Eventing on a Pony

[Sloeryder]

So, after many wonderful years, Im going to be retiring my best friend. He went through a colic resection, earlier this year, and after taking him to a couple of shows he’s telling me, he’s ready for the easy life.

Now, jumping forward, my pony that is never around (because the kids always snatch him up to lease him) is actually home! He spent two years in PA training under a hunter/jumper trainer with a youth and did great. He’s a really cool pony! He’s a large pony between 14 and 14.1 about 850lbs. He also does the other stuff I like to do, which is trail riding and the “play” stuff :yes: I’m also thinking of this because, it wouldn’t be an awful thing to give him some time off from the “kids.”

I guess my question is, what are y’alls opinions on adults eventing ponies? Im not going to do anything bigger than BN, if that (I’m a weeny, that’s in grad school and horses are more of a mental break). He fits my well, I’m not a big girl, at only 5’3" and 135lbs. I’m thinking of hitting up a mini trial or two and maybe Jump Start next fall. Thoughts? Opinions?

[pologirl27]

I know several adults eventing on ponies that are the same size! From BN through Training. If you fit each other and enjoy eventing together, why not??

[Rallycairn]

I suspect there wouldn’t be any issues at all with pony’s ability to carry you easily at that level.

I also guess, given your height and his height and weight, that you will look fine on him, too, although that is a bit dependent on the build/body type/length of leg of rider and body type of mount.

Report back with all your on-course photos and win pics! You’ll have a blast I’m willing to bet!

There are quite a few of us adult pony riders here on COTH – some with mediums, even. I ride 14.1 and love her!

[Pennywell_Bay]

My daughter’s medium pony hunter has to jump 2’6 in the ring and has a blast at HT or CT. Yours is a large so I can’t imagine it’d be a problem.

[PaintedHunter]

Go for it! I have seen several adults on ponies.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Teddy with Karen O’Connor comes to mind

Size doesn’t always matter :lol:

[yellowbritches]

No reason not to. I evented a really cool little pony a few years ago, and he was one of the funnest things I ever sat on- like a little sports car. If I had him now, I would have kept him because he was so fun and did everything. He handily jumped around BN with me (about the same size as you), and jumped much bigger at home. I would have taken him higher, but a kid in the barn bought him before I could. I love ponies, love riding ponies, and think they are seriously underrated for us smaller women.

[ACountingRider]

We have connemaras and most of of the potential buyers are adults or teens. They are super sporty and often times a bit wider than your welsh so take up more leg. I adore them. I’m just at 5’4 and the large pony-small horse is what I prefer to ride.
I think they’re great and can sometimes encourage us weeny eventers to be a bit braver since we’re not so far from the ground!

[IronwoodFarm]

My 14.1 Fjord stallion was shown by a pro who is 5’8". She looked fine on him and they were a successful team at BN. No reason why the OP can’t ride her pony. I bet she’ll have lots of fun.

[SailAway]

![]( actually traded my super mellow, does-no-wrong 17hh OTTB gelding for a super sassy, occasionally spooky 14.1hh Welsh/TB cross mare, and I ADORE her! She’s by Sailor’s Delight, and has done AA hunter/jumper and was doing 1.30m jumpers before I got her to putz around low-level eventing.

More talent in her tiny (perfectly formed, shoe-free) hooves than most of my bigger mounts have had in their whole body. I’m 5’7", so a little tall to be riding a pony, but thin, and this girl is build THICK. I’m actually much more comfy on smaller mounts. My big boy was perfect, but I’m small framed and had a hard time keeping all his big long limbs “together” between fences. This little girl, while more challenging, is actually more manageable for me–and a heck of a lot more fun

Here she is FLYING over 3’6" with her previous owner, who is actually 5’8" (sorry for icky video quality)
[IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e145/SailAwayHorses/IMG_7725_zpsa7z0knps.jpg)

Here we are putzing around just the other day.
[IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e145/SailAwayHorses/Sail3_zpssmfakd2r.jpg)

[Mango20]

Do it! Ponies are lots of fun and many are very athletic. I’m probably going to event my son’s 13.1 hand games pony in the spring, and my “horse” is only 14.3, so almost a pony too.

[normandy_shores]

I just bought a 13.1h pony who I hope to event. I’m a weenie with no grand aspirations of big stuff. I’m 5’1 but 135ish now (still losing weight). I’m hoping she grows another inch or two since she’s only 4.

[Sloeryder]

I can’t thank all of you enough for all the wonderful replies!!! I was really nervous that I would look dumb out there on my pony. He matches me so well, personality wise and I guess I’m at a point where riding big horses isn’t what I want to do. With school and such, life can get crazy stressful sometimes, and I’m really enjoying him. Please keep posting those ponies!!! I would love to see more pics!!!

[Ponylady27]

I event a 14.2 pony at Prelim/1* level with scope for more. She doesn’t know she’s little. I’m 5’3". I like them little and sporty!

[JER]

BN is perfect for ponies. It’s not so challenging that they actually have to work at it, and with water, ditches, decorations, etc., there are still plenty of opportunities for them to act like g****mn ponies when they feel like it.

[normandy_shores]

[QUOTE=Ponylady27;8911402]
I event a 14.2 pony at Prelim/1* level with scope for more. She doesn’t know she’s little. I’m 5’3". I like them little and sporty![/QUOTE]

Daaaaaayum! Nice!!

[whichchick]

For me, 13.3 to 14.3 is “fun size.” Mine’s 14.3, five and still kind of babyish sometimes, but he absolutely sailed through a hunter pace this fall at 2’6", which was my end-of-season goal for us. His workmanlike approach helped my confidence soar – 2’6" feels very doable now, when it looked impossibly large and terrifying this spring. (Instructor says he’ll do 3’ without any problems, but I need to work on my yellowbelly issues before that’s going to happen.)

Anyway. Lots of adults ride ponies and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you’re reasonably sized for the mount (which you are – he’ll have no trouble carrying you). Go have a blast! And, y’know, if BN gets easy, you are allowed to move up. Go have fun!

[RPM]

The great (14.1 3/4 hands) Teddy O’Connor at Rolex in 2007:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1eiBcINTF4

Go for it!

[soloudinhere]

My pony is 14.3 and his baby sister will finish around 14.1. Do it. I love my sport ponies.

[JER]

This is my beautiful eventing pony. She’s gone up to Intermediate in schooling shows but I won’t let her do XC anymore because I worry too much.

She’s not supposed to be a pony. Her parents are both horses. Her sisters are horses. But she was born tiny and stayed that way.

We’re about to put her on a new career path as a combined driving pony. She has all the dressage training; we just need to see if she likes working in harness. And guess what? We can actually compete her as a pony.