Big enough?

[JOJOBA]

Would a 13hh Exmoor pony, 5yo, not the stockiest Ive seen but not a twiglet, carry me for regular schooling, hacking, showing etc, and a lightweight western saddle from time to time?
Emphasis on longevity, there would be a well fitting saddle, but I dont want a sway backed horse with leg problems in a few years time.

(5'9", roughly 9st, sometimes tad more, sometimes a tad less. Likely to be less if Im riding regularly again! Balanced rider.)

xxx

[Snow_Pony]

Id imagine at your height it wouldnt be suitable.. as you could potentially unbalance the pony. The overall picture probably wouldnt look right..

xxx

[LokiSofi]

Would a 13hh Exmoor pony, 5yo, not the stockiest Ive seen but not a twiglet, carry me for regular schooling, hacking, showing etc, and a lightweight western saddle from time to time?
Emphasis on longevity, there would be a well fitting saddle, but I dont want a sway backed horse with leg problems in a few years time.

(5'9", roughly 9st, sometimes tad more, sometimes a tad less. Likely to be less if Im riding regularly again! Balanced rider.)

xxx

no problems at all. Bubs carried angelofages who is same weight and similar height to you. Bubs is a rising 20 exmoor 12.2hh mare.
A healthy exmoor who is well balanced with have no problems carrying you at all Jo:)

[shandy84]

Yep not a problem :) my 13.2hh NF is weedier than an exmoor and is 100% fine with that weight

[Mehitabel]

yes. you might look daft, but as you know that depends on the pony. if it's a tardis-exmoor you will look fine, and your weight is unquestionably OK.

[JOJOBA]

This is me on an 11.3hh exmoor (first pic). I actually got off this pony, despite the trek leader's insistence that taller, heavier people ride him, as I felt too big. We had several nice walks up and down the hills chatting though. He cantered along and jumped a bog with me first!

And on a 12.2hh exmoor (second pic). Rode this pony for a long trek and he was forward going and sure footed with me, mountain goating up the hills!

But Im still paranoid about squishing something... Esp as it wouldnt be a one off, it would be ridden by me all the time...?

ETA - dont care about looking daft. Just want a low maintenance friend who I can hack and school and show. Would I be allowed to show it at my height? I know we wouldnt do well, because the overall picture would be, well - daft :p, but we can still join in? :p

ETA again - and the ponies in the pictures dont exactly have the best looking backs, though they do trek for hours with novices, up to 12stone!

xxx

[shandy84]

You look fine on them both, I think they will be fine if you just want a low maintenance friend obviously not ideal if you want to jump 1m40 :p . . . . if you find one you like in your price you will not hurt it especially not if you get a well built one :)

[Mehitabel]

there is no rule for showing about relative height of pony and person!!

[Mehitabel]

if your'e going ot be paranoid then get something bigger. we can say it until we are blue in the fingers, but it;s you who has to believe it!

[shandy84]

She's right, if you're paranoid about it you'll limit yourself when you ride and wont enjoy your friend so much. Do you 100% want an exmoor or is it just a native you're after as obviously exmoors do come up smaller on the height side of things :)

[JOJOBA]

Blue in the fingers :p.

No I agree with you, Im happy to buy something small. It's just that when I get flack about it, which I undoubtedly will, I want to be categorically sure in my mind that Im in the right, and everyone else just hasnt found the wonder of ponies ;). And also I dont want to turn up and have the owner kick up a fuss! :o

Oh and you've put me onto NFs a bit too Mehitabel - I thought they were much smaller and lighter than they are but Ive met a couple now and they are a very nice size and shape. :)

I know there isnt a rule at all about height of pony and person, but I thought - even in M&M classes? - that there was something to do with 'overall picture'?
Not particularly bothered, would rather have an icecream and wander round stalls than win the classes anywho. ;) It was just a general query.

ETA - Im not specifically after an exmoor, just anything which seems nice, nativey, safe, friendly, etc. And fairly small (pony, not horse). And within my price limit. It's just I have seen one which looks nice. Not that Im supposed to be looking yet. Ahem.

I guess the best thing would be to go and try, see how I look and feel (with regard to the tardis thing too!) and see if the pony is happy. If we're both happy then Im happy to do it.

xxx

[Snow_Pony]

This is me on an 11.3hh exmoor (first pic). I actually got off this pony, despite the trek leader's insistence that taller, heavier people ride him, as I felt too big. We had several nice walks up and down the hills chatting though. He cantered along and jumped a bog with me first!

And on a 12.2hh exmoor (second pic). Rode this pony for a long trek and he was forward going and sure footed with me, mountain goating up the hills!

But Im still paranoid about squishing something... Esp as it wouldnt be a one off, it would be ridden by me all the time...?

