Can I ride Daisy

[miriam vernon]

I have an 11.2hh Shetland/Welsh Cross called Daisy. I am approx 5ft4" and vary between 8 1/2 and 9 stone. I have sat on Daisy a couple of time and she didn't even flinch. I've asked the vet and a saddle fitter and they have both said that as long as I didn't ride her every day I should be fine, but preferably bareback (saddle fitters advice).

What do you all think. I think Daisy would be fine to carry my for short hacks, but I worry dog walkers that see me wil be on the phone to the RSPCA!!! :mad:

[Pickles]

Go for it, play it by ear and don't overdo it. If dog walkers worry, let them, you're not doing anything wrong and people who don't know better are always likely to get the wrong end of the stick.

[Yann]

You'll be fine at 9 stone. I rode my daughter's 11.2 out of curiousity the other week and I'm 10.5 stone, so just about at her weight limit for a fit horse, which she is. She didn't seem in the least concerned by me, but did run out of puff once we'd charged up a few hills. I also got some very funny looks from, yes, dog walkers:D

If your saddle fits OK I'd be more inclined to ride in that than bareback.

[chev]

I'm about the same height/weight as you and I ride my kids' 11.2 Welsh mare. She doesn't struggle to acrry me at all - far from it. Be prepared to look a little odd though! This is me and May.... :D

[Zingy]

I'm 5'8 and about the same weight as you and I can ride my 10.3 sec A. I'll admit I don't hack out, partly for the RSPCA reason, but mainly the fact that he can deposit me on the floor too easily. Having said that, if anyone did call the RSPCA they wouldn't be bothered anyway and if I thought he'd be safe I'd do it. He did have a saddle but I couldn't fit my bum in it without a lot of overhang :o so if I do ride him, it's bareback. As an indication of how ridiculous we look, I can cross my feet underneath him :D

[miriam vernon]

Thank you for all the positive replies. My bum is slightly too big for the saddle so the saddle fitter advised to ride bareback. I give it a go in the next few days.

[shoniedaspony]

go for it, i am taller than you and about your weight, and i have started sharing a 11.2 welsh A. This means about 4x per week hacking and schooling, and he is absolutely fine, still manages to charge off with me with endless energy. I can also touch my feet under his belly, and my feet just about reach his knees but i dont care! i am having lessons on him, and the instructor is of the opinion that if all little ponies were ridden by bigger people early on, then you wouldnt get majorly naughty ponies for all the lil kiddies. You couldnt stick a kid on maddy, hes a nutter and is just too strong. I ride in a saddle that is bigger than the usual diddy pony ones, but also ride bareback occasionally (usually involving me staying on with mad cantering and bucking, but falling off when it comes to the power trot when riding in a headcollar!)

good luck, ponies are officially the best fun...EVER!

[miriam vernon]

Thanks. Have you ever had anyone being abusive towards you for being on such a little pony? That's the main thing that's been putting me off.

[shoniedaspony]

not abusive no, they probably know that if they did thenme and the owner would probably go and bop them one!

i do get the comments off the kids (im 16, i mean the 12yrs olds) who are riding ponies biger than mine like "your feet are almost touching the floor", but to be honest, the way he charges round i think everyone can see that im not too heavy for him, or impeding his movement, nor is he in pain, so they just joke about how i look.

Personally im not bothered because i feel a lot more comfortable on him than i did on the 16.2 i used to share, i felt like i was just waving my legs around on the saddle flaps, not actually being anywhere near her sides, even though most people think i looked better on her.

but at the end of the day, it is about what is best for you and your pony, not what looks the perfect combination.

you can counteract any abuse you get (that is IF anyone is stupid enough to say anything to you about it) by showing them that you can acheive more on your little pony than they can on their big ole horse!

