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RE: [RC] ponies in distance riding? - Nancy SturmHi Lucy, I just checked the stats. There are AERC numbers listed for 52 POA's, 21 Welsh, 3 Welsh/Arab and 1 Welsh/Shetland. Welsh/Arab is such a nice cross, I really expected that there would be more. We have a Section B Welsh pony gelding that stands 13.3 and my grandson (who is riding my very nice Arab gelding) would truly rather be out campaigning the pony. Gabe claims he can out-walk most full-sized horses and he does have a huge trot. Unfortunately, Gabe has done that thing that 14 year old boys do and outgrown Deucie so we will never know how he could have done. Nancy Sturm [Original Message] From: Lucy Chaplin Trumbull <elsietee@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: 5/23/2005 3:32:57 PM Subject: [RC] ponies in distance riding? On the subject of ponies, have people successful used them for distance riding? I'm not talking about tiny juniors riding them - more small adults successfully competing them? (not specifically racing) Obviously there's John Parke and Remington and Skoldjur (sp?) (before I get slammed, I know icies are technically "horses"), and Meggie the Tevis pony with Jane Sheppard (and Jane's mum with War Bonnet). There was also an arab/welsh with a junior from AZ (? Elena?) who finished Tevis a couple of times. But otherwise, I'm not really aware of ponies turning up for more than a couple of rides? Is this because there isn't the tradition in the US to use ponies? (you see them a lot more in the UK, f'instance). Or is it just that it "isn't done"? You so often hear "oh, this arab is only 14:1, so too small for me" (and there's me thinking that 14:1 is too tall <g>) - so the perception is that a person should be riding a "big" horse and would look embarrassing on a small one? As a child, I rode welsh ponies and started day-dreaming the other day about getting one, but I really don't know if this is a ridiculous idea or whether it'd be practical. From poking around on the web, it seems like Section B Welsh ponies can be taller in the US. So what if I could find one around 13:2-14 hh... how would that work out? I'm 5' 2" and if I did it right, I could weigh-in with tack at <150 lbs (OK, with a bit of weigh-loss on my part... but having a pone would be a good incentive, right?). Is that still too heavy for a pony to carry over distance? My immediate concern was how well it would stand up to the workload - particularly tendons (having had to deal with tendon injuries with my arabs, it's my #1 paranoia right now). Having a pony would be fun, but not if it meant continuous lameness problems. Or is it really true - survival of the fittest has meant that only the sturdiest welsh ponies still exist after hundreds of years? It seems like they are light enough that they shouldn't have metabolic problems that I imagine you might get into with heavier cobby ponies? But would they have to work harder (with shorter legs) to maintain the minimum pace necessary to complete, and therefore suffer more from that? Just musing aloud. Any pony thoughts appreciated. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lucy Chaplin Trumbull elsietee AT foothill DOT net Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, California * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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