Okay, now I'm getting annoyed

[Mimarin]

I've been riding for a month, hunter mind you, and I started out riding on a pony. Granted she's cute and all but I didn't come to ride ponies; I'm an adult. Well I've been trying to move on and ride horses (15hh and up) and have gotten to a couple of times. Now a days, I'm stuck on ponies and I'm starting to really not enjoy myself now. Everytime I request a horse (my favorite is a thoroughbred who works out just perfect with me) I'm stuck on a pony due to some stupid excuse or they stick a twit on her. I am seriously sick of the ponies now. It's like I have to beg to ride something different and now I'm debating on moving on to another instructor. I'm trying to be serious in this sport, not a clown Plus I'm not a kid; half of these little kids get put up on a horse they can't handle while I'm on these bleeping ponies and I'm thinking to myself, What is wrong with this picture?!
Jeez, I'm to the point where I'm going to just save up and buy my own horse.
*sighs* this is very frustrating to me.
Thanks for listening

[nat17]

why do you have a problem riding ponies? What is it about ponies that make you not enjoy riding? Whats the differance to you between riding something a few inches bigger. Horse or pony size has nothing to do with ability. If the ponies can carry you no problem then why do you have a problem?:(

[mikka]

Mimarin, how small are these ponies? Are they little like Shetlands?

You really can learn a great deal from riding small horses and ponies. In fact, they can be much more challenging than larger horses.

But of course, in the end, you're the customer and should have your voice heard... Hope it works out for you.

[Mehitabel]

well, thanks for calling me and everyone else on this site who prefers ponies, a clown, mimarin.

[Slewgal]

With all due respect, I think it's an American thing.:D No one rides ponies over here. Only little kids. At least thats my experience. Once you hit about 12 you move on to a horse. We also don't have an abundance of pony breeds over here, maybe that has something to do with it.
But I do know how Mimarin feels, if they tried to make me ride a pony I'd proably say What?! It's just how I've always known it to be.
Maybe we should have a discussion on the differences of the 'horse socities' between the US and Europe.
For instance everyone's always talking about riding on roads. I had to stop and even think if it was legal to ride horses on a road here. I also hadn't heard much of anyone riding cobs, it was just a breed in a book to me, but I guess I've been shown the light.:o After reading the threads on here I feel as if I'm living in a box.;) So thanks for enlightening me a bit.

[Mimarin]

Originally posted by Es
well, thanks for calling me and everyone else on this site who prefers ponies, a clown, mimarin.
Excuse me but I did NOT say that. That is how <b>I</b> feel riding a pony.

[Slewgal]

I'm I hitting anything on the nail, with my post Mimarin?

[sallym]

Have you had a look at the sub forum above on adults that ride ponies?

Best wishes

SallyM

[Mimarin]

<b>Slewgal</b>The one I ride is at least 13hh or so? ( I think but she's pretty small). I'm just plum ready to move on. I love jumping with Sienna and we work well together compared to riding the pony.
Yeah, I agree with you Slewgal about it being an American thing; I don't know what it's like in the UK.

<b>Nat17-What made me dislike the ponies was</b>
1. My very first canter was with this very sweet thouroughbred named Quebert, smooth and awesome. Then I cantered Rocky, another thouroughbred, then I canter pony girl and fell off hard. Oh jeez, I didn't like cantering with her after that.

2. Pony has a serious "attitude" but shoot any animal does. But this one that I end up riding no matter who I request, is just a grouch that tries to get away with anything.

3. I don't have any interest in ponies period. They're cute but that's about it.

4. I'm going to do serious hunter/jumper and going to jump higher (eventually), and my ideal horse is not a pony.

5. Save the ponies (well this is at my barn, my situation) for the kids or adults who need someone a bit on the lazy side and calm.

And to the people (adult riders) who like ponies:
I'm not calling anyone a clown for riding them, <b>it's how I personally feel when I ride one</b> Plus this post is a rant about my what is going on at my stable. I request to ride horses but there's always some stupid excuse that I end up having to ride a pony while kids who can't ride to save their lives ride the horses.

[Mimarin]

Yes, I do think that would be an interesting post (about the differences in UK and US horse societies) I would like to know all the differences.:cool:

[nat17]

5. Save the ponies (well this is at my barn, my situation) for the kids or adults who need someone a bit on the lazy side and calm.

