Weight of rider for welsh a??

[Tiny1990]

I've seen a few posts about this but just wanted some opinions and advice - what would you say was the correct height and weight for a small adult to ride a chunky welsh a ??
A friend of mine who wears size 6 clothes and is 5ft 1 has been told by a lady who has never met her or the pony in real life that she is to big to ride her much loved pony and it's a welfare issue?? What are your thoughts??
The pony cannot be ridden by children in the ring as he's a real showman and can get quite excited in the ring so the lady rides him in the ring and maybe twice a week at home.
Thanks

[Karen, garrettponies]

Advice to your friend - ignore the know-all giving advice when they have no idea what they are talking about! Size 6 and 5ft 1 is not over tall or heavy, probably a bit smaller than some of the adult riders on small breeds!!

[Newlandwelshies]

interesting one.. my 9 year old daughter was told by a well known judge at a county show that she was too big on her 11.2 section a in a first ridden rihs qualifier. She is only 4'7 so no idea where that leaves the rest of you.. Needless to say my daughter was gutted with 4th place, and i was thrilled, when she was given that comment having asked for constructive help.

same old thing, what one person likes another doesn't. At 5'1", dress size 6, i dont see the welfare issue. i am 5'2", dress size 8 and many a time jumped on my daughter's pony and she carried me without any hesitation of a problem. Welsh ponies are sturdy animals and not like a little show pony. i agree with karen, go out and do your own thing, too many people with too many opinions.

[sundance20]

I'm 5'3 and size 8 and ride my section a at 11.2/11.3
I ride him in the ring and once/twice a week at home x

[kareen]

I think the generally accepted rule is around 20% of the pony's weight however I do think it also makes a difference a) how often you ride it, b) what kind of Section A (the original, more substantial type or the 'modernized' version that looks more like a shrunk riding pony) and c) how you ride it. I am currently a size 10 (European size 38 if that makes more sense) and weigh around 60 kilos. I normally have about 3-4 kilos less but don't think this weight is doing any harm to my daughters Section A when I occasionally get on him. Would I ride him on a regular basis? No but given their history as mining ponies in the old ages I doubt you will find carrying a small adult does them any harm.

[Mum, skivvy, groom, driver]

I witnessed a hideous sight at Barton equestrian centre a couple of weeks ago, a substantial sized lady (bigger than me and I am a size 16, 14.5stone) riding a very fine section a! It was not pleasant at all to watch and then when she asked for canter and it wouldn't (or i suspect....couldn't!) she kicked and kicked and whipped it until it did....with great difficulty. I had to leave in disgust as the judge appeared not to say anything at all... Now that was a welfare issue but definitely not a small size 6 jockey

[Tiny1990]

Thanks for all your replies and I hope it helps her as it has upset her a put her off quite a bit as she loves this pony to the bones and he is a chunky sturdy type so she didn't see the issue until this person messaged her. I've seen a lot bigger people riding them at shows that are finer than he is. I think it's these sort of people that can put people off competing etc maybe she didn't mean it in such a nasty way but still it isn't nice.
He gets ridden in a little snaffle at home and shows she probably rides him twice a week and keeps him fit by loose schooling him and hacking him out in hand so it's not like he's being ridden daily by her. If she could put somebody smaller on she would but because he's such a big show man in the ring it's not worth the risk. Thanks again for all your views I think it might put her mind at rest x

[foxyt]

The pony club mounted games rules state a dressed to compete rider over 8st 7lb may not ride a pony 128 and under I would imagine a size 6 would fit these rules.