Horse problem major help please???

Question

i had a 18hh horse but she was really old so we sold her and now I am going to ride an 12hh pony is it going to be hard to get used to and also i am going to have to learn how to ride english any tips on that but please answer

Answer 1

Your first option is to just ride the pony, you know that you are going to have to get new tack for it, right?  If things don't work out, keep your eye out for a smaller, younger girl that might rather ride a pony and try to work something out with her, at least temporarily until she outgrows the pony.  You could also post ads, "wanting to trade, etc, etc, etc."  It doesn't have to be permanent.

Answer 2

Unless you get some english riding lessons, all you will do is learn all the wrong things and have to correct your bad habits later. You can't learn what you need to know on here.  Sorry...I know it's not what you want to hear, but it is the truth.

Answer 3

I think english is way more comfortable than western, I have ridden both.

English is harder to ride than western, you have to be precise and prim and proper. Good luck. Once you learn how to poast you will be fine. Try riding with no stirrups to gain better balance.  

Answer 4

balance! riding bareback or without irons helps a lot!

Answer 5

lol. Yes. well it really depends on who you are. But it feels really different. I went from rideing the tlallest horse in the barn to the smallest horse in the barn. You really have to change your rideing for each size of horse. The more you change the more you get used to it though. But your 4'10 you should fit him well. But it will feel different.

Answer 6

English saddles aren't uncomfortable! I find them really comfortable, it's only brand new ones that aren't broken yet that are uncomfortable. Anyway, the reins are held in both hands, you also make them shorter. The main aid is kicking(nudging) to keep the horse going and you have tosit with your back straight. in trot you rise (rising trot). You'll also need a hard riding hat if you haven't already got one.

As for 12hh it'll be fine, you may feel small on it but you'll get used to it.

Charlotte x

Answer 7

How tall are you? you may need to be careful becasue if you are too tall you may hurt the pony. as for learning engilsh, you need to remember to use your leg that is the main aid.  

Answer 8

JUST RIDE THE THING

there is nothing really, each and every horse is different and just get used to it, not that hard

Answer 9

As to the saddle debate, Western saddles were literally created for people who would be on horseback all day, and they are made to be comfortable. As someone who rode English more, I wouldn't say that the saddle is more uncomfortable, because that's what I'm more used to.

The main difference between the two (to me at least) is that you can feel the horse so much more on an English saddle. The increased sensitivity may feel uncomfortable at first, but onc you get used to it you may like it more than Western. :)

Um, anyway, keep your heels low and your back straight. Lean slightly forward, use your legs to steer more than the reins. Build up those leg muscles for posting, and look straight ahead instead of at the ground.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Take lessons. I mean, don't you admit that going from Western to English without lessons is really quite stupid? And why would you just drop 6 hands? Why not buy a Western horse, similiar size? You should get a 15-19 hand Western horse. Seriously.

Answer 11

hi i have been riding english for 4 years now, listen the western saddle is created to be COMFORTABLE but an english saddle is made to be presice, it will be quite uncumfortable for you the first couple rides on english but then im sure you well get used to it. the pony is diffrent, their steps are much smaller and their trot will be very fast and very small steps. the pony is easy to maneuver but will take long to get used to, im sure that within 3 weeks of constant riding you will be a great english pony rider!

good luck

don't fall off

HAVE FUN!!