Is this horse big enough?

Question

Is it worth it for a 5'2" 12 year old to invest in a 13.2 hh pony? Or will the 12 yr old grow out of the pony too quickly?

Hunter Jumpers. and it is not my daughter

Answer 1

Rather get a larger pony or better yet a horse - the girl will stop growing at around 18 or so. She may be quite tall. The pony will be too small very quickly. I'd suggest going for 14.3-15hh, she's tall enough for it.
Too many people work it purely on weight, and the result I hate to say looks a bit ridiculous.

Answer 2

I am a trainer, I'm 5'6" and I consistently ride a 13.0hh pony. I jump this pony 2'6" and I let my smaller more accomplished riders jump her over the higher fences.

Most kids "outgrow" ponies because the pony can no longer compete at the child's level. Ponies that are kid safe have a good resale value because they are worth their weight in gold. As long as this 12 year old doesn't grow to be 6' and 200 pounds in the next couple years everything should be fine and it will be a good learning experience.

My suggestion to the 12 year old would be to take the pony on a 7-14 trial period (most sellers could do this with a deposit and a GOOD CONTRACT) and take note of a personality change of the pony. Some ponies cannot mentally or physically handle riders over a certain size while others have no problem with it. If the pony's demeanor does not change with regular riding she should be fine for a while.

Answer 3

A 13.2 pony is already almost a bit too small for a 5'2" girl unless its very cobby or takes up enough leg. You'll definitely get more use out of a large pony or even a horse. At 12, she's almost ready to do Children's Hunters or even the Equitation classes, so if showing is a factor, you may be better off investing in a horse that could take her to the more prestigious Eq classes.

Height alone shouldn't be the only factor, though. Some shorter horses have a large enough barrel to take up enough leg to still look alright with a taller rider. Narrow horses tend to suit riders with shorter legs a bit better, as it allows their leg to stretch down as far as possible. You want to try every horse before you invest to find one that will suit you physically and temperamentally. Also remember to always get the horse or pony vet checked before the purchase, and bring along an experienced trainer whenever you go to look at horses.

Answer 4

I am wondering if you are going to use the pony for showing purposes? The reason I ask is because if this is a show pony, then I would consider it. Children who are showing horses and ponies are only able to compete with them for a period of time before they need something that has more training so they can advance. It is good to buy something that your child feels safe on and I certainly would get her input on this too.
I do think a smaller horse would be a good choice, just remember to get out there and see a lot of horses before making your decision. We just turned down buying a Oldenburg who was absolutely beautiful, but the trainers were very heavy handed and caused this horse to be heavy on the bit. She also would have needed a lot of retraining. If we wouldn't have thought this over for a few days, I'm sure we would have made a hasty decision with regrets. So the bottom line is to try a lot of different horses, ponies and make sure that your daughter feels comfortable up there.

Answer 5

For the pony's sake -- horses and ponies can safely and comfortably carry about 25% of their own weight. Will this girl WEIGH too much soon? If she's slender, then the pony will probably be fine for her, even if her legs get a bit long!

Answer 6

It's been my experience that most of the kids rather ride a horse than a pony, given the choice. Actually they would fight on who would have to ride the 13 hand pony.. So I would invest in a horse around 15, 15.2 hands. As long as it's a well trained horse a tiny tot can ride a big horse:> Good Luck!

Answer 7

Hi, You need to ask yourself what your daughter wants to do with her pony/horse now and in the near future. If she just wants to pleasure ride and enjoy being with animals, this size pony will do fine for a long time. As a small adult (5'3") I rode many miles on a 13.2hh pony and it certainly didn't tire him out! In fact, I would also ride my younger daughter's 12hh pony and while we probably looked a bit funny the pony could pack me without problems.
Ponies get alot of bad raps, but they are easy for a child to saddle, bridle and care for. Their smaller size makes them less intimidating and fun. Yes, some ponies are brats. Avoid those ones no matter how reasonably priced they are.
Now, if your daughter wants to show or do something competitive, you may want to look at a larger sized horse.
There are pros and cons to both. Good luck and have fun.

Answer 8

why not just but a horse in the first place and be done with it ?Yes a 13 yr old will out grow this pony unless he or she is small.

Answer 9

Yes the pony will be big enough! I rode a 13.3 mule for most of my life, I'm 5'5" and have been since I was 12.
Depending on what you plan on using the pony for, I doubt you'll have any problems. Unless the pony is a Hackney (fine boned harness horse) most small sized horses are much tougher than 15+ h horses.

Good luck

Answer 10

we had got a 13.2-13.3 hh pony for our kids, same size. i rode the pony in the arena and on the trail and she did fine baring me, i am 5'9" 130. if she is big boned 13.2hh is plenty big. the pony could do great for her for years. be more concerned with the ponies abilities instead of size. the biggest reason kids movce on is because they progress pass thier ponies abilities. a 13.3hh pony can do as much as a horse. my moms horse is only 14.1hh and she is 5'8".