How about this: http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v308/117/16/760575643/n760575643_3893453_1862.jpg
horsegal301, I’m not WANTING to ride DD’s pony - she needs a tune up. I have my own 17h TB to ride.
Not the same discipline, but I’m around 130 and take my 13 handers out for full-up XC …
[QUOTE=Rel6;5691581]
How about this: http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v308/117/16/760575643/n760575643_3893453_1862.jpg[/QUOTE]
AWWW!!!
I will say that my worst falls have been off the dang ponies. When they do that sit and scoot thing…there’s nothing to hold on too!!!
Although the good thing is, at least you don’t have time to think about it, where-as with a horse, you have time on the way down to think about how much its gonna hurt.
[QUOTE=Jumper_girl221;5691598]
AWWW!!!
I will say that my worst falls have been off the dang ponies. When they do that sit and scoot thing…there’s nothing to hold on too!!!
Although the good thing is, at least you don’t have time to think about it, where-as with a horse, you have time on the way down to think about how much its gonna hurt.[/QUOTE]
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1092445007043029495elpZsH
This pic was taken pretty much exactly 9 years ago, so my equitation isn’t great, but that 13 hand pony was so nasty! I think I was 5’8 at this point in my life, I was definitely too tall for him:lol: Let’s just say his name was Bucky for a reason! He was fun to ride though once you got him going 
[QUOTE=Jumper_girl221;5691598]
AWWW!!!
I will say that my worst falls have been off the dang ponies. When they do that sit and scoot thing…there’s nothing to hold on too!!!
Although the good thing is, at least you don’t have time to think about it, where-as with a horse, you have time on the way down to think about how much its gonna hurt.[/QUOTE]
Ugh ditto! Especially the narrow shifty ones, they just scoot right out from under you. Luckily the ground isn’t too far away :lol:
I ran in to this issue last weekend at a show. My student has a pony that I AM too big to ride.
I’m usually fine with large ponies as long as they are well sprung. This pony however is the narrowest thing I have ever seen. Plus he gets pissed off if someone too big sits on him and he will have a melt down.
So it was very frustrating when the pony, who is usually a star, decided to have a pony tantrum in the show ring. :mad: The kid is a great rider and usually schools all the green ones. But there’s only so much a 12 year old can do if a pony wants to run away with her.
There is one barn around here that has a tiny trainer who schools every single pony before the kids ride. I am so very jealous of her! 
When I was in high school I worked at a local stable that had a beginner lesson program. I would get to ride the horses that weren’t being used. They had an adorable small paint pony that was supposed to be for the little ones. However, pony learned to bolt with little ones. I was asked to school her. At the time I was 5’6 and probably about 120 lbs - not very heavy, but too tall for a pony her size.
She was fine though, didn’t suffer any ill effects soundness wise from me riding her. She had pony tricks and would try things with me every now and again, but did nothing with me to indicate she was sore or didn’t want me to ride her. They still couldn’t put a kid on her though, so they put her up for sale (not sure who bought her though! :eek:) I was even able to jump her, and was her sole rider until she was sold (which took about 9ish months).
I was so tall on her that for jumping I had to purposely slide my legs back so they didn’t touch the poles! She was a sturdy one though… I think it really depends on the pony and if they are lightly built vs. the more stocky type.
[QUOTE=Mayaty02;5691349]
I have read that there is a weight guideline, a percentage of human weight to pony weight, but I can’t recall what it is. As to height, well if it’s for a short school, it’ll be uncomfortable for the tall folks but its really the weight and balance that is the issue I think.
We have smaller adult trainers (tall but lightweight and short and lightweight) to ride our ponies, from the barely 12 hds up. The stockier the pony, the better they feel about it That said, they are usually only schooling when there is an issue so not a daily pounding.[/QUOTE]
Many, many moons ago I read an article in Horse Illustrated that said horses could safely carry 20% of their weight (tack, rider, etc). I did a google search but could not find the article. However, I agree with many other posts on here, it depends on the individual and the horse/pony. And if its only the occasional schooling/“tune-up”, I dont see a problem.
There’s a big difference between a 100 lb sack of potatoes and 140 lbs of a well balanced rider.
