competing/showing

[lulu4428]

hiya technically im not an adult well im almost 17. but im considering buying a pony to compete/show but am faced with my riding instructor and others at my yard insisting a "horse" would be better for me. i dont agree as i much prefur riding ponies. im 5,5 and weigh 9.5 stone and see no reson why a pony wouldnt be fine.
i was just interested in what classes you guys enter in with your ponies and the hights of your ponies so i can prove to the others at my yard adult do compete ponies.
id apperciate any info you could give me thanx xxx

[No_Angel]

im 19, 5ft5 and probably about 10 stone now. i ride my 12hh section a and weve just bought a 14hh section d, i have no worries about her and shes my mums horse and my mums about a stone heavier than me and an inch shorter:)

[lulu4428]

wow and theres ppl at my yard comenting on me on a 14.2 when my legs dont evan reach the bottom of his tummy. do u compete your pony in anything?

[eventerbabe]

up until her health problems, i regularly showed and did dressage with my 13.3hh welsh D and i'm in my early 20's. you could easily get away with riding a native, i'm taller and heavier than you and my mare manages fine. if you are happier on ponies, then stick with ponies. theres no rule that older teenagers/adults MUST ride horses. best of luck :)

[lulu4428]

well tecnically there is. i am really into showjumping and it bugs me that the bsja dont run classes for asults with ponies as there is no way the pony i ride would manage the distances of the larger tracks.and i dont want to ride a horse. thts why i thought about doing m&m whp but i dnt no anything about this class

[No_Angel]

i dont really compete on my section a (i actually have my own orange girls that are 16hh and 16.3:o ) i will however most likely steal my mums section d and show her (in-hand untill shes been under saddle for a while)

[Kanuma]

Get an M&M they can turn a hoof to anything, there is no age limits on the M&M showing classes so 40 yearolds regularly ride in them. I do dressage on stan and showing. I do most classes and Im 20 years old 5ft4 and heavier then you. It is quite normal to see adults on M&M larges AND on M&M smalls!

[holiday]

id go with the m&m as well it is quite acceptable to compete at all levels on them. I have a section b stallion of 12.2hh and me and the kids i borrow all compete him we do dressage but all is acceptable on the natives!!!!!!!1

[Rips]

Have a look at Bobbins thread in the cafe area, I put some pictures up of some ponies competing/hunting etc
I was 17 on the white pony. My friends break lots of ponies to sell on, they can't compete SJ here because they are over 16 so instead they bring them to sweden for the SJ derbys. Its that important to them.
You do see a few ponies on the horse SJ circuit too :) and they do just as well as any.

[Miska]

I'm 18, 5ft5 and 9.5 stone - same as you. I ride a 14.1hh lightweight arab. I compete a little on her. But with ponies I think you've got less far to fall. I've seen 12.2 horses at hickstead jumping 3.5ft (amazing!)

[lindz]

This is my Mum winning the ridden Championship at the Exmoor pony breed show. The pony is 12.3 and She was in her 40s and 5ft11!

Now this pony was very well built so he could carry my Mum fine and big around the barrell so her feet didnt hang down. As you can see she looks fine on him, but I doubt a smaller finer built Exmoor could have carried her.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/suzyandfairytale/th_slmDA7.jpg

[happy highlande]

Echo teh comments about a native - one of the large breeds will do everyting - and M&M working hunter involves jumping a course of natural jumps, then showing paces and conformation.

Go to some local shows and see it in action - then you can decide. A good native will jump up to 3'3" if you get the right 'family' - you would need to do soe research and speak to breeders and show folk to get the right one. And who knows - you might get drawn in by showing, dressage, trec, riding club and ODE's - all thing natives do really well.

Look at www.nativeponymart.co.uk to see what the current natives for sale can do!

Beware - they are addictive !!