland ponies really are strong! Too strong for me too. I'm 5'7" as well and slightly lighter and could not handle that po at all. I couldn't make him move. no matter what I tried. and couldn't stop him from eating grass. he went to he knees when he had draw-reins. shame. he was absolutely adorable...he looked like a pony out of a fairy tale

[Zingy]

Bought my riding pony having had a horse for over 7 years who was only properly sound for the first 12 months. Never been able to find out what is wrong with him despite trying pretty much everything. He was my first (and only) horse, so horses to me = big vets bills and lots of hassle.

I also have a section A who I'd had for 6 years - he's (so far) never needed the vet for anything more than routine stuff. So ponies = cheap and fun!

So getting something to ride, it had to be a pony, but I wanted a big, wide pony as, although I'm light, I'm tall with long legs. I've ridden some slim-built 14.1's and struggled as I've felt my legs are in the wrong place and I'm trying to make myself fit better. So I got a highland :D Built like a tank with a mind to match :D

[Megzii_&_Medi.x]

I Didnt Choose My Pony Or My Cob Or My !6.2 Mare They Chose Us!! When We Went To See Them They Seemed To Say Ok ** My Owner I Want U :D:D:D:D And NOw We Couldnt Be Happier

[Moomin]

I found my coblet completely by chance, I was lining up viewings for the following saturday morning, went to get a cuppa, refreshed the Friday-ad site when I got back and there she was. I was the only person to see her, picked her up a week later. didn't ride her, just she looked at me and I looked at her and that was it, bless her heart.

Shopping list was: 15'2 gelding, 10 yrs plus or 3 yrs minus, NOT coloured, NO BLUE EYES (yuk!), not hairy and barefoot.

Moo is: 14hh, 5 yrs when I got her, coloured, two blue eyes and a hairy mary. But at least she is barefoot...!!!

Wouldn't change her for the world - her blue eyes are truely beautiful (they're set in a black 'mask' on her face), she's the cleverest equine I ever came across, she's fun and cheeky and funny and nice to spend time with.

Spent the first year restarting her - undoing someone else's very bad work - and luckily she came right. She had been passed from pillar to post (as she was truely delinqunentile due to her cleverness and the bad treatment she'd had) and I think had one chance to make things right for her (big responsibility!) and luckily it worked out. You wouldn't recognise her from the pony there is today - people say I have a dog not a horse!

Size wise, I am only 5'1 so I look silly on something too big. Coblet is just right.

[Brychen]

I bought mnine cos I loved him at first sight. Couldnt understand why until I realised that he is identical to the picture of the pony on the cover of my favorite paperback horse book Lucy Rees 'Wild Pony'. I bought it in the '70's and still read it every month or so. Has the same character too, totally independant and his own person.

[lachlanandmarcu]

Because I loved palomino and dun ponies as a kid and always wanted one. because we have a 16.3 hunter (who is fab) as our first horse and so I wanted a contrast and a pony just for me that I didnt share with the OH. Because I felt like a good enough rider to cope with pony sharpness which I wouldnt have a few years back. Because I had a YO/instructor who could take the lead in backing and bringing on a youngster.

So I got my 3yo haflinger and now we are very happy 1 year on! Ponies are just MORE FUN!