Horse snobs!

[popdog]

Do you think that people believe that because we own ponies we're some sort of second class riders?

In the past I've always owned big horses, warmbloods or TB's but I have recently bought a pony. He is so much fun and I adore him. Today while at work I was introduced to a woman who is 'horsey'.

She instantly asked me 'did I own a horse'...and I said proudly 'No, I've got a pony'. She screwed up her nose and said that she 'evented' and owned two warmbloods. That was the end of the conversation.

You know what...she can keep her big warmbloods, she's a snobby old bagpuss. I'd rather have a pony :p Have you experienced any 'horse snobbery'?

[Bay Mare]

Some people are but it's like anything in life, they're just ignorant if they dismiss people who don't fit into their sterile little worlds.

I'm sure that the dressage queens would look down on me owning *just* an Irish Sport Horse even though she is registered (and related to David O'Connor's 'Custom Made' ... her grandsire is his sire). I don't care, though, people like that aren't worth putting my blood pressure up for. I love her and that's what counts.

Enjoy your pone :) I used to love riding little Rory (spotty pony) when I went to the Equestrian Centre in Wrexham.

[monique]

Yes quite often, even from kids which annoys me a bit as I know most of them could not handle Syd, she would wipe the floor with them;). I call it snob value. I love my pony and no kids are getting their grubby little mits on her, not even my own:D

[Denbenj]

erghhhh!!! ignore her..... people like that are about in all walks of life!! its pure rudeness if you ask me :mad:

seems she feels she is better than you as she owns a wb and does this and that!!.. instead of having a decent natter about horseownership!

[old_woman]

Of course, it's easy to be extremely nasty - while remaining very polite - to these people, when they turn up their nose in disgust at your pony.

You merely say, with a sympathetic, kind tone in your voice "Mmm, I suppose I'm really very lucky that I'm not too heavy to ride ponies ..." or "I've never really got on with larger horses - I prefer a more complex character ..." You are making all sorts of unpleasant and indirect insinuations about their size and their ability - neither of which really have any bearing on what they ride, in the sense of differentiating between horse and pony. DOn't do this if you might need the other person's help or friendship further on, though!

I've ridden Arabs for the longest time, and we Arab riders used to be very much looked down upon when we mingle with more conventional horses and ponies at conventional (ie non-Arab oriented) activities ...it's improved a bit in recent years, depending where you live.

[Alex T]

ahh old women you have just mentioned what scares me most!! the whole 'arab' persona. im at a private yard and there very much a horse is a horse they like their tbs but still no prejudice. i brought my arab from them and it scares me to think one day i may need to move and will be met by lots of people who will assume im stuck up just cause i own an arab!!see i already sound it:o but it is the image i have always been given of arab owners!not saying iv ever met one that is though:rolleyes: part from the one that looked down from her big grey stallion at a show but i just passed it by her being the local top breeder and judge:rolleyes: i can expect that!!

[gone24now]

I have never before in my life seen a large group of people who love the same thing and can be so, what I call "horey". So many horse people I've met are rude, with an air of "better than you", diss each other for what they do with their horses, diss each other's horses, and walk around thinking they are royalty for god's sake. I just look at these people and shake my head. Especially the mother's of the teenaged riders, it's just like a beauty pageant. I thought that the horsey world would be a lot more laid back, accepting, and sharing of the love of horses.

I love my barn ladies, as we are all laid back, love ours and each other's horses so much. One new girl came in as of lately, wouldn't muck her stall, wouldn't touch the horse as not to get dirty, walked around with her nose in the air, and the only thing she would speak about was everything her horse had won. The other day I passed her a Kleenex box, she looked at me puzzled, and I said that she seemed quite snotty lately. After that she seems to have come down from her high horse and might be likeable.

[Frances]

Get it all the time.

I think it is from the theory "the bigger the horse I have, obviously the better rider I am".

Ignore it. Have fun!

My ponies make me laugh. I love 'em.

Fx

[ShariN]

Sadly,,there are quite a few out there like that.

But.. at times..if they are really rude... I just say..
My Ego doesn't need a big horse.

What I found interesting ..many of those same people with the big mouths and big horses..were afraid of their big horses. They only really had them as a status symbol. Makes one feel sorry for their horses.

When I was younger I used to get up set. Now I pretty much ingore them.. get one of those smiles..on my face like I know something they don't..and walk off. Sure makes some of them wonder that is for sure.:D

[Trewsers]

Oh knickers to her, take no notcie!!!! obviously she has "issues" which reflect in her need to point out that she has warmbloods and events. Big cahoona I say!

[Moomin]

I'm very small and look stupid on a big horse, I love my My Little Pony and buttons to anyone who looks down on us! Her brainpower to size ratio is much bigger than a horse and consequently she is very entertaining in a look-i-can-open-my-field-gate/stable-door/bag-of-treats-i-stole sort of way.

We have come across out fair share of horse snobbery - including my hairy piebald little cob pony being called common by strangers when she's actually very beautiful. Now thats just downright rude, isn't it.

I do get mistaken for a child on my pony too, as I look quite young, but putting a child on her would be the last time you saw the child - she's a lovely pony but definitely an adult's pony if you know what I mean.

[LokiSofi]

Yes from some kids at a horse show held at our yard. As I just rode Sofi up to the field to watch (it was SJ which I don't do) and the kids were all on ponies but Bigger ponies than me so there was lots of sniggering etc but Sofi and I rose above it:o
I also get strange looks when I hack out on my 2 as they stand at 12hh and 12.2hh so other horse riders etc tend to look down on me.
But in my experience its a lot harder to ride and stay on a pony than it is many larger horses

[Wally]

We get looked down upon by fat hairy cob riders!! :D :D you have to go along way to get that.

