Exmoor Pony - how is this possible???

[JOJOBA]

I was officially measured the other day - I am just over 5'9".

I went exmoor pony trekking yesterday - this pony is about 12hh, maybe 12.1hh on tiptoe.

How come I dont look huge?
:p

Perhaps I should look even smaller for my next pony (I had planned to look 13.2hh plus).

xxx

[SLW]

You look fine weight wise for this pony as you have a slight build, but you do look too tall for him. I would say you could go bigger than 13.2hh for your height. I am 5'6'' and own a 15.2hh. Weight is more important than height and the main thing is that the horse is comfortable, which the pony in the pic does look, but again, I would say that you are a bit on the tall side for a pony of this size. :D

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Im taller than you Jo and I ride a 12hh regularly, i do find it hard to give him leg aids at times and his saddle is a nightmare for me (my knees are well over the front) but I do feel perfectly happy on him and he's more than happy to cheerfully drag me around the school :)

Hes a young Welsh A.

(must admit that I feel big on my 16.2 TB at times tho :o)

[JOJOBA]

I must admit I got off him quite a few times going uphill because I felt a bit mean, though the trek leaders insisted he would be fine (Im 3 stone under their weight limit and they dont have a height limit). But he trotted and cantered along quite happily with me and we were out for 3 hours - he also got briefly stuck in a bog and we jumped out so I cant have been unbalancing him too much! My OH also came with me and he's 5'11" - his pony was about 13hh and they went for his first ever canter (4th time on a horse) up a steep hill with the pony not struggling in the slightest.

They just have such slender little legs, I always think Im going to break them :o, personally I like things with a lot more bone! But I do like the exmoors, might be quite nice to have one. I bet they'd be fun for western because they're so nippy and sure footed! :p

My horse is 17hh and I look conventionally correct on him, but Im extremely unhappy on anything over 14hh nowadays :p.
SLW - if Im a balanced rider why would my height affect him unduly? Im just thinking of the Icelandic men riding their Icelandic horses - they look bigger (taller)!

xxx

[domane]

Lovely pic Jo! Nice to see you smiling and enjoying yourself :)

Hmm.... I wonder if I see an Exmoor pony permanently in your future.... ;)

[Maddison's girl]

great piccie!! glad you enjoyed yourself. I usually ride a 14'2 but yesterday rode my friends 17hh beast, thought I would look like a pea on a drum but didnt. Anyway got off that and rode 11hh (ish) pony and still felt ok :confused:

[JOJOBA]

It would certainly be funny to turn up for dressage competitions on one, in a warmup area full of big warmbloods. Might be worth it just for that :p.

xxx

[Roofio]

thats an ace pic, and what sounds like an ace pony!

your lovely position helps too i think *jealous* ;)

[KateWooten]

Ooh - I know a nice, if Tiny, Pony you should pop over and ride :D

I'm right there with you on the smaller equines. Until this morning I didn't ride anything over 14.3

Then I got the measuring stick out :eek:

[domane]

Ooh - I know a nice, if Tiny, Pony you should pop over and ride :D

I'm right there with you on the smaller equines. Until this morning I didn't ride anything over 14.3

Then I got the measuring stick out :eek:


And..... ?????? What shock did you get then???

[Mehitabel]

exmoors are like tardises!

[Bobbin]

OMG - You look so adorable on him!!

[kase]

Oh great pic! I'm soo jealous hehe, can't wait to go trekking!


I personally think you looks fine, they have such big guts and can easily take up your leg. People were so suprised that I looked fine on Rocky who is 12hh, I'm shorter than you but I'm not exactly tiny.

I think you should really consider an Exmoor for your next pony ;) :D.

[Pink's lady]

You do look huge!!!! Not too heavy, but you're legs are almost touching the ground!

This you on a PROPER sized horse;)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Pinkslady/Kalli/haybar.jpg

[Dlux]

Feet touching the ground? Come on now, her feet are plenty above that pony's knees. Who wants to get a ladder out to get on their equine friend? Then for those of us who go trail riding on ponies, we get to laugh at those on the taller horses as we go down overgrown trails and they have to duck to risk being hit in the face. Hehe...

[lor]

exmoors are like tardises!