let us know how you get on

[shoniedaspony]

oh and im always out hacking on him as well as schooling, we occasionally hack down to the local bakery and even the non horsey people do not make any comment on it. I can see why someone would if the horse looked like it was suffering, but not if its just an adult riding a little pony

there is a pic of me riding lil maddy on this link

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47255

bear in mind thats how i look on him and im probably more like 5 ft 6 and he is a skinny pony. so you will probably look less laughable! and he is also 11.2

[chubbypony]

Miriam do you or anyone else with a close to 10-11hh horse know about how much they weight? I have a 3 year old mini/shetland cross who is 10 almost 11 hh and about 500lbs. I am wondering if she is big enough to ride-after she is done growing of course. By then she should be even bigger. I am 5.5 and 105 lb(I think that would be around 7.5 stone). Here is a pics of me standing by her when I was trying on her new cart and harness at 2 years. Since then she has grown about 5-6inches in height and gained about 80-100lbs. I know I am technically too tall for her and will probably throw her of balance, but all I would need to do is break her in. I definally would not give a child that job. She is too smart and could hurt someone. I would not let anyone else take that risk. After she can take a rider without resistance a small rider can use her.
http://image26.webshots.com/26/7/74/47/308077447Caxvwl_ph.jpg
http://image36.webshots.com/37/7/89/35/281278935Tefbtw_ph.jpg
That other picture wasn't working so I added this one. It is very recent.

[miriam vernon]

Are you sure she's 500lbs? I think Daisy is only 250 and that my Fell/welsh cross is about 500lbs - I think one us is going wrong somewhere!!!

Anyway I would have thought it would be fine for you to do the breaking - the only problem is going to be getting a saddle that will fit your bum and that won't be so big that it presses on your ponies loins. I ride Daisy bareback which solves the problem. If I ride her in the saddle that fits her it tends to either pitch me forward or my backside hangs over the sides!! I'm about 5ft5 and 8 1/2 stone and a don't have a flabby backside!!!

Let me know what you decide.

[chubbypony]

Well, Dollie is pretty solid. I used a weight tape. I have monitored her weight gain since she was very young. I know that over the last year and 1/2 she has gained about 100-150lbs. When we brought her home as a weanling three of us could barely lift her into the van. Yes, we brought her home in the car. She rode pretty good considering she wasn't even halter broke yet.

She sure looks like she could be 500lbs now. She is very solid. My dad used to pick her front end off the ground, but he can't now. He swears that he could ride her. I have climbed on her just recently and she doesn't even care. She reached around and tried to eat my pant leg, but that is very normal for Dollie. She thinks she's a goat. :rolleyes:

I work at a tack shop and I can sit pretty comfortably in the 12-13inch pony saddles. I carry my weight in my thighs and hips, not my butt. I think a 13inch would be too long. Maybe I could get my hands on an older broke in 12inch. That way it would be on the bigger side of 12inches. Anyway I can bring a couple home and try them out.

How long should I wait to break her in? Should I wait until she is four or maybe even until she is five? Also how long can I ride her at a time? Should I not take her on a trail ride? Should I avoid hills, etc?

Just a side note: Does anyone know any good websites that sell a good variety of 4 inch pony bits?

[happy herman]

Miriam do you or anyone else with a close to 10-11hh horse know about how much they weight? I have a 3 year old mini/shetland cross who is 10 almost 11 hh and about 500lbs. I am wondering if she is big enough to ride-after she is done growing of course. By then she should be even bigger. I am 5.5 and 105 lb(I think that would be around 7.5 stone). Here is a pics of me standing by her when I was trying on her new cart and harness at 2 years. Since then she has grown about 5-6inches in height and gained about 80-100lbs. I know I am technically too tall for her and will probably throw her of balance, but all I would need to do is break her in. I definally would not give a child that job. She is too smart and could hurt someone. I would not let anyone else take that risk. After she can take a rider without resistance a small rider can use her.
http://image26.webshots.com/26/7/74/47/308077447Caxvwl_ph.jpg
http://image36.webshots.com/37/7/89/35/281278935Tefbtw_ph.jpg
That other picture wasn't working so I added this one. It is very recent.

i really don't want to rain on your parade but i honestly don't think that pony weighs anywhere near five hundred pounds and she's just too small for you to ride. maybe you can find a small older child that with your help can work with her.

