What height/weight/build are you and what size pony do you ride?

[Esther.D]

Following on from Joy70 and my general rant in the mature riders forum ('Am I a complete failure?') I thought I would see what the general relationship between person size and pony size is on here.

I am not asking you to bare your most intimate details on here:D - you don't have to give a weight, a clothes size or just an indication of general build would do. Saying that most people on here seem surprisingly happy to give their weights - it must be a riding thing:D

Anyway to start you off (you probably know all about me already as I post far too much:D) :

I am 4ft11 and a half tall. I weigh 9.5stone (ish) [currently attempting to lose weight for the summer] and am roughly a size 10-12 (depending on brand variations I can be anything from an 8 upwards!)

Rupert is 13.2hh and fairly lightweight (although flicking through Your Horse magazine I have just seen a horse of his build described as middle-weight). He is a 7yr old New Forest type.

[Nickie]

I've put Bren in the 14hh section although he's 14.1hh. He's what I would call a middle weight pony - (welsh section D).

Me, however I'm 5 foot 4 tall and about 11 stone - saying that I did used to ride Bren when I weighed 13 stone and he carried me very well.

I will say - on one of the new rider hacks in the south west - I rode Centi - who was 17hh - a VERY BIG HEIGHT difference - and I was soo nervous when we set out - by the time I came back I had a smile from ear to ear! :D I think its all about the size of horse you are used to handling - if you've done it for a while and then jump up in height - it will unnerve you. Saying that - I have noticed - the younger you are - the less nerves you get - I'm such a wuss now at 21 years than I was at 12!!

Nicola

[Esther.D]

Me too - I was really confident at 12, now I am 25 things have gone down hill:D

[nat17]

me: fat
minnie: 14.2:D :D :D

[Mehitabel]

i am 5'2 and size 10 - last time i weighed myself i was about 8 1/2 stone, but that was a good few years ago!
petal and chop are both round about 14hh, but i regularly ride a 12hh pony for escorting hacks and she carries me happily.
with regards to weight carrying - they say that for a native pony you can reckon on them carrying about a stone a hand - petal certainly carries the yard owner at about 14 stone perfectly happily, and fiona, who is 5'7 and not a stick figure, used to have a 13.2 stallion who she rode and competed.

the thing is about riding school ponies though, is that they work probably more hours than privately owned ponies, and so it isn't fair to ask them to constantly carry riders near the top end of their capacity.

for instance, we have a 13 stone weight limit, and most of our ponies could carry that, and some well over.

but it isn't fair to them to ask them to carry heavier riders all the time, especially novice, unbalanced ones, and you can't say to a client - 'we could take you but we have had our quota of heavier riders this week'. we want our ponies to last a long time, so we have a weight limit and we try not to put people on ponies who can only just manage them.

in our case also, none of our larger horses (apart from one) are under 20, and so we reduce their weight limit in accordance with that as well - the weight limit did get reduced a few years ago as they all started getting on. if we replace them with younger ones, then it would go back up.

so if you feel you could be riding a smaller pony, remember that it isn't just you the pony has to carry - mostly it isn't that you are too big, but that it is a consideration of the other work the pony is doing.

[nix]

Hi Esther

I couldn't vote coz I ride ponies/horses from 11.2 hh to 18 hh!!!! I'm 5'8", weigh between nine and a half and ten stone and clothes size 10-12. Admittedly I don't ride Flicka very often (11.2 hh) but love riding our "dressage schoolmaster" at our yard (Guy, 13 hh). Then, to the other extreme my TB (Harve) is 16.2 hh and Rupe, one of our escort horses, is 18 hh.

The smaller ponies have absolutely no probs carrying me ... although I wouldn't jump Fliks as my toes would probably knock the rails down! :D Saying that tho ... it's much more nervewracking jumping the bigger ones as you're already MUCH higher up!

Nix

[sassie]

Hi,
I went for 13.2hh, I'm 5.7' but a lightweight! He is a gypsy cob (piebald!=gorgeous!) I did look a bit big for him, but I enjoyed riding him soo much, who cares?? But I think if I ever get another horse (working on it!!) I would go for a 14.1 14.2 hh.... so Its still got a pony nature.... 'cos they're the best!!! :D

[Esther.D]

Es - I think (if I am right?) the problem Joy70 was alluding to re: riding schools was not weight limits (which in my opinion are completely understandable and necessary) but the fact she was criticised for the size of her own pony at home.

Thanks for replying people and I'm sorry if I have missed off some heights but there is a limit to how many I can fit on the poll:D

nat17 - I'm sure you are not really fat at all:rolleyes:

[nat17]

i shall take afew piccies of me on minnie tonight and post them to show you. I think we are just right together.

[Mehitabel]

that's a different kettle of fish then esther. i was thinking that joy had had a lesson on a bigger horse, not been comfortable on it and had been told she couldn't have a smaller one. doh!

[jackie95]

I am 5' 3'' i weight 81/2 stone and i ride a 13-2hh
he is a welsh x newforest. I prefure ponies so wouldnt get anything bigger than 14-2hh

Jackie

[Jay.o]

it am 5 foot 1, weight about 45 kg.
the horse i am getting willl be about 13.2hh.

and when i ride my friends tb at 17.2hh my legs hardly get past the saddle flaps ! lol. but at least i can get on him from the ground ! lol, she cant and shes 5 foot 8. when i rode the 13.2hh icelandic my feet only just reached the bottom of his stomach !

[horsemad]

Well I'm 5ft 2 and a half (that half is very important) and weigh about 8 stone(ish). I have always been happier riding smaller horses or ponies - I would have said a 14.2 or 15hh would be ideal for me. But I have ended up with a 16hh horse - I wouldn't change her for the world, but I still think my ideal size of horse would be a bit smaller......

[Peace]

Oh, I couldn't vote - Quanah's grown to just over 14.3hh now, which I guess makes him horse-sized. But he still has a "pony-tude";) , so I can still post here, can't I?:)

Anyway, I'm 5'9" and 11 stone (sigh - the past three sedentary years spent in law school account for the 11th:( ). I think Quanah's a perfect size for me! He's short enough I can mount from the ground - sans stirrups if I have to - and wide enough to take up most of my leg.:)

Es - that "stone per hand" rule you mentioned. Does that apply to any fairly cobby type? I have desgns on riding our Haflinger this summer, who's probably 12 to 12.2 hh but built like a tank.:)

[maverick927]

I am 5ft 2
My weight is 10st but I am now on a serious diet to lose some weight.
I am very broadly built (my mum says I'm like a tank)
My clothes size is 10

Maverick is very well built as well with 8 inches of bone. He is 9 yrs old and 13.3hh

[Mehitabel]

probably, peace. i know haflingers are pretty good weight carriers as well, but i don't know enough about the breed to say for certain.

[Wally]

I am an outside brick built convenience!:D Years of carting full water buckets and getting hay harvests in has made me large and lumpy!

I suppose I'm 5 feet 8 and about 13 stone. Dress size is about a 16 jeans too (I have one dress!):D :D Got big feet too...8s!

I have always ridden small hairy horses, Haflingers for Years and now Icelandics and Fjords.

The only real reason I now have small horses is big ones don't thrive in our climate. Since I'm happy thrashing about on a small nag why pay out huge feed bills for a huge horse when these small guys do the same job for nowt.

[floppy]

Im 5'7, 53kgs (english stones i have no idea...6 or 7??)

most of my height is my leggies. My horse is 139cm....so i voted for a 13.3h horse.
i was all up for buying a lovely big horse that was at the ageof 3 at the 16hh mark..but then i found an adorable hairy plump little icelandic who i just knew i had to have from day one!:D
at th ebeginning she had a nice round belly that took up msot of my leg but new she has a sleak slim figur my leggies dangle a bit

[Hels]

Hi I'm 5'3 and at least 9 1/2 stone at the moment I should think. I ride a 14.2 Cob - sort of middle-weight I suppose, and I think she's just the perfect size for me. I'm often the one that jumps off on hacks because I can get back on easily! The other day I rode her bareback in from the field and she is just small enough for me to throw myself onto her back from the ground and heave myself round and upright in a most ungainly manner which she tolerates surprisingly well!