ETA - dont care about looking daft. Just want a low maintenance friend who I can hack and school and show. Would I be allowed to show it at my height? I know we wouldnt do well, because the overall picture would be, well - daft :p, but we can still join in? :p

ETA again - and the ponies in the pictures dont exactly have the best looking backs, though they do trek for hours with novices, up to 12stone!

xxx

Gosh I take it back you look fine in those pics! xxx

[shandy84]

;) you could always do inhand :p

I love Nf's mine came out finer than I thought but is still chunky enough for me. I have had 5 years of people telling me i'm too big for her it's cruel etc but I have learned to ignore it. It also helped that I hunted Bramble and although I fell off :o she kept up and was gamer and better behaved than a lot of the biggies, which earned us a reprive from the scoldings :p

I tend to shrug it off and say hey ho if you have me out with you at least if there are gates to open etc I can hop on and off easily :) unlike you who needs a crane :D or if out with men, the issue of size...*cough* comes up ;)

[JOJOBA]

It drives too Shandy ;)

xxx

[shandy84]

There you go then perfect excuse

Friend: ohh why haven't you got yourself a REAL horse

You : Because I want a gorgeous pony that can not only ride but can drive as well :p

[westphalenlover]

You will be fine I'm 5'7 and I've got a 13.1 Welsh section C x Dales and I'm about 11 stone and he carries me fine.

Have you thought about a Section C? Or a Dales? Both breeds are great and can turn a 'hoof' to anything from dressage to happy hacking. :cool:

[JOJOBA]

Dales are really too expensive - Id love one but Id be pretty pushed to find one I could afford. Sec C Im keeping an eye on, not found any that really leap out at me yet but they are still on the potentials list! Though as I said Im not even meant to be considering looking until March.

xxx

[shandy84]

uhmmm that's not far away and if Mr Perfect pops his head up before then. . . . well ho can you resist.

I love Section C's not as keen on D's, adore NF's and think dales/highlands etc are great but they were always too expensive for me :)

[JOJOBA]

I dont really like D's but Im willing to look if they sound perfect - there's always exceptions. Never met a C but like the look of them. Dales I love, Fell I love, Exmoor I like - would have to see how we got along individually ;), NF I dont really know enough to say, and they seem to be so different within the breed. Highlands I would consider but they are expensive and not ideal for the kinds of things I want to do. I have my lessons on one though. Icelandics are just too expensive really.

It's more to do with temperament and feel for me - Id like a purebred something-or-other just because I love natives and it gives us more options showing wise, but Im willing to look at anything which fulfills my criteria.


xxx

[Vicki&Milo]

Oh and you've put me onto NFs a bit too Mehitabel - I thought they were much smaller and lighter than they are but Ive met a couple now and they are a very nice size and shape. :)



Oh, that was Mehitabel's doing was it, I'll tell Milo he's not loved and wanted then ;)

[shandy84]

You're welcome to come meet Bags (I know it's a long way :)) you could ride and drive her. I find them as versatile as the section Cs but slightly plainer (not as flashy strides etc)

[JOJOBA]

Vicki - Milo was one of the ones I have met and he was a good ambassador for the breed :p.

Shandy - thank you for the offer, I will have to take you up on it sometime (scheming with a map...). Ive never driven before, or even been driven, but its something Ive always wanted to do.

xxx

[Vicki&Milo]

Vicki - Milo was one of the ones I have met and he was a good ambassador for the breed :p.

Shandy - thank you for the offer, I will have to take you up on it sometime (scheming with a map...). Ive never driven before, or even been driven, but its something Ive always wanted to do.

xxx

I think some of them are actually quite pleasant and well mannered though

[shandy84]

Shandy - thank you for the offer, I will have to take you up on it sometime (scheming with a map...). Ive never driven before, or even been driven, but its something Ive always wanted to do.

xxx

Well you are honestly more than welcome if you do decide to journey south ;) I may have more than one for you to try your hand at driving and both are natives ;)

[Mehitabel]

well, new forests do rule! :D i like the variability in the breed - means there is something for all tastes.

[acw295]

New Forests are perfect :D

Flony_pony's Flo (I share her) is a purebred NF and gorgeous (if a wee bit mareish and opinionated :rolleyes::)) have a look at her pics.

[lauraandharvey]

This is me on an 11.3hh exmoor (first pic). I actually got off this pony, despite the trek leader's insistence that taller, heavier people ride him, as I felt too big. We had several nice walks up and down the hills chatting though. He cantered along and jumped a bog with me first!

And on a 12.2hh exmoor (second pic). Rode this pony for a long trek and he was forward going and sure footed with me, mountain goating up the hills!

But Im still paranoid about squishing something... Esp as it wouldnt be a one off, it would be ridden by me all the time...?

ETA - dont care about looking daft. Just want a low maintenance friend who I can hack and school and show. Would I be allowed to show it at my height? I know we wouldnt do well, because the overall picture would be, well - daft :p, but we can still join in? :p

ETA again - and the ponies in the pictures dont exactly have the best looking backs, though they do trek for hours with novices, up to 12stone!

xxx

you look better on the 12.2hh
i always worry im too big for my 14.2 and im 5ft2

[hApPiNeSs]

jojoba - i used to have a 13hh exmoor

im a little shorter than you at 5'7" but probably a stone or two heavier - you're very tiny

we got some comments but she was always very capable of carrying me. i'd say go for it - i miss the little exmoor in my life!

[Sparklie]

How about a connie?

Twig would be happy to show you the wonders of connies if you ever venture in my direction.

You look fine on the exmoor ponies. They're very sweet

[JOJOBA]

Ive ridden a couple of connies and they are great - my favourite RS horse is a connemara. But once again - a bit expensive for me really.

xxx