Excuse me but i disagree with you.

[galadriel]

Has it been your experience that ponies are lazy and calm? It certainly hasn't been mine. It sounds like they want you to be able to handle the pony--the one you find more difficult to canter, or grouchy--because it will develop your ridling skills.

Sitting on something that's easy doesn't teach you to handle a horse who is resisting; exerting yourself on something that resists teaches you that. Riding an easy horse really teaches you very little.

It sounds to me that since they keep putting you back on this "pony" even though you request horse, that they are trying to help you learn something by riding the pony. Once you've learned it, I suppose they'll let you ride the "horses" you want to ride. It's probably a good policy.

I recall riding a total brat for what felt like AGES--lessons were frustrating and I just couldn't get her to do what I wanted. Then one day something clicked--I figured out the combination of polite request and assertiveness to *get* this brat mare to do what I was asking of her--and I didn't have to ride her anymore.

If you really, truly have an issue with their policies, you have another option: vote with your feet. But I think it sounds like there's nothing wrong with what they are doing.

[helencheshire]

With Being 5'10! I dont often get a chance to ride a pony! Although did school a friends sturdy Sec D mare once upon a time..not sure in her exact height but she was built like a bull dog!.. I found her a nice change from riding big,long strided horses.. and certainley a challenge as she was a little sod!... I think riding any type of horse big or small is a gift, and some people are not able to even have proper lessons..such as myself I didnt have proper lessons/instruction until I left school and worked with horses.. I always had to make do slaving away for other people in the hope of a ride..(Child slave labour lol!!)
Personally I dont see the problem with the size of horse/pony..unless you are to big for it and put the poor thing under strain!

If you really arnt happy riding there ... Sounds like a change of school may be the best option

[IrisSilverMoon]

the funnest school horses to ride at my stable are ponies!

they're great! the best jumper at our stable is probably a 12 hh pony, I totally wish I could jump him more!

Little Stroller was a pony who could jump jumps higher than his head, you should look him up, he won an olympic medal for his jumping...:D

ponies are starting to get recognition in dressage, they're less bulky than many warmbloods and smaller people have an easier time controling them. They have the movements of the warmbloods but the size of the pony. pretty soon i'm sure one will end up at the olympics.

I think you just need to give a little more credit to the pony, like galadriel said there's probably something your instructor wants you to learn from this, maybe how to appreciate the pony? I don't know, you haven't given any specific reasons why they keep putting you on the pony....*shrugs* go in with a positive outlook next time, ponies can be great rides!

[Jakes Mum]

Mimarin, what is your problem?
There is nothing wrong with riding 'ponies', as Nat17 says it has nothing to do with ability. You can't say that people who ride horses are better riders than those who ride ponies!
You have only been riding 1 month, your instructor will have been assesing your riding abilities and when she no longer thinks you are a 'clown', then I am sure you will 'upgrade' to riding horses.
I think your profile sums you up 'Extreme Novice' it says, obviously applies to your riding as well as your knowledge on the difference between riding horses and riding ponies!

[HanGbbn]

I agree with IrisSilverMoon as the ponies at my riding school are really fun too (and cuties with it!!)

Also
Ponies can be just as challanging as horses (if not more!)

:)

[Yann]

I really like riding ponies, but never had the chance at the riding school because I was a male and tall with it even though I'm not that heavy, I had the opposite problem to you. The ponies I've been lucky enough to ride recently certainly weren't dull or boring, quite the opposite. Big or small, they can all teach us something. As they say size doesn't matter...:D

[HanGbbn]

WELL SAID YANN AND JAKESMUM!!!!!!!!!!

JAKESMUM

I think your profile sums you up 'Extreme Novice' it says, obviously applies to your riding as well as your knowledge on the difference between riding horses and riding ponies!

YANN

Big or small, they can all teach us something. As they say size doesn't matter...

