why do some small ponies go so fast in canter?

[sarahh]

i'd be interested to know why is it that the much smaller ponies in my daughter's group are invariably the ones that go completely mad in canter, if they don't end up in agallop at the least they go careering round the school with all spectators holding their breath?

and yet the bigger ponies seem much calmer, my daughter has ridden a couple of quite big ponies (her feet were only just below the saddle flaps!) and they were far calmer, still cantered well but more controlled.

i realise that different breeds act differently, but the little ones don't seem to be any particular breed like arab or anything, just seem completely daft! they are obviously very excited seeing another horse canter.

and so - any good tips for riding the mad ponies?!

[Wally]

The problem probably stems from lack of correct schooling by competent riders. The ponies are too small for an adult to ride regularly (or folk think they are) so they are never taught no to bomb off. They always have a novice rider hanging on rather than riding and educating so the pony does not know how to do a nice gentle uphill canter. He is probably "kicked" into a canter from a running trot too which won't help. The bigger horses have probably ben ridden by better riders a lot more.

[Steve.R]

The only thing I would add to what Wally said is that small ponies are extremely competitive in company! But as Wally says - they can be schooled to be civilised!:D
Esther

[Jay.o]

the ponies at my school do that !
they are too strong for the size rider that best fits them.
and the more experianced riders are bigger and they were riding bigger horses.
i always ride this one now and sort of reschooling it.
the owner asked me if i minded as i am a small person and able to control her !!!!
i think if they are behind bigger horses aswell out on a hack, the bigger horses take fewer strides than a pony in the same distance and although are both are going the same speed, the pony is going faster to keep up !!! it feels like they are going faster because they are doing smaller faster strides !!!!

hope that that makes sense !!!!

[Emma_G_NZ]

Yep, they are too small for older, more experienced riders to school them!

[sarahh]

thanks all, that's another mystery explained. luckily my daughter is growing fast so hopefully they will be putting her on the bigger ponies!

[ridehorses]

just also wanted to add that ponies have shorter strides and it can feel you're going a lot faster than you really are!

[Wally]

If it is a good, uphill canter it shouldn't feel any faster than a big horse cantering. Yes the legs will be going quicker, but you should still feel the same wonderful uphill carriage and control.

I know a lass who has a Shetland pony who could piaffe and his legs moved no faster than a 17 hand horse doing the same movement. Poor old Horace is now over 32 and retired, but he was a small horse with TALENT.

[Merlyn]

I think also small ponies feel faster because you are closer to the ground - so the ground appears to be going past faster - not that you should be looking at the ground. My 14.2hh cob has a lollopy canter that covers the ground at a fair rate but she doesn't take many strides to get round the school. I am also helping to school a 13hh pony who is only just learning to canter with a rider. She probably travels at the same speed as my cob but it feels faster - I am much closer to the ground and her legs are much busier than my cobs. Mind you she is a pony who will always be keen :D