[chubbypony]

But you think that someone who is 9 stone can ride a 250lb pony? Excuse me, but that would make all these people to big for their ponies! Please be fair and don't just pick on me.

[happy herman]

sorry that you feel i'm picking on you. you say the picture is recent? that is a tiny pony, where would you even put your feet? in the picture the pony appears to be a finely built little girl, if she were one of the little tank types she more than likely could handle it but she isn't.
once again i'm sorry that you feel i'm picking on you, sure didn't mean for it to come across that way. i won't say anymore on this as i see that you didn't want this type opinion. sorry.

[Zingy]

Are you sure she's 500lbs? I think Daisy is only 250 and that my Fell/welsh cross is about 500lbs - I think one us is going wrong somewhere!!!

Are you in kg Miriam? Benj is only 10.3 and is about 220kg so it sounds about right. 2.2lb=1kg so 500lb is 227kg which would be more like it!

[miriam vernon]

Do you have a more recent photo of her so that we can see how sturdy she looks now - she does look very little and slight in the piccie with the cart, but since she was only two I presume there has been alot of change.

If I was you, because she is small and also young, I wouldn't consider backing her until at least five so that her body and bones have time to mature more. In the meantime there's loads of preparation work that you can do to keep you both busy.

Before I rode Daisy I spoke to the vet, farrier and dentist to get their opinions on the matter and they all said fine as long as it wasn't all day every day!! If you are unsure why not get your vets opinion when they next visit your yard.

[miriam vernon]

Yes I think you're absolutely right I am working in Kilo's - silly me!! :D

[chubbypony]

Herman-I am sorry that I over reacted. It's not that I didn't want the opinion. I just looked around and thought that all the other riders should be much to big if I was. Seeing that the normal horse can carry 20% of it's weight. A pony that is 250 pounds(not kilos) could not possible carry a 9 stone person(Is that about 130/140 pounds?). I knew something was a bit weird. I thought, Dude! I'm only 105 pounds and she has to be more that 250 pounds. If Miriam's riding her pony no problem, Dollie should be okay. My common sense must have been wandering at that moment. I will ask my vet to guess her weight when he looks at her Thursday. Maybe he can help me figure it out!

I'm all confused about the weight now. What did we mess up? You were calulating in Kilos? How does that transfer over to pounds?

Yes, the pics of the cart was about 1 year and 1/2 ago. She is much more stocky now. The bottom pics is the more recent one. But, even since then she has grown taller and thicker. She looks very shetland ponyish right now. I wish I had more pictures of her.

[ambatt]

Ahhhh, is your pony an AMERICAN Shetland cross mini as opposed to the traditional sturdy shetland we have here in the UK?

I guess that as the American Shetland has a high percentage of other blood in its genetic makeup it does not have the weight carrying capabilities of the UK shetland stock.

There is a formula for working out the weight/load bearing capability of a given breed/type but I can't for the life of me remember it!

[miriam vernon]

Don't worry chubbypony it was me that messed up with the weight - I was getting all my kilos and pounds mixed up!!! I couldn't get one of your photo's to work. I saw the one with the cart, but not the more recent one. Will try again.

[miriam vernon]

Wow I never new there was a difference between UK Shetlands and American Shetlands - will do a internet search to educate myself.

[chubbypony]

I would guess since I am in the US and the parent who I am guessing was a shetland was unregistered, that it was American Shetland. However, there are many kinds of shetland-classic, modern and american...

If you can't get the pics to work-here is a link

http://community.webshots.com/album/275224940nsDQLt

[ambatt]

She is very, very pretty. Looking at her she seems to display less obvious pony characteristics than the chunky mini-draught crofter's Shetland native to the UK.