Put it down the their lack of self confidence, their lack of imagination and an open mind.

ONe person actually said to me, a Haflinger owner, that all Icelandic owners cannot ride, otherwise their horses would go properly.

[chickflick1066]

Frances, couldn't agree more.

I LOVE my pony, and when I lose some more weight, i'll be sticking to 14.2hh and under!

[Big Ears]

I get the snooty ignore thing with my coloured cob - it's amazing the number of times you are out and you meet someone on a 'blood' horse, say hello politely as a fellow rider and get totally blanked.

The only good thing about it is that I am usually relaxed and smiling as Rosie fat cob is bombproof and reliable, and they often looked totally terrified as if they are sitting on a stick of tnt.

So I guess I win on that. It's stupid really, so many people over horse themselves and then get very little enjoyment out of it but won't admit it.

[Jetstreem]

Yep I get looked down on all the time! People are always saying to me 'do you not want to get a horse yet?' I love both my ponies, 14.2 and 13hh. I would far rather have another pony than a horse any day.

I can and have ridden horses, one of which was a 17.2 ISH who i schooled for a week when his owner was away. I rode him just as well as I ride my ponies, and actually managed to get him going without using spurs which his owner (a full grown man) has to use! I was pretty pleased about that! I just feel more comfortable on a pony, i'm only 5'7 and 8 1/2 stone, so def not too big for either of mine!

If i had a horse I would miss the cheekyness of my ponies!

Cerys :)

[popdog]

Heheheh...they don't know what they are missing :)

Thanks for the great responses, you've given me a good laugh and some great ideas for 'put downs' for the snide horse people :p

[Alfies-slave]

Yes!

The nightmare eventing woman I know looks down on my heavy horses or Dobbins as she calls them.

It is ignorance.

I got a hoodie printed up and it says "Its a Heavy Horse thing... you wouldn't understand."

[Roofio]

I look down on all of you people.



but only because i've yet to find anyone we can phsyically look up to! ;)


i love J and his bigness, but i love getting on nippy little things that dont need to do three point turns to face the other way.

[joosie]

[QUOTE=Big Ears;1337516]I get the snooty ignore thing with my coloured cob - it's amazing the number of times you are out and you meet someone on a 'blood' horse, say hello politely as a fellow rider and get totally blanked.[QUOTE]

If I was hacking out and I met you on your coloured cob, you would spend the next 20 minutes answering questions about him. I don't usually judge horses by the way they look but I have never seen a coloured cob I didn't love!

[kat1]

My old yard was full of horse snobs. It has all these women on who had husbands that funded their horses, trailers, 4 x 4s without ever doing a days work in their lives. All they would do is go down to the yard in their Joules gear and brush their horses, turn them out and bring them in again, rarely riding!! When I bought Rosie, my 14 1 hh gypsy cob as a baby, they were all commenting, staring and wondering what on earth I was on!! However, Rosie (who is now 8 and safely at home on a frindlier yard) is ace at mounted games and would wipe the floor with any of those previous 16 hh field mates in the dressage arena without a flinch. It has taken hard work, dedication and determination on my part but I have so much fun on her, I would not swap her for a european sports horse ever!!!

With so many people, it seems to be all about how it looks and incidently, I have heard that those gossiping overhorsed women are still terrified of being in the saddle for more than 10 minutes in a week in the fear of the horse moving!!

(incidentally, I am not really into gossip and do have a 4 x 4 , a trailer and joules gear but I do fund it myself although I often have to beg for top ups from my hubby and dad cos I have over spent on the horses and run out of cash to put petrol in the car to get myself to work!!! However, this is lfe isnt it?) Horse v pony, does it really matter? I mean everyone is different and has different horsey goals but in my opinion gypsy cobs rule!!!

[horsey1992devon]

ponies rock !!! :D
stuff that silly woman, she doesen't know what fun she is missing!

[ShariN]

ONe person actually said to me, a Haflinger owner, that all Icelandic owners cannot ride, otherwise their horses would go properly.


There are a lot of people in the US that say it is abuse for adults to ride Icelandic's at all. I just tell them.. 1.) my Icelandic's would tell me if I was too heavy..very smart equines they are. And I doubt very much, those people can handle her ..2).. I would like them to go to Iceland and tell all those Vikings in their own country, they can't ride their horses because they are abusing them. And see what they say.:D
That gets them to sputtering and they shut up, at least with me.

[joshes mum]

Just say to them the bigger the horse the harder you fall that should shut them up! :p

[JustJas]

Yep- been there.... my newfie/arab Peps was looked down on by the big horse owners til we went out hacking when at gallop and left them standing! In canter through woods had no fear about hitting my head LOL!

I can ride the big warmbloods but nah.... love my ponies and arabs!

[Mehitabel]

i've only ever encountered it once, when an examiner told me that when i was bored of messing around on ponies i could come and work for him. i suppose it was meant to be a compliment...

i said i'd done horses and wouldn't get another warmblood if you paid me.

[Laura+Phantom]

Hmm, a saddler once told me I should be on a horse...oh well, do I care?

I do enjoy riding big horses now and then but I would much rather keep ponies any day of the week! Fun, cheeky, cheap and easy to look after, no faffing around required! Besides, anyone who says ponies are easy to ride clearly hasn't ridden a pony! There's nothing ponies can't do, we should be proud we are small enough to ride them :D

[Roofio]

Besides, anyone who says ponies are easy to ride clearly hasn't ridden a pony! There's nothing ponies can't do, we should be proud we are small enough to ride them :D

I find ponies utterly terrifying, they think and move far too quickly for my liking and theres nothing there to grab onto when something goes wrong. i take my hat off to pony riders any day!

