Question about adult on 13.2 POA pony

[rideon2]

So in overcoming my many fears about riding, I’ve come across a delightful 13.2 hand POA mare that I am seriously interested in. She’s wide, stout, and pretty fit. I don’t know much about POA’s but she’s registered and has good breeding so I’m told (don’t really care about that part!) I am 5’5" tall and weigh 155 pounds, size 8, and am an experienced, fairly balanced rider. I do not know what she weighs, but she “feels” larger than the 14 hand girl I’m taking lessons on now. She currently is ridden western in a “normal” 16" western saddle with a square skirt and her back accommodates it well just for an idea of size. Needs a full QH bar with wide bar angle.

Part of my fear is a fall from a 16.3 giant, so for some reason I do feel way safer on a small one (and even on the ground with a smaller one) and just love her personality. She’s just super calm and quiet, former lesson pony, stands perfectly still for grooming/tacking, sweet girl. I’d not be jumping ever, and would only canter on occasion. Mostly would do hacks around the farm and trail rides on fairly level ground with decent footing. So essentially mostly walk/trot on rides around an hour normally. Maybe 2 hours if we haul out. But I realize I’m likely over the 20% rule with tack.

You will not offend me, but I’d like COTH’s wisdom on whether or not I am crazy for considering this.

[Jackie_Cochran]

If she has the disposition you want, go for it!

I’m 5’4" or so, and when I weighed 150+lbs. I rode a 13.2 British Riding Pony with no difficulties for the pony. I was English tack (Wintec GP or Stubben Siegfried), so my saddles were lighter.

If you are worried about the weight invest in a synthetic Western saddle, they are often much lighter than the leather ones, and some come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

[NC001]

There is a lesson horse at our barn that is 13.2h and adults ride him. He is stout and seems bigger than that.

[My_Two_Cents]

I believe more adults belong on ponies. She sounds perfect. If she is built like most of the POA’s that I know she will have no trouble carrying you and your tack. Her bulky sizing will take up your leg. I’m not sure where the thoughts that everybody needs a bigger horse came from. If she is healthy and a good fit for you, buy her and ride her, and enjoy her.

[luvmyhackney]

I would look at it as buying a standard horse that can perform the job you want. A sound, healthy, stout pony that is currently handling the workload you want to continue should have no issues with you riding. If she fits your needs, then buy her.

I prefer ponies myself. Much closer to the ground and so much personality.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I adore ponies and currently lease one! I agree with @luvmyhackney – the little ones have so much personality! I would love to see a picture of your POA.

For me, since I am 5’1 on a good day and even for a 5’1 person have very short, stubby legs, it’s less the height factor and more of the effectiveness factor. I just don’t feel as if I can use my body as well on a very large horse, particularly one which is quite broad. Of course, I realize that a professional trainer or rider needs to be able to ride many different mounts, but since I’m mostly interested in having fun, finding an appropriate size for my body is more of a priority.

The ‘bigger is always better, regardless of the size of the rider’ trend has always perplexed me!

[stb]

I am 5’8" and my favorite horse is 14.3 and stout (he’s a QH). He’s quick and catty, very sane, and really fun to ride. He’s my little sports car. My other horse is 16 hands tall. I probably look better on him but I prefer to ride the little guy. I also find that grooming and tacking up are easier with a shorter horse. I do try to keep my tack on the light side.

I say go for it.

[2DogsFarm]

2 Words:
Go Forit!

If she feels comfortable to you, fuggedabout the 20% Rule.
She probably weighs close to 1000# & can carry you & a lighter/synthetic saddle w/o any problems.

[bdj]

I’m a little bigger than you and my pony is a 13.3 3/4 App (not a POA, just short) and while I probably don’t make the prettiest picture on her, she doesn’t seem to have any trouble carrying me, and she was exactly what I needed/wanted when I got her - Sane, Sound, Small and Spotted (my 4 Ss).

Get her (and then post pictures)!