[Mimarin]

Originally posted by Jakes Mum
Mimarin, what is your problem?
There is nothing wrong with riding 'ponies', as Nat17 says it has nothing to do with ability. You can't say that people who ride horses are better riders than those who ride ponies!
You have only been riding 1 month, your instructor will have been assesing your riding abilities and when she no longer thinks you are a 'clown', then I am sure you will 'upgrade' to riding horses.
I think your profile sums you up 'Extreme Novice' it says, obviously applies to your riding as well as your knowledge on the difference between riding horses and riding ponies!

Listen to me and listen well, I did not say anywhere about anybody saying I am a clown, I consider myself the clown on top of a pony. I don't like them period. I don't care about their damn ability. My riding abilities are far better (and my instructor herself has said this thank you very much) than the people who have been riding there for years. I consider myself extreme novice because I've just gotten into the damn thing, but others don't view me like that when they see me ride. And nowhere did I say "people who ride horses are better riders than those who ride ponies" Stop twisting words around.
I've ridden the horses before and prefer them to ponies. My instructor isn't listening to my requests. If she thought I had more to learn from the damn ponies she would've straight up told me in my face. Other than that, it's not my riding ability because hell, I placed in my very first show with only a month's worth riding.

[Slewgal]

I really think it's more of a prefrence,for me anyway. It dosen't have anything to do with riding ability. I personally just feel more comfortable on a horse or maybe even a large pony (say a 14hh haflinger) as long as there at least as tall as my shoulder, otherwise I feel like I'm riding a great dane.:D Plus I weigh about 158lbs so I'd feel like I'm squishing the poor guy.
It's okay if someone dosen't like ponies. Some people think I'm crazy cause I think foals are kinda ugly little things-gasp!:eek:

[Mimarin]

It's just a preference but some people make it seem like it's an ability and it's not. I just don't plum like them. Shoot, after riding a horse, well I should say Sienna, I'm hooked.

I don't recall talking about the ponies' abilities either.

I think foals are the cutest things in the world.

I just feel that my instructor isn't listening to me or giving me the chance. It really frustrates me:(

[vickie]

there seems a pretty simple answer to this problem, change schools! were i have lessons i ride anything from a 14.2hh haflinger mare to a 16.3hh ex grade A show jumper. there is one horse i don't like riding, i can handle him i just don't like him! i told my instructor this, so now i don't have to ride him. you are paying for lessons if there is no reason for you to be made to ride horses that you don't like, go somewhere else.

in defence of your instructor though if you have only been riding 1 month, whether you have won a show or not you are still a novice and maybe thats why you are being put on quieter animals. there is a lot more to riding than being able to get on and win a prize at a show although i'm sure you'll figure that out in time

[Sammys Mum]

I think you really need to slow down!! You talk like the ponies are holding you back! You've only been riding a month. It doesn't matter what you ride, your still learning. You shouldn't be restricting your self to the horses you should learn from the ponies what you can, while you can. If your going to be a truely good rider you really need to be able to ride anything. If your put on a pony you dont approve of in a lesson you should turn it around, look at it positivly and do your best to get the best out of the lesson. I dont ***-like riding anything and will ride anything I get the chance to. It makes me a better rider. You say you going to "do serious hunter/jumper and going to jump higher". You've only been riding a month. That kind of thing takes years. I think your a bit ahead of your self. Your instructor knows best and as much as you say that as you pay you should get what you ask for you've got to appreciate these people have years of experince and know far more than you so if they do something its for a reason, if you dont listen to them you could regret it. They are their horses and I think you will find its like this in pretty mcuh any stables you go to! In my experince of riding schools you cannot be picky. You ride what your given because they know better. And you say that your ideal horse is not a pony. Nobody is asking you to buy the riding school ponies. Your years away from that. So why does something you ride for one lesson have to be your perfect horse. I think you just need to stop trying to rush everything and realise how much you've got to learn and be grateful for everything you get to ride and appreciate how much its teaching you.

[Jakes Mum]

Hi Mimarin

I owe you an apology, didn't mean to upset you, when I re-read what I had wrote it did appear a bit harsh. Sorry I mis-interpreted what you had said, I have re-read your posts and understand what you mean now. I suppose us Brits are a bit sensitive about our ponies :D
Lets just put it down to a matter of preference, everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
Well done with progressing with your riding so quick by the way, you must be a natural:D

[Sarah]

hello!

I think I'll just draw a line here and close this thread.

Thanks