Downsizing to a pony: Is it right for me?

[Montanas_Girl]

I’m 5’1" and ahem MUCH heavier than most on this thread. Working to lose the weight, but my little mares have zero trouble toting me around. My current primary ride is 13.1 1/2" and 950 pounds:

As an Arabian person, I have to throw them into the mix for anyone looking for an amateur-friendly, “fun sized” equine. I find they ride a lot more like a small horse than a stereotypical pony - the longer neck and wider/deeper barrel both help in that respect.

They’re also generally more affordable than an equivalent animal of a less common breed.

Edited to add: This Half Arabian (daughter of the mare above) is 14 hands and 1100 pounds:

[cmdrcltr]

As someone who is looking at all the ads even though my focus is on Welsh/Welsh crosses, I agree with you: Morgans are not cheap. I also agree that people should get a fair price for their stock—it is my problem that my budget doesn’t match. It has been my lifelong experience to be a step or two behind horse prices. Every time I buy I spend more than I ever have before, but what I need/want has been priced beyond my pocketbook. And there are deals out there, but mostly for horses that need more time and confidence than I can give. For now I’m being patient and taking a weekly lesson to keep my riding muscle memory.

[cmdrcltr]

Your horses are lovely, and a good example that it is length of back and neck that makes a difference rather than height.

[clanter]

PRAIRIE HILL REMINGTON

Foaled 5/16/24 Remi is gelded, vaccinated for '25, dewormed & has had his wolf teeth removed… $4,500 which is the same we paid in 1990 for Shamrock Foxie Joy as a long yearling,

Remi is $500 more than what we paid for Socrates and Fig each costing $4,000

Cheap

[endlessclimb]

Then you have to pay board/vet/farrier on him for 2 years, and then pay a trainer to start him if you’re not capable yourself, all while hoping he doesn’t injure himself before he reaches his riding career.

Not cheap.

[SimonSays]

I went from riding hunter jumpers to Gypsies. We have a 13.3 hand one and a 15 hand one. No regrets best little horses I’ve ever owned!

The pinto is a fantastic mover- we’ve played lower level dressage, breed shows and some open hunter shows in the pleasure classes.

And the palomino will literally do anything. At this point in my life I don’t think I’d go back to big, regular horses- I always say I have “fluffies” now lol!

[arabiansrock]

I migjht be hi-jacking but I want to join in the pony thread to get peoples thoughts. I am 5 ft 1 in, 150 lbs (down from 212 and still working on it), and north of 60. Went through some bad fear issues over last 10+ years (no reason for them other than hormone changes?), and am still coming back. Used to ride 3 rd level dressage, but still scared to canter right now. Am (or was) getting pretty confident again w/t, and bought my almost “dream horse” 15 months ago. He is a 16 hd Azteca. He was a perfect angel for 13 months. Only had one mini spook/bolt and I got him back right away it didn’t even scare me.

Cue Jan, I’m feeling good, starting to think about cantering. In a lesson, doing pretty good (for me) focusing on my position, posting trot keeping core strong (have very weak muscles thanks to being on aromatase inhibitors for 4 y ears) and we come thru a corner and boom! horse ducks rt and bolts. Apparently I just literally FLEW off the back end of him. I think he took off while I was on the rising part of the post and he just ran right out from under me. I hit the ground HARD and felt myself break. Trainer says are you ok? Me; nope. Can you get up? Me: nope do you need an ambulance me; yep!

Broke my left humerus into 3 pieces and broke my left pelvis (luckily not a weight bearing section). Now am the proud owner of a rod and screws in my arm. They call me bionic now at the barn, lol.

I think I scared my trainer more than I scared myself. She has stated we are starting me back on her lesson pony not my horse. I think she would really like me to sell him and get a smaller (much smaller) mount. We were actually shopping in the 15 hand market when we found my boy and he was just too good to pass up. Plus a bunch of other factors what would take too much time to explain.