[CurlyWurlyRach]

I find ponies utterly terrifying, they think and move far too quickly for my liking and theres nothing there to grab onto when something goes wrong. i take my hat off to pony riders any day!

thats exactly how i feel about ponies! by the time youve realised that theyre going to buck your already on the floor :o i get a good few seconds warning with my big girl.

[Roofio]

thats exactly how i feel about ponies! by the time youve realised that theyre going to buck your already on the floor :o i get a good few seconds warning with my big girl.

exactly! by the time jr has thought about it, sent a message to the relevant body part and hauled said body part into position, his teeny big-hoss brain has forgotten what he was doing and decided not to bother. ace!

[Laura+Phantom]

Hehe, exactly! Many a time I have felt the 'there's nothing in front of me!' feeling!

Phantom does the 'spin' to get rid of me :D but at least he has a lot of front!

[Snow_Pony]

What I found interesting ..many of those same people with the big mouths and big horses..were afraid of their big horses. They only really had them as a status symbol. Makes one feel sorry for their horses.


I was thinking about that the other day, funnily enough. On the yard I work on, it is almost exclusively horses over 16.2, predominantly ID/tbs, although there are some warmbloods. Almost without exception, they are all scared of their horses. Some wont hack, not because the horse does anything, but because it 'might'. The majority in fact never leave the indoor arena. I do feel sorry for them, and for their horses. They are all very well schooled, and all look posh and lovely, but Id rather have a grass-kept welsh D (or similar) that I enjoy the thought of riding, than a horse I was frightened of.. :confused:

x

[Laura+Phantom]

I know a few people like that :( Won't even consider ponies!

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Some wont hack, not because the horse does anything, but because it 'might'. The majority in fact never leave the indoor arena. I do feel sorry for them, and for their horses.


ah but to be fair i dont hack my horse out (TBxWB), i would be mortally offended if anyone accused me of being frightened of her, i have my wibbly moments but we have huge amounts of fun and i love riding her, i dont hack her out because she cant be trusted on the roads and has backed into cars before - my hacking is a busy road in a not rural area and if she decided to have a sudden paddy and swing into the road, gets in the way of a car and wham - me, her, the driver and passengers of the car could be badly hurt OR if i came off during one of her episodes, she gots loose and onto the bypass there could be carnage.
Its simply safer for me not to take that risk.

[Laura+Phantom]

I don't hack out Phantom either, not because I am scared of him, but of what he might do! Last time we hacked out he got scared of a tractor as usual, but in his panic he put my friend through a fence, jumped over her, I fell off, I hit my head pretty hard and was very confused and didn't know how I had gotten there. I was lucky he ran into a field, not down the road.

So I agree with better safe than sorry! We might do a half an hour safe hack around the lanes but that's it.

[Snow_Pony]

Yes, so your horses 'do something', these dont. The owners simply are frightened. And they have miles upon miles of off-road hacking, they dont have to go near a road

[Mossy]

I used to get very snooty comments about my little pony .... until my full bred Highland started pleasure riding and hunting. He is always up front from start of day to end showing the big hunters the way. Don't get snooty comments now. He has earned his respect.

[chickflick1066]

Post a pic Mossy, go on :D

[Shootingstar]

I've seen people act like that about mountain bikes. It is, sadly not surprising that people act in that manner about horses.

[Bobbi's_mum]

Our neighbours had their family round last week and their grandchildren asked if they could ride Bobbi, i said no becasue i couldnt risk anyone's kids injuring themselves and the little girl replied

"Shes a pony not a horse, i could easily ride her!"

Its funny how a few inches can determine if you can ride a horse:rolleyes:

[Loopslou]

my flashie was 14'3 and I was so sick and tired when hacking her out having people say "oh what a lovely wee thing" as they looked down on me from te 17.3hh uncontrollable, we are so sh1t scared of this thing, but are determined to hack this route, beastie, who was in actual fact going "oh sh1t my owner is sh1t scared of something out here and I'm actually a big wooss with nerve whatsoever and I wonder would that brave mare let me ride on the inside of her incase the fire breathing dragons get me":D

As is true in MOST things in life "size doesn't matter:D"

[Sarah_Sayers]

"I think it is from the theory "the bigger the horse I have, obviously the better rider I am".
Fx

I've just bought a 17hh boy, BUT this is because he is a "Gentle Giant with manners to burn, will show any beginner the ropes"

I'm not horsewoman enough to ride a cheeky pony!

Bugger the snobs. ;)

[sugarpuff]

Hello,

Dont let it get you, some people huh!!

I have a 17hh love her to bits and i think shes a pony in a horse body lol, but i would love a pony again, just to big for one really, have ridden a few and jumped them and am always nearly falling off .....the quick little buggers:D there great fun. Ponies are just as good, if not even better as most off them have the fun factor, not like one of our whiny warmbloods who is just too serious.

xx

[Loopslou]

Amber is 15'2 and Milou is 16'2 and neither have the cheek and fun that Flash had!

[Mossy]

Post a pic Mossy, go on :D

That is kinds hard , cos when he is up front I am on board. Moss on a mission is not the sort to ride on handed whilst you take pretty pics! Was on him once phoning for my lift to come and find us on some back end back Dartmoor lane when he took exception to everybody else going on without him. Steed went vertical underneath me. i just carried on the conversation and did not miss a beat. Got some wonderfull looks!

[Joyscarer]

There are snobs in all walks of life.

I have to feel a bit sorry for those that have to make themselves feel superiour by putting others down. If you are that great then you should feel confident that you stand head and shoulders above the rest no matter what size animal you ride.