Her colour is a bit of a give away I guess. I haven't seen it in 'our' shetlands but it is prevalent in Icelandics and some Highland stock. Common in Rocky Mountain Ponies and other US breeds though. :)

Either way she is an utter babe - but I think she will not have a great weight carrying ability but I would not like to say what her maximum would be.

There are some Q&A's and links here:
Weight carrying ability (http://iceryder.net/weight.html)

[happy herman]

:) thank you and not a problem, chubbypony. i'm a tough old broad with pretty thick skin.
she IS a beautiful pony (and you are a lovely young lady) and i wish you both well.
patty

[chubbypony]

If she's never ridden she is still a awesome cart pony. She looks like a tiny little halflinger in harness. When she trots her knees come way up! She is so fancy. I am just now starting to drive her more and she is coming along amazingly. She is smart and quick. A thrill to drive.

[lizzy]

Isn't the weight they can carry all related to the amount of bone that they have i.e. the circumference of their leg measured just under the knee - if anyone is interested I could look up in my college books the calculation. I suppose though that even if they could carry your weight, you leg length might also be a factor. :eek:

[chubbypony]

Here is a new picture of Dollie. The vet was out today and said she weighs between 350-400lbs. He kept calling her shetland pony, so I guess she must look like all the ones around here that he's seen.http://image14.webshots.com/15/1/74/39/339217439NqTFrT_ph.jpg

[happy herman]

oh, phooey..i can't see the picture! :(

[chubbypony]

Don't feel left out Herman. Here is the link.

http://community.webshots.com/album/275224940nsDQLt

[ragdoll]

1 kilo = 2.2 pounds

[happy herman]

thank you! she IS pretty. liver chestnut with dapples!! :)

[jUmPingIsLifE]

i am 5'6 126lbs (no idea what that is in stones) but i ride a little pony named snickers around 11.2 hands (really looks close to chevs pony posted height wise) jumped up to 2'9 on him (and yes my feet did hit the poles once in a while!) he didn't have a problem with that, people taller and heavier have ridden him before too.

[Little welsh]

The pony club states that the recommended weight for a pony of 12.2hh is 8stone 4lbs, if anybody is competing or riding within the pony club and are heavier then that on a pony of that height, then they are not allowed to. Its commen sence, your pony may look like it is fine but in the long run you will end up giving it a bad back and all sorts of other problems, use as a rule of thumb, if your bums too big for the saddle, your too big for the pony!

[*Hannah*]

I have a 12hh welsh and i ride him all the time, i am 5,2 and weigh about 8 and a half stone, does that mean i am too big by the pony club standards?
:(

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/han192/th_glory8.jpg (http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/han192/glory8.jpg)

This is me on him ( finally worked out how to do the picture thing yay!)

[Wally]

Well the pony club are living in the dark ages,

They might well recommend all they like, I am 5 feet 8 and about 13 stone my horse is 13.1hh. He's Icelandic and bred to carry adults, not kids, as were Shetlands and Welsh.

UK Island bred Shetland of 42 inches with B-O-N-E will happily carry 10 stone, all day once he's fit. As will a Welsh B. My Horse is 20 this year, never had the vet to him, with anything, back feet or otherwise.

My Shetland of 41.5 inches will pull a waggonette with 4 folk in it on a 6 mile drive without blinking.

[Bronya]

Maybe the pony club are erring on the side of caution, i.e. for a lightly built 'pony' of that height, 8 stone 4 is max (you know, those TB type ponies!!).

The very light ones can't carry that much. Shown in the fact that my 15hh 3/4TB 1/4 welsh has more trouble carrying 12.5 stone than my 13.2hh NF pony!!!! Mysti is ok but obviously has to think about carrying that much, and she's FIT! Sunny's more like - this is easy!

ETA - I'm 8 1/2 stone - OH is 12 1/2...