So true! My sister’s first was a short, fat 14.0 QH. He was western pleasure trained, but hated it, so little sister started hunter lessons, and he turned out to be a cute, if devious, hunter pony. Meanwhile, I was training him to be my reining horse. Little did I know I was just teaching him another dirty pony trick: the rollback. Our trainer used him in her week-long summer camp, and he managed to throw 7 kids that week. They’d be going along toward the jump, and the next thing you knew, the pony was headed in the opposite direction and the poor bewildered kid was sitting on the ground wondering what the heck happened! Hilarious! Obviously he became a full-time reiner until he was sold.
the worry I would have would also be the size of the saddle needed for the taller rider. If the saddle needs to be longer than the weight bearing portion of the pony’s back in order to accomodate the rider, then the rider is too tall/big in my opinion.
[QUOTE=CHT;5692206]
the worry I would have would also be the size of the saddle needed for the taller rider. If the saddle needs to be longer than the weight bearing portion of the pony’s back in order to accomodate the rider, then the rider is too tall/big in my opinion.[/QUOTE]
Please go look at the picture I posted…that saddle was maybe a 12’’ or 13’’ and it HURT me lol.
[QUOTE=OveroHunter;5691952]
There’s a big difference between a 100 lb sack of potatoes and 140 lbs of a well balanced rider.[/QUOTE]
Completely agree. I’m fairly light (125lbs) and 5’4" but I don’t feel as well balanced on smaller horses or ponies. If you’re a good rider and better balanced then it can make a huge difference.
[QUOTE=Mayaty02;5691349]
I have read that there is a weight guideline, a percentage of human weight to pony weight, but I can’t recall what it is. [/QUOTE]
A friend of mine does competitive trail rides and lower level endurance riding. Their standard for optimal performance is the rider’s weight plus equipment does not exceed 20% of the horse’s body weight.
i “tuned” the pony up yesterday over teeny crossrails (12 inches?) and felt fine. I WISH I had a pony like DD’s when I was a kid! Once I kept her going, she was great…See the tight spot? I just held a little and pony shortened her stride to fit it… lead change? no problem…DAMN love that pony! Now if only I can teach DD to ride her!! 
[QUOTE=myalter1;5693438]
i “tuned” the pony up yesterday over teeny crossrails (12 inches?) and felt fine. I WISH I had a pony like DD’s when I was a kid! Once I kept her going, she was great…See the tight spot? I just held a little and pony shortened her stride to fit it… lead change? no problem…DAMN love that pony! Now if only I can teach DD to ride her!! :)[/QUOTE]
LOL the good news is that she’ll fit her for YEARS!
HA HA HA HA or get sick of having to work so hard and I will have to try and sell her!
OP? Try carrying your helmet, put your boots and spurs on and carry a stick while you watch DD ride. Growl a little so Pony can hear. Smack the stick against your leg so Pony can hear that too.
Then tell DD to stop and come to you as you step into the ring. Stride towards DD and Pony while putting your helmet on as DD kicks a foot out of the iron to hop off.
Should not need any more then that. Mere threat of an Adult ride will work for, maybe, 30 minutes or so.
If you get as far as the Pony and it does not tuck it’s tail between it’s buttocks and promise to be good (with back hooves crossed)? You will need to follow through on the threat of the adult ride when actions do have consequences. Probably only need to do that once. Crafty little buggers will figure that one out in a hurry.
The threat is so much more effective in the long run:D.
Thanks findeight! I never thought of the “threat” of an adult ride. LOL this pony knows ALL of the tricks. BUT that being said, we got a good deal on her and, as you know, most good deals have some hole that you have to work with. That’s her hole. She knows the tricks. She is super broke though and once I jumped her around the little cross rails, DD didn’t have any problem steering and trotting over them. Keeping her going? Eh that was a little trickier. The problem with DD is that she is so teeny she compromises her position in order to try to keep pony going. Then, she is working so hard at keeping her going, that steering becomes an issue. This week is longe line lessons so DD can work on her position with and without stirrups and mommy can help keep the pony going…
![http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v308/117/16/760575643/n760575643_3893453_1862.jpg[/QUOTE]](http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v308/117/16/760575643/n760575643_3893453_1862.jpg%5B/QUOTE%5D){kind=link}