Is it finally time to join the club?

[neen]

I've always felt that "Adults who ride ponies" was my spiritual home on New Rider -- it was stumbling across this board one day when Googling Exmoor ponies that made me realise that riding as an adult didn't have to be about leaping around on huge horses, and that there were others in the world like me...

But I've never posted that, because as things turned out, since I came back to riding in the autumn my usual mounts have been an arab (nice pony size -- definitely not a pony) and an Welsh sec. D (arguments for being a pony -- but horse sized, and rides like a horse.)

But today, I'm off to try an honest-to-goodness pony! NF x TB, to have on part loan. Eeeek!

Am leaving in 2 hours -- but have my jodhs on already. :o Fretting like mad. :rolleyes:

Wish me luck!

[flump1967]

Good Luck!
In my oppinion its always best to stay as close to the ground as possible;)

[Gabrielle]

Good Luck!
In my oppinion its always best to stay as close to the ground as possible;)

Yes but without actually hitting it if you can ( I seem to be able to hit it!):o :rolleyes:

[Mehitabel]

yep, plenty of us leap around on small ponies!

[Gill]

Hope it works out for you,
Gill

[NoviceNic]

When I came back to riding I rode a 15 3hh old faithful. I loved her to bits. She never did anything wrong and would anticipate 2 beats of trot in the middle of figure of 8 canter. But as I got more confident and progressed in my lessons the old faithful got too much leg for me and went on to more forward going horses. Things went wrong from this day on until they put me on a chuncky 13 3 called Roy. He was my star. As I looked for a pony to buy I knew I needed a Roy. Captain is a 14 2hh cob. I dont think he is big but my family think he is huge!!!! I feel too big on him sometimes when I am loaded down with jumper, coat and protector but I would never be confident with a horse. Someone told me once that horses and ponies are a different breed. I hope your share goes well. Let us know and we need piccies please!!!

[neen]

She was lovely!

I'd thought I would only walk her about in the school, as I'm not tremendously confident, and I had to go and see her on my own, as my horsy friend couldn't make it. In fact we went on a lovely long hack through the woods, and she seemed thoroughly sensible. She spooked a couple of times, once at a rustle in the hedge behind us and once at a distant motorbike, again behind us. She did the "crouching" kind of spooking -- first time she just crouched, second time she crouched and leapt forward a few paces. I think that's fine, especially as it was a pretty windy day and the list of things she could have spooked at was long indeed -- I know because the other horse we were with spooked at every single one of them, and jogged most of the way. Pony and I, I am happy to say, mostly walked and trotted, with only a tiny bit of jogging after the turn for home, which soon settled. And a large amount of splashing through some very deep puddles -- a bit of a water baby, I think!

I felt very happy on the ground with her too. Although, numpty that I am, I managed to turn her out with her headcollar still on, and didn't realise till I was on the way home, and looked at the picture I'd taken of her in the field before I left!

I've arranged to go and see her again on Saturday and Sunday; a sort of trial period.

Eeek, a pony! How exciting! If all goes well this weekend, and when I get round to buying a digital camera, pics will surely follow...

[Kimo]

Cool! This is so exciting... All the new horses and experiences. Best wishes for the weekend rides!

[Imp]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, sounds fabby... PICTURES, Quick, get it sorted or we get v e r y impatient :p

[notpoodle]

exmoor ponies are fab :D ive got one! havent ridden her for weeks though ahem .... shes been in too much (everyone else has mudfever!), the girth broke, its cold and dark etc. so weve just done lunging and paddock time :rolleyes:

Julia
x

[neen]

I know you've got an Exmoor, notpoodle -- it was Angel who first drew me in here, Googling for Exmoors! Then I saw Happiness had an Exmoor too, then I saw all the other NR members who had ponies... it was like stumbling into pony heaven.

If I was looking for a pony to buy I'd definitely be looking for a native -- that's what I grew up with, and what I feel most comfortable with. I went on a RS hack with a friend a few weeks ago, and she was put on a TB type, eyes on stalks the whole time, ready to go, go, go. I was watching from the back of a sturdy sensible pony thinking blimey, I'm glad I didn't get that one! But my friend was perfectly happy. Later she told me she grew up riding ex-polo ponies in the desert in Dubai, so I guess it's just whatever you're used to.

[Gill]

Exmoors are great ponies, I hope it goes well for you.

Have you read the old Moorland Mousie books with those beautiful illustrations of Mousie the Exmoor?

We had a couple of Exmoors to stay with us for a while a few years ago. They were both in their late twenties but loved it when my girls galloped about bareback (we had no saddles) playing at the Indians in 'Dancing with Wolves' which was current at the time.

We support the Yorkshire Exmoor trust through our business.

[lindz]

I used to ride Exmoors too.

Good luck with the new horse!