Does It Matter?

[Cameraine]

Here is the crux of the matter. I have a small pony 12.1 hands. I am only 5’3 and weigh around 115. The pony who was supposed to be my daughter’s first pony is absolutely not a beginner’s ride. She’s greener than I anticipated and very insecure and a bit spooky. For me this is not an issue, I’m used to big, green OTTB’s that see demons in every bush and leaf. I can keep the pony from losing her mind when we are out riding. However because I want the pony to have her best life I am going to be marketing her soon so she can find her person and purpose.

I do want to get her out and showing for some experience but there aren’t a lot of H/J shows I can take her to because of the rules for adults riding ponies. As far as I know dressage and eventing doesn’t carry that same rule. So here is my question. Would you, given my height and the pony’s height, feel comfortable and like you were going to get a fair eye from the judge if you were taking a small pony down centerline?

Anyone been in this position?

[luvmyhackney]

I have a 12.2 pony that I showed to get him some miles. I’m a similar size to you, but long legs and short torso. There was some negative things said, but eventually I just used a gutsy kid as I was having other issues and didn’t need the stress.

I took him to schooling shows and flipped my number so I wasn’t in the running for a ribbon.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

In a dressage saddle, with your legs hanging down, you’re not going to have that weird, crunched look that very tall trainers riding their students’ hunter ponies over fences do. Depending on the barrel size of the pony, you’ll be fine.

It may depend on the judge. My lease horse’s owner was 5’7 and riding a fat 14.3 Morgan and got a comment she was too tall. Some judges are only used to tiny people on monstrous warmbloods–but in that case, you’d get comments even if you were on a 15h horse. I say, ride the pony!

Look at it this way–sharpening the pony up for disciplines and riders she’s better suited for rather than trying to force her into a pony hunter hole is the best thing for the pony as well as for your family.

I am speaking about dressage, btw–for eventing, cross-country, if she’s spooky, that might take some work (and also would depend on her athleticism, jumping over terrain).

[Willesdon]

I come from the land of ponies: many adults ride ponies here. Height is a bit of a WB thing, where taller = better, but even the Dutch are no longer producing 18 hh dressage horses. They are slow to mature and fall apart to easily. At 5’3 you are probably a good fit for the pony - and the judge is supposed to be looking at training and how well you perform the required moves, not marking the horse. Ride the pony!

[beowulf]

I have ridden many ponies down the centerline as the barn’s official crash test dummy – no judge will take a second look at you because you are riding a pony. They will be more concerned with the pony’s obedience, training, and how well you ride the movements.

[hoopoe]

yes as long as it is a regular class, there is no rule that says you cannot ride her. You will be riding against all ages and types.

[emeraldcity]

I’ve seen at least a few very tall kids on tiny tiny ponies at dressage shows. Adults less common, but I think you’re a lot more likely to get cute pony comments than negative ones. I say go for it.

[see_u_at_x]

While not as small as your pony, my trainer is currently working with an Icelandic horse and has worked with several of them before. Trainer is at least 5’11". The owner wants to do western dressage, so to give the horse (who is probably around 14h) some experience, our trainer took her to a schooling show recently. The only comments from the judge were about how cute the “pony” is. I think you’ll be fine!

[dotneko]

I had a student who was tall - 5’11 and showed his Icelandic with no problem.
As a judge, if you werent affecting the horse’s balance, I wouldnt think twice.

[Cameraine]

Thank you everyone. You’ve really bolstered my confidence. And I’m going to start looking at our local schooling dressage shows, and maybe the starter divison of eventing if the pony settles well. Again, I love that this community can be so supportive.

[Libby2563]

I think we really need photos of you on said cute pony to make a fair judgment. (Definitely not just because I want to see cute pony pics!)

FWIW, I’m 5’7” and evented a finely built 13.2 hh TB/Welsh cross pony for a year. I did feel big but never got any negative comments. I did not ride in a dressage saddle as that would have left my legs hanging too low.

[Snow_Mass]

Many dressage shows offer classes and high point programs specific for ponies and most are ridden by adults. Check out https://dressageponycup.com/ - it’s the small horse and pony dressage national championship organization.
Go have fun!

[lorilu]

@Impractical_Horsewoman

My lease horse’s owner was 5’7 and riding a fat 14.3 Morgan and got a comment she was too tall.

Judges are NOT supposed to make this sort of comment.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I agree! She was devastated and it really deterred her from showing (which is exactly what a judge shouldn’t do, especially since I think this was Training or First Level, it’s not like she was riding in the Prix St. Georges).

[MadTrotter]

That makes me so sad and angry for your friend. Our whole image of what’s an “appropriate” height has been warped by the influx of massive horses, with massive price tags, into the sport. These days, a horse that’s les than 16.2 is marketed as “fun size” or for “petite rider”. And they are priced tens of thousands less, even with elite bloodlines and great training.

I’m a millennial and when I was a kid, 16h was a “big” horse. So this is fairly recent.

I’m 5,10” and when I went to a sales barn, everything pulled out for me is 17h+. My current mare is a well sprung 15.3. I’ve never felt “under horsed”.

I’m with everyone who says if your horse looks comfortable and balanced, then who cares where your toes fall

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I’m 5’1 and very petite and at one barn where I was seeking lessons I was told I couldn’t ride the large pony they had (who was a good pony, ridden by kids)–“you’re way too tall”–and put on a 17.3h horse as what they thought was the more appropriate mount.

Don’t even get me started on the parents who sell sane, sound large ponies and buy their kids fancy mammoth horses when the kid is still five feet tall and twelve.

[sheltona01]

Sometimes I find myself in a position where I have to gently discuss with my clients the possibility that they may be too large for their horse. It’s important for me to bring this up because it can impact the comfort of the horse, such as not being able to properly fit a saddle or noticing changes in the horse’s gait due to the weight being too much for them to comfortably carry. If that is not happening, have fun!

[pony_baloney]

I’m 5’5" and ride a 13.1 pony in a dressage saddle. It’s more comfortable for me to ride him with shorter stirrups, and we don’t look too unmatched.

Just a warning that finding a dressage saddle to fit a short pony back will be tricky. My saddle fitter tweaked a very old Passier Baum for us.

[173north]

I’m 5’1 and about 105 lbs, I will 100% show a small or medium pony. I usually bring them to a local h/j show and ride with my number flipped. But… bringing them to a dressage show is way more fun, because you can actually enter the class!

[netg]

More than being an adult on a pony, if your pony has a quick tempo you will lose points for that, as your most likely challenge. Judges I’ve scribed for have all LOVED ponies, and tend to want to judge them generously. I haven’t seen one with a rider who was too large, but I assume that would make a judge cranky. Your description certainly sounds as if that is not an issue. In case you think feet reaching below the horse is a problem in dressage (since there are so many of us with horses who are too big out there!), I’m adding a photo of Edward Gal on Gribaldi.