Stepping up to horses

Here at Team PONY we love our ponies – they’re super-fun and adorable, even if they can be pretty cheeky! But, whether it’s because you’ve grown taller or want to jump higher, there comes a time for most riders to move on to horses. There are lots of things to consider when making the decision – check out some of them here.

How will I know?

It can be hard to make the decision to part from your beloved pony, but there are a few sure-fire ways to tell it’s time for you to move on…

• your upper body’s towering over your pony
• the saddle feels too short
• your pony’s struggling to move as freely as before or