[Janette]

I ride a 14.2 ?middleweight cob. I'm 5'9", and carrying 'plenty of condition" If I were a horse in the ring, my owner would be criticised:( . See photos under 'Star' in the NR pictures site). However, she can be a bit of a 'madam, and does not take Heather my daughter seriously at all, she being somewhat smaller and lighter than me. (she's 12) However, I have so much fun with her, and there is no sign af any stress on her part. I am not scared at all when she begins to mess about, but I would be if she were bigger. Incidentaly, we bought her as a 15hcob, but when we measured her, found out that she was a pony:)

[Showjumper]

I'm 5'5" and 7 stone and my pony is 13.2hh. I fully intend to back her and ride her. She's a stocky New Forest pony and shouldn't have any trouble whatsoever carrying me. She also has a very deep girth so she should take up my long legs fine :) New Forests rule!

[Wally]

At 5 feet 5 and 7 stone you could ride mini Shetlands!:D ;) let alone a NF

[Cheko]

I'm 5'1" tall and ride at just over 8stone. I ride and own a 12.3hh Stocky Exmoor gelding. I dont think I'm too heavy for him as men ride them on Exmoor and they seem to cope fine.

[BlueSky]

I'm 5'3", and weigh about 8stone. Not having my own horse, I ride anything at the school between about 11.2 and 17hh. Although, I feel most comfortable on ponies 12.2 - 13.2hh.

[Black Velvet]

I'm 5ft3 and my horses are 16hh M/W Hunter with 10inch bone and a 14.3hh L/W Cob with 9inch bone.:D

[WelshJumper]

Well im 21 and am 5'9" tall and ride a 12.2hh and a 13hh welsh sec C's. I also have to biger showjumpers both 16hh.

Thow i only weigh 7 1/2 stone, and am size 8 , so im able to ride the shorties, i will get on eany size pony from 10hh to 17hh.

Its not the size its how you ride it!!! LOL!

[Drea]

14 2 and Im a BIG girl:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[joy70]

Wow cannot belive theres sooo many people out there like me its ace!

As you probably all know im

5'0"
10stone (very fat)
very short shetland pony legs 27.5" inside legs
Clothes size 12-14 mmmm thats the bottom half top half well size 16 (unfortunate when trying to do sitting trot black eyes from bouncing boobies) can't wear dresses

Re the native 1stone per hand thing ive read that too, makes me feel better

yes i was criticised for having a smaller pony at home, i decided not to take them up on the offer of their riding lessons, they wouldhave given me a massive horse!

After yesterdasy performance over the fences, we flew round, he had no worries bout my weight or anything he was very happy to be jumping again, with a fairly confident mum

Sorry for the delay in posts, but im only online in the week during working hours

[larri]

Well I'm up in the clouds at 5'8", used to be skinny as a rake, but now 10st ( ahhh middle age spread:o ) and My wee welshie Merlin is a 14hh chunker. He's got more bone than the other two put together!

We all ride him ( although Gi gets a bit embarrassed , wants a BIG horse)

Larri

[vickie]

i am really worried, 2 months ago i purchased an under condition section D. i only put a deposit on her and am due to pay the balance in 2 weeks. she put on conditon quickly and i started riding her a month ago. she seems to carry me easily but i weigh 14.5 stones and measure 5ft6 (far to heavy i know). she is only 14.1hh, she was supposed to be 15hh at least but i measured her yesterday and she isn't !! i bought her as an allrounder for jumping, dressge showing etc but having read these posts i a now worried she can't carry me. i did lose 2 stone before i started riding again and hope to lose at leat another 2 stone by autumn. in my lessons i ride horses ranging from 14.1 to 16.3, the 14.1 is a similar type to jaynee but its not the same riding once a week to riding every day. the lady i bought her off said she is 16 stone and she can ride jaynee but i don't want to hurt her back etc, etc. can somebody let me know if am am too heavy before i pay deposit, if i am i will not proceed with sale despite really liking the horse if it is not in her best interests

[bspa05]

I am 24 years old, am 5ft4 and weigh 7 stones 2 lb. I own a 14.2h section D part-bred and ride a 13h arab X section B.

[Esther.D]

I can't answer for certain as I don't know the horse, but my feeling would be not to worry, she can probably carry you perfectly well. If Wally doesn't come onto this thread - pm her she has experience of different weight riders on native ponies and I can imagine that she would agree with me, a section D should be able to carry you perfectly well.

I am lighter (and shorter) than you but Rupert (13.2hh) is also shorter and finer than a section D and he carries me well and we intend to go on to do some jumping and endurance etc eventually. If it makes you feel any better this is Rupert, he is not very heavily built (I do look very big here in my body protector and big jacket, in reality I am about 9.5 stone):

[Dressage_Luvr]

hmm......

im 15, about 5'8 or so..... and weight, well, lets say more than i should lol. i weight more than my mom. ive always been soo skinny, but then all of a sudden this winter ive gained like 20 pounds, so depressed! hehe, nah, not really!

i ride a 17 or so hh hanoverian, and a 13 something hh pony, o, and a little 12 or 11 hh haflinger! lol, i look really strange on him, cuz of my long legs, but like none of hte little ppl can ride him.

[Mehitabel]

vickie, you will be fine on jaynee. welsh cobs are even tougher than the rest of the native breeds!

[Janette]

I understand how you feel vickie, but be honest with your self. Do you feel that your pony is struggling? Ponies are a lot stronger than we give thme credit for, Dales and fells were bred to carry 20 stone of lead all day, and Highlands had to carry the days catch of dead deer! I'm not saying that to make me feel better about my decreasing pounds myself, but just to keep things in perspective. If I were too heavy for Star, Surely she would show signs of distress? - sweating, lack of energy(if only!), and a general reluctance to do anything. I think you will be fine.
How old is your pony, maybe she just hasn't stopped growing yet, natives mature later.

[vickie]

the pony is just coming up 6, and because she had a foal at only 4 and was kept in very poor condition for a year by previous owners i am hoping she will grow another inch at least. she is bigger than she officially measures as she has completely flat withers. if she had 'normal' withers she would probably measure at nearly 15 hands.

she doesn't appear to have any problems carrying me. i am an experienced rider and therefore i am balanced and sit lightly. the woman i am buying her of said she would carry 16 stone so i never thought about being too heavy for her until i read the posts on here. i am in the process of losing weight, having already lost 2 stone i intend to lose at least another 2. until then i am just going to keep an eye on her,make sure that she is fit enough for the work i am asking her to do and if she shows any sign of not being able to cope i will stop riding her.

[MelanieD]

I never thought I'm be contributing to a thread on this forum, given the choice I'm usually perched on a a 16hh TB or a 16.3hh cleveland, but now I have a little pony :)

I'm 5'3" and about 9.5 stone and my pony is meant to be 13.3hh but after seeing her stood next to a friend's pony who has been measured in the last few days and came out as 13hh it seems my pony may be more like 12.something. She's a 5 year old Dales and she seems to have no problem carrying my lardy rear around :D

[Esther.D]

vickie - if my shetlands can carry me (at gallop if they feel like it and we used to do about 7+ mile rides) and I am 9.5 stone and they are 9.3hh then I'm sure your pony is fine with you.

As it happens must people who have responded on here are 10 stone or less but that shouldn't put heavier people off - the thread was intended to prove the opposite - that adults can ride ponies perfectly well even if they are not light-weights. Sorry if this has worked the opposite way to which it was intended:(

[vickie]

i pobably over reacted a little bit!, i put on a lot of weight (5stone!) very quickly after damaging my back, and it has been a lot slower coming off so i probably am a bit over sensitive. also this is my first horse after a break of 7years and i am like an overanxious parent. i want everything to be perfect for her, etc, etc. thanks to everyone who replied and reasured me!

[belle]

I am 5ft2, and weigh about 7 stone. I have a 15.1hh Arabian horse, although she has quite a pony character.

At work I ride any horse we have varying from 12hh to 18hh, I definetely prefer the small ones! A couple of years ago I even backed 2 mini shetlands!