[dianecartwright]

The pony club states that the recommended weight for a pony of 12.2hh is 8stone 4lbs, if anybody is competing or riding within the pony club and are heavier then that on a pony of that height, then they are not allowed to. Its commen sence, your pony may look like it is fine but in the long run you will end up giving it a bad back and all sorts of other problems, use as a rule of thumb, if your bums too big for the saddle, your too big for the pony!

That's ridiculous! I ride a borrowed (horrible term!) Dartmoor who's 11.2HH and she carries my 12.5-13st weight no probs whatsoever. I've hacked for over 3 hours on many an occasion, and whilst she gets out of breath occasionally (uphills and whatnot) she has never protested to me riding her, and we get on great. The pony club need to come out into the real world.

Diane

[Wally]

I'm sure it's the NF folk who have equitetion clesses for folk 11 stone and over in their shows.

The IHSGB once got a snotty letter from a BHS welfare officer asking them to stop promoting our "ponies" for adults to ride as they were not up to an adult weight!

[dianecartwright]

I'm sure it's the NF folk who have equitetion clesses for folk 11 stone and over in their shows.

The IHSGB once got a snotty letter from a BHS welfare officer asking them to stop promoting our "ponies" for adults to ride as they were not up to an adult weight!

How dare they! They're your ponies, surely you know them best!

[Wally]

Well for a start Icelandics are horses, not ponies, they were never bred as kid's ponies, they were bred to carry full grown men in very harsh conditions. To promote them as kid's ponies would be irresponsible.

[carrieh]

The pony club states that the recommended weight for a pony of 12.2hh is 8stone 4lbs, if anybody is competing or riding within the pony club and are heavier then that on a pony of that height, then they are not allowed to. Its commen sence, your pony may look like it is fine but in the long run you will end up giving it a bad back and all sorts of other problems, use as a rule of thumb, if your bums too big for the saddle, your too big for the pony!


Surely it depends on the breed of pony? I'd agree with the pony club if the pony were a lightweight 'show pony' type, but certain breeds such as Fells for example have been bred as adults ponies, capable of carrying heavy loads and hill farmers all day long. And thrive on it. A better guide is surely to look at the bone on the leg.

My own Fell is 13.2hh. I am about 11 1/2 stone and 5ft 5 inches, and he has no problems whatsoever with me. He's forward going and eager, even in his mid-20's, and although we no longer jump or do cross country as I'm in my 50's with a few physical problems and he is getting to be an old boy now, he is absolutely fine for long leisurely hacks espcially if we go via the pub! As soon as I feel he isn't up to it any more, I will stop riding him. He will let me know.

[chev]

Little welsh, could you point me in the direction of the rule that states that please?

I have read right through the Pony Club rules 2006 (my two eldest are centre members) and nowhere can I find any reference to the rule you mention.

Rules are in place in various disciplines (polocrosse etc) within the Pony Club with regard to weight, but I can't find any rule anywhere outside of one or two disciplines.

I'm off now to try Gelfy's new saddle on him. He's a cobby 12.2hh. I'm about 9.5 stone. If the saddle fits us both, then we're going out! :D

[Purple Hugs]

This is an interesting debate to follow! And nice that it's not getting personal. :)

Can i ask.. an 'average' Welsh section A of 12hh what would be the maximum weight you'd let them carry? say for an indoor lesson not for a long hack or anything.

Thanks,

[Afellpony]

If you go to Exmoor, you'll see farmers riding the ponies. These ponies who stand around 12.3 max are strong and well up to weight. The Exmoors I used to have had massive amounts of bone for little guys. I can understand the Pony Club's ruling though. It's just that their size is advantageou for children. Ponies were not bred speficially for children to ride. They were, at one time, serious working animals being used on farms and for pulling carts in the towns and for meat in Medieval times.

[eventerbabe]

my mates mum is DC of our local branch and she knows of no such weight rules. there are age limits (like horses/ponies must be over 4 years old) and a rule about riding stallions but no weight limits.

