I need to stick to the same sized pony

[chloelovesbumper]

hi everyone, I'm quite annoyed at the fact that I'm quite tall for my age, but can still fit on ponies at the size of 14.3hh, but lately, I have been putting a small 11.2hh pony through its paces and making it a safe reliable pony, it is broken in but wasn't ridden until 3 weeks ago when I rode him for the first time for him in months, and anyway back to what i was saying.
but the weekend after, i rode at my local ridng school who put me on a 16.3hh ex-racegorse who is quite gard to control when you are riding, and a nightmare to handle in the stable.
but my point is, it is a real struggle going from a really nice friendly pony to a massive bully of a horse, the 11.2hh pony i rode, named robert is owned by a woman who lives up the rode from me, so he was nothing to do with the riding school, just to inform you... please tell me what you think, and also only write advice on how to handle this situation, and no crit, thanks x

[chloelovesbumper]

so sorry, was meant to say ex-racehorse..not ex-racegorse!!!

[choppytrotty]

Oooh, multitasker

[dippykestral]

My advice?
Not every horse is going to be straightforward and you are going to come across some trickier ones, and you do have to learn from it.
However, speak to the riding school about the size of the horse you're being put on, and if you're struggling they should be able to perhaps move you to a more easy horse.

[chloelovesbumper]

Thanks for the advice Charlotte We have already spoken to them once already, when i first moved their at a younger age, as i was being put on big horses, but as i said... i have long legs!!! The riding school have only been starting to put me on biggun's sice a few weeks ago, but it's only Oscar that i dont really click with ( the ex-racehorse) but i am totally in love with another 16.3hh called blaze, i've rode him twice, but we have had alot of bonding through grooming and cuddles but i'm starting to wonder if the reason i'm on big horses is because i complained about growing pains a few weeks ago when i was helping out at pony club? :[ x

[Twiggy]

Sounds like its not actually the size of pony that matters here its the actual pony, you can just as easily fir well on a 13.2 deep highland for example and look better than on a 16.3 that isn't as deep through the body. I have long legs and look and feel much better on my 14.1 connie than i do on a friends17hand hunt horse because of the conformation of them.

I'm sure you will be able to be comfortable on a pony, if that's what you want, if you ask the riding school if you can ride something a bit smaller with a longer depth of girth because you feel more comfortable and secure on something smaller? If you are not happy you should speak up for yourself, after all you are a customer there and its important that you enjoy yourself!

[nici]

You definitely need to ask the riding school for a different horse or pony to ride next time - you won't progress your riding if you feel uncomfortable with the horse, and you're paying good money for your lesson, so they should listen to your views.

My daughter, who's just 9 but tall for her age, switches regularly at the minute between our 39" Shetland, 11.2 Welsh A and 13hh Welsh C!

[bethanyy]

If you felt comfortable on the other 16.3 then maybe it is just the ex-racer you don't click with. I personally believe riding a variety of horses makes you a better, more experienced jockey but I can see your point.

I have a 13.1/2 NF and I feel completely comfortable on him, however I ride for friends so can range between 12h-16.3h. It is strange at first adapting to a bigger moving horse but practice makes perfect and riding a variety of sizes helps to improve riding ability.

If you are that concerned speak to your riding school, but they may find it a bit ironic you are happy on Blaze but not Oscar and they are the same size? Maybe you just don't click with the one horse

[chloelovesbumper]

thanks again everyone for the advice, i will take it into consideration as i am riding tomorrow..... hopefully on blaze!!!!!!!

[chloelovesbumper]

wasnt on blaze on sunday... but had a fantastic jumping lesson on a 14.3hh pony called Gulliver, went like a dream!!!!

[chloelovesbumper]

uh-oh, on sunday i fell off a pony called chile!! she went crazy broncing and leaping down the centre line! oh well.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

[norwalk]

I am not sure of your situation, but I am wary of riding school horses.. )depending on the calibre of the establishment...)
I sent my daughter for lessons on a "schoolmaster" TO HELP HER TRANSITION FROM lr TO FR
She had more entries in the accident book then a team of ninja para's!!!
She would have been far safer on her own pony!
Check out your riding school (there are other places with quality dressage schoolmasters available! I go to Pen Lllyn Lusitano Stud for Classical lessons when I get the time and money to coincide...!!!

[rightrein92]

I haven't ever been to a riding school but had lessons my showjumping ones were with Malcolm pyra he was excellent , I had four or five horses and ponies to jump all different sizes and abilities the more different horses you ride the easier it is to switch and swap I happily compete my 13.2 section c and my 15.1 warmblood but I have ridden the family studs ponies ranging from 11.2 to 17.3 . Mayby a few private one on one lessons on the horse you struggle with will help I know if it was me on a new horse I'd see this as a learning curve x

[chloelovesbumper]

seeming as this is a forum about sticking to the same size pony, i jumped on a 16.3hh 2 weeks ago, and as i have grown ALOT since creating this, my jumping length stirrups were nearly at the bottom of his stomach!! and also, you have to be 14 to be on this site, but i only turned 12 on the 02/02/13 so like i said i am massive for my age!
i only weigh 6 stone so the horses ususally get a bit freaked out when a give them an aid, as my instructor says they cant feel me on the saddle!!

[cupcake909]

you could on the ex racehorse try to sit back and half halt on the reins to slow it own try to be relaxed and soft.

maybe for the 11.2 you could try different ways to make it slow down but then school back again just an idea ;D

[chloelovesbumper]

whoa i havent been on here for ages!!!!! anyway i havent been on oscar or blaze since!!!!! instead i ride a different 16.2hh called stash, who is a really safe ride but can be forward going i ride hime nearly every week doing jumping and canter work if im honest i think i prefer him over blaze! i have rode stash for about 12 weeks npw and ive never had a problem with him!!
BUT some bad news.............. BUMPER HAS BEEN SOLD
he was my absolute favourite pony at the riding school and we had a really good bond, he was a kind of 'heinz 57' pony and nobody else like him because he was ugly and didnt have very good manners, but i thought he was beautiful and he never mis behaved with me.
most people wouldnt understand because he wasnt mine in the first place, and i only saw him once a week but still.... i miss him ALOT and sorry for the length of this

[chloelovesbumper]

wow... BREAKTHROUGH!!!! i guess i jinxed myself in saying i hadn't been on Oscar since, i was on him this morning and he was fantastic.
he didn't act up this time and was really responsive, we had a fantastic ride, so thanks Oscar

[emilyequi]

This is like me, im 15, and have long legs, but im very lightweight so can't ride big strong horses. I regularly switch between all sizes, because I'm light enough for ponies, but can also ride bigger horses! i backed a little sec a not long ago, which i was ridiculously big of but ahh well. My loan is 14.3 but a sec D X and i also ride a 13.2 fell from time to time which i brought on for a year, and my legs don't even look long on him! i also once a week ride a pba who's 15hhish but wide! i ride others too, I'm always the person stuck on the crazy little pony;)

[rhoswinsalot]

Im also always stuck on crazy little ponies. I am 15 and still don't look massive on one of my sisters section a's I am lucky to be small