:D:D:D

Sorry, couldnt resist putting a pic of me on my exy, they are very big little horses!
The photo is by kind permission of Auror photography

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/willhoon/94018.jpg

[Wally]

She does not look huge, she looks like a tall rider on a native, looks have nothing to do with it. Pony got a smile, rider got a smile, what more do you want?

Sadly the BHS and their ilk, have been so instrumental in preaching certain sizes for certain riders that they have lost the plot as have 90% of the UK riding public.

Go to Iceland and say that to an 6 foot 4 Icelander, and suggest he ride a proper sized horse!

That's what happened to a German dressage rider, he was very rude to an Icelandic trainer, so he put the dressage rider up and he was off within a matter of minutes. He couldn't ride the small horse.

[JOJOBA]

PL is just saying I look huge so I will ride Kalli ;) (pictured horse) who is 16.3hh and subsequently 2 hands out of my comfort zone :p.
Though she does have a 12hh pony trot, which helps ;).


xxx

[Werehorse]

I want a go on a tardis pony! :)

[joey_olop]

Great pics-Im 6ft & only weigh just over 8 stone, I can ride the little uns all day, feel much more comfortable too!! I used to break little Section A's in, used to love it!!

[LokiSofi]

well Bubbles is a 12.2hh exmoor and she copes finewith me riding her,infact she regularly manages totank off buck bolt nap etc without even noticing me:D:rolleyes:

Bubs and I are hoping to do dressage:D

[JOJOBA]

Werehorse you will just fit it - one rider fits all!


One girl did a real face plant off her pony, came off with quite a smack :o. So I dont think the pony was particularly hindered by her!
(she was okay)


xxx

[teabiscuit]

exmoors!
i want one after seeing those fab pics

[laceyfreckle]

She does not look huge, she looks like a tall rider on a native, looks have nothing to do with it. Pony got a smile, rider got a smile, what more do you want?

Sadly the BHS and their ilk, have been so instrumental in preaching certain sizes for certain riders that they have lost the plot as have 90% of the UK riding public.

Go to Iceland and say that to an 6 foot 4 Icelander, and suggest he ride a proper sized horse!

That's what happened to a German dressage rider, he was very rude to an Icelandic trainer, so he put the dressage rider up and he was off within a matter of minutes. He couldn't ride the small horse.

i still haven't outgrown my 12.3hh pony i bought from the parents of 5 and 9yr old boy's who had 'outgrown her':o

The other thing i find amazing is lots of people say the smaller the pony the easier it must be, my 12.3hh is a much more tricky customer then my 14hh for people she doesn't know (even though i prefer her) i'm a lot shorter at 5ft 2 but i do weigh 10 stone and she's fine. - i even plan to stick my 6ft hubby on my ponies one day:D

To the OP you look fine on the exmoor......buy what pony you feel most comfortable on and will do the things you want it to do.

[notpoodle]

the magic of the exmoor pony :D

[Wally]

the magic of the exmoor pony

.......one size fits all!

[Rarah]

Exmoors are so adorable!

Where did you go trekking Jo?

[ShariN]

Yes,, what Wally said.

I ride a 12.3 hand Icelandic mare.. I am now 5'6" tall...she doesn't have a problem with my weight or height!
One of my friends is just over 5'9" and she raises and rides Icelandic horses...ranging from 12 hands to 13.3.

Am so used to adults riding... small horses..I do not see your height as a problem.:D

[JOJOBA]

Rarah -

www.exmoorponytrekking.co.uk


xxx

[notpoodle]

yes one size does fit all :) RAchelEvent had a go on my 12.3hh mare once and rachel is VERY tall (5'10 or something!) - looked fine to me :D

JUlia
x

[Dlux]

That's what happened to a German dressage rider, he was very rude to an Icelandic trainer, so he put the dressage rider up and he was off within a matter of minutes. He couldn't ride the small horse.

Of course he couldn't. :rolleyes: I love the challenge of ponies. :D

[fishiz3434]

i rode the cutest icelandic horse in germany that was 12.3hh and it was the most fun i had on a horse and since then i've been pony mad! keep on with the 12hh exies!! :)

[Purple Hugs]

Pinks Lady - Oh PLEASE! :rolleyes:

It's possible because natives are fab! :D Nothing wrong with being tall on a native! :D
Nothing worse than a 5'3" rider on a 16-17hh-er just 'cos it's a HORSE.