I am worried about getting off my boy when I start riding again, both knees are bad so I do not jump down, I hold onto the saddle and do a slow slide down his side until my feet touch ground. I am not sure my arm/shoulder will ever be able to support me that well again. It would be much easier to get off if I was close enought to the ground to jump down and not have to worry about wreaking my knees again.

Hubby will KILL me if I tell him I want to sell my boy and get yet another new horse. Keeping both is financially not happening, I would like to retire at some point and I am a federal employee (need I say anymore?). But, I find myself thinking about what it would be like riding a smaller horse, would I have gotten hurt this badly if I came off something that 14 -14.,2? idk but I landed hard. I don’t like narrow horses so it would have to be a pony with a wide ribcage. and not an arab. I think riding arabs for 17 years did contribute to my nervousness/fear issues. They can be wonderful horses but they also have a patented drop 2 ft, spin 180 and transport 10 ft sideways in a split second move.

So what say all you pony lovers, are there nice SAFE steady, mostly bombproof ponies that would be sturdy enough to carry still fluffy me? And how do I sell my dream horse? He is a great mover, def capable of 3 rd level dressage (allthough maybe a bit lazy to go any higher). Other than the bolt issue (he stops easily if you don’t fly off backwards) he has been rock solid for me. Worst thing is I say trot and he says “are you sure” and my legs have to be stronger than they are to convince him to go without falling in. I don’t want to sell him but I am already funding my son’s 23 yr old arab mare that I can’t ride (I don’t enjoy her, she doesn’t enjoy me) and I just can’t afford another pasture pet at boarding stable rates.

I love gypsies but they are EXPENSIVE and my vet hates takiing care of them because of skin issues. I was thinking a nice qh cross (like Azteca) but smaller. Actually saw an ad for a 14.3 Azteca locally and both messaged and texted them but no ans. guess they don’t want o sell the horse.

Any thoughts/ideas for me? sorry for the looooong story. I hope to get clearance to ride again in 3 weeks and am counting the days. I just want to be able have FUN finally. Its been so hard trying to ride with weak muscles, heat intolerance (thank you drugs and AI’s), and not having the right horse., I thought I had the right horse but now my trainer thinks maybe not…

[axl]

POA. Pony size, horse personality, cheap, can absorb plenty more leg than 5’1". Not generally going to be dressage movers, though. They are mostly built downhill.

[c0608524]

@arabiansrock

So what say all you pony lovers, are there nice SAFE steady, mostly bombproof ponies that would be sturdy enough to carry still fluffy me?

I was 163lbs when I bought my paint. I didn’t look out of place weight wise on her at this size, but I can’t speak to soundness longevity because I dropped a significant amount of weight a few months after purchasing.

Weight and horses can be such a touchy subject, but I just want to say that there are cowboys who definitely weigh more than 150lbs on short horses if that helps put your mind at ease.

I also wanted to add big internet hugs. Getting hurt sucks, getting hurt as you age might suck even more. I sincerely hope you can get back into the saddle on something less explosive.

[Montanas_Girl]

@arabiansrock

So what say all you pony lovers, are there nice SAFE steady, mostly bombproof ponies that would be sturdy enough to carry still fluffy me?

I currently weigh 195 pounds. That photo of me on my little chestnut mare was taken last week.

My palomino was literally born bombproof. She is actually a little too quiet for my tastes, which is why I spend more time riding her mother. I’d go Arab/QH, Morgan/QH, or Welsh/QH for what you’re seeking. I would not, not, not do an Azteca if your goal is bombproof.

[LilRanger]

@arabiansrock

I am worried about getting off my boy when I start riding again, both knees are bad so I do not jump down, I hold onto the saddle and do a slow slide down his side until my feet touch ground. I am not sure my arm/shoulder will ever be able to support me that well again. It would be much easier to get off if I was close enought to the ground to jump down and not have to worry about wreaking my knees again.