The point is that if you feel happy and confident in what you do then nothing anybody can say will bring you down. If someone touches a nerve then perhaps you aren't as happy and confident as you think you are because you need the opinions of others to validate your choices ;)

[StormyJ]

My mum's cob is 15.1hh and I still get looked down on upon her. She's very ponyish, so competing in horse classes I do get looked down on!
I remember my first show on her, as I went in my dad heard someone say "that's a bit hefty" and they all looked embarassed when she did a lovely clear. Waiting for the jump off there were 3 warmbloods, and I could feel them dissmissing her as if to say, "it's a cob, not to worry". It wiped the smirks off their faces when she won 5 seconds faster than them. When getting our rosettes, I said "well done" to the woman next to me and she acted like I wasn't there :rolleyes:

This is why I like Welsh D's - Phi, at 15.1hh, has a pony shape but rides like a bigger horse, so I feel really secure but she has alot of power. I got the same treatment doing dressage until she was 1st and 2nd, twice! :p

I try and just ignore snobbery; ponies are always different, but how many 16.1hh bay geldings are there? ;)

[tasnik blazze]

hi i have been asked by a lady giving our pony club adults a lesson when am i going to get my our horse and let my kids have their pony back! I told her that he is my pony and the kids ride him. she just kind of rolled her eyes at me........HE MAY BE LITTLE AND I MAY BE FAT BUT HE IS ALL MINE!!!!!!!!!
People think he is a old plodder and as gentle as a lamb till they get on him and he does nothing they want him to do and heads home at full speed.

[lor]

I previously owned and competed 16hh plus hosses, i never thought anything of an adult on a pony, one way or the other.
I have had comments about me on my 13'1 pone and have found myself going into detail about how i had longed for an exmoor po since seeing them on the moors throughout my life and had fullfilled a life long dream of owning one:)

Do you know, i could afford a nice big shiney hoss, but, be careful who you repeat this to, i dont want one :eek: :eek:

[Zingy]

The only real snobbery I've come across was when I did a very brief stint as a livery on a yard full of very competitive people. Of 12 horses, all bar 5 were huge warmbloods. The paddock for small horses contained 16.2's!

The arab owner was ok - cos she also had a warmblood. The arab cross owner was ok as she did endurance, so horse was deemed suitable. The lusitano owner was ok cos she did classical dressage. Everyone else showjumped/ evented/ did dressage and kept their horses in as much as possible so that they were clean.

Then there was me. With a section A and a falling apart at the seams TBx who were full of mud and left out as much as possible. Even in the rain :eek: (thought I'd be reported to the RSPCA for that, the way they went on :rolleyes:). My TB was complained about and my A was 'quite cute I suppose, if you like that sort of thing' :rolleyes: He was, however, deemed to be very suitable for the YO's kid to play with when I wasn't there. He'd have never, ever dared to go in any other stable, but this was only a pony, so it didn't matter.

I've never been made to feel so unwelcome anywhere. They were no doubt all highly relieved when I left, after a few weeks of lowering the tone of the place :D

[joosie]

My goodness that sounds like a nightmare place to be! I hope you are now at a yard with some real horse-lovers

[shandy84]

I hate it when I come across the horse snobs, we have one that lives next door :rolleyes:

Admittedly there are lot of nice bigger horse owners too though.

One great one I had was a bloke asking if i'd grow up and buy myself a big horse one day, to which I replied innocently, "there is something they say about the male proccupation with size, now what was that...." he hurridly dissapeared! :D

Another irritating one is when asking about livery, they asked the size of my ponies, I said 14.3hh, 13.2hh and 12.1hh and was told that they don't appreciate children at the yard, told them I had no children the horses were mine and was told it was utterly cruel for all 9 stone of me to ride the big two! She didn't even know their breed!

And the worst is our neighbour, she owns two ride and drive horses 15.3hh and scoffs at my 13.3hh pony driving, asks us to come and drive her proper driving horses so we know what a real drive feels like! It made me furious, I almost challenged her to keep up with us on one of our 40 mile drives as I know her horses can only manage 1/2hr walk and trot!

[Afellpony]

I'm 5ft 1" tall and lightweight - and - wouldn't I just look stupid on a 16hh+ Warmblood. This adult is sticking with ponieeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!

[blues mum]

i look down on people on ponies,
with huge envy !
have got to heavy to ride a pony, and have long legs,
but, you can never have more fun than on a nippy, cheeky pony.
maybe they are all jealous,
I am

[holiday]

I always thinks its funny when i compete at affiliated dressage, i get run over by the big warmbloods on my 12.2hh stallion, but hey when he often beats them they dont look down on him then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mu0ljk]

I'm definately a pony person at heart!!

The yard I am at are all big warmblood people and they all sort of looked down rather disdainfully when I kept looking at ponies - it must have been quite a relief when they found me Sid (16.2hh tbxid!) before I found another pony (!) but they have come round quite nicely to me riding Dylan my section D - but I do wonder if that's simply because he has good breeding ...and well adults do ride section d's don't they!? They keep expecting me to do showing! :rolleyes::p

But they used to look down on Otto (15.3hh piebald cob) because he's...omg - hairy!!! That is until they saw him jump! Now they have a grudging sense of respect for him!

I feel I a doing a good job at breaking their prejudices down! :p

Be a pony person and be proud of it! ;)

[Mossy]

i look down on people on ponies,
with huge envy !
have got to heavy to ride a pony, and have long legs,
but, you can never have more fun than on a nippy, cheeky pony.
maybe they are all jealous,
I am
Really? Son, 6ft2 regularly gets carted by my Highland, all 14.1 of him!
Last time Moss did a classic handbrake turn at great speed and I still don't know how son sat it!