Someone has a signature saying 'my ego doesn't need a horse' or something like that, I think that describes me to a T! :)

[CER1389]

It would certainly be funny to turn up for dressage competitions on one, in a warmup area full of big warmbloods. Might be worth it just for that :p.

xxx

I compted the icey mare I ride unaffy dressage. Was full of 40yr old women on 17hh show hunters prancing around. Out comes scruffy chestnut icey! They all turned thier noses down to me (I'm 17yrs old) In the warm up areana she was beautiful! Slow, and steady, balanced, in an outline, looekd stunning. In the dressage arena was another matter! We stormed around at the speed of light! I was in giggles as she marched determindly around. She wasn't being naughty, just on a mission. Even the judge was laughing at me!

The snotty nosed hunters looked most put out as they all produced identical tests. Admittedly we weren't placed, but we gave everyone watching a giggle, and our test will never be forgotten!

JOJOBA - if I do come to Edinburgh I am soooo going out icelandic riding with you!

[JOJOBA]

The icelandic trekking has shut down :( but I think they still do lessons. Its on my list of must-visit places. If you come for a visit we'll have to arrange it :)

xxx

[CER1389]

The icelandic trekking has shut down :( but I think they still do lessons. Its on my list of must-visit places. If you come for a visit we'll have to arrange it :)

xxx

I know it has :( But either a lesson....or I'm hopping I can steal some horses from the other icey place there. I've met the ppl ho run it and I stayed there for a few nights in June. So hopefully I could ride there.
Well I've sent off UCAS, so if I get a conditional offer I may be coming up to re-visit...

[TiggerthePony]

They are amazing aren't they! I tried one at the ILPH once which I was thinking of taking on, I was so worried it would be too small and they would look at me and say i'd squash him! When I road him he felt a lot bigger than he was! He was a sweetie (I ended up getting Lily instead though who was even more perfect)!!

[Drummers mum]

All I can say is Ponies Rule!!

[PonyMad25]

JOJOBA - you look just fine on that gorgeous Exmoor pony!!! Its amazing really - you look better on that pony than I do on my friends 13.2 little coloured tank! And I'm only about 5'6". I'm about 9 stone so weight wise she carries me fine and I absolutely love riding her but I just look a bit silly :O).

I really do just love the little ones!!!!

[Sammii819]

You are slightly tall on him but not bad. A lot of adults ride Exmoors. You watch a showing class for then, eighty per cent are adult riders. They are great ponies.

[*katie*]

EXMOORS RULE!!!! If i saw a pair with dimensions like you two have in the street i wouldn't give it a second thought, you look a little bit tall but as long as the pony is still happy and you can balance there's nothing wrong with being a taller rider on a smaller pony; and besides, weight wise, that pony looks like they could carry you all day and all night and still not be tired at the end of it :p. Natives are tougher than people give them credit for sometimes; you look great up there :D

[Afellpony]

I used to have Exmoors. Lovely little pones. When I was looking for another pony after I had to part with the one I had, couldn't find one. So found Falcon instead. I'd never swap him now, not for the world!!!

[Shannonbid]

I am tiny compared to a lot of you guys, at 5.4 hight wise i would find it quite easy to ride an exmore but i [personally] feel my weight would not be as fair on the pony, I rode a 13.3 mare the other week and once i had mounted i couldn't help wondering where my horse had gone!
Short as i am i like to ahve a lot of horse underneath me and would much rather ride a 16hh cob than a pony these days.
At 14 i was asked to ride a shetland out for an hour with a group of kids, and although he worked for me i will never forget feeling, if you can swing your leg over the horses back without mounting propperly you are too tall!!!!

That said the pics of the exys here are all lovley and they all look very willing to work for the riders, short or tall!

[notpoodle]

... but exmoors are weightcarriers! they're amongst the strongest of horses if you look at the ratio of how big they are and what they can carry! as many surprised people found out - they are strong little blighters!

Julia
x

[sheltiegroomer]

I've got a 13.1 Exmoor and I'm 5ft 5 tall and just under 10st.. He carries me brill and I'm pretty sure is more than capable of carrying an awful lot more! Exmoors rule! Cheeky little monkies they are!

[jumpingkatey]

I sometimes ride a 12.2hh Exmoor gelding called Trigger!
I'm 5'9 and I don't feel too big on him.He managed to gallop off with me broncing while we were supposed to be playing mounted games!!:D:D