[Janette]

I weigh more than 10 stone, amd 5'9" and ride a pony. (see pics on the photo albums site, - Star.

[Janette]

I've got a 14.2 with no withers - I think she would come out at about 15hh as well, if she were 'withered' if you know what I mean. star also had a foal when she was about 3, so that slowed her growth down as well.

[Greymar Geneva]

I ride a 12h2 welsh sec a for my cousin who is 11. He is a complete handful and needs to be regularly ridden by an adult to keep him under control!! I am 5ft1 and 8st2. He has no problems carrying my weight but I do get funny looks of passers by.

I had a "discussion" with a lady ridng a huge tb once about me riding him. I was hacking with my cousin who was riding my 14h3 highland and she told me that I should swap horses with the "little girl" because we were on the wrong horses and I was cruel riding a little pony. I explained to her that the little pony wasn't a suitable mount for an 11 year old child to ride on the roads and that he was having no problems carrying my weight.

It made me laugh because her horse who was "the right size" was being a complete pillock and wouldn't stand still. I nearly told her that she might have been better riding a pony because she obviously couldn't control her horse! I didn't, I just rode off calmly grinning.

After this 2 hour hack Demi (my cousin) rode William in the field and he bucked her off twice just to prove a point - hee hee.

Does anyone else have this "prejudice"?

[Greymar Geneva]

Have no pics of me riding him but here is the muddy little monster!

[Drea]

hes is a muddy monster ,mine is like a little green imp atthe moment ;)

[malarkey]

...I am yet another adult riding a pony, but from the currently very unpopular side of the pond :-( please don't hold that against me!

I own a 5 yr old Connemara who is ~14.2 14.3ish (I'm hoping she's really 14.2 because of showing rules here). That's her in the avatar. I'm 5'3" and weigh ~122 lbs, which is just a bit over 7 stones. However, when I bought her, I was 160 lbs. (9 and a half stones) A year later, I'd dropped the weight. Actually, buying her is what prompted me to lose the weight. ;-) Although, when I did weigh that much, she never once seemed to 'labor' under my weight. its true, ponies are much stronger than they appear!

I'm so glad to find a board devoted to adults riding ponies. its not something you see very often, at least not here in the U.S.

[Gill]

I will help out the heavier folk! I am 5ft7, weigh 12.5 stone, (currently reducing) and my pony is a gorgeous cream dun Highland mare called Eriskay. She is a really chunky pony and carries me fine.

[Drea]

:( I feel as if in at fatties annon,Im 13st 2lbs and hopefully shrinking Im 5ft 2and a half inches and I ride polly 14 2 and it doesnt seem to hold her back (I feel unburdend ):rolleyes:

[luv horses]

I ride a lovely 14h chesnut and white pinto and I'm 9 3/4 stone:( He has a lovely nature and is absolutely so cuddley!!! His name is Liam and he has a round barrelly tummy and a very placid nature which means though he is usually at the bottom of the herd hierarchy poor little guy!
I feel so blessed to beable to ride him as I am still very much a novice and he's helping me with my nervousness. I really love being with him and wish so much that he was mine:( Through riding him I have realised that I feel much more comfortable and secure with his size and shape (more cob like) If wishes were ponies.....

[Casper]

Bert is13" 2' and im 5"8' 12 stone with saddle etc, i always get smart remarks that i'm to tall for him but i see a lot of over weight (shorter) riders with bad balance on ponies and this seems to be ok???????????????????
looking for a horse between 15" and16"!

[Emma_G_NZ]

I'm 45kg, 5 ft 1, and Lenny is 14.1hh

[Mimarin]

I'm 5'2, size 1, 95lbs and I ride Candy, a 14hh oinking pinto, and Sierra a 16 hh thoroughbred and soon Misty a 17hh thouroughbred

[SJ]

I'm 5' 8" 10st and 40+ years. I ride 3 of my childrens' 4 ponies regularly:

13.2 Irish rides as if it has a 16hh horse under it
13.2 NF rather light weight for a Forester and very whizzy
12.2 Exmoor x Heinz57 - the most balanced of the lot
12.2 Welsh Sec B PB - build like mini race horse - sadly far too spindly for me

I get extremely funny looks out hacking (somewhere between sad and bad) especially when the kids are on the bigger ponies. Little do they all know that these little ponies are great fun, can be very fast, real characters and not at all easy to ride well.

I'm so often asked when I'm going to get a proper horse for myself but I love the ponies and they need the work I can give them and it means I can combine my love of horses with my time with the children.

I did have a bit of a quiet giggle one day though:

Mentioning no names, a rather snotty light weight 60ish lady (by all accounts a horse-owning experienced rider) asked if she could borrow one of my ponies to hack out with one of my liveries. I agreed and off they went. I'm not sure quite what happend to this day but the lady came back very white and shaky and told me that the pony was extremely dangerous and totally unsafe to put a child on. Well, we've had that pony 2 years and my kids are only 9 and 11 now. They have taken the pony everywhere, hacking, traffic, shows the lot. Her only fault is she can occasionally get a little nappy but as her escort that day was a rock solid 24yr old Highland pony I wasn't remotely worried.

I'm guessing she tried to dominate the pony thinking it was only little and wasn't going to get the better of her! and it rebelled. The one thing I have learned about ponies is they cannot be forced any more than a large horse can. You just have to push the right buttons. The lady watched my 11 yr old daughter hack out of the yard the next day on the same pony with a look of total disbelief on her face, the pony has not put a foot wrong since. The lady has not asked again..

PONIES RULE OK!!

Sara Jane

[Greymar Geneva]

That sounds ever so familiar!! People do underestimate ponies...

[Jay.o]

I am 6 and a half stone, 5 foot 1/2 (maybe) and ride my 38 inch shetland and mystique a 14hh mare ! you all nkwo you seen her ! lol.
by the way new people and people that dont nkow timmy, i dotn ride him ride him i just sit on his back and let him take me home ! lol

[ebony]

i'm just under 5 foot and weigh 6 stone (i'm a bit of a shrimp for 15!) and i sometimes ride my friend's pony who is about 12.2h but when i rode him yesterday the yard owner came out and told me to get off because i was too big!! she's never had a problem with me riding him when i've had to pay to go in lessons (which i didn't even want to go in) isn't this unfair since it's my friend's pony not hers?:mad:

[Bruce32]

I feel like something of an interloper on this thread. ;) Just for the record, I'm 5'3", just under 10 st and my horse is 17.1hh. Most of the other horses the yard has are around 14 - 14.2hh and quite lightly buit, being ex-racehorses. On the odd occasion I ride one of them it feels like I'm sitting on a stick.:D I suppose its what you become used to and what you are comfortable with that counts, as long as the horse or pony is comfortable too.

[Arabmare]

Hi ya!!! I have 3 ponies!!
2 of which I can ride!!
Shamrock is 13.2hh
Jasmine is 13.2hh Arab x some welsh! but is smaller than Shamrock so dunno what we done wrong there!!
I am bout 5'3" and 9stone size 10.
My colt should grow no more than 13.2hh and i will ride him when he is older!!
I love riding ponies!! I get on so well with them!! Much better than Horses!!
Check my website out you can see what I look like on them there!!:D

[Alex]

I'm short and fat (5'3 and about 70kgs) and my pony is 14.1hh. She's alot like me actually - short and fat :D :D :D

Love,
Alex

Oooh PS though - last week one of the kids ponies at the stable was being naughty, and one of the instructors asked me to hop on her and just give her a bit of a workout. Kitty (the pony) is 11.3hh. I took her out on a hack and it was the funniest ride of my life! Her little bouncy trot was so cute, and her canter was lovely! She carried me with no problem at all, but my feet were hanging way below her belly! :D :D :D

[Crazy Caroline]

I am 5'4" and weight 9 3/4 stone. At my riding school I am happy to ride Max or Ben who are both 14.2hh but then I also ride Splash or Jester who are both 16.2hh. They all have different personalities and I love riding all of them.

[vjwuk]

For your poll:

Weight 13 stone
Height 5 foot 11 (34 inch inside leg)
Female

Started on a norwegian fjiord as I was really nervous
Progressed to on average 16 16and half handers
Now ride a 17+ shire.