[shoniedaspony]

when i first started riding a 12hh welsh pony he had little riding schooling, and to have put anyone lighter than me on him would have been highly irresponsible as he just tanked them round the school...at the height of his fitness we hacked to the local(ish) watermeadows, got entirely lost, and were out in all for 6 hours...and he was still voluntarily trotting to keep pace with the 16.1 we went with. at that point i was probably around 9 stone- if he had objected to my weight, trust me he would have shown it! he had riders of up to 11 stone on him (for about 20mins ish, walk and trot) but coped no problem. all depends on pony build and especially fitness.

how many 'kids' ponies are absolutely mental because they havent had a bigger person to get in some decent schooling...i dont see that you can put a weight limit on a ponies as a general rule.

as for icelandic horses...i rode a 12.2 and there was no way i would have put a kid on her!!!

[chev]

eb - I found the age rules too, and rulings prohibiting members from riding in-foal mares and so on. But I can only find weight restrictions in place for specific discliplines, and not many of them either.

Purple Hugs - so much depends on the pony when it comes to section As. There are some very fine, riding pony types around that are really not up to carrying adults for any length of time, and some who don't have the best conformation (some tend to have relatively weak or long backs and not much bum) which again means they would struggle with an adult.

But proper old-fashioned types, well put together with good flat bone and who are fit and in work would cope with a smaller adult fine. I'd heistate to put much more than 8.5 stone on most for hard or regular work, (remembering you also have to add on the weight of the saddle) but there are some that can happily carry more. The major difficulty is usually that as a rider your centre of balance is all wrong; little ponies are very easy things to fall off!

(And Gelfy's x-wide, 17" saddle fits nicely... :D just a shame it decided to chuck it down on us)

[Wally]

That's why you ride them long and use your leg as a counter-balance.

The major difficulty is usually that as a rider your centre of balance is all wrong; little ponies are very easy things to fall off!

[dianecartwright]

This is an interesting debate to follow! And nice that it's not getting personal. :)

Can i ask.. an 'average' Welsh section A of 12hh what would be the maximum weight you'd let them carry? say for an indoor lesson not for a long hack or anything.

Thanks,

Hi hugs,
I'm touching 13 stone and I ride a 11.2, but not a Welsh. So perhaps 14-15 stone for a 12HH? It all depends on rider ability though, a good, confident rider helps the horse more than a lesser able rider.

Regards,
Diane

[Sarah1710]

I am 5'7" and just over 11st and have ridden a 12.3hh welsh sec B mare with no problems. Although I would not ride her regularly (I would feel too guilty, plus got some very funny looks off people last time I rode her out:o ), she coped really well. I only took her out for about 30 mins, walk with a bit of trot, but a friend (who is 10st) has schooled her in walk, trot and canter, with some jumping towards the end and she thoroughly enjoyed herself, having no problems carrying the weight.

[Pink's lady]

So perhaps 14-15 stone for a 12HH?

For a welsh? are you seriously having laugh?. I would think weight to be getting on for heavy for a fell's or dales or welsh D to carry. No chance in hell I'd put that on a welsh of that size. :eek:

Yes, ponies can easily carry adults. But SMALL adults - the size and weight we used to be 50yrs ago. Not now-a-days, where most people a good 6 inchs taller, not to mention over-weight.

I certainly wouldn't out 13+stone on 11.2hh of ANY build! Thats a VERY small pony. That wieght on a 13.2, maybe, depending on build and breed, but dear gods.....:eek:

[Bronya]

My friend's 12.2hh NF carries 9- 9 1/2 stone easily + saddle, jumping and everything. Someone on here said once NF ponies are bred to carry a stone for each hand, so that'd be 11 stone + saddle? Obviously would need to be a forest type pony not one of the finer ones.

