Where have all the pony people gone?

[Esther.D]

This forum seems to be suffering a bit at the moment - where have you all gone?:D

[Mehitabel]

i'm still here! got my first show on sunday so i will do a report in here monday.

[Esther.D]

Good Luck Es! I'm glad there is someone still about on this forum...Incidentally, you are probably a good person to ask about jumping with Rupert - I put a thread on here a while back called 'Jumping Ponies' about the BSJA's response to my very tentative (and very optomistic) enquiry about eventually doing some affliated jumping with Rupert. I think you are more in the showing line than SJ but I saw that amazing pic you posted on one of the other threads of someone's (was it Petal's?) sire jumping.

Anyway if you wouldn't mind taking a look at it....That goes for anyone else out there too (obviously)!

[Mehitabel]

it is petal's dad, but we never did affiliate him. we were going to after he retired from showing, but fiona hasn't got time to do it all as well as the other ponies. that pic was at a biggish local show that do a 'high-jump' every year for all comers. ruben did it every year and is quite a local personality.

to be honest what i know about 'proper' showjumping could fit on the back of a postage stamp - i've never done it and am not really into it. i know there will be issues with distances between fences - even if he can cope happily with the height he might find that hard, and the speed of the bigger ones that can cover so much more ground.

most shows do unaffiliated classes up to about 3'6 i think - round our way they do anyway. sorry not to be more help.

[floppy]

good luck :)

[Esther.D]

Thanks Es I wasn't really bothered about affiliating I was just interested! Quite happy to do local shows anyway as I have no real showjumping ambition....I just found the BSJA website and emailed them out of curiosity...then I wondered about the response so I asked as I have discovered that there is always someone on NR who knows the answer to any question:D

[Miriam]

Good luck Es. Esther I am still here although Ihave not rode Rhi for a while due to trying (Ha Ha) to get her up and running inthe cart. Maybe I shoudl stick to riding :eek: No I could not do that.

[nat17]

I thought the same esther d, but i am glad to see some are still here.

[Mehitabel]

i always check for new postings, but we don't do much with our lot over the winter - just hacking and playing and chilling out after the show season, so i haven't had a lot to say!

what is everyone else doing with their little guys? (start new threads! it looks more impressive!)

[joy70]

Im quite new to this forum, but Im 32 & ride 13.2hh, im trying to regain my confidence & hope to be jumping at the locals this year, very small though, but was horrified when I rang a riding school (in the BHS guide of where to ride & train) to try to book a jumping lesson on a pony that would jump to be told at 10st i was far too heavy for there ponies and should be riding horses!

I used to jump up to 3'0" 3'3" and considered affiliating him years ago, but whoa have you ever been to an affiliated show on a pony if your an adult, you come in for some real snooty looks & comments I might add. Support your local shows, its much more fun!

[Esther.D]

joy70 - I had a feeling affliated shows might be like that, that was what prompted the curiousity to contact the BSJA in the first place. I think we'll just stick local (which was probably all we would have ended up doing anyway:D )

[joy70]

Esther.D,

Local shows can be far more competetive too, and ours can be really friendly, we are really lucky our local show is in the field right next door to our yard, so we take our cars round & ride the ponies back, then we've got all our bits n bobs we nee, but because all your mates are there you get loads more support!

Good Luck with the shows, keep me posted on how your doing!

[welshcoblady1]

hello all ,i am a mature lady ,with welsh ponies that i ride and school ,as i am only 5ft i would feel over horsed on any thing bigger than 15,2 ,
i have section c/d ponies and they are so versitile ,i really enjoy them , how ever i do have the odd lady on a large horse ,look down at me ,but i just smile and enjoy my self.
best wishes mrs lewis.

[Monty]

I'm a mature rider of 5ft too, and I feel over horsed on anything over 14.2!!! And I'm not very brave either if the truth be known!! Carry on enjoying yourself......these people may look down on you either metaphorically or literally,.".....he who laughs last....." remember that, if it ever gets to you.

[Gill]

Well I'm 5,7 but my Highland, Erry, is plenty able to carry me. She is lovely! We have been out riding this morning in the glorious sunshine, aren't we lucky?
What rot being too heavy at 10 stone for a pony! I wish I was 10 stone! Mind you the recent weight loss is making me feel great so I might get there one day!
I am looking for another large native now as hubby is returning to riding after a long gap. He can ride though. Anybody got a nice big pony needing a job?

[joy70]

Gill

Lucky you going riding on a beautiful day like today. Im hoping to go riding my boy 2nite! after work

Thanks i've had a lot of my friends recently tell me that theres no way im too big for my boy! but its nice to hear from othersall the same. We actuallt weighed him the other day, according to the weigh tape he should be 15'3" so hes overweight too!!!

:D

Hope u find something for your hubby soon

[stormingellie]

I am old, 5'6 ish and 10.5 stone and ride a very cobby 14.2 pony. She is definatly a pony not a small horse as I have never made the transition and at my age don't intend to try.

There is something about saying "I have a pony" that is nice and safe for me but to say "I have a horse" would imply that I had aspirations to great things .

I ride out most mornings in a group of 4 adult pony owners all very happy and very safe !!