Have to admit was not scared of having a go on little jumps on the smaller horses but on the shire it makes me petrified, can hardly see them over her head.

[vjwuk]

OOOOPs
Just realised you wanted info on ponies (the first one was a pony) just thought I'D reply as I rarely know enough to answer anyones questions and just jumpedin on this one.

[Esther.D]

Doesn't matter - everyone is welcome the more the merrier:D

[emma314]

I'm 5ft 6, about 10 stone last time I weighed myself and between size 10 and 12 for clothes. I ride a 13.2hh Welsh cob and a 14hh Connemara x. Neither of them seem to have any problems whatsoever carrying me, in fact I have difficulty holding both of them back!

[Sazz]

I am 5'5" about 8 stone and ride anything from 13.3hh - 16.3hh.

[Denise Smith]

Hi - I am 5' 6" and weigh 10stone. I own and ride a 14.1hh arab pony and he can gallop like the wind with me on his back!!

[liz--y]

i'm 5'5 an 8stone 9 i own a 11.2hh sec A and a 14hh arab cross vlw. i ride 11.2hh - 14hh show poines at work

[Monty]

I'm 5ft and 1/2" (and that half inch is very important too!), or 5ft 2" depending upon which leg I'm standing upon.No kidding.....it's true! And I'm podgy at 11st,but came down from 13st a couple of years ago.
Willow should be light to middle weight by frame, but I'd call her light weight at the moment......but getting better by the week. Funny Rebel was a true middle weight being a nativeX but Willow seems to carry me more willingly, if that makes sense. I wouldn't have said Rebel found me too heavy, I think it was the relationship we had that was too heavy for him, not my body weight! Willow is extremely light off the leg. I try very hard not to be heavy for her,.....if you know what I mean. I try to ride considerately. And I quite simply WOULDN'T ride her, if I thought she was having any difficulty whatsoever in carrying me.

[Mossy]

8 1/2 stone. 5ft 5 in and ride a bruiser of a 14.1 Highland. Lightweight he ain't. One tank coming through! Seriously though he is lovely and would do anything for me - sometimes!

[ajhainey]

Argh! Please tell me some of these 6 and 7 stone folk aren't fully grown adults - I think I was at middle school the last time I saw single digits on the scales! God I'm so depressed now :o

Anyway 5'8" and 13-14st (dependant on season/crisps intake) - riding anything chunky from 14h upwards at my school. I think my usual rides are a 14.3 and a 15.1....so just squeeze in to the horse category.

aj x

[Tim]

Some of the replies to this thread are funny, I've had a good snigger while reading through them...so it's my turn.
Height 6'4"
Weight 14st (89kg)
most of my height is leg, need a big horse, ponies are definitely out of the question, don't own a horse, usually ride somebody elses at the school, between 15.2(ish) and 17.2 (sort of).
Who was saying size 8's were big feet, I can't remember, all I've got to say to that is try my size 11's:eek: can't even get a riding boot off the peg!
As for clothes size, dunno, don't wear any :D



Timages Photographic (http://www.tjsmith.fsworld.co.uk)

[Wally]

If you find yourself in Shetland come and have a go on Fákur or Ugla. You'll be gobsmacked at how a "pony" can feel under you. Icelandics ride BIG, they don't have pony paces.

My friend is 6 feet 4 (and female) she rides Icelandics an doesn't give it a second thought......and I bet her legs are much. much, much longer than yours!:D :D ;)

[Tim]

Well, I haven't long come back from sailing in the Outer Hebs, could have skimmed over and tried one, well nearly, we got as far as Stornaway, next year maybe. I've no doubt your female friend has long, long, long, (drool, drool, oh, stop it Tim!!), legs. After this weeks riding lesson I think I've been moved into the psycho horse branch, perhaps I should try a pony......

Timages Photographic (http://www.tjsmith.fsworld.co.uk)

[Wally]

...that's the effect she has on all blokes when she walks into the pub....I feel like a Shetland pony standing next to a an elegant dressage horse.:( :( I'm happy with my legs, they reach all the way to the ground!

[PoniesRUs17]

Hey!
I am a 5'4" I think.... ( 164 cm ) and weigh 135 lbs *lost over 20 lbs over summer!! wanna loose another 10-20 over next summer ;) * But anyways........ I ride school horses but they range from 14hh - 16 hh... though i wanna get a 14.2hh pony soon!
~Sofia

[makebelieve]

I'm 5.3' ish, 90 pounds (5.2 st) and I ride a 15.2hh TB. Its horses all the way! Ponies are cute, but stubborn or wild (Depending on who). Galloping them is fun though. Feels like you're riding the wind.

[Happychik]

i am 5ft 5 and 10st ish

I have highland ponies and as they are so wide i dont look big on them at all. I also have a 15.3hh tb and i don't look small on her so i suppose it really depends more onthe width of the pony than the hieght sometimes

[Crazy Caroline]

I am 5'4" and about 9 1/2 stone. I currently share a 14.1hh Welsh Section D pony who is only 3 so is still growing. I look nice on her and although she isn't that tall she feels a nice height.

The first horse I rode was an Irish Cross 16.3hh and I looked ok on her too. She was bombproof but cantering on her was like riding a motorbike as she leaned into the curves.

I agree with Happychik, it depends on the build / breed of the horse / pony.
:D

[tubby]

Iam 5ft 2 ,& like a barrel,weigh in at13 stone!!! My pony is a 13.3hh Highland,large body, short legs.He has no trouble carrying me at all,can even jump with no problem.

[Janice Corbett]

What an interesting thread!

I've just bought a 14.1 Fjord, moving down in height from my 15.1 cob mare who is really ready to retire.

I'm mid 40's, 5'4, 12.5 stone.

[kiwihorsegirl]

Ok well im only 14 but i ride a 14.2 most of the time im 5'3 and i dunno how much i weigh around 11 stone probably im not to sure on the stone thing :rolleyes: lol any way i no most of you ppl who wrote in are adults but i like posting so i just thought id share my oppinion !!

gotta gallop
Ta Ta for now

[HAYLEY GITTOES]

My pony is a 14.2 Fell x and is very stocky, i weight 12 stone, and about 5.2 in height, people say me and Molly look so suited.

[Kanuma]

Stan is a 14hh connamara but he has lots of bone.
I am 5'4'' tall weigh 11.5 stone and am a size 12-14 (uk sizes) although i am very happy i now have a show shirt in a size 10 yayyyyy!!! and and!!!! a top from asda which is an 8 and a bit baggy!!! definately a big ego boost there!!!!

[Cornish Lass]

Reading some of these messages reminds me of the "pony lessons" we used to have when I was at our local stables. On the last session before Christmas, we used to have the ponies out for the adult lessons - all the tinies that only used to get ridden by the children usually.

We used to try to do a little dressage, followed by a few gymkhana games, and all swap around to try each pony. It felt like we would drag our feet on the floor sometimes, but the ponies really loved it. Must have made a change for them to have something interesting to do, rather than plodding around on the kids lessons and gentle hacks. Boy didn't they go, and their choppy little strides were interesting to say the least!

I have been tempted to jump on my son's shetland - shes about 9 hh, and I'm 5"6' and 10 stone, but as I am too big for his saddle, and never got on riding bareback, I am sure she will buck me off too easily if I try it!

Go on, tell me I'm a coward!!! :p

[tubby]

Lord thats not cowardice thats common sense , your son would never let you hear the last of it he'd bring up every time he had the oppertunaty (is that spelt right it doesn't look it)

[Mariss]

You are soo right I'm not fat, but I deffinitly not skinny and the horse I ride is 14.2hh.;) :eek:

[Showjumper03]

Well im 11 yrs old. And I use to ride a 13.2 pony. But not anymore

[Stephanie Lou]

I ride anything from 13.2hh to 14.2hh and I am 5''6 and weigh about 11 stone although I'm trying to get my weight down because on the scales in Boots it said that my weight should be 9.5 - 10 stone for my age and height ( I'm 19) although I'm the midget in my family - my mum is 6''2 and my younger sister is 5''9.