Welshies probably have a slightly lower weight carrying ability I'd say, as they tend to be a bit finer, the smaller NFs are quite stocky! I'd go for the 25% for light work, 20% for harder work or a youngster rule. Seems to work out about right most of the time, as a lightly built pony will weigh less so will be able to carry less!

I used to ride naughty 12.2hh+ ponies all the time (all pony types, not 'show pony TB types', but welsh, NF, heinz 57s etc), and I was usually about 8 - 8 1/2 stone. If that helps!

[Wally]

Well, it is a fact that the Highland man was the biggest in Europe 200 plus years ago, as was the Norseman. Folk have not changed dramatically over the years, Henry the Viii was over 6 foot tall, tall for the time, but not exceptional.

A neighbour of 90 years remembers the days when grown men of 5 feet 10 and 12 stone rode Shetlands.

[Pink's lady]

A neighbour of 90 years remembers the days when grown men of 5 feet 10 and 12 stone rode Shetlands.

Yes, but 5'10 and 12st would be classed as small and light for a man now-days. That's fairly light/average for a woman!(and I still won't let them onto my shetland at that size and weight.) I'd have said the average man was about 13-14st today, many MUCH heavier. And I won't put them on the smaller natives. Bigger ones (highlands, dales etc) yes, but not the little welshs and exmoors.

But OK, make it 150yrs ago ;)

[Wally]

But 12 stone for a Shetland????? Most folk would have kittens if suggested.

I am more than that, 13-14 stone, my horse is 13hh, he's 20 now, had him since he was 11, never a day ill.

We had a 12 hh exmoor, a rat bag of the highest calibre, Then I was 13 stone, she would carry me with a big grin on her face, 1 minutes schooling, not a problem. If I was 12 stone, I wouldn't have worried about her carrying me for a good hour's hack.

[Pink's lady]

Yes, but you have icelandics, which are slightly different ;)

And the vet school Exmoor's carry 12st for three hour hacks. They're built like a tank and enjoy themselves imensely. But we don't let them take the 13-14stone riders out, and certinaly not anyone heavier. 1min (;) sure you mean 10) maybe, but whats the point, apart from teaching them manners? You couldn't 'ride' them properly as such.

12st for a shetland? Hum, I won't put that on a shetland either - they could carry it, but i don't think it's fair. 10st, yes, on a solid, well-build (and FIT!) 'proper' shetland for a shortish hack. Not more than that though.

And I certainly wouldn't put 13st odd on a little welsh type!

[shoniedaspony]

but whats the point, apart from teaching them manners? You couldn't 'ride' them properly as such.


why not?

yes i accept a lot of things are different but why can't you 'ride properly'?

the problem with most naughty little ponies is that they havent had a big person on them to give them decent schooling (im not talkin because of height/weight, but because most adults have more idea of the aims of their schooling and the means to acheive their goals.

[Wally]

Why is a 12 hh Icelandic any different to a 12hh Welsh?

They were both bred for work, unless the Welsh breeding has turned them in a soppy kid's breed, ....thinking on I suppose it has gone a bit that way.
Whereas the Icelandic has been soley used for adults since 900AD

[bspa05]

why can't you ride a 12 h pony 'properly'?

I am 5ft5 and 8 stone and have a 12.1 welsh b and a welsh a (about 11 h).

I am schooling the sec b with intentions of doing dressage with her (she is only 4). She is showing a real talent for it. In fact, she is easier to ride (and alomost better!) than my 14.2 welsh cob who is 11.

I can ride her properly. Why is she any different to a bigger horse?

