So tell me about POAs

[dreamswept]

I’m on a horse search, gang. The lease on the little black mare didn’t work out (I frankly didn’t much like an absentee owner telling me it took sacrifice and the willingness to go the extra yard to buy a horse and take care of it – especially not when she’d been pretty much abandoned in a pasture for 2 years.) And so I’m off on a horse search to find the horse for me.

I have a rough idea of what I’d like; preferably a gelding since it’s been kinda rough riding the only mare in the group, and having her flip out about having a gelding behind her (our camping trip was ‘fun’ – we got stung by yellowjackets and she was one of two mares in a group of about 15 geldings.) Size wise, I’m looking at small to medium; probably about 14hh to 15.2hh. After one occasion where I had to dismount 4 times (tighten girth, horse pooped on road so I had to kick it all off … had to desecrate mother nature and a tree… you get the picture) I don’t want a big horse. In fact, the smaller, the better. Breed isn’t important, papers don’t particularly matter. I’m just planning to trail ride, not show, although I hope to participate in the occasional CTR.

I’ve been checking out Dreamhorse, and ran across a POA an hour away. Always liked them; loved their color, and thought they looked a lot more attractive than some Appaloosas. A friend of mine back in grade school had a POA, and he was a little tank trooper. I’m thinking of going ahead and asking for more pictures on this guy. My only concern is, I’m 5’6" but lightweight, he’s 13.3hh, which is just a tick smaller than I’d think I’d like. Granted, the only thing to really do would be to try him out, but is it worth considering? My Trail Rider “Trail Breed Guide” magazine says they can carry medium-sized adults, but what classifies as such?

Opinions? Anyone? (Bueller?)

[jazzrider]

I can’t speak to the breed, but I’m 5’6" and medium weight, and 13.3hh sounds a bit small to me. I just wouldn’t feel right riding a rough trail on anything smaller than 14.2hh, even if he was a tank. But that’s just me…I’ve seen others out on Icelantics or Welsh ponies with no issues, though, so I suppose it’s done. If you’re long legged though, he’s a bit of a little guy.

[dreamswept]

[QUOTE=jazzrider;2893697]
I can’t speak to the breed, but I’m 5’6" and medium weight, and 13.3hh sounds a bit small to me. I just wouldn’t feel right riding a rough trail on anything smaller than 14.2hh, even if he was a tank. But that’s just me…I’ve seen others out on Icelantics or Welsh ponies with no issues, though, so I suppose it’s done. If you’re long legged though, he’s a bit of a little guy. :)[/QUOTE]

That is my concern there. I’m all leg, pretty much. And I know I’ve seen his ad before, but passed because of the size.

[Huntertwo]

I have a POA

I’m 5’4 and have a 13.1 hand POA mare and love her! You can see her pictures on my link below.
She is on the stockier size and I couldn’t have found a better trail pony. Just point her and she will go through and over anything.

She loves the trails and can’t wait to go and see what is around the next bend. I love the fact that she is so independent and not herd bound in the least. I can take her straight from her pasture, right to the trails. She is all heart and a real sweet heart.

Her size is great too…:yes:

Can you post the link to the dreamhorse ad?

[dreamswept]

Sure thing.

http://dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1127285

Of course, you can’t see much with a picture like that. I’d have to ask for better ones.

[Squeeks]

YAY POA’s

I re-trained a POA several years ago after being left in a field for almsot 8 yrs with nothing done to him except have feed and hay thrown over the fence. He was a tank, compelete angel to ride and would go for hours. Although since he was left outside unhandled for some many years he was slightly afraid of coming inside the barn and indoor ring for the first few months I worked with him but he soon became a loving, loyal and faithful mount. He was a sturdy 13.3 big boned chunky thing that was able to carry around more than my tiny behind around.

Before you knock this small guy out out of the picture, go up there, take a look and a ride. See how he feels with you on him, get plenty of pictures of you from all angles, ride him like you would any other horse unless he feels like he cant take your weight/height. If he jumps…jump him, go anywhere and do the things you want to use him for and ride for a long period of time not jut a 10 min hack. You need to ride a full 45 mins or so to be sure he is a good match for you.

Good Luck! Its usually the ones that you like but arent really sure of that blow your mind away bc you originally thought werent the right match jut by reading/looking.

