[englishcowgirl]

I am one of those people who believe if you are over 12 you need a horse. I alway ride the big guys.... but I had the BEST. EVER. jump lesson the other day. Most fun I have had in a while on the flat, and the creature was brave, careful, smart and catty to all the jumps! He was a 14.1 hand pony... now... I want a pony I would never think that we would be such a good team, I even fit on him well (surprise!). He actually makes me super excited to go jump... it was that much fun! So pony peeps, I now understand. I may have been converted to the dark side

[OveroHunter]

One day I'll upload the video of my 5'8 butt jumping a 13.1 pony 3'6. I know what you mean, everytime I would ride her I would be so excited to jump! She was so brave and she really taught you to stay in the correct position!

[Sunnyhorse]

For six years I rode a wonderful Welsh-Arab cross, 14.2 hh. Moved up to a 15.3 TB this year because Sammy (the pony) was getting older and creakier and would not be able to move up from the divisions we were doing, but I still love riding him and would never dream of selling him. Most comfortable critter I've ever ridden, and so much fun to jump. Go get yourself a pony!

[Gray Horse H/J]

When I was 13 or 14 I leased a medium pony, who was kind of on the small end of medium. She was also a dainty little thing. I was a bit tall for her, but she was an absolute hoot to ride! She was a fast little thing and could jump up to 3'9" or so. I remember feeling a touch of panic as I was a few strides out from my first 3'6" jump on her - it looked absolutely huge on a pony that small. She was pretty easy to ride though. Very point, shoot, and grab mane.

[jconnors]

I free leased a pony from when I was about 12 to 14 that was 14.2 and 21 years old. Been there done that mare that used to show the jumpers. I did everything with her and she was awesome. The highest I jumped her was 4'6" bareback and in a halter and lead shank. One single pole too! Mom yelled at me and said she could go under it. She loved her long spots too! Once into a 3'6" triple bar that was 6' wide off a rollback. Man she could jump! When she was younger her highest was 5'6". When I outgrew her sadly she was 24 and still going strong.

[Jumper_girl221]

no matter what I do...I can't seem to get AWAY from the ponies...can't beat the mind and agility, especially in the jumpers.

Sure I TOWER them the ground (hey, no problems putting the bridle on or clipping ears!)
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6133523_n.jpg

And looked ridiculous on the flat
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3780307_n.jpg
13.3
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...6_397234_n.jpg
13.1^

But the jumping rocked
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._1791998_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7487411_n.jpg
^ 5'10" me, 13.3 Foundation Quarter Horse

[Haf N Haf]

I'm the exact opposite of the OP, I can't ride big horses. When I was shopping everyone told me I needed a horse that was at least 16hh because of my weight. But I'm short and have short, round legs. I just couldn't sit those big moving beasts.

So I got the next best thing...me in pony form. (p.s. I'm a little obsessed with him. )

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03642.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/DSC03025.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/DSC00982.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/DSC00802.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...Dressage10.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...-10Lesson1.jpg

[trubandloki]

Haf, love your Haffie.
Short sturdy things they are.

I have recently started riding a pony sized creature too (happens to also be a Haffie). Love it.

[Crown Royal]

I LOVE ponies...it's a bit ridiculous. I will drool over a solid dark dark bay TB (similar to my horse) any day, but a stocky, ahtletic, cheeky pony? To die for. In fact, I have three ponies and just one horse. First pony of the group is barely 12.3, on a tall day, round, can jump the moon, and is very much a trouble maker. I broke him when he was four and I was eleven and boy do I adore him! He has so much boldness and is so surefooted you can't help but feel safe on him.

Chestnut pony:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...807bf8f&type=1

My next one is a 14 hand Arab x QH...17 and doesn't look a day over 7. Super fit, athletic, and this one really CAN jump the moon- and he'll go around the ring and do it by himself. He's my sensitive boy but has a HUGE stride for a pony which was cool and always gave him the perfect distances to his jumps.

Last one is a 14 hand Arab mare that is super super smart (toooo smart!). She's in the process of being broke and I just love the height of her! It just feels very natural to me to be sitting that high up compared to a big horse.

Don't get me wrong, I love nice big horses, but I really can't resist stocky ponies. I WILL have a barn of ones like my chestnut and some OTTB's like mine too. I always tell myself I have to have at least one child that can ride my ponies and TB's with me.

[OveroHunter]

Here she is.

Don't kill me for not wearing a helmet. That jump is somewhere around 2'6, but we topped out at 3'6, which I have a video of on another computer. She's 13.1, I'm 5'8.

[Star's Ascent]

I totally want a pony. Every girl should have one, even if you are 28....I grew up learning on a Quarter Pony and then moved to working on a young POA for our then trainer. I'm 4'11" so I can still fit on them decently. One day I would like to find a QP for myself, I mean for my niece. There had been a pony sized filly on the California Canter, but I'm not seeing her now.

[heatherny2]

I have a quick question, and only slightly OT, but when you guys ride the little guys, do you shorten your stirrups? I occasionally ride one of my mother's ponies' (he's about 14 hands), and I haven't shortened my stirrups, but feel like I need to. I totally agree that riding the ponies is sooo much fun, and much closer to the ground than my 16 hand guy.

[Addison]

Congrats to you Englishcowgirl...I love how much a good lesson or a good ride will practically restore my faith in the universe!

[veetiepony]

I love how much a good lesson or a good ride will practically restore my faith in the universe!

[Jumper_girl221]

I have a quick question, and only slightly OT, but when you guys ride the little guys, do you shorten your stirrups? I occasionally ride one of my mother's ponies' (he's about 14 hands), and I haven't shortened my stirrups, but feel like I need to. I totally agree that riding the ponies is sooo much fun, and much closer to the ground than my 16 hand guy.

Depends on the pony. I do like to keep my stirrups short enough that I still have ny leg on them. I've also found that it is sometimes necessary with a splinter belly style jumper to avoid taking rails with my heels.

[DarkStarrx]

Oh I have a pony soulmate too...even if we look ridiculous

5'3.5 on narrow 13.1

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3708629_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7808707_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...2_763623_n.jpg

[hydro101]

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...2_763623_n.jpg

This photo is adorable!!! LUFF the expression on his face!

[luchiamae]

Not going to lie, I do enjoy riding horses but nothing beats a freaky, careful pony with amazing technique. And they all seem to have really nice technique, cheeky buggers!

Here's my Arab x QH mare. Love her!

(These were taken in June 2010, before my stint with a show jumper. My position is much better, I promise )

One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six

And two of her free jumping:
One
Two

[luchiamae]

I totally want a pony. Every girl should have one, even if you are 28....I grew up learning on a Quarter Pony and then moved to working on a young POA for our then trainer. I'm 4'11" so I can still fit on them decently. One day I would like to find a QP for myself, I mean for my niece. There had been a pony sized filly on the California Canter, but I'm not seeing her now.

No, plain and simply because I can use my calf and thigh no matter what length my stirrups are. I don't need my heel

[danceronice]

I thought I was too big for ponies. Then I rode fordtraktor's little tank (Sunny's a QH on short legs, I swear!) I love it! I mean, yeah, pony canter, but other than it being a little disconcerting to have such a short neck in front of me, it was a blast to ride her. I should go ride Dom (BO's ex-trotting pony) to remind myself they aren't ALL like that. (Dom is adorable, but you better like a HUGE FAST TROT.)