[Emma_G_NZ]

I'm here.. I just lurk because I'm not yet an adult ;)

[Esther.D]

Oh I'm sure we would let you in to our exclusive club Emma:D

[Karenr]

I'm still around, just come out of hybernation! Still got my pony although I guess officially she is now a horse at 14.3 but still has the pony attitude!!!
She is about to have her fourth birthday - no party I am afraid due to naughty behaviour - she decided she was going for a good old gallop round, OK but she was being lead to the yard from the field and has left pot holes in the lawn and pulled out loads of shrubs! Not a popular girl at the moment as it wasn't only once, twice nor three times but 6 times in the last few weeks - I have the rope burns to prove it!

So pony is having lots of lessons on being led without going off on her own! I do wonder some days why I bother - must be love!!!!!!:D

[Mossy]

V busy riding my pony - Mossy and working with Conn - who at 15.2 is definitely a HORSE. Sorry if comments about her creep into this forum - drum me out as an interloper if you wish :D :D

[Yvonne M]

I have always had ponies, never horses. the only time I have ridden a horse is on the odd lesson. My pony is 13.2hh, an Arab X & he is 21. He was a little cheeky chap in his younger days so I am told. But now he is the perfect gentleman. He has his moments like not standing still when I mount him sometimes.
My friends envy me, they would like to keep & ride a pony themselves! I am 5ft so look okay on him. :)

[Fraggle]

I haven't been around much I admit - not done much over the winter but I'm starting to get Sam back in to work now.

Hopefully I might have something interesting to post in the near future. :D

[Gemma R]

I'm still around - sometimes!!!! LOL. Keep meaning to get more involved but keep getting distracted!!! Ho hum.

have news though so will get bottom in gear and post :D

[clairev]

HI, I am 41 years old and an extremely "cuddly" 5'2"! My pony, Anna, is a sturdy 14.2 hh piebald cob - I am the only one on my yard that actually rides as all the others have thoroughbreds etc that they can't handle! Why do some people buy totally unsuitable horses when all their needs would be satisfied by a good old cob? I know some of them can be a bit snobby about cobs but I think I have the last laugh as it is me who gets to go out hacking whenever I wish with total confidence!;)

[topsey]

hi
i'm new to nr. like emma i'm not an adult yet (i'm 17) but at shows i'm considered one. i ride welsh ponies from 11hh to 13hh i ride the ponies at the a welsh stud. i have the loan of a 14.3hh horse but she is build more like a pony. u guys are so luckly that u can show ponies. here in nz at most (if not all) shows u have to be under 17 to ride ponies.
Merryn

[KAREN YAUNEY]

I DID HAVE TWO FOR 12 WONDERFUL YEARS THAT I WOULD NEVER TRADE FOR ANYTHING !! THEN ABOUT 5YEARS AGO I LOST THE OLDEST ONE TO COLIC & POSSIBLY A 7mo PREGNANCY :( I STILL HAVE THE OTHER ONE, HE IS 26YRS OLD NOW, STILL IN GREAT HEALTH AN STILL ACTS LIKE A 2YR OLD SOMETIMES, he he. HE IS A ARABIAN AN ONLY ABOUT 14HANDS, I WAS TOLD BY U.K. STANDARDS EVEN-THO I LIVE HERE IN THE U.S. HE IS CONSIDERED A PONY. WHEN I STARTED OUT TO BUY A HORSE I THOUGHT I WANTED A BIG (tall 15 1/2 +h). I REALIZED THAT WHEN ONE FALLS OFF A TALL HORSE THERES ITS LONGER TO HIT THE GROUND. THE 24 1/2YRS THAT I HAVE HAD MY "PONY" I HAVE ONLY FELL OFF HIM 3x's AN THATS BECAUSE I WASN'T BEING CAREFUL & BEING STUPID !! MY HORSE PONY HAS A HUGE HEART OF GOLD. I DON'T THINK I WOULD CARE FOR A REGULAR SIZED HORSE NOW THAT I AM USED TO HIM SO MUCH. PLUS GETTING ON HIM IS GETTING TO BE ANOTHER STORY - MY REACH ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE :)

GOOD LUCK TO ALL PONYS & OWNERS
BEST WISHES

KY & SCOOBY

[lisae]

I've had an invitation to join our local draft horse club on their "wagon drive" this weekend, I guess my Haflinger mare is considered "drafty" enough. It's a 10-mile circular walk with a meal for participants after, and the lady who invited us has even volunteered to pick me up with her trailer! Short trip, it's only six miles from our house.

My only concern (other than being such a rank driving amateur) is that Monday (my mare) is just coming out of winter sluggishness and I've only ridden her once this spring. Would a ten-mile walk pulling the cart be too much for her poor legs and feet? It's all on the flat and the lady complained no one goes faster than a walk. (She has a retired harness racing horse, so spends most of her time circling back!) Monday is not overweight and not in poor shape, but not worked either. She was just bred last week, would a workout endanger the possible pregnancy?

I suppose I could always turn around after half an hour - ten miles at the walk would take about 2 hours total, maybe a little more. I don't want to wear her out. What do you think?