[RiderInTheRain]

I’m a bit smaller than you (5’4", ~120 lbs) and have spent the last couple of years riding mainly ponies. I foxhunt and do a lot of trail riding, so I but put some pretty long and tough miles on my ponies, who have ranged in size from 12.2-14h. I try to stick with stocky, well built ponies without obvious conformation flaws that would predispose them to weakness. I do try to pay extra attention to saddle fit and making sure I make adjustments as they muscle up given that I’m a “heavy” rider for some of the little guys and keep an eye on making sure their conditioning level is up to what I’m asking them to do, but those are really things that should be done with any horse.

I think the POA sounds like a nice match for you!

[OveroHunter]

I’m 5’9 and when I was probably around 145-150 lbs I regularly jumped a 13.2 POA pony 3’ courses with singles up to 3’6… I freaking loved that pony.

Are you in GA? I’m sure it’s not the same pony, but she’s a lesson pony these days and I think she’s for sale by the people who bought her from us.

She was so freaking cool.

[axl]

I was heavier than you in high school when I showed POAs. She will handle everything you can throw at her and more because I promise no adult with a job could possibly do as much riding as I did in high school. POAs are sturdy! Best of luck, buy the pony :):yes:

[luvmyhackney]

@My Two Cents

I believe more adults belong on ponies. She sounds perfect. If she is built like most of the POA’s that I know she will have no trouble carrying you and your tack. Her bulky sizing will take up your leg. I’m not sure where the thoughts that everybody needs a bigger horse came from. If she is healthy and a good fit for you, buy her and ride her, and enjoy her.

More adults and kids need to learn to appreciate the smaller equines. I think kids get moved off ponies way to quick.

[goodhors]

Get the POA and enjoy youzelf. 20% rule is a guideline, not a law. I know lots of larger rider who “ride light” on their animals. Never stress their horses, unlike some small riders with much less in riding skills. 14h horses were always “able to do the job needed” when we asked it if them. Hours in the saddle, rough terrain, nothing fazed them, and ready to do it all again tomorrow!

Ponies need jobs to stay fit, not fat. Your plans sound perfect for her.

[BeckyS]

Do it.

I’m 5’6", 170 lbs. (working on losing, though!), size 10. My pony is 13.3 and wide as a barrel. He’s pretty out of shape, but he and I went for a two mile, fast-pace walk, light trotting ride the other day and he didn’t even break a sweat.

I love being close to the ground, and he rides somewhat like a big horse. No pony 'tude with this guy, but all the pony cute-ness.

[Sandy_M]

Well, I love POAs (i.e. anything that’s part Appy), but I like a big(ger) horse personally. However, she sounds wonderful, so I’d go for it. I’m a little over 5’7" and 165, but all my horses have been 16 hands or bigger. My personal theory is bigger is better - more time to relax before you hit the ground, more horse to grab onto on the way down to break your fall! LOL

[rideon2]

Thanks for all the responses so far!

[JustTheTicket]

It sounds like you have a fairly light work load planned for her, so if you tried her, and you both felt comfortable, go for it! POAs are sturdy critters, so I’m sure she’ll be fine carrying you.

[Foxglove]

Our huntsman rides a pony! He had two bigger hunting horses but neither suited him as much as his pony. She’s 13, maybe 14 hh (I don’t think she’s over 14), and does just fine. He’s slight --your size. At our 4-H club we actually have a rule that the rider can’t weigh more than 20% of the horse’s weight --If the pony you have is 900 pounds, she’d be allowed to carry a rider up to 180 pounds (tack doesn’t count at our club) --this keeps the really big kids off the really tiny ponies in contesting classes.

[Garythesquirrel]

Go get her, she sounds perfect!

I’m 5’4" and weigh 118 lbs. I ride a 12.3 Icelandic and my 5’10" husband rides a 14.3 Haflinger. You can’t miss us out on the trail…

I spent a few years in Germany and had dressage lessons 2X per week. The barn was filled with beautiful Hanoverians that I got to ride but I really enjoyed the days when the instructor needed the ponies to be schooled. I got to ride awesome ponies for free! I love ponies.