[shandy84]

Hiya I'm 5'6" and 8 1/2 stone and I ride a 14hh New Forest and a 14.2hh Arab X Hannovarian both are young and haven't fully matured yet so I would consider them lightweight, my partner also rides them and he is 5'10" and weighs about 12 stone. Both cope with this well although my New Forest is more willing to put in the odd bucking spree with me rather than my partner

[Rhonda Garcia]

I ride a 14 1/2 hand mustang- Santana and am currently training my new poney a pintolusa indian ponyTe-wa (2years old) and he's 14 hands tall but still has a bit of growing to do. I'm 5 foot 2 inches and weigh 130 lbs. (about 8 stones I suppose).
I have a question-- what kind of saddle fits a 650 lb. mutten withered, slabsided 2 year old pony that is very short backed? happy trails!! Rhonda

[gypsydust]

I'm 5'4" and I own a 13.3hh pony called Monty. He is a New Forest and is totally unsuitable for children despite his dinky size as he can be very strong. I weigh 8 stone so he carries me no problem. I love him to bits and we do a lot together, although I do feel a little big on him - I'm more comfortable on things between 14hh and 15hh - my new Irish Cob is coming next week (she's 15.1hh)!!!

[Lil_Miss]

I used to ride a 14.2hh, heavey weight cob gelding called Jacko, he taught me hwo to ride(i know have hally)Im 5ft5 and 7stone4
in weight adn 18yrs old and he carried me real easily!
Hally also caries me easily but she 15.3!!!:D

[Gypsypoop]

Im 13 and 5ft4 and 8stone ish, size 6/8/10 lol and ride a middleweight 14.2/3hh cob who carrys me fine lol i think she can carry around 13 stone;)

[Janette]

Somebody once said that a native pony can carry a stone, per hand of height! Well, star is NEARLY 15hh now, and carries me no problem! 5'9", and and more of an armchair than a barstool in build.
Star is a coloured Welsh cob/ID cross, and just getting better.
Highlands, Dales and Fells were bred to carry dead weights of up to 20stone, when carrying dead animals and as pack ponies - lead weights etc.
Star does not struggle at all, her legs are like iron. I used to worry that I was too big for her, but I've given that up, because if she can jog, pull and mess about generally with me sat on her, then things are just fine.
Some people sound worried that they are too too heavy for their friend - please don't, you all sound just fine to me, in fact, I'm jealous.

[Principal]

Great thread, i've had some fun reading through all this!

Im 16years old, weigh 7.8stone (just weighed myself)! and i ride my horses which are 15.2hh -16.2hh but i'm breaking in a 12.1 welsh sec B who full of its self and a 13hh WHP who very fine legged and they carry me fine!

To be honest i wouldn't worry about what people say about your weight and you ponies, You know your pony best and if it can manage you then dont listen to them, ride what you like, in my opinion horses have been 'softened' over the years! theya re horse and weight about 20x more then you do!:D

[Barney Bear]

I have a 14hh cob gelding, and I am 5ft 3" and weigh 10 stone. He is quite a chunky lad, and we suit each other perfectly!
I am quite nervous of anything above 15hh. I'd much rather ride a fast, naughty little pony than a gentle 17hh horse.

[Hels]

Barney I am completely with you there. The 14.2 cob I ride took off with me yesterday and I was able to just laugh about it (and make a mental note to switch from a snaffle next time we go out across big open fields in company!). I think I would have been terrified if I'd been on a big horse! I am sure I would really lack confidence on a naughty horse, but a naughty pony is fun!

[rezbeck]

i ride a 14.1 cob and i am 5ft 2 and a half and i weigh about 10 stone.

[Trabe65]

Hi All,

I am 38years, 5foot 7 and weight 12 stone. I have owned and riddin a 14.2hh middle weight cob for 21 years!!! And she could still run off with me if she wants.....lol

cheers,
Trabe65 :p

[joy70]

Just wanted to add, that when i originally posted here i was 10stone and 5'0" - have recently discovered that im actually 5'2" :) and have lost weight too and am now 8stone 7lbs :D although nedworth, doesn't seem to have noticed the difference! he carrys me the same as when i was 10stone and in fact have been up to almost 11stone :o and he's still carried me :eek:

The only difference for me now is i don't panic so much about doing things like jumping & having flat out mad gallops across farmers fields :D

[CLou]

I'm 5'7", 9 stone and heading towards the big 4 0 !!

"B" is 14.2 hh welsh cob - I've always been at my most confident and had the most fun with ponies so why stop now!!???!!!

xx

[horsefreak]

I'm 5'1'' (about) *coughcough* stone :D (lets say i'm built like a tank x shire) and ride Ebby, a 14hh dales mare. She carries me fine, and is used to carrying up to about 15/16 stone, so I'm a bit of a lighter weight for her :)

Ax ~ Emx

[Kimbychelsea]

Wow what an old post !

Well im 13 and i weight 8 stone im 5'4 and i ride anything around 17hh called Grasshopper! I enjoy bigger horses more than ponies, but saying that i first learnt to ride on a 14.2hh pony !!

Kimberleyxxx:D

[G.Gracious]

I'm roughly 5"6' or 5"7' (not sure!!), not sure what weight i am, i haven't touched the scales since about 2 years ago!! I ride a 15hh middlweight cob. I love all middlweight/heavy horses, not into the finebreds at all for some reason.

[ddgpony]

I'm 5'2", 45 years old, and weigh about 9 stone. My pony Starlight is 14.1hh, we think he's a Welsh X something. I've had him for 11 years, since he was 2 years old and he has really taught me shuch a lot. We have great fun together!
My daughter, 19 years old, owns a 12.2hh Welsh section B pony she is 4' 11" tall and weighs about 7 1/2 stone. She has owned Sparky for 10 years since he was 3.
I have gone through the comments where I have been told that really I ought to obuy myself a horse, because 'horses' are for adults and 'ponies' are for children. But I believe these comments to be utter nonsense, and stuck by my pony.
Neither of these ponies will ever be sold, they are loved dearly. They have no problems carrying us, and are regularly ridden.

[G.Gracious]

OK, i've measured myself and i'm 169cm (about 5'6" i've been told) and am 125lbs (my scales are buggered up and i couldn't use the kg function :rolleyes: ), and as i said before, Gracie is a 15hh cob.

[Rosanna]

I don't know how tall I am (5'1"/5'2")
I weigh 7.5st
My pony is a lightweight 14.2hh
I am getting a new pony Easter time because i don't want to get too heavy for him.

[welshcoblady1]

hi i am 5ft and 9 stone ,i have section c ponies that i ride and drive . they carry me fine and i do not feel to big ,but i do get looks from other horse owners,but i am past that now ,i love my ponies ,we get on well . adult pony lover .
best wishes.

[hackedoff]

I love pony types and am small and stocky myself, I share 2X a week an Irish Cob and the only thing I dont like about her is she is much bigger than i wanted- 15hh. I get attitude from the TB brigade when I'm out hacking which I think is just a natives prejudice. She has pony attitude too (and little pony feet);) ;)

[shakari]

5ft7, 8 stone 10 and a size 8 and I have a medium weight 17 hander and a 12 hand dartmoor pony, The horse makes more of fuss about me then the pony although I do look a little silly on him.

[Frances]

14 stone = me
13.3hh = Haakon (and he doesn't even blink!)

Next .......

[shebie]

hi
i'm 5ft and weight 13stone and own a 14,1hh piebald cob with 8 inch of bone he carries me fine
and its still like trying to get on a 16hander lol
wish i was a little taller
shebie

[Steph. Louise]

I'm 5''6, weight 11.8 stones and ride anything from 13.2 - 14.2hh

[Cheko]

I'm 8 stone and ride a 14hh Fell pony.:o

[Riding_Fan]

I am a middle aged woman from India.Around 85 kgs and ride a small pony(I believe must be around 12 hh).

[Mossy]

To quote your description of yourself " a brick built outside convenience" scarely flattering me thinks! However if you are down this way there is a little grey, much loved, tank who has had the same desciption applied to him, but not put so politely, who would be more than willing and able to carry you wherever you wished to go.
esp the pub!!!!