[Pink's lady]

Wally, I wouldn't ride a 12hh pony, regardless of breed, but maybe a 13.2. And apparently Icelands have been specifically bred to carry a lot of weigt (bone densities etc). It's what icelandic peoples always sprout when asked about carrying an adult. Weither it's true or not, I don't know -I still wouldn't subject a small icelandic to me ;)

And I never said you could ride 'properly' but that you couldn't 'ride' a pony that small if you're heavy. You could have a 10min schoolling session, or a short hack, but you couldn't take it for a long ride or XC or any of the other 'riding'. Unless you're 8st ;), in which case that doesn't count cos you don't count as a heavy rider ;)

Maybe people do, but I still think it's cruel. I've seen a 14st man on a 12.2 exmoor, poor pony. Pony went with his ears forwards, but you could see it was a big effort for him (having to really step under to support himself, finding the hills and uneven ground difficult). But the pony doesn't know that making a fuss might reduce the load he has to carry - Galadriel put it nicely - horse put up with thing cos they don't know any better - how do they know that a saddle is MEANT to fit - we do all sorts of uncomfortable things to them, and expect them to accept it without a fuss. Why should a saddle, or a heavy rider in this case, be any different?

[Bronya]

It's not just height of horse vs human weight that's a factor. Skinny 15-16hh TBs often can't carry as much as a stocky pony!

[hApPiNeSs]

but whats the point, apart from teaching them manners? You couldn't 'ride' them properly as such.

course you can... ;)

i go by the rule a stone per hand as a general basis on the natives.

however, my cousins slightly 'not put well together' welsh cross had a bit of a strop when i hopped on her (im 10-11 stone, pony is 11hh)

on occasion by exmoor has carried my uncle who weighs about 12 stone. she was fine. he didnt want to ride her again as she was too cheeky ;) and this is from a man who once galloped a horse down the field and simply jumped the hedge (no saddle, not hat...) :eek:

[Purple Hugs]

Ahh now that sounds like a cool uncle to have! ;)

[hApPiNeSs]

yes, if a little insane :D

[Purple Hugs]

lol insanity is a good thing mostly! ;)

[Tizer]

Why do people keep going on about " years ago xyz were used for carrying 15stone men - of certain height etc etc" Yes maybe they did many many years ago. 50/100 years ago man did not have central heating for instance, modern bathrooms, decent cooking, quality food, contraception( too many baby's), how many of us could go back to living like that and actually thrive and benifit. Things change and evolve, in the last 50 years for instance there has been a huge decline in the working horse, most horses have had a very soft exsistance in comparison to their forfathers, this makes them, for want of a better word -soft. And to expect little Welshy's no matter how well the confirmation etc to carry comfortably upward of 12/13 stone is ridiculas, to say that they USED to do 10 hours work on a cold welsh hillside without batting an eyelid, ask yourself this are you capable of being the rider to do 10hours work on a cold welsh hillside in all weathers ????.

I have not quoted anyone in particular just tried to generalise my comments.
Hopefully humans have evolved to use more common sense, if your horse is comfortable or not he cannot tell you, you need to look for the obvious signs, i.e sweating,breathing etc.

[ShariN]

I have a 12hh welsh and i ride him all the time, i am 5,2 and weigh about 8 and a half stone, does that mean i am too big by the pony club standards?
:(

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/han192/th_glory8.jpg (http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/han192/glory8.jpg)

This is me on him ( finally worked out how to do the picture thing yay!)

I think you look just fine on him.

Of course I also ride a 12.3 hand Icelandic.;)
She will never be a kids pony either...in fact all the Icelandic's I have been around are not good kid pony material at all.
My Fjord is built like a tank at 13.3 hands tall,, she tapes out at just shy of 1100 pounds.
Their build and width will tell you how much a horse or pony can handle when ridden.

Here is the Edifax Magazine on line. Take a gander at the photos of the Icelanders on their horses. (Pony by others standards)

A well built, not refined, Icelandic horse 13.2 to 14 hands, can handle up to 350lb rider with no problems at all. Have seen it many times and without hurting the Icelandic.

http://www.eidfaxi.is/stodhestar/eindex.php

[Wally]

Droooooooool, droooooooool and yet more droooooool!

My little lad is about 13-13.1hh, he carries me not bother, I'm 14 stone....ish!

He is no kid's pony.