Should I buy a horse or pony?

[toohorsemad]

I love horses and I ride big ponies! But I'm not sue wheither I should buy a horse or pony! Plz take the poll!

[Kalypso]

I don't think it's something someone else can decide for you, hun. I think it's something YOU have to decide. Which do you prefer to ride: horses or ponies? What are you planning on doing with your horse or pony? Do you ever feel that "horses" are too big and you'd feel safer/happier on a pony?

I love the big old horses, but as i'm fairly small i DO actually prefer smaller horse, and would love nothing more than to have a halflinger or a small medium to heavy weight cob, the smaller the better, but not too small! :)

(either that or the other extreme: a huge, lovely Shire or Belgian! ;) :D )

[toohorsemad]

Well I can handle most of the ponys that I'm asked to ride (I'm riding a 4 yr old at the mo!) But I feel they are too small or something! But i'm afraid a horse will be too big for me to handle! I have done pony camp with only ponys! Not horses! So what do you think?

[No_Angel]

Maybe a small horse wpould suit you, although I do think as long as the horse/pony is everything you want and you feel happy and safe on them it shouldn't matter what size it is.

[notpoodle]

well, if you already feel like ponies are too small, then maybe theyre not for you? i have a small (12.3hh) pony (im an adult btw and not particularly short or anything) which i feel most comfortable on. but people who have ridden her were whining about how small she was and they thought they were losing their balance etc.

julia
x

[amandal]

Look at both and see which comes along first that you fall in love with. I love ponies but have ended up with a 15.2 mw mare - she came along and that was it. I'd always thought I'd end up with a pony though and was in fact on a severe diet at the time so that I could ride them without feeling so guilty. Unfortunately for my diet my mare can carry much heavier than me and so there's little reason to slim now !!

[fizz-tally]

some horses ride like ponies & some ponies ride like horses.
depends on what your weight/height is,what u plan to do,where your going to keep it[some horses & ponies can not live out ]

[Kalypso]

Originally posted by toohorsemad
Well I can handle most of the ponys that I'm asked to ride (I'm riding a 4 yr old at the mo!) But I feel they are too small or something! But i'm afraid a horse will be too big for me to handle! I have done pony camp with only ponys! Not horses! So what do you think?

I agree with No_angel...perhaps a smallish horse? My mare was 15hh, and she was just about perfect, though I think i would have rather enjoyed a 14.2 horse. If you feel a big horse would be too big, but feel that ponies are too small...then just don't go for a 16, 17hh horse! But like the others said, look at a variety...one of them will just jump out at you...that's how I ended up with my horse :)

[Wally]

Ride what you are happiest on.

If you really think about it it doesn't matter what you ride, so long as you are causing the horse no harm. I know I cannot match Andy's strength, he's 42 inches.........if I cannot control him by force of strength what chance do I stand with anything????

I like small horses, Icelandics and UK M&M, It is not the height it is the mind and the brain and the width that makes the difference.

I feel big horses are slow and not as quick witted. I can anticipate what a big horse is about to do and it seems to take 2 weeks to do what he has warned me about. With a small guy, things happen much, much faster, often before you know about it, it makes for real fun.:D :D :D

[martini55]

Buy what you feel happiest on. How tall/old are you? When I was looking for my horse I was only 13 and could have got anything 14hh+ but decided to look for something around the 15hh mark as I knew I had a fair bit to grow. When I first got Martini, I never even reached her withers:D Although I could still happily get away riding something 14hh now I am much more comfortable riding a bigger horse(although not too big) and I was really riding horses then too. Might be something worth taking into consideration?

I'm not saying if you get taller you won't be able to ride a pony, just so I make myself clear.

[NoviceNic]

I am 33 and ride a 14 2hh Cob. My main problems is handling on the ground. I am not very confident. I had a Arab x Tb 15 3hh who puffed out her chest and stretched her head up high. This just frightened the living daylights out of me. Funnily enough everyone else thinks my cob is a big boy. But I just can't see it. When I first went to trial him he groomed me and the only time he puts his head up is when he doesn't want his bit in. :mad: This makes my life very difficult as I am only 5 foot 2.

[ilovearnold]

hi! sorry if this has been said, i didnt read through all the replies first. anyway, it is definitely up to you about the horse or pony, and also it depends on the horse. you might get a pigheaded little pony, and a too-big horse but thats really quiet and perfect, or the other way around. i wouldnt limit yourself to only looking at either, wait to find out about it. but from personal experience all bigger horses ive owned have been much better than little ponies. my horse now is a 16.1 20yo thoroughbred which i normally would never have gotten as i was such a nervous rider, but he is perfect and so much more quiet and confidence-building than a 14hh pony who used to throw me off. so as i said, wait and find out about the horse or pony before limiting yourself. good luck! :D

[toohorsemad]

Thanks for all the advice!!! I love horses and ponys but I really would love a horse but if I fall in love with a pony I will buy him! Thanks again :D

[Slewgal]

It's something you should decide on for yourself. Really there's isn't much difference between a small horse or a large pony? Just a few inches.:p

I know how you feel, I LOVE big horse have always said I'd get a horse around 16h.
Now that I've ridden and been around the barn on different sizes. I feel I'd be more comfortable owning a smallish horse or a big pony, simply becasue I feel safer when I'm not a huge a hore. I also feel more confident on the ground with the samller horses.

[Humbole]

Whether you decide on a horse or pony at this point won't matter one jott!! When you find the equine you love, the size (within reason!) won't be important at all.

I sold a 15.3hh mare because she was too strong/mad/scarey, went looking for a 14.2hh cob to regain confidence and I ended up with a 16h TB :eek: Although he's slightly bigger than my ex-mare, he doesn't feel it!

Did that make sense? :confused:

[toohorsemad]

Thanks guys for all the advice!