[Auventera_Two]

My little mare is half POA. She’s a wonderful little thing. I absolutely ADORE her. She’s so uncomplicated and just plain “easy” in everything. Her other parts are Quarter Horse and Shetland pony. She’s a full 14 hands, and is triple wide. She has a huge barrell, and my leg barely comes to the bottom of it. I’m 5’7".

She was 16 yr old, untouched, and chronically foundered when I got her. I started her on the trail last year and she just took to it like a duck to water. She leads the pack, and trots out like a champ. She’s always looking around the next bend.

I would love to free lease her out, so if you’re anywhere near WI, give me a shout! :lol:

The 2nd picture is terrible, but shows the hackamore (sidepull??) she goes in. She’s so flippin cute I can’t hardly stand it! :lol:

[dreamswept]

I would love to free lease her out, so if you’re anywhere near WI, give me a shout!

Oh sure thing. It’d be a 2,000 mile haul, but …

She looks cute in her Abetta saddle and the sidepull.

I think I’ll ask for more pictures, and see about arranging a trip up there to try him out, and see what I can do. Worth a look anyway.

[jeano]

Best horse I’ve owned was a little grade poa, had really tall withers so he measured 14 hands. Lots of pony’tude. Very smart horse. He could jump, he was a wonderful trail horse, he flat astonished me with his “airs above the ground” moves one day when my completely clueless friend faced him at a four foot high bank with no room to run up at it–old Patch did a beautiful capriole and got his front feet on the lip of the bank like he was accustomed to puissance jumping every day of his life and popped right up. He was absolutely safe with the rankest novice but would give you a riding lesson of a differnt kind if he thought you were going to sleep on him. He had exceptionally smooth gaits for a little horse. And, he carried Mr Jeano, who is 6’1, 200 pounds, and all legs with nary a problem. Maybe Mr Jeano looked silly on him, but he could GO places on that old gelding. Go check that horse out!

[Huntertwo]

@dreamswept;2893863

Sure thing.

http://dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1127285

Of course, you can’t see much with a picture like that. I’d have to ask for better ones.

OMG, he is adorable! Love is coloring too… He appears to be a little stockier. But like you said it is hard to tell by the picture.

Gosh, If I was like 3,000 miles closer and could afford it, I’d look at him myself…:yes:

He looks like a gutsy little guy. Definitely worth checking out. Keep us posted, okay?

Edited to add: Since I’m not a skinny minnie, I also bought a lighter weight saddle too.
Another good thing about POA’s, you can go under and through things a big horse can’t…Low hanging branches? NO problem… And they usually have good feet = no shoes
Saves me a ton of money.

[dreamswept]

[QUOTE=Huntertwo;2894646]
OMG, he is adorable! Love is coloring too… He appears to be a little stockier. But like you said it is hard to tell by the picture.

Gosh, If I was like 3,000 miles closer and could afford it, I’d look at him myself…:yes:

He looks like a gutsy little guy. Definitely worth checking out. Keep us posted, okay?

Edited to add: Since I’m not a skinny minnie, I also bought a lighter weight saddle too.
Another good thing about POA’s, you can go under and through things a big horse can’t…Low hanging branches? NO problem… And they usually have good feet = no shoes
Saves me a ton of money.[/QUOTE]

Well, he is barefoot.

And I already have an Abetta saddle, nice and lightweight (although watch me need to go wider… but we shall see) Also, define skinny minnie (or not) Honest, I’m just curious to figure out how much these little guys can pack. But my trail breed magazine said they had super-sized hearts and could carry medium-sized adults. I think i like the sound of that. And I bet they’re super duper easy keepers.

Anyway, asked for, and got some more pictures:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/dreamswept/Horses/poa033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/dreamswept/Horses/pony017.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/dreamswept/Horses/1stsaddleride004.jpg

I really like his coloring. Very flashy. Would look super with turquoise tack. But I’m not sure, is he that stocky from the looks of it? I guess the only way to find out would be to go up and see him in person and try him out. I’d probably feel a little awkward doing it though.

[katarine]

he’s CUTE and the price is right. Nice short back, cute cute. go try him!!!

[keana]

pony poa

one of the first pony’s I’ve trained was a POA, what a wonderful little horse! I’m 5’6 and no light weight and she was a blast! I opened gates from her back, rode her bareback with just a halter and after three weeks I was galloping with a herd of 60 ponys with no fear of her not stopping or doing what I told her. I train horses from a living now even some icelandic’s and she was by far one of the best:) I would of bought her but she is working on a pony ride giving joy to kids with out horses in the large city’s, but I will always remember her. she was comfy as heck too. strong as a ox.

