Please say Hello

Fraggle · #1 1st Oct 2002, 07:40 PM

Well.....

I asked for this new forum and persuaded the New Rider people that we really wanted this so I'll start the ball rolling by introducing myself.

My name is Caroline (alias Fraggle), I'm 36 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and live with my partner Rick in Leeds. I recently got my first pony Sam (Ridglane Sam) who is a 5 year old section A Dales pony.

I went out to buy a schoolmaster who would teach me everything and came back with a very green pony who has done absolutely nothing and hadn't been on a road. 4 months later we're out on the roads and hacking out in the countryside and we're doing ok.
We've even managed to get over our first small jumps so I'm really proud of us.

Anyway, I'm always on this site asking for advice as I'm a novice rider with her first pony.

I'm just hoping that some other adult pony riders will be joining me on this forum to talk to me!

lisae · #2 1st Oct 2002, 08:13 PM

I'm a 46 year old pony owner, being 5'0" with a 24" inseam I was having trouble with full-size horses since I couldn't get much leg on, especially since my last horse was fat, too. I now have three Haflingers, a fully trained 5-yr. old mare who although young is very calm; her filly born May 2002; and a two-year old gelding who is currently in driving training and coming along nicely with the help of a competent trainer. The mare rides and drives but I sold the saddle and bought the cart instead and she hasn't been out much this year since I haven't had the heart to wean her foal yet. Anyways, I enjoy the ponies and watching them interact is as much fun as riding or going out on the road. Good for you, bringing a young pony along. The young ones do seem to require more focus and direction on the rider's part, but I've decided even with an older horse you can never totally forget about what you're doing or they will pull a surprise!

Tumbleweed · #3 1st Oct 2002, 08:31 PM

Hi, My name is Margaret and I live between Wakefield and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. I am 60 years young and owned by 3 rescue dogs and a skewbald pony who is 29 years young. My pony Tumbleweed, is now working for his keep in a riding school and is thriving on it. This came about because my husband had a stoke and I couldn't look after Tumbleweed any more.

He has taught my 3 sons to ride, done all the usual pony club stuff and even took me to the supermarket for my shopping.

Maybe one day I will get another but at the moment I don't have the time, but Tumbleweed is so happy where he is that I couldn't take him away. If I do get another it will be another pony, I much prefer their mentality, full of mischief and no boring hacking.

When I was 46 years old I went to collage to become a riding instructor, I passed everything except the Stage III flatwork, but that was because I was once dragged by a horse which damaged my hip, It has since been replaced and I am back riding, and my poor doctor is pulling his hair out. You just can't stop us crincklies.

floppy · #4 1st Oct 2002, 08:43 PM

my name is flossie, im nearing 22.
I bought my first personal equine in march.She is a lovely 139cm 8yr old Icelandic called Elja. Bit nappy but we are working through that and its going very successfully! even though i have to walk away leading her from the yard for the first 10mins

but I couldnt be happier

I was actually looking for a BIG BIG HORSE for showjumping and dressage but then started riding icelandics and got addicted to the little horses...also have truly decided they are more practical and i dont feel overwhelmed beign left alone to do my own thing with my little pony as i woudl with a big horse.

LesleyR · #5 1st Oct 2002, 09:00 PM

Good idea for a forum!

I have share a 12 year old New Forest gelding on permanent loan from my aunt. We've had him 18 months or so now and I just love him to bits. He's quite the most handsome equine on the yard (I may be a bit biased here), got masses of character, wonderful paces, huge jump etc etc. I could go on and on.

I get a lot of comment that I'm underhorsed which I probably am as I'm 5'6ish and he's 14.2 but you try getting on him when his back is up and tell me you don't feel like you're on a 17 hander!

And the beauty of ponies is that when you're getting a bit unsupple like me you can still get on from the ground without having to put your foot somewhere round your ears in order to get it into the stirrup!

floppy · #6 1st Oct 2002, 09:09 PM

oh i forgot to mention im an adult that rides a 139cm pony and im 5'7

chapsi · #7 1st Oct 2002, 10:53 PM

Hi. My name is Maria Manuel, I am 41 years old and I live in Mafra (a west coast region not too far from Lisbon). I live with my german hubby (he has loads of patience), 4 rescued cats, a crazy dog and I work at a local museum.
I bought the horse of my dreams 3 months ago. His name is Pégaso, he is a strong gorgeous Lusitano horse, dapple grey with a long thick black mane, 6 years old, 16 hh. of shear beauty and power. Unfortunately things are working hard, but step by step we'll get there.

chapsi · #8 1st Oct 2002, 10:55 PM

I forgot to mention, I am under 5'2". My shortness matches my lack of confidence...

Aly · #9 2nd Oct 2002, 03:20 AM

Hi I am Aly, 30+ but not yet happy about it...Im living in Singapore, but am about to move onto more unusual places.

I don't have ponies at the moment, my boy is 15.1h, but I have had ponies for about 10 years, up until I began living overseas.

My first pony was a Riding Pony called "Pete". I did pony club, dressage and hack shows with him, as well as some jumping.

I purchased a green broke Australian Riding Pony a couple of years after I first got Pete, and for a few years I trained her to be an overall ponyclub mount. I did showing, showjumping, eventing, novelties, picnic racing and endurance with her, and then lent her to a friend still living in Oz who used her as one of her foundation mares for her stud. Sunny eventually got sold on to a family of kids who still do pony club and stuff on her today.

I plan to buy a couple of nice foundation stock once I am back in Oz permanently and breed nice show quality ponies, that are quiet, and then break and educate them for children.

Never know, maybe my friend and I might go into it together.

Gemma R · #10 2nd Oct 2002, 07:07 AM

wow this is like pony riders annoymous

Although not so annpoymous

we'll have to have regular met ups and discuss our fixation

hehe

Well I am 24 and have a GORGEOUS NF mare called Libby who is 14hh. wouldn't change her for anything a millimeter bigger

If she was not quite sure I would have as much control as I do at the moment

being only 5'3" anything bigger would be unpractical for me (in my opinion

)

She is the first equine I have ever owned and I bought her last year

Hail · #11 2nd Oct 2002, 08:00 AM

Hello

My name is Hayley (Hail) 28 years old 5' 6" tall. I own a 14.1hh Welsh Cob called Lucky who I share with my 5'9" tall Sister.

Lucky is now 18 years old and showing no signs of slowing down.
We're still competing in showing, jumping, and cross country rides, happily ignoring the comments of 'when are you going to get a proper horse'.

Glad to see there are plenty of pony loving adults

Hail

Wally · #12 2nd Oct 2002, 08:10 AM

Whato!

Frances and I are in the 5 feet 8+ region and none of our horses is bigger than about 14.1hh now we have a Welsh Cob, 14hh was our upper limit!

My own horse is about 13hh ish.

We have Icelandics, Shetlands, Fjords a fat old Cob and a Haflinger. All small horses. We also run a reasonably successful riding/ treking business using these horses they carry adults or small kids no problem.

www.thordale.co.uk
www.geocities.com/tonkii2000/horses

Mehitabel · #13 2nd Oct 2002, 08:48 AM

i'm Es, i'm 24 (25 next month!) and i have a 19 year old nf cross welsh gelding called copper/chop/the old git and a 9 year old nf mare called petal. i briefly had a hanoverian, but while i loved him to bits, i wouldn't have another big one again. too far to fall, to high to get on again! i've had chop for 14 years, and adopted petal when she was a foal.

SJ · #14 2nd Oct 2002, 02:18 PM

Hi I'm Sara Jane, 41, live in Sussex and mother of 2 children and proud owner of three little ponies. Bet you all I have some of the longest legs and ride the smallest ponies. I'm 5' 8" and regularly exercise our 12.2hh ExmoorX and a 13.2hh Irish pony. I love riding them both. We get some very funny looks hacking out especially when my daughters on the big pony. The ExmoorX carries me much better than the 13.2hh. Sadly our 12.2hh little SHP is just too finely built for my weight - she would just sag, else I'd be riding her too.

The ponies really make me laugh they are just as naughty as the children, they lull you into a false sense of good behaviour and then throw in a trick when you're not expecting it.

I'm so used to riding the ponies that it seems mighty high up when I get the odd ride on a horse!

ponynut · #15 2nd Oct 2002, 06:04 PM

I am Aimee and I love ponies!
I have a 14'1 NF/arab. and am buying a 14'2 arab (please say she counts!!!!!!)
I am from Wakefield and 32 years and 5'3.

Fraggle · #16 2nd Oct 2002, 06:35 PM

Where are you in Wakefield - it's a blooming small world isn't it?

I tried sending you an email to the PM you sent me but it says your mail box is full and won't send it! (Time for a clear out!)

PS. of course your arab counts! I also think Icelandic "horses" should count too because they're only tiny aren't they?

It's nice to see other tall people on ponies, I'm sick of people using the excuse "I'm too tall to ride a pony" - it all depends on the pony! (I know I'd look stupid on a shetland but Dales ponies are very big animals and my Sammy is built like a tank.)

Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of me on board yet as I keep forgetting to take the camera down to the yard but I promise I'll take one soon.

I'll start a thread for everyone to put their photos on.

ponynut · #17 2nd Oct 2002, 07:01 PM

My email is empty but is being awkward- my email is pizza_pup@hotmail.com

Tumbleweed · #18 2nd Oct 2002, 07:41 PM

Fraggle and Ponynut, I am from Wakefield as well. Small world

Wally · #19 2nd Oct 2002, 08:36 PM

I have a small confession to make

I was mucking about with Ljóssie in the school today and Frances came in, up to some little job. With a silly grin she said "you're far too big for your pony" and pottered off to do her thing.

A little later on we had "the Pants" (Andy) in the school waiting to take a lesson. He's a VERY robust big Shetland gelding with a leg at each corner. Remembering what Peter-John had said about a good Shetland carrying you to Eið in the afternoon after a morning ploughing I though I'd have a quick shot to see how he reacted.

Well this time I really was under horsed.....he wasnt struggling though quite happy to trot round the school with me on his back. Now I'm not going to make a habit of this, but folk really do underestimate the pure power in these small, short wheel based guys.

I have just ordered him a new cart. When it comes I'll try and get some pics up.

chapsi · #20 2nd Oct 2002, 09:54 PM

Sorry to barge like this into your forum. I didn't realise it was for "adults who ride ponies".