[Bacchus]

ahh old women you have just mentioned what scares me most!! the whole 'arab' persona. im at a private yard and there very much a horse is a horse they like their tbs but still no prejudice. i brought my arab from them and it scares me to think one day i may need to move and will be met by lots of people who will assume im stuck up just cause i own an arab!!see i already sound it:o but it is the image i have always been given of arab owners!not saying iv ever met one that is though:rolleyes: part from the one that looked down from her big grey stallion at a show but i just passed it by her being the local top breeder and judge:rolleyes: i can expect that!!

There are loads of arabs around I can't see why you should be seen as stuck up!! Infact no one should be stuck up about the horse they have. They are all precious to their owners in their own way. From Shetland to Shire and everything in between, whether rare breed or common. I feel grateful to be able to own a horse/pony lets say equine.

[Afellpony]

It's very sad when people look down on others for whatever reason. I've met loads of people like that during my working life. However, I think it's very interesting the amount of people I have come in contact with and how many nice people I have met. I have had dog people think I am wierd because I keep cats and I have had horse people think I'm wierd being an adult of more senior years and I ride a pony. However, each person you meet has a different thought pattern and it does add something to your own life even if it does make you think how stupid 99% of people you are in contact with are.However the whole 'horse thing' usually starts off a conversation with someone (especially working in London) which does put something into your life. (I used to have a picture of Falcon on my desk. Patients used to see it when they came for their appointments and most started talking to me about him).

[blues mum]

Really? Son, 6ft2 regularly gets carted by my Highland, all 14.1 of him!
Last time Moss did a classic handbrake turn at great speed and I still don't know how son sat it!

mossy
yes I know ! my sister had a 13.2 highland, loved him to bits

[CurlyWurlyRach]

id love a pony to crash about on....wish i could afford another one and that i wasnt 5ft11 :(:(

my 16.2 is a 'serious' horse, sometimes id like a fun silly ride.

[lor]

id love a pony to crash about on....wish i could afford another one and that i wasnt 5ft11 :(:(

my 16.2 is a 'serious' horse, sometimes id like a fun silly ride.

I am 5'5" so not as tall as you CurlyWurlyRach, but that is why
, after many years of competing at a decent level, with the best of them, i have got myself a ickle po, whom i can vault onto, cuddle and jump off without needing a parachute. (useful when 40 plus and lots of old injuries from falling off and with big lean athletic horses!!! :))
and whats more, she has taught me how to ride better, something i never would have expected from a little moorland beast.

But i still have to explain myself to those with less understanding.

[Mossy]

id love a pony to crash about on....wish i could afford another one and that i wasnt 5ft11 :(:(

my 16.2 is a 'serious' horse, sometimes id like a fun silly ride.

Are you unintentionally guilty of being a "horse snob" here? I was reading an article about a lady with her Icey going to the champioships in Holland. She is definitely not "crashing about" On a lighter note a anybody riding Moss is not "crashing about" on a fun silly ride. He is 16.2 in a 14.2 frame. A pony is an equine of less than 14.3. A horse is an equine of more than 14.2. Ponies can be quick, but I 've yet to see anything spin quicker than my 15.2 mare!
For those old enough, would Marion Mould describe her "efforts" as "crashing about" Maybe not!!

[lor]

Are you unintentionally guilty of being a "horse snob" here? I was reading an article about a lady with her Icey going to the champioships in Holland. She is definitely not "crashing about" On a lighter note a anybody riding Moss is not "crashing about" on a fun silly ride. He is 16.2 in a 14.2 frame. A pony is an equine of less than 14.3. A horse is an equine of more than 14.2. Ponies can be quick, but I 've yet to see anything spin quicker than my 15.2 mare!
For those old enough, would Marion Mould describe her "efforts" as "crashing about" Maybe not!!

What was the name of Marion Moulds Horse?? its in my head somewhere, just cant think!, and i think i can say that my 13'1 exmoor mare can spin quicker that anything, including D'arcy Bussle (or what ever her name is) HEE HEE :D

[Mossy]

Stroller all 14.2 of him!

[Trewsers]

Yep, Stroller! I have an old Marion Mould book - (I'm not old enough to remember her honest....) Dad bought it for me, its really interesting - he doesn't look small either!

[mu0ljk]

I remember reading an old battered Marion Mould book - it was in my primary school librray - I remember not reading anything else!! :p

[Afellpony]

I remember Stroller, saw him jumping at Wembley with his owner Miarian Coakes before she became Marion Mould. This was in the early 70s.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

noooo you misunderstand me. I dont want another proper riding horse, a happy hacking scruffy pony with no hang-ups would do me just fine. i just like little ones!

[mu0ljk]

noooo you misunderstand me. I dont want another proper riding horse, a happy hacking scruffy pony with no hang-ups would do me just fine. i just like little ones!

Oho, so now you're calling all our ponies scruffy are you!? :eek::D:D;) :p

[Zingy]

Oho, so now you're calling all our ponies scruffy are you!? :eek::D:D;) :p

The description fits mine perfectly :D

[mu0ljk]

The description fits mine perfectly :D

Well...yeah...mine too, but ssh don't tell her that!! :D

[Take-the-Reins]

Im quite often the victim of horse snobbery as I have (an absolutely gorgeous but they're not worried about that!) coloured cob - old fashioned hairy style! hehe and I love him to bits!

[Kittycat]

Our neighbours had their family round last week and their grandchildren asked if they could ride Bobbi, i said no becasue i couldnt risk anyone's kids injuring themselves and the little girl replied

"Shes a pony not a horse, i could easily ride her!"