[Mossy]

me 5'5" and 8.5 stone
Mossy 14.1 of Highland. He carries my 6'2' son without batting an eyelid. He will carry me all day - 5.5 hours yesterday from depart to return - and that over v rough ground and at some speed. [ A plus point fro the Saddle Co saddles as well. Moss' working hunter saddle WORKS!!!]
Connie 15.3 - welll she thinks whe is a pony - certainly as cheeky as one!

[Hilde'sMama]

Hello! I am in the USA, and I don't even know how many pounds are in a stone! teehee!

I am 5'3", and let's just say I am a bit on the heavy side! I ride a 14.2hh POA mare that is built like a warmblood. She has absolutely no problem with carrying me, and I am a novice. I don't like to rid anything bigger. I have a 16.2hh Warmblood gelding, and I much prefer my pony!

[Southerner]

I am 5'4 and 11.5 stone and my husband is 6'2 and 15 stone and we can both ride my 14.1 highland easily

[Brychen]

I am 5.2 1/2 and weigh about 11 stone (currrentyl repgnanat thats my excuse!). My pony is a 14.3 hh Welsh D carries me no problem.

[gail_rose]

I'm 5'6" and quite well built. Usually take a size 16 - 18. The pony I usually ride - Joey - is 13.2 & fairly stocky. I'm obviously not too heavy for him as he took off with me yesterday bucking around the arena!! :rolleyes:

[Bob's Mam]

I'm 5'3" and weigh between 11.7 st and 12st (depending on how many curries I've had!).
I have two Welsh Cob Stallions. One is 14.1hh and the other is 15.1hh.
And I have to say I much prefer riding the smaller one.
We do County Level Showing and no one has ever commented that I look too big for my horses / ponies.
For showing the over all outline and presentation is so important, so as long as your legs don't come past your ponies belly the look is okay. ANyway you can get round this by hitching your stirrups up a couple of holes.
This isn't to say adults can't ride ponies if there legs go past the bellies. My husband has ridden my smaller horse a couple of times and he is 6ft. Mind you it would have been easier for him if he'd had a pair of roller skates on!:p

[Tor&Warrior]

I'm 5ft4 and 63kg and Flyte is 16hh. But I do some days wish I had a pony! Especially now he's getting really muscley and fit and full of himself of the spring grass, I feel rather small on him at times!!! I used to ride my shetland though (Only 2 years ago) and he was 30inchs and carried me no problems. He was great but just cause he was little didn't mean anything!! He was like a little bomb to sit on! As Vin is 14.2hh/14.3hh now at 11 months theres not much chance of him being a pony either! But just because I don't own them ponies still rules!

[Int_level_rider]

I'm 4 ft 9 and I weigh 5 stone. I ride a 14.2hh Conemmara gelding, called Dobin. I regularly compete him at about 2'9" - 3'3" and he used to have a boy on him who was 6ft 6 and weighed 22 stone! That's why I bought him because I was concerned about him. I have now changed his name from Jeremy to Dobin!

I hope any BIG people out there who are to BIG to ride, think about their poor ponies!
Thank you for your patience

[Esther.D]

Well yes, we are pro-adults riding ponies here, but not to outrageous lengths...6ft6 and very heavy is not pony riding material:)

[Cheko]

6'6" on a pony must've looked totally ridiculous. At 22stone or whatever you said the guy was shouldn't have been riding a shire let alone a pony. Should be ashamed of himself. P'haps he'd be better off doing motorbike scrambling or speedway racing rather than showjumping until he sheds some weight!!! :eek:

[Janice Corbett]

There is no reason why he should not have been riding a bigger, stronger horse such as a shire. How heavy do you think soldiers wearing armour would have been?

[Mossy]

Moderation in all things I think. My 14.1 Highland was doing rodeo impressions yesterday with a 5'10 12st guy on his back. Conn had dumped me and set off. Moss wanted to join the party and was not allowed to. I do not know whose language was worse, man or pony. 12 stone on his back was not an obvious issue. Maybe it reduced his buck by an inch - who knows.:D :D

[joanne coblover]

My Highland cross is 14hh and built like a tank. I'm 5ft7" and weigh 11st 12lb. A few people at my yard have hinted I might be heavy for him, but we go out for two hour hacks and he's still dancing and showing off on the way home so there!!!!

[Hayley Calvert]

Im 5ft 1 and a half, I weight 48lbs (6-7stones) and i ride a 15hh cobX mare Milly and Im a size 6-10 depending on the brands but Im mainly an 8. Im quite thin for a rider which is why i ride nothing bigger than 15.2hh so I wont look like a midget!! :D

[Cheko]

This would've varied with the weight of the soldier. When the knights went to war in the middle ages, they rode horses resembling shires. In the Highland wars, they fought in nothing else but kilts and the dress of their clan, mainly riding Highland ponies.

[Esther.D]

How heavy do you think soldiers wearing armour would have been?

When the knights went to war in the middle ages, they rode horses resembling shires

In fact, just to be pedantic (sorry) draught horses (such as shires etc) did not emerge until the 18th century. Those knights were riding horses usually 15.2hh or less and cobs rather than draught horse size/weight. So the weight of all the kit was being carried by a middle size cob rather than a draught horse:)

Men in armour are not as heavy as you would think, particularly if good riders. Henry VIII (in his youth) could vault onto a horse from the ground, all this nonsense about being lifted onto the horse is just that, nonsense..

Look at this lot, I know them (vaguely) and know that their kit is authentic weight etc and I know that the horses go flat out happily with them on and look at all the different types that are coping with these blokes and their armour (bearing in mind these are fit horses and experienced riders).

http://www.destrier.org.uk/tournament.html

Sorry, I am an archaeologist and re-enactor...and it shows sometimes :o

For my happorth, I too think moderation in all things. Don't underestimate how much some of the natives can carry - after all the highlands were bred as stalking ponies to carry fully grown dead stags down mountainsides! That is a lot heavier than most riders...However on the other hand, there is an upper weight for all horses (surprisingly low for Shires as they don't have dense bone, and surprisingly high for arabs and natives as they have very dense bone so can carry more than you would expect).

[Cheko]

Interesting website. I know someone who does that. He travels round the country re-enacting all the battles. He owns and rides a black Shire gelding.

[Esther.D]

What period does he do? Is it medieval? I may have met him somewhere or at least heard of them in the re-enactment scene :). I do Napoleonic cavalry (c.1807)...and the regiment I ride with originally rode horses between 14-15hh, no bigger generally, Although today we often ride bigger as it is often hard to find smaller horses who are trained in this sort of work and are fit enough to carry some of the blokes (although in this later period of course they are not armoured).

[Anth.P]

I'm 6ft3, 11 stones and although my own horse is 17h1 last week I rode a Dales Pony at a trekking centre and am going back to ride him again tomorrow. :D

Also, Esther certainly knows her stuff. ;)

[Fuzz and This]

i'm 5'2'', dont have a clue what i weigh (havnt weighed myself in 3 years because im too ashamed of waht it says on the scales lol) but im a 12-14 in clothes. my ponies are 12.2hh, i dont ride her very often but she can still take my weight - just a wee bit small. the other one is 14.1hh and quite lightweight and 14.2hh cob. i occasionally ride the shetlands bareback though and they can carry me!

[EqJumper]

I'm 5'5", 81lbs. and show a 14.2hh POA :)

[Cheko]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner to your posting but was on hols. The guy I know lives in Battle, East Sussex and owns a riding school with his wife. I kept my pony there a couple of years ago but dont remember the name. He does Medieval and rides a black shire gelding about 17hh.

[shadowanne]

I'm 5'6" weigh 135lbs and medium to slight build wearing size 8 mostly. I ride a 14.2hh Arab mare.