Could you build a big, wide dis/mounting block? You can use your non riding time to train your boy to stand there, so he’s all good when you start riding again. This would also be a good skill for him to have if you do sell him.

[JBCool]

This X1000! I am 5’2" and ride a 17H warmblood. After the recommendation of my physical therapist (ha! hint #1) last year, I don’t get off him without a mounting block unless absolutely necessary anymore. My back, knees and therapist are much happier.

[pony_baloney]

After falling off my 13.1h pony twice, I’ve been told that you’re more likely to fall off a pony than a larger horse in the same scenario. I believe it’s true. You’re closer to the ground and stuff happens a lot quicker down there than when you’re on something larger. One second you’re sitting on a pony, the next you’re on the ground. They just disappear from under you.

[Pico_Banana]

I have been dismounting onto a mounting block for years. So much easier on everything-for me it’s my neck that can’t handle the impact. Instant migraine if I jump off.

My horse try to sidle over to the mounting block when they think it’s time to be done.

[quietann]

Discounting blocks are great! There have been times when I’ve needed to use one (or a picnic table) because of physical issues. In my limited experience, most horses are quite willing to stand at a dismounting block.

[jvanrens]

@pony_baloney

After falling off my 13.1h pony twice, I’ve been told that you’re more likely to fall off a pony than a larger horse in the same scenario. I believe it’s true. You’re closer to the ground and stuff happens a lot quicker down there than when you’re on something larger. One second you’re sitting on a pony, the next you’re on the ground. They just disappear from under you.

That happened to me more times than I care to count with my first ponies, but new rider and Shitlands it might have just been growing pains, but man could they disappear!! The next worst was a maybe 15 hand QH. Boom, gone! I was hurt the most by those three than I ever was falling off my 16 hand QH. Fortunately my current (retired mare) and my 17 hand Standardbred were kind to me and I never hit the dirt off either of them.

[Mcl1]

I will say that personally, I have always felt way more comfortable on larger horses vs. ponies - especially smaller ponies with short necks. I am about 5’6 and 125 lbs and have always felt way more likely to come off of a pony. I also somewhat doubt that the height difference would make a big difference in terms of injuries from falling off - I would imagine the mechanism of the fall would matter more.

A breed suggestion for those that do enjoy the pony/hony sizes: there are lots of thick, heavy built, short mustangs out there. Obviously starting one from scratch is not a journey everyone wants to go down but there are many gentled/trained ones out there for reasonable prices and they tend to be very laidback and low maintenance. My guy is around 14.3 and I swear his legs are double the size of my 16+ TBs legs, and he is probably double the width as well. Here he is with my TB for scale:

[foggythistle]

Personally, I’d like to see you on a pony with a little more neck. It helps balance your upper body. I’m not sure whether it’s cuz the pony was going a bit like a pocket rocket in the screenshot, but I think you would feel more balanced on a pony with a longer neck. The short-necked ones will make you sit up and not get ahead of them because it’s so easy to roll off the front.

[cmdrcltr]

Thank you for the feedback. He actually was not going fast at all. It was my first trial ride and the first time I’ve been on a mount that small in 20+ years. Also first time on a different horse in about 4 years—I am not somewhere where I get the opportunity to ride a lot of different horses/ponies. It’s very easy to get stuck in a rut on the mount you have. I am thinking about length of neck, for sure.

[quietann]

Yeah, I should say that I did not buy Lola for jumping. She does have a short neck even if she carries it high.

The one time she spooked and I nearly came off, it was definitely a drop and spin. As in… you’re here, and all of a sudden there’s a bunch of thrashing, her neck disappears, and you’re over there and facing the other direction and her neck is straight up. I lost my stirrups but recovered, and then decided that we should deal with the scary thing without me up top.

I’m no great rider, but my center of gravity is low so I don’t come off easily. AKA I have wide hips, heavy legs, and a big behind.