Its funny how a few inches can determine if you can ride a horse:rolleyes:


Size is no basis for whether you can ride it!!!:eek:

I ride a 14.2hh NF at my RS, he's old, scruffy and my favourite. I can't hack him out because he will tank off, he wants to do everything at top speed. I prefer him because he listens to me, ok he doesn't always do as I ask :rolleyes: but at least he listens!

I'm in no position to buy my own but when I dream I look at 14.2-15hh because although I am quite tall, I don't really need anything bigger. I may as well go for the cute ones! :D

Maybe one day.......:)

[laceyfreckle]

Haven't read all the posts but htought this would make you laugh.......my OH has for a while said i should get a 'proper horse' (he thinks its embarrasing when people ask if i'm exercising our childrens pony and i say no she''s mine! (she's 13.2hh) Now, he also reckons that riding is easy :eek: So this weekend probably sunday he has agreed to have a ride on my little pony to see how hard it is :D I think he's in for a shock! and i'm secretly pleased he may feel unnerved by a 'little' pony. Before anyone worried he's 6ft 2 so yes may be able to touch the floor but he only weighs 8-9stone (lighter then me) so i know she'll be fine to carry him for a hour. Who wants to bet he doesn't take the mic out of my littl epony anymore!!!:p

[ejk6@msn.com]

I keep ,my pony at a yard that is quite easy gogin so do not get much of this. I don't care what others think, I had wanted a pony for ever and could not afford one until I was 37 by which point I was quite nervous and felt that 14 hands was not too far to fall! I did try lots of horses but found that my pony was fab and bought him. If you read this site often enough you soon realise that there are lots of big floks riding ponies because they are much more fun than prima donna TB types!

[horsey1992devon]

I don't understand why when kids grow up it's almost law that they must go onto horses, but why adults can still ride ponies!?:confused: (don't get me wrong I think it is a great thing that they do!)
I'm about 5 foot 8ish and everybody keeps saying that I should buy a horse when I get my first, because i'd be too big for a pony...but ponies are so fun :D and i feel a lot more comfortable size wise on a 14.2hh than a 16hh...
(sorry to be a bit OT there...)

[joosie]

I had a hair-raising hack yesterday on a 13.2 devil-in-pony-form, and arriving back at the yard bumped into one of the liveries, who looked down at us from his flashy 17.2 hanoverian and said "Oh hi Jess, you've been out for a walk, have you?"
A walk!! A WALK!!! What an effing snob!!

[Hairy Highland]

most of my horsey pals ride enormous creatures and think I am rather odd with my Highlands at 14hh and 14.2hh but at least I can get back on when I have to get off for a gate only drawback is I do all the gates!

[Icklewillow]

well the shetlands im lucky enough to be around are so much fun and have such big personalities i wouldnt swap them for anything!!!! even tho i would love to own a horse i can ride, these two boys are a funny and charming and naughty!!! as you could want, i love them to bits!!!!

although im 25, i manage to persuade my dad to take them walking with me ( when they are not being drivrn!) imagine a 6.3 guy walking around with thoose cute lil fluffy wuffys!! hehehe but he loves the little thing.. and wouldnt take anyting else if he had the choice!

[NZdressage]

I must admit I can be a "Horse Snob" at shows and when I am out, but you must understand its not because I dont want to talk to people, its just I have to remain focused on my horse and my performance, and god help any one who gets in my way. I am usually quite chatty after though. But thats just how horse athletes are, driven and we dont let any one get in the way.
Ponies, can be annoying at shows with little kids because they dont follow the warm up rules and get in the way but I dont look down on adults that ride ponies, in fact I wish I were more like you, when riding is still fun over anything else. I admire you people!

[happy haffys]

Haven't read a;; the posts, but the way i see it is it's less far to fall!!

When i was looking for a horse for me & Rhi, i was looking for 15'-15.2 which i know isn't massive, but everyone ay my yard was telling me i needed at least 16 hands (would like to see Rhi aged 10 on one!!)

But now we've got Etta all 14.3 of her and because she's a chunky girl, she doesn't look that small. I love her to bits, even tho i'm frightend to death of her once i'm on her.

Big horses are lovely, but not for me!

She's the smallest ridden horse on the yard and i'm proud of her. :p

[piebaldcob]

I am the proud owner of a 14.1 traditional cob and have experienced horse snobbery. I remember when I was out hacking with my boy around where I used to keep him I had a lady throw me a dirty look like I was something she had stepped in!!

I used to be very conscious about riding my boy (I am short but a bigger lady) but I just don't care anymore what other people think. I really enjoy riding my pony he is such fun and keeps me on my toes!!! I say sod what other people think just have fun! :)

[Siogfinsceal]

I love ponies Im only 5'2" so I look small on anything above 15.2hh siog is 14.3 and the others I ride are all between 14-14.2 I can sit much better on them. You do sometimes get this attitude in riding club from people but its great fun to go in on a pony in a jump off and win against them ;-) in ireland in the official SJAI (show jumping association of ireland) you can only jump ponies if you are under 16, over that age and you have to jump horses. Makes no sense as many 16 year olds are too big to ride ponies!
A few years ago a judge at a riding club event tried to tell my friend she couldnt ride her 14.1 pony and tried to demand to see his passport. I checked with the head office who said it was fine to ride him but this woman obviously had issues

[dwoodie]

I say it doesnt matter --horse or pony--as long as you feel comfortable on your ride and they can handle your weight screw anybodys elses opinion! I am a shorter person (4'10" and 35) I dont like to ride bigger horses cuz I get nervous on them, but give me a 14.3hh and I have all the confidence in the world.

