Downsizing to a pony: Is it right for me?

[cmdrcltr]

If you’re an adult who has chosen to downsize to a pony, I want to hear about your experience. I am a 5’1" adult who is considering a 13.2 ish pony (ISO 13.2-14.2) for my next mount. I don’t consider myself too large for a pony (I weigh in at about 130) but I do have the middle-age, post-childbirth muffin top and a very short waist. I’m working on that with my exercise routine, but man, it’s tough to get rid of.

Anyway, my last two horses have been in the 14.3-15 hand range, and it’s been more than 20 years since I’ve ridden anything smaller. I went to try a 13.2 ish pony this week. It didn’t feel “bad,” but it was certainly different. Took up my leg just fine but it felt like there was practically nothing in front of me. Canter felt faster than it looks on video. Pony is relatively green but quiet and willing.

I guess what I’m asking is, do you get more comfortable as you get reacquainted with the size?

TIA for any wisdom you have to offer.

[Obsidian_Fire]

I think you do. I am 5’4", just average, and I’ve ridden everything from 13-ish hands on up. Several years back my own horse at the time was large but a friend had a sometimes-naughty pony. I rode that pony for her many times, and it never phased me at all. I did W/T/C and flat out gallop without worrying about it.
So yes, I think you’ll be fine once you get used to it. It is different, that’s for sure. Make sure you find the one that makes you feel the most like ‘yes, I can ride this happily’ and not just one you would settle for.

[clanter]

my 39 year old daughter’s dressage “horse” is a 14h Morgan Horse as all Morgans regardless of height are considered horses by the registry. She is 5ft 10 inches tall and does not look out of place on her mare (who has won many, many classes while being shown)

[Foxglove]

At almost 6’ --I felt comfortable on my 14.2 hh QH and his 14.3 high stable buddy. My current horse is 15 hh. The horse that felt the smallest, to me and anyone else who rode him, was my full bred Percheron. He moved with an arched neck (just how he moved, not trained), so the rider was always riding with a much shorter rein than expected. He also walked and trotted with less extension than my other horses -likely due to (relative to his 18.2 hh) size, short pasterns.

Charlie-the-Percheron at 4-H camp: (fifth from the right, if you can’t pick him out)

[cmdrcltr]

Clanter, I’ve seen your posts. Your Morgans are lovely. I worked at a Morgan farm in my college years and have a special place in my heart for Morgans. However, my first pony was a Welsh, and that will forever be my breed; I am looking for a larger purebred or a half-Welsh. Someone recently suggested I look for a Morgan Welsh cross, and if I could find one already going under saddle I’d strongly consider it.

[cmdrcltr]

Yes, I think that is part of it, Foxglove. The pony’s neck was relatively short, so a shorter than expected rein length. I love your picture! Percheron’s are fabulous horses—the pick of the draft world IMO.

[cmdrcltr]

@Obsidian_Fire

Make sure you find the one that makes you feel the most like ‘yes, I can ride this happily’ and not just one you would settle for.

Really trying to do this! I am hampered a bit by budget and location.

[Foxglove]

@cmdrcltr --FWIW --all three of my QH have relatively long necks --or maybe they just carry themselves so that it feels like they have long necks —I did actually buy longer reins for Will (sniff, he’s permanently disabled now with a bad knee) .

This is Will --only 14.2 but lovely long neck and stride. He is still with me, but unrideable:

W (now 28 but still going strong!) again --only 14.3 but long-feeling neck and big stride:

[GraceLikeRain]

I think the proportions of the rider and pony are a huge factor. I had a very petite 14.1 pony but with a very elegant neck. At 5’1 I felt really nice on her. When shopping I tried a really lovely 13.2. She arguably took my leg up much better than my larger mare but she was very short in the neck in comparison and I felt like I was on her ears. I probably would have eventually adjusted but it felt “pony” both test rides as opposed to small horse and I didn’t feel as balanced. I wouldn’t worry about aesthetics with a more of a feel and balance.

[FjordBCRF]

I’m a leggy 5’6 and my childhood horse was 14.2 AQHA mare. I primarily rode Welsh Cobs from 2004-2020 and got my Fjord in 2020. I did ride a lot of big tbs/warmbloods in college for 4 years but I am just a pony person at heart. They are so versatile and handy…and I love me a cheeky pony personality! When I get on a horse these days it feel like I’m riding a giraffe. I’m used to a VERY short neck these days.

Ms Mare:

Welshie 1:

Welshie 2:

Welshie 3:

Fjorden (He’s taller than the cobs):

[cmdrcltr]

Thank you for sharing all the lovely pictures of your horses/ponies/cobs! I don’t think you look out of place on any of them. I really do think the length of neck is the clincher. I’m going to suck it up and post a couple of screen shots from my video, so please pardon the quality.