[Lori]

My POA is stocky and 13.1hh. He is from the Gold Prince lines from Rising R POAs. He is smart and well mannered. He is smooth and not choppy or pony-like when you ride him. I love this breed even more than the welsh I grew up with.

I was at the Futurity this past fall and talking to some breeders. They told me like anything else, there is good and bad in the POA lines.
This pony is a grade pony, so it will be something you have to see for yourself.

My grade 13.2hh pony could carry you with room to spare, so depending on the build of this pony, he may work well for you.

Happy pony hunting!

[dreamswept]

Ok, you all…

… I wanna see you on your POAs, if you happen to have pictures.

[Huntertwo]

Love the pictures. And who is that Appy tied to the trailer in the 1st photo? As you can tell, I love spots.

I think he looks like a sturdy little guy. Even the pink is cute on him too!

I have an Abetta Endurance saddle and it is super light weight. You are correct - the have big hearts. Haven’t ridden in a bit because of the snow and ice.
Today I took her out of the pasture, saddled her up and off we went on a nice trail ride. She was soooo excited, it was like riding a little Paso Fino…
She couldn’t wait to go go and go some more. I didn’t go too far, because I haven’t really ridden her that long for some time, except in the ring.

She is the kind of mare who needs a job and gets very bored, almost depressed like, if we don’t ride at least 4 times a week. And she has a nice big pasture and free choice hay all day. She just likes to work.:yes:

Her pictures are on the link below.

P.S. Why would you feel awkward trying him? No reason to feel that way at all.

I’ll PM you with my weight stats…lol :winkgrin:

[Lori]

For posting photos, I don’t count. I am only 4’9". I fit ponies like an 11yr old girl does.

[RydArab]

![](y Arab is 13.3 hh & a smidge & I’m like 5’7" & I feel comfortable on her. I keep myself within the 20% weight ratio for her and we’re happy so far. I guess should have named her Jenny Craig. I am hoping for 14.1 when the growing is done a few years. Meanwhile her barrel is fluffing up a bit…

Don’t much about POA’s but don’t let the size put you off if you really like the horse. Good luck.

S.

One of our first ventures out of the corral last spring.
She’s short but sweet… stirrups & a few more pounds have certainly have helped:)

[IMG]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q199/StaceyMWaldruff/Mailed%20photos/MVC-046S.jpg)

& later with our potential endurance emu…

[IMG]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q199/StaceyMWaldruff/Mailed%20photos/MVC-035S.jpg)

[Gestalt]

Go try him :yes: When I was riding hunters a woman offered me her 14h Connemara for a show season. This horse was fabulous! I am 5’8" and weigh 155lbs. At first I felt too big on her, but she never acted as though I overwhelmed her. We did well at shows too. Even though the ‘picture’ wasn’t quite right with the size descrepancy, judges forgave us and placed her high. She was a lovely mover and terrific jumper.

There were several POA’s at the hunter barn. They were troopers with the kids. They jump anything and don’t know the meaning of ‘quit’. Go see him!!!

[goodhors]

I don’t know why folks get so hung up on size, especially when it is only an inch or so, between pony and horse sizes. Pony in the ad looks like a real nice one. Body appears deep, should use up your leg length. It IS MUCH easier hopping on and off those shorter animals while trail riding.

The POAs, small Apps, I have known were all nice animals to live with. My SIL used her POA for all her riding, they cleaned up in High School EQ Team. She is 5’ 9" went about 130 at the time. Sat a bit tall, but they were such a smooth team they won everything she entered. Old Frecks did everything, looked like the ad picture too. Short back will carry weight well. Healthy, never was shod, ridden for miles. Could have sold him many times over the years.

Most cow ponies packed 175 or more pounds, every day, working hard. They were in the 14-14.2 range, with quite a few smaller animals. Range raised on grass, no improved breeds to produce height. Until the production era of calvary mount breeding, they were all pretty small animals. Even the calvary only wanted 15h. Only recently have most western style horses gotten above 15 hands. Larger ones were inefficient, needed grain, ate more than the work they returned.

Go check him out, see what kind of individual he is. Don’t let smaller size or pony name, make you miss a good animal. Give him an honest evaluation, just like any larger horse would get. He could be way better than photo makes him look!