[kimbini]

Wow, a group for adults on ponies!!! I've ridden ponies all my life, reaching the dizzy heights of a 13.2 at one point. Now I compete a Shetland pony at prelim and novice level (and he's prob about 10hh, if not less!), and we've had some pretty snotty comments. Most of the 16.2s in the working in seem to be scared of him...:D

[popdog]

I posted this message after buying my first pony, I was surprised how many adults there were out there. I'm 5ft3 and 33 years old, I ride a 14.1hh, ponies rule :p

I'll never own a horse again ;)

[kimbini]

I'm bout 5ft and very lightweight. Started doing dressage with the Shetland as a bet... the others don't get a look in now. Most people I know have 15.2 upwards... even the 12 year olds are on horses, and they mock me!

[carrimclaren]

Well i'm the proud owner of a 16.3 warmblood cross so come on don't knock us all :D On our yard there is such a mixture of ponies and horses and nobody luckily has a snotty attitude towards anyone about the type of horse they own. But there are a few "dressage" *cough* yards around us who carry the usual lines with them of "what do you own" and "what do you do with her" as their opening gambit. They switch off as soon as i say happy hack or recently she's turned out for a year thanks. I think we get more competition snobbery round here rather than pony/horse snobbery.

[Shire Monster]

I've only ever riden one pony cos even as a kid I've always been on the large side (I must admit I felt extremely funny on the pony probably cos of what I'm used to) but I thought a comment someone once made is kinda relevant to this thread:
A horse will get you into trouble and wait for you to get it out of it whereas a pony may get you into trouble but will get himself out

[carrimclaren]

Don't know about that. My horse was pretty good about getting herself out of trouble, she just used to forget to get me the hell out of it too :D

[sammyantha]

I find it's the other way round actually. I get funny looks from the kids with show ponies when I ride past in my wellies on my 'horse' LOL! All they seem to care about is going to a show every weekend, painting their ponies hooves, and how much they can spend on the latest pink saddle :rolleyes:

[x x Summer x x]

I think soem people will just be snobby no matter what the reason, some native show people can be terrible as can people with the WB's and TB's

Ive had allsorts and to be honest I just walkaway from people who think differently of me because of my own choice lol

[Purple Hugs]

lol had to laugh at native people being snobby! as a native owner myself.. lol
But i do agree that some people are just prone to snobbery, no matter what they have to be snobby about.
it's just a form of jealousy.. smile sweetly and ignore them.. it'll bug 'em more! Guaranteed! :) :p

[FelineWolf]

Well, I'm 18 years old, 5'4" and around about 8st, I've ridden everything from 13hh-17hh and I must admit I nearly always have more fun on the little 'uns!
One of my faves was a 14.2 mare called Cherry who managed to get me off by spinning! I've never seen her lose a pole bending race yet, even when she's against the big 16hh fast brutes, even if they're faster on the flat, none of them can turn as tightly as her!
I love being able to ride a range of equines, even though I used to think bigger was better when I first started, now I realise that big horse doesn't mean big personality. I don't care about their physical size, just whether I can ride them and have fun!

[SARSBENGAL]

i have just bought a 14.3 cob so don't really know which group i am in but i love him and think of him as a pony and ride with other people on smaller ponies! your right about being able to ride ponies (weight etc) they are much fun and i think you do have to have your wits about you!! cheeky:D

[Shire Monster]

Just reading some of these posts makes me think, do these 'snobs' who are like this because of competition or sadly just cos they have a 'pretty' steed actually care about there animal.
I must say that in any horse owners (like parents) eyes their own horse/pony is gorgeous. I think anyone could see a picture or even a real horse and say wow, and can appreciate the physical beauty of the animal but is there any quite like the one you groom, ride and muck out for at the end of the day whether he's stunning beauty or ugly duckling a horse or a pony!!!
Hope this makes sense :D

[*-crazy-chaz-*]

ponies rock !!! :D
stuff that silly woman, she doesen't know what fun she is missing!

oh yup they do!! totally agreed!! lol

i <3 my pony, i wouldnt change her for the world!!

yes, unfortunatley ive run into people WORSE than that -

right, so this woman & her daughter own a 5yo (dressage) warmblood type horse. the daughter always goes around in a '*something* - cant remember lol - southern squad' jacket, & joules clothing (nothing against joules stuff, btw - i actually think it's really nice:D & the daughter is the same age as me.
- they look down there noses at me just because we wear jeans & tshirt, & we've got a 13.2 pony.
- once she wrote a right nasty comment on our whiteboard saying that som1 had gone into the school & taken out a trailer while her daughter was riding n she wasnt there :rolleyes: she said it was very irresponsible & dangerous & that pepole should know better than that because of the age of the horse & rider.
*my reaction* excusee me!!! im the same age as your daughter, & your horse is only 1 year younger than mine - so im supposed to care about you when you dont even pass thru your head what something u do might affect ne1 else??!! :mad:

- my horse had lost a shoe in the field. we had recovered it. we very politely asked her - 'your farrier's coming tommor-' (didnt let my mum finish!!:eek:) she replied 'i dont want my farrier associating with you horse, your horse is lame' - & i was thinking - is she really? because last time i checked she was perfectly fine, so now you know more about my horse than i do, when you dont even give a seond's thought about mine??!!:mad: then my mum sed - 'i only want him to put a sho-' she sed - 'i dont want my farrier associating with your horse, she has back problems' HOW DARE SHE:mad:!!!!!!! how dare she make accusations about my horses health & condition etc. when she dosen't even know what her name is??!!:mad: so my mum just walked away - & i dont blame her, if i was there i would of done something i would of regreted later.

- AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF she books the school everyday, at 'prime time', when every1 wants to get in the school.