[Cobby]

I'm 5'6 and about 9st. My girl is a 14.2 heavy cob, and my youngster is a 14.3ish Welsh D. I have owned my mare for 13 years, and she could carry a lot more weight than me. I'm happy to ride a 13.2 cob as well.
I'd always rather ride a pony, it's a bit like driving a mini- you've got the pony all compact around you, you're closer to the ground and you feel like you're going much faster than you do on a big horse, even though you're not:D

[PoisynRose]

I'm 16(dont know if I count as an adult), am 4foot10 and weigh 7 and a half stone. I own a 13.2hh welsh section C gelding. I have jumped 3foot+in the past but for my confidence's sake I prefer 2foot and slightly higher when it comes to jumping.

My brother is 23 and is 5foot10 and weighs 9 stones(his nickname is captain twiggy!!)and Lolly takes him comfortably, if anything he listens to my brother more as he only has to squeeze where as mine is more of a slight kick to get him to walk on!! Must be the weight behind him!

I'm getting fustrated that to affiliate you are expected to be out of ponies by the time you are 16. Thats not fair because I really want to go as far as I can with Lolly as he has potential and why should I get a horse? Small people exist you know!!!!

[k888tie]

when i had a pony at boardin sch called Sherry, she was 13.2hh bay new forrest n i was abpout 5"6 and weighed about 10stone....mayb a bit more(but have lost a stone since then)!! anyway sherry carreid me fine....she was REALLY REALLY stong even in a dutch gag, a flash and a running martingale! and she had no problems and still managed to take her round a x-c course of about 3foot! there are pics of sherry on my website..

http://freewebs.com/k888tie

:D

[abi]

im 16, 5'8", weigh around 8 stone. i ride mainly Blue, 12hh, Merry and Bubbles, both 12.2, and my own, Barney, who at 14.3 is not officially a pony... but also ride up to 17 hh...oh the joys of having long legs....

i prefer the little ones!!

[julie100]

I take it then that l will be fine riding our childrens first pony a 11.3ish dartmoor. I am 5ft 2 and a half and weigh 11st 3 (and going down). I thought l may be too heavy for him.
This is a very interesting topic, eventually l would like one of my own but don't want to go bigger than 14.3 max.
Julie

[Kerry Claire]

Hi, I am not quite an adult (15) as much as I would like to be regarded as one but thought I'd add something anyway. Prsonally, I don't see he problem with adults riding small ponies if they don't have to do too much other work, and as long as the pony is comfortable. I went on a riding holiday and I was jumping an 11h pony over 1'6" spreads, and she didn't mind a bit. I am only 5'3" and weigh 6st,10lb but she could have carried someone a lot bigger than me on the flat.
Having said that, I usually ride horses (15h-17h) at my riding school, but they have to do several hours work, often with beginners bouncing on their backs, jabbing in their mouths etc, so it would be a bit unfair to ask the small ones to carry me after a full days work! The smallest I ever get to ride is 13h-13.2hh!
It's a shame as I love riding little ponies!

[xdebbiexx]

i got my son a pony shes 12.3 n/f now hes bored with her so im looking after her as i fell in love with her i would love to ride her but im worried im to heavy im 5.2 and 10 an half stone .shes only 4 years old.

[eml]

Found this post late, too much real work!

Like Wally I am built for strength not speed! 5'7 , short legs and 14 st ish. I will school any of our native cobs, dale, fell, welsh etc and our real weight carriers including a suffolk X type all from 14hh to 15hh. What I cannot ride are the TBs even of 16hh who would cringe under my weight! (exception for daughters 16.3 hh who is the 'old fashioned' type steeple chaser, well up to weight)

What I will not do however biased it sounds is to put a novice over about 12 stones on any of them. I don't think it is what you weigh as much as how you carry yourself that counts.

[Big H]

Hi!

Well, I'm 26, 5ft 1in, and weigh 9st 2lb.

My tbx who is 14.1hh and the other cob type 14.2hh

[paint_horse]

I am always worried about my weight effecting the horse, i am about 10st and ride 14hh-15.2hh am it oo heavy? horse is usually ride seems to be able to hold me easily??!

but anything under 14hh would collapse under me

[Drea]

no paint horse you are not too heavy at all, so dont worry :)

[jemma]

hi ya
well im 15 years old and my pony, bucket, is 13.2h. im a size 8/10 and weigh about 8 1/2 stone.
just wanted to say something!!
x x x

[Horsey Chick]

I am 5 ft 5'' and 109lb(don't know how that translates into Stones?). My pony is 10 hh and 450lb. She is only 2 yr so we are just driving for now, but maybe someday I might ride her a little. Just for the fun of it.

[Slewgal]

I'm 5' 2 and ride a 14h?(not really sure on her height, she might even be under 14 h.) Fjord pony.

I'm about 170 lbs, not sure what that is in stones. A size 16 comfortably, a size 14 uncomfortably.:D

[slaneyrose]

Hi! I`m new here and delighted to have found this forum!! I have a 14hh 4yr old (poss connemara cross) with 7" cannon bones and a 14.2hh warm blood ex trotter 8" cannon bones and very throroughbredish looking but a real darlin who was badly abused before I got him. I am 5.2" and weigh 9stone 9 and although the 14hh mare is a real goer and has big horse strides I worry that her cannon bone size is too small for my weight??? Does anyone know anything about what part the ratio of bone width plays??

Great to meet you all by the way, I LOVE ponies and thrilled to find so many other adults do too!!.....and some of these posts have had me in stitches :-)

[B&R's Mum]

I am 5'5" and weigh about 12 stone
Beryl is just over 14.1 and built like a small furry tank a real heavyweight. She carries me with no problems and I feel very comfortable on her size wise.

[chickflick1066]

I am 5ft4, a size 14 top and 16/18 bottom. I am too ashamed to say how much I weigh but my Stumps is a native x possibly dales. She is a chunky girl but what do you think is her weight carrying limit...dont wanna break her!!

[brandysnap]

---

[StephA]

Im about 5"2 and weigh about 8 1/2 stone. Harry is 16.2 and my sister always says I look daft 'plonked on top of him'!! But I love being all the way up there!!

I used to ride a 17.2 cob.

Also ride a 14.2 every now and again.

[Ella2004]

Im 5'1 and about 7 and half to 8 stone, lost weight yay!!
Dress size-8
My pony is a welsh section b so middle weight....
She carries me fine:)

[baxter]

Me= 5ft 4, 9 Stone
My Monster = 14.3hh Fine Anglo Arab...
No Problems At All!

[Alflover]

Im 16, 5'4" and just under 8 stone and i have a 14.1hh relatively lightweight Connemara Cross who carries me fine and even takes my dad out on long hacks. I do look a bit big on him but i can still do it, just my knees go over my saddle which makes it hard :rolleyes: Im happy riding ponies and horses of any size.

[Shiny McShine]

I couldn't vote on the poll because my mare is 15hh but I feel like she is a pony, seeing as I am 5'11" and around 80kgs! I only feel conscious about it because other people tend to judge you as being cruel or something, but she handles it fine and I don't feel like I'm too big once I'm on her.

[happy herman]

Well im 21 and am 5'9" tall and ride a 12.2hh and a 13hh welsh sec C's. I also have to biger showjumpers both 16hh.

Its not the size its how you ride it!!! LOL!
this is soooo true. there are riders who ride light, even if they are heavy weight and there are riders who ride heavy even if they are light weights.
i'm 5.2, eight stone and i have and ride two 14.1h ponies, 1 who is 12.2h and my newest who is 13.1
i used to ride the 16h plus hunters and was amazed how much better a fit the ponies are. easier to keep, clean up after, groom, etc. etc. i'd never go back.

[happy herman]

...I am yet another adult riding a pony, but from the currently very unpopular side of the pond :-( please don't hold that against me!


I'm so glad to find a board devoted to adults riding ponies. its not something you see very often, at least not here in the U.S.
well we're starting to move in the direction that it's okay for adults to ride ponies!!! LOL i know of three already! :D

[donkeywoman]

I'm very much an adult (well into my second half-century), 5ft nothing and the wrong side of 10stones/140lbs/64kg and I ride a 13.2 donkey. Once we get a decent saddle we'll be doing a lot more work; she will trundle along all day but I have to keep getting off to ease my big bum.

