14.1h vs 5ft 6 and 10 1/2 stone - am i too big?

[kirstinbell]

Hey,

Looking for some advice - I'm just about to buy the school pony that Ive been riding for the last year - he's 14.1 h (so they tell me but I think he's a little bigger)

I weigh about 10 1/2 stone and am about 5ft 6. I've never had any problems riding him - I don't tip forward, I've never fell off and I've worked him hard in my lessons and he's always coped.

Everyone at my riding school say's I'm fine and they wouldn't put me on him other wise - one of my friends thought he was a bit small but she rode him and agrees that he rides like a horse rather than a pony.

I was getting a lecture or NI today and mentioned to my tutor that I was buying him and when I told her how small he was she said she think's thats too small for me and recommends that I should get my picture taken on him to see what I look like.

I'm now a bit worried that I may be too big for him but I've ridden other ponies that were allegedly the same size as him but I felt really unstable on them - I never even think of his size when I'm riding him.

I've attatched a pic of him (it's not me riding him) its about a year old and I swear he's bigger now - would be grateful for anyones thoughts as I'm now worried about buying something so small!!

K x

[Mehitabel]

no, you're fine. best of luck with him!

[hacks 4 fun]

I'm 5ft 10 and one of my horses is 14.3hh!!!...


Honestly you'll be fine - easily!!.... and far better to buy a horse you have a relationship with and some knowledge of, than buying something a couple of inches bigger youve tried out once or twice because somebody (who i'll bet has never seen you on the horse) made a flippant comment about size

Go for it!!

[kirstinbell]

I'm 5ft 10 and one of my horses is 14.3hh!!!...


Honestly you'll be fine - easily!!.... and far better to buy a horse you have a relationship with and some knowledge of, than buying something a couple of inches bigger youve tried out once or twice because somebody (who i'll bet has never seen you on the horse) made a flippant comment about size

Go for it!!
Thanks for the message - unfortunately thats not me in the picture - I'm a bit bigger.

What kind of work do you do with your horses? I'd like to start jumping him - he loves to jump. Got my friend whos's about the same size and weight as me to ride him and she was jumping him at intermediate level so I should be able to jump him - I'm just worried about long term damage if he's carrying a lot of weight although he's got a bit of cob in him and is quite chunky!

[x_Broomy]

I'm 5ft 6 and i have a 14.2hh and i look fine on him =]
Look :
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/HorseMadd/rowanandphoenix.png
Now do i look bad on him?
I don't think so:p
Don't worry he'll be fine!
:D

[kirstinbell]

[QUOTE=
Now do i look bad on him?
I don't think so:p
Don't worry he'll be fine!
:D[/QUOTE]


You're pony is gorgeous.

I've never seen myself on Jimmy(gonna take some pics tomorrow and see how I look)

I think its just cause everyone else has such big horses that it makes it look worse. I think he looks a similar size to yours and he definately rides like a horse rather than a pony!

[Sparklie]

My pony is 14.1hh
I'm 5'6
This is us together...

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/SparklieH/twig01.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/SparklieH/P1010229.jpg

Twig has no problem at all carrying me and regularly gallops about and jumps with me on him. We've cleared about a metre together and havne't gone any higher just cos I'm a wimp. Don't think you'll have any problems

[Nazdaq]

Hiya, I just wanted to say its more about weight then height. I am 5'2" and 12st (much heavier then you) and I ride 14.2hh ponies at my RS all the time. My friend who is 5'8" and 12st has also ridden the same ponies as me in the past at the RS. They wouldn't put us on them if it wasn't OK. SO go ahead, buy your lovely pony, feel lucky that you are getting a pony now (I can't afford it!) :D

[Bobbi's_mum]

MY girl is 14.1hh and in 5ft 5 - i wouldnt buy anything bigger ( im scared of hights:o:D)

You will be fine!

My cousin rides my 10hh shetland and she is 5ft 2 ( the shetland doesnt seem to have a problem carrying her weight or height and likes to frequently bomb off with her:D)

Good luck!

[Sarah1710]

Flyer is 14.1hh and I'm 5'6".