[GraceLikeRain]

Those are around the proportions I passed on. THAT BEING SAID!!! I probably would have had a stupid amount of fun with that pony and she was rock solid. My larger pony was a lot of heartbreak so maybe I would have been happier if I’d just bought the pocket rocket.

If your goal is jumping I would be mindful of the added upper body stability and independence that will be required since you won’t have a lot of neck in front of you and green beans have baby moments.

[cmdrcltr]

Thank you for the thoughts, GraceLikeRain. I am not interested in jumping more than an occasional pop over what you find in a trail course. Or, maybe a run around an elementary event for fun if I find my brave again. I’m interested in low level dressage, trail riding, and, perhaps, driving. I used to drive a lot and loved it, but the driving is a big IF because of the expense of the equipment, so the fit for riding while I figure that out is important.

[poltroon]

I really love having a pony instead of a larger horse. I’m 5’6" and had a 13.3 pony that made me incredibly happy - all the athleticism I love in a horse but in a smaller and less powerful package. For trail riding especially, it’s so nice to have a mount that’s easier to get on and off. And since my horses are at home, it’s a lot less hay to move too. The previous horse was a 16.2 TB.

[cmdrcltr]

I have to admit that when I got off it was nice to find the ground right there.

[Willesdon]

I live in the land of ponies and many, many adults ride them. I’m 5’10 and regularly used to ride Welsh Sec C ponies. I never felt under-horsed at 13.2.hh.

[cmdrcltr]

Thank you for your thoughts, Willesdon. By “land of ponies” do you mean the UK? I want to visit someday, and I’ve been learning Welsh for just over a year in preparation for my eventual someday. My observation is that it is much more common for adults to ride ponies in the UK, and it is much more accepted than here, although that has been changing.

[MorganMaresVT]

I wouldn’t say that I’ve “downsized,” because I’ve always had Morgans. The largest I had was 15.0 on a tall day. All the others have been 14.1 or 14.2, including my current 5 year old. My first mare was a petite, refined show type at around 14.1 and the others have been more substantial with significant foundation/western breeding. I’m 5’3", about 150 lbs, and do lower-distance endurance with mine up and down the hills of Vermont. They’ve all been well suited for that, and probably could have done more if I had the time to condition for longer distances.

I will say, in response to one of your questions: My current 5 year old is a short 14.2, and the horse I rode for years before her was the 15.0 mare. I can really relate to feeling like there was nothing in front of me for the first couple of months of riding her! I didn’t expect it to be so pronounced (I had gone from the 14.1 mare to the 15.0 mare and don’t recall it feeling much different). I did get used to it over time though, after that adjustment. Since I spend most of my time on trails, I do appreciate that I can use a smaller log for mounting and don’t have to duck under branches as often

To get on my soapbox for a moment, I think the Morgan is really the perfect adult amateur horse for someone who wants to dabble in dressage or eventing, and also be able to enjoy hacking out or trails with friends. They are so varied in terms of size these days, people who don’t want to be on something closer to pony size no longer really have to look that hard to find one between 15-16 hands. Their brains can’t be beat - they want to be your friend and partner - and they are so adaptable. The biggest drawback is their tendency towards metabolic issues with our modern day horsekeeping practices, but if you keep them ridden down and are attentive to your hay quality, they are manageable.

[cmdrcltr]

Oh, I agree, MorganMaresVT. If I wasn’t heartset on a Welsh or cross, I’d be looking at Morgans. I loved the Morgans I worked with on the farm during my college years. My barn owner has some of those bigger “stretchier” Morgans, and although I wouldn’t want one for myself because the ground is just too far away, they are wonderful horses, friendly and trainable.

[cmdrcltr]

@MorganMaresVT

I can really relate to feeling like there was nothing in front of me for the first couple of months of riding her! I didn’t expect it to be so pronounced (I had gone from the 14.1 mare to the 15.0 mare and don’t recall it feeling much different). I did get used to it over time though, after that adjustment.

Thank you for that observation! I rode my 12.3 hand pony all through high school and even a little after I graduated from college, and I never felt like I didn’t have enough horse under me. I even took my C1 pony club test on him when my larger lease-pony came up lame. It’s been years since I’ve tried the ponies, though. I think 14-14.1 would be just about perfect, but I live where it’s hard to shop for anything and the expense of driving/flying to try horses and then shipping really cuts your budget.

Edited to say, in the long run, living in Maine, it would be a heck of a lot easier to find a Morgan. LOL