'Iron maiden, bay mare, yann, bebe & star...x', i think you all know who i am talking about.........:rolleyes:

sorry for babbling!!! i had to say it though lol :rolleyes:

[jennyec]

Im sooooo glad i found this forum!

For years ive had a 12.2hh welsh and a 13.2hh newforest (sadly 12.2hh welsh had to be pst last year at the age of 35 as he had gut cancer).

Ive had two "snotty horse person" moments, first was when id just broken in my nf and was hacking out with a friend (from another yard) and a couple of other people from her yard, when one of them looked down at me from her tb and said "so shes your new pony? Why did you buy such a small one!" I was too stunned to reply!

The second time was with the same girl, i was on my old welsh, who could jump for england and whip anyone at gymkana or in a jump off, she was giggling at me on him, until it came to a gallop up a hill, her face when my welsh OVERTOOK her tb! Hahaha i was SO proud of my little man! If he could he would have definatly stuck his middle hoof up at the tb!

Jenny

[fjordlady]

jennyec - What a fab pony - he showed her :)

Its odd but I was speaking to my farrier the other day, and he was saying so many people have horses for their looks and as a status symbol but never have any fun with them because their frightened to leave the menage.

I feel sorry for them ;)

[jennyec]

Oh he was its coming up to one year since he was pst soon and i miss him SO much, im just glad i have the great memories that i have!

Another "big up" for the ponies, is my welsh was 35 when he was pts and he was ridden up until he became ill so he was being ridden and driven with the attitude of a 4 years old when he was 34 - dont know many horse owners who could claim the same about their horses!

Jenny

[Mossy]

On day ride with local hunt " Can you keep up on your little pony?" This from fully "dressed" guy on prancing TB. Umpteen fast miles and four hours later, my "little pony" was still pullling my arms out and up front. His hoss had worn itself out and he said Goodnight.
PS "Little pony" then took to hunting and is ALWAYS up front. See t'other guy every so often. No further comments made

[*-crazy-chaz-*]

many people have horses for their looks and as a status symbol but never have any fun with them because their frightened to leave the menage.

I feel sorry for them ;)

me too why even bother having a horse if their jus gonna school ALL the time? its not fair on the horse

her face when my welsh OVERTOOK her tb! Hahaha i was SO proud of my little man! If he could he would have definatly stuck his middle hoof up at the tb!

haha lol!:p

welshe's do have quite a bit of speed on them, don't they??!:D;)

[dani_gurl]

Well I have 2 big well 1.5 big WB horses and do you know what I couldnt pretend to be posh as they would give it away by throwing me off or the baby would throw en temper tantrum in the middle of the yard. lol....

At the end of the day a horse is a horse doesnt matter if you paid £1 or £1000000 its what they mean to you.

My friend bought her nutty horse for a pound (come to think of it he is a WB must remind her that she is not snotty enough for this breed!! :p ) and he has beaten many expensive and snotty riders much to her delight. To be honest I dont care what people think about my horses I love them and that is all that counts.

I have just sold my welsh D pony who was a super star hence the reason he got sold as he was wasted with me and i think it doesnt matter how big or small your horse and of course the bigger they are the further you have to fall lol.

[golddustsara]

Haha I belong to a university riding club and go up once a week to train on their skitz TB's and warmbloods. So last week I decided to take my 14.3/15hh connemara up there for the training - eveyone laughed atme as I'm 5ft 7 1/2 and they all said 'oh you need something about 16hh' (which horridly made me qustion whether I was too big for Paddy).

Anyways after nearly all of the staff had said 'oh he's so small' we started the training. I can safely say every warmblood/TB horse went nuts that session with riders flying everywhere... except Paddy that is. He stood there calmly as anything & just stared at the other horses - i felt so safe. That was the last of the small comments!

Sa

[Cala Forlorn]

I believe they all make dumbass comments due to the lack of knowledge. The lack of knowing what a pony can really do, physically. The lack of understanding how incredibly smart they are (right. the pony. not the horse owner.) How sweet and loyal and loving they are.

I wish I hadn't suffered under these same misconceptions for so many years and put off a relationship with a pony! I was taught ponies were for little children!

Cheese & crackers! You see one news film reel featuring Joan Crawford's kid's birthday party pony ride and suddenly the whole world thinks ponies are strictly kids biz for the next 50 years!

Total bummer, man! All those wasted years! But as Mason Cooley said, "Regret for wasted time is more wasted time."

[kturner]

Get it all the time.

I think it is from the theory "the bigger the horse I have, obviously the better rider I am".

Ignore it. Have fun!

My ponies make me laugh. I love 'em.

Fx



I agree with peoples idea of riding ability and size. I challange any large horse rider to stay on my 11.3 welsh gelding for more than 3 minutes without a lot of pre-flight training from me! he is such a character. you cant have half as much fun on the bigger ones, because they all behave! i like surprises.

[Sammii]

me too why even bother having a horse if their jus gonna school ALL the time? its not fair on the horse

I don't think you realise how many people you could offend with that comment.

[Lora]

I've ridden Arabs for the longest time, and we Arab riders used to be very much looked down upon when we mingle with more conventional horses and ponies at conventional (ie non-Arab oriented) activities ...it's improved a bit in recent years, depending where you live.

Boy you really hit the nail on the head. We were the only arab for a year, now there's 4 of us at our barn. But he's coming along. Some of the very people that told me I should sell my arab are now coming up with glowing praise over his progress in just a year. "hrrrmmmmmm" Mumble "thanks" under my breath. hehehe

I remember distinctly hearing "You can't really do anything with an arab, it's bad blood messed the whole breed". :eek: Whatever the heck that meant, I bristled.