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g308/S_L_B/Flyer/P1200028.jpg

Don't worry - you'll be fine!

[courage_uk]

when you are 10 stone something you are laffing you can pratically get away with riding what ever you want being confident that you wont be too big for the neddie,

good luck with the new horse, he looks sweet :):D

[walterthepony]

when you are 10 stone something you are laffing

what do you mean? I don't get it.

separately

5'6"and 10.5 stone is no problem at all for the pony. I'm 5'7" and 8.5 stone and my 14.1 has no problem with me. the 13.3 I leased didn't have a problem either

[*Solo's Mum*]

well i'm 5ft6 weigh about 8 1/2 stone. solo is a 13.1hh welsh b.
we do all sorts.
we compete in 2foot9 showjumping, and have no trouble.
you'll be fine.
[:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/Jessmeeka/woO1.jpg
sorry about the blur tis a freeze from a video.

good luck wiht your new horseee.

x

[hacks 4 fun]

Thanks for the message - unfortunately thats not me in the picture - I'm a bit bigger.

What kind of work do you do with your horses? I'd like to start jumping him - he loves to jump. Got my friend whos's about the same size and weight as me to ride him and she was jumping him at intermediate level so I should be able to jump him - I'm just worried about long term damage if he's carrying a lot of weight although he's got a bit of cob in him and is quite chunky!

What!?! 10.5 stone is nothing!!! dear me : My husband rides my 14.3hh when the 16.3hh is having a loony day (quite often actually):rolleyes:. He's 12.5 stone and 6ft and Roxy doesnt bat an eyelid and is more than happy to canter around on hacks with him ....jog and spook at imaginary ghosts..flirt with passing geldings etc etc .....but she does thoroughly ignore him in the school :D

To be honest I dont do any jumping with her... but this is down to her weight rather than mine (vet actually said she was fattest horse He's ever seen and even went so far as to call her half hippo!!) but when she does lose some belly I'll more than happily jump her.

Honestly go ahead buy your horse!

[coyote]

you are totally fine dont worry,im 5ft 8 and 13st and my lad is 14.2hh he carries me fine and look a piccy of us together.:D:D

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/coyotegreyhounds/Image003-1.jpghttp://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/coyotegreyhounds/Image004-3.jpghttp://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/coyotegreyhounds/nellys%20shows/Image011.jpg

[Wally]

I'm 5 foot 8 and my horse is 13.1hh We don't have anything bigger than 14hh.

Frances is taller than me, and we are both a good bit heavier than 10 stone, if you pick the right type there is no reason to ride a big horse!

[Vicki&Milo]

I'm 5ft6, just over 8.5st and have just bought a 13.2 NF pony. I wondered whether I was doing the right thing, but was in the same position, had been riding him for a year and bonded with him.


Height wise I look a bit big on occasions, and find I do have to make allowances and be careful about how I throw myslef into things balance wise (ie dont gallop round corners at 90mph), but we manage pretty well and I. like you, am pretty sure I'm done growing (upwards at least :rolleyes: )

[lor]

I ride a 13.1 and i'm 5'5 9st 4lb with long legs and i'm very comfy on my po and she seems to be comfy with me, quite happy to carry on our distance rides and can keep up with the best of 'em when on a fast 1!. If you feel right on him and like him then go for it, you are definatly not too big :)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/willhoon/June2007062.jpg

[ongo247]

Going by the picture, the girl didn't look too bad on the pony, but then you said it wasn't you and that you are a little taller. The pony in the photo, has a rather large tum, if you got him in shape, perhaps your legs would look a little long on him?

I am not being negative here, just asking that you take an objective view, my pony is 14.3 and I am only 5foot, I look ok on him, but my 5'6" friend actually looks better on him with long legs, because he has quite a deep girth being TBx. She looks very tall on my other friends arab who also measures 14.3, as you can see both her feet dangling below his body. It depends on the build of pon, as opposed to their height, and I mean build, not fat tum.


before you start spending money, I would suggest that you have a think about this and perhaps try out some larger horses to see how they feel, I don't mean the odd shot as they will probably feel big to start with, but perhaps a few rides on something around 15hh?

I know it's tempting to buy the a horse that you already ride & love to bits, but is it the right horse for you, in the long run?

Do you have any horsey friends that are not connected to the yard or the seller, who can give you a second unbiased opinion?

Rather than think am I too tall or too heavy, think about whether you and he are in proportion and equally balanced.

Good luck what ever you decide.

Fi

[sarah--x]

...

[CurlyWurlyRach]

dont worry ;)

Im 5ft10, 9.5 stone and im schooling my freinds 12hh driving pony under saddle ;) hes a welsh A.

[Twigletz7]

you wil be fine:) I'm 5'8" and Roens about 14.2;)
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r248/totallytwiggy/IMG_0179.jpg

[saaam]

Going by previous posts (and i agree with them) you have nothing to worry about, as long as you feel comfortable and secure :)
At the end of the day he is going to find an experienced, balanced rider such as yourself much easier to carry than a total novice - even if they are smaller!

He looks gorgeous, lucky you! :D

[Sammii]

You definitely have nothing to worry about..(I realise this has been said a gazillion times, but it's just an excuse to tell you about Millie and Red :D)

I am 5'9" and weigh 10.5 stone.
I have a 14.3hh called Red who carries me fine.
I also ride and compete a 13.3hh Welsh B who carries me even better.

I don't have balance issues and they both move freely on the flat and over jumps with me on their back :)

[Laura+Phantom]

when you are 10 stone something you are laffing

what do you mean? I don't get it.


It's a British expression, it just means basically, at that weight you've got no problem! And she's right! :D

I'm 5'3 and rode my 13.1hh and 14hh ponies at my heaviest, 11 stone 6...i'm now nearly 2 stone lighter but they never struggled with me.

[Brandy Snap]

so. did you decide to buy him??

He looks lovely by the way.

And I'm in agreement that at that height and weight I dont think he'd have a problem (and obviously hasnt been having a problem if you've been riding him previosuly) the question is whether you will be comfortable. Not just on him, but with other peoples comments! Even strangers who I ride past sometimes make comments under there breath along the lines of 'she a bit big for that pony isnt she?' and then there is the infuriation of shows, as some of them wont let adults compete on ponies unless its in m+m classes. But if all you want to do is hack, school and have fun and do the odd local show then go for it!

And as a comparision for you (seeing as everyone else is doing it!) I'm 5ft4 weight 10 1/2 stone (or there abouts) and B is a 25 year old 13hh welshie xxxx and we've been managing fine for the past two years!

My big tip for you would be to get yourself a really good saddle! Chances are you'll need to get a child size saddle (16") so you need one that fits ponio well (goes without saying really!) but one with a shallower seat gives more seat room than the deep seats. Also, watch you dont put the saddle on too far forwards to compensate for a shorter back (I was unconciously doing that until it was pointed out to me)

best of luck and more photies please!

[puzzles]

No way hozay are you too big for him - just perfect!

I hope you have lots of fun together :-)

xx

[teddypony]

I'm 5ft5 ins 10stone and i used to have a 13.1hh on loan and looked fine on him, not stupid and he could easily carry my weight.

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

Personally I think it depends more on your riding ability than height/weight. A very lightweight rider who sits 'heavy' and has a weaker seat/ is unbalanced will feel heavier for the horse and cause more problems than if it were being ridden by a heavier rider who has a strong seat and sits lightly and in balance. It also depends on the amount of bone the pony has. One with more bone can carry more weight.
Of course, its not good to have your legs dangling so that they are hitting the horses legs, but within reason I think taller people are fine on ponies that can easily carry their weight. If you dont care how you look, and the pony is comfortable, whats the problem? I think at 14.1hh the pony will deal fine and I dont think your height will be a problem. Plenty of adults ride ponies. I rode a 13.2hh and I was 5 ft 1 and was about 11 stone at the time :eek:. I see no problem in adults schooling tiny ponies, for example, say those about 12.2 and under, if they have a good seat and are balanced, and are of good ability, and therefore would feel better to the pony than a young child who has heavy seat + hands and balance issues!

[oldpunk]

...it depends more on your riding ability than height/weight. ...

I agree entirely. I fret endlessly about being 11st and riding a 14.1 hh pony but since she has started napping to go the LONG way home and took me on a detour over some jumps in the woods recently (it hadn't occurred to me to do them) I've decided she thinks it's fine. (She is such a funny old girl!) I do take care to keep her as balanced as I can and don't let her go mentally fast though. I've been riding many years and adapt how I ride her to suit her better.

Excellent idea to get photo/video of you on any horse before you buy

[goeslikestink]

I'm 5 foot 8 and my horse is 13.1hh We don't have anything bigger than 14hh.

Frances is taller than me, and we are both a good bit heavier than 10 stone, if you pick the right type there is no reason to ride a big horse!


so true a word said

[texel]

Measuring a horse's cannon bone is used by some in determining the approximate weight a horse can carry. A measurement is taken around the circumference of the foreleg, just below the knee.

Add together the weight of the horse plus the rider and tack, and divide this sum by the cannon bone circumference measurement.

Then divide that result by two.

A number between 75 and 85 is good.

If the number is over 85, you probably need a larger horse.

Using this method, I measure the circumference of the horse's cannon bone and get 7.5 inches. The body weight of the horse is 1,150 pounds and the rider and gear weigh 235 pounds for a total combined weight of 1,350 pounds. Divide 1,350 (total combined weight) by 7.5 (cannon bone) and I get roughly 185. Divide 185 in half and my final resulting number is 93. Using this calculating method, I either need to lighten my gear or get a larger horse to get the number down to around 85.

Some horse and rider guidelines where carrying weight is concerned:

Pick a horse with bigger cannon bones, wider loins, shorter back
Avoid using heaving saddles and only carry necessary gear
Make sure the horse is conditioned for the type of riding you doing
Keep proper riding posture and balance
Give the horse a break on longer rides - get off a while and let your horse rest
Avoid riding in areas where footing is not desirable - such as mud, deep sand, asphalt
Avoid letting the horse trot or canter
The maximum weight a horse can safely carry does vary by the breed of the horse and how hard it's worked. There is no absolute rule about how much weight a horse can carry, but generally speaking the lighter-framed the horse the less he can carry. A well conditioned horse or a stout horse can generally carry more. Some breeds are bred to carry heavier weights like the Quarter Horse, Arabian or Icelandic Pony. Riders with good balance also make weight load less of a problem.

[tina1958]

I worry all the time about my weight.. I went from 10 stone to 11.12lbs over the last year and have a 14.1 pony of mixed race. She has 7 1/2ins bone a short back un wide loins and looks forward to being taken out. She is sharp un responsive and will have a go at anything. I am desperatly trying to loose weight though

[TiggerthePony]

I think it sounds like you will be fine. If the horse can cope and it feels good it shouldn't matter what you look like any way (though I am sure you look great together)!! it sounds to me like the people who have seen you ride him think you are fine together and they should know as they have seen you first hand riding him.

Lots of people has real hang-ups about adults ponies and smaller horses, it sometimes feels like once you reacdh 18 you aren't allowed to ride anything below 16hh!!! You should have seen the looks on some of my friends faces when I told them I was going to try an Exmoor!!!

[lauraandharvey]

im 5ft2"
and mine is 14.2hh
i weigh about more than you :( and he carries me fine

[Laura+Phantom]

This is slightly off-topic but i've just re-read this thread, interesting to see the effect no riding has on you...in august 2007 I was nearly 9 1/2 stone, 7 months later with no riding, and i'm now 10 1/2 stone! Not to mention the blob that my bum has become, back to riding tomorrow for me! Poor Cassie :D

[bubblegirl]

I'm 5'6" and used to ride a 13.3hh pony she had no problems carrying me and i loved riding her so don't worry about it - you look fine together

Blaze Jumping (http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2384997470100138064smQelr)

Blaze Standing (http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2286752500100138064upRgZE)

[EmmaArr]

as long as the horse can cope with you, you will be fine.
dont listen to the people that tell you to go bigger, if you are happy and secure on this pony, why not buy him?
you will look fine and he will be fine, let us know if you buy him and get some pictures up too:)