[Trewsers]

Hmm, I'm a size 12 - (10 in jeans depending on store brand!!! :p ) and I have a 15 hh connie x. I don't think I'm a pony squasher!!!!! Not sure on my weight though - don't have any scales, they're destructive things - one can become obsessive about things like that! :D I know when I'm porking out - cos my work suit gets tighter and my jeans "shrink" in the wash :p

[slaneyrose]

still no answer to my question about cannon bone width??? Please? If anyone knows its relivance to weight bearing please post. :o

[Cheko]

Regarding your question about the cannon bone :A A horse/pony with a short canon bone can carry more weight than one with a long canon bone. Also a horse that has a good bit of bone just below the knee can carry more weight than those with less bone. Sorry haven't put this very well, but my nose and eyes are streaming (have got another dose of asthma)!!

[Horsesaddle]

i m 24 and 5 ft 4 so if i did have a horse or a pony it would need to be 14.2hh

[*Rachel_George*]

This was started quite a while ago ey :cool:

Right currently 7stone (lost lots of weight to quickly), ride a 13.1hh arab x welsh. Am 5ft1 or 5ft2. I also will be riding a friends 12.3hh soon as shes lost all confidence

[angelsmiley2]

Hi, i am 5 feet 2 and cally is and arab cross cob, is about 14.1 ish, and is probably medium :confused: i think, i weigh a between 9stone 7 and 9 stone 11, depending on how much chocolate i eat :D cally copes considerably well lol

as for cannon bone she has 7.5-8 inches on the front, whatever difference that makes lol im not sure!

[welshcoblady1]

hi all i am 5ft ,9 stn and i ride my 13,2 section c stallion who is built like a tank
does any one have problems finding x wide saddle for small cobs .

[ambatt]

I am 5' 2, decidely chunky (I take a dress size 16) and used to ride 13 hh Icelandic Nott (now retired) and 14.1 Dolly cob.

Despite being chunky I have light hands and ride 'lightly' so I have been told,so am apparently less of a burden to my horses than a 9 stone beginner.

None of my horses have shown distress at carrying my weight - over 10 stone and peraps more than 11, and neither have they any back-related problems.

Get very cross at the classical lot (and I have been having classical lessons) who say I should be 5'6 and a willowy size 10 with thin thighs. never going to happen, but it doesn't make me a lesser rider/person/balanced etc.

Does make me :mad:

[Dolly_Brat]

Im 5.3, just under 8 stone and ride a 13 hh pony. She carries me perfectly but i feel i do look a bit big. However i'm not too fussed as she doesn't seem to have any problem carrying me around. She is a strong cob and ever so cheeky. I only have her on loan but i enjoy her!

[MPR]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. We got a pony named Rocket, a month ago. He's my husband driving pony, but while we're waiting for the cart and harness to be made, I started riding him.

He is 11.2 hands tall, 11 yrs old. I'm 43 yrs. old and 106 lbs. or 111 lbs. in winter clothes. I'm 5'6" tall, thin.

[julia gulia]

Rocket is gorgeous and I think you look great on him:) Welcome to New Rider:D

[Bronya]

I'm 5ft 4", about 9 stone and ride a 13.2 pony.

[Tots N Dots]

I am 5'4 (and a half)" 8.5 stone and Pickle is 14.2hh :D
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle%20Holidays/01-09014c.jpg

[ShariN]

Wow, old thread made new again!

Could not vote on the Poll with all the sizes I have.

I wear a size 10/12 pants(depending on the time of year and make of pants), 5' 6 1/2" tall. Ride a 12.3 hand Icelandic, 13.2 hand Icelandic and a 13.3 hand fjord.
Ride the Icelandics the most. Only ride my Fjord mare for "tune ups" because of a bad disk in my back.

All have no trouble at all with my height or weight. :D
Will not bore you with the same old pictures.;)

[LokiSofi]

I am 5'3" and weigh between 7.5 and 8 stone (changes daily) I ride Paddy an 11.3hh welsh section A stocky boy and I ride Daks he is a 15.3hh MW TB.

[Cate Ged]

I'm 5'6" and have a 14.2hh, have had him for 15yrs, so he's getting to be an old man of 21 now, he was off work last year and I pilled on the pounds!! (oops) If I took a saddle near him now I think he would faint, at mom. a large straw bale and myself have too much in common...When I could ride him without squashing him I still got comments about riding a pony, he easily carried me and jummped full height on wings without a problem. Some people seem to think as soon as you turn 16 it's time to trade the pony in, but I think having a pony is fun, and as soon as I am less round I will get back on and start having fun again. Can't wait :)

[ImaLittleBoston]

Im about 5"5', 120LBS, and not sure about build? I stick to large horses, 15.3, 16, 16.2, Et Cetera, but I do Ride a 12.2 Pony for my cousin down the road. I like the big horses. Because it feels like theres substance under me, No offence to the pony's, I know there hardy little fellows, but, I always feel like im crushing them.

[smaggi]

Cisco is 14.2H. I am 5' 1" and weigh 115 lbs which I think is about 8 stone.

[Popz]

Hello, I'm about 5'2" and weigh about 9 stone and I tend to ride ponies varying from 13.2 to 14.2. I'd much rather ride something little than a great big horse, although saying that I've never fallen off anything bigger than 14.2 yet I regularly come off much smaller animals!! I'm just gutted that I'm probably a bit big to ride the really little ones now!! (fingers crossed I might be allowed to ride something really tiny for games at christmas!!) They're just so much more fun and have much more personality than the horses!!

[Vicki1986]

im 5ft2, size 10 normally but more like 12 at the mo (putting on some extra winter insulation i say!) weight normally 9.5stone up to 9.8 stone ...but at the moment 9stone10 :( my poor ponio!!

pony is 13.1, 13 years, medium weight whp type

[lolahutt]

Me 5'6 and too fat but soon to be 9 stone!
Pony 14hh and also too fat!!

[palmerlover52]

I'm 5ft3 ish and 7st and I ride anything from a 13hh upwards :D

Especially the skinny naughty ones that no kid wants to ride, and no adult can ride :( lol

[Horsesaddle]

14.2hh or 13.2hh and i m five 5 ft four and uselly 8 stones or 9 stones

height no idea

[*GroovyGallop*]

I'm about 5ft, maybe 5ft1, and weigh 6 1/2 stone. I ride anything 12hh - 15hh!

[SA rider]

I'm 5 ft and 8 stone. Chica's 14.2 and feels absolutely perfect for me - totally love her size.

[NoviceNic]

I am 5ft 2 high. Weigh about **whispers** 10 and a quarter stone. My cob 14 2hh fully shod carries me with ease. Unvoluntary gallops in less than 3 secs are not a problem for him, even with my weight.:eek:

[Shannon_Clover]

Im 5 feet 2 inches weigh 8 stones (ish sometimes up to 8 and half).
Clothes size depend on shops and clothes make from 8 - 12.
My horse is 15.2hh. I I had her three years ago, about two years and half ago, I was fine with her height until I start to have problems riding her, e.g. keeping her under control, ec that I competely lost confidence with horses.
SO honestly Im not comfortable with this height now.
I dont ride her now as she a broodmare now.
Will give her a break next year and try riding her again if I will do it. :rolleyes:

The last horse I rode was 16hh at a riding lesson couldnt control him very well. :o

Usually ride 13hh - 13.2hh.
Comfortable with this height. :D

[Vicki&Milo]

I'm 5ft6, 8st (ish) and ride a 13.3hh (although that wasn't an option so I put 14hh) 4-year-old New Forest Gelding.
Vicki xx

[Laura+Phantom]

Well i've just read this whole thread and i'm suprised I haven't posted on it yet! It must be the longest running thread on NR!

I'm 5'2, 10 stone, and ride a 13.2hh native mare, 13.3hh pure bred connemara, and a 14.1hh new forest.

When I was about 14 or 15 and weighed about 8 stone I used to ride my 36" shetland too!

None of them struggle with me in the slightest but I would like to lose at least a stone.

[joey_olop]

My pony is a middleweight cob type he is 14.1hh, Im 6ft & weigh 8stone I look really tall on him cos he dont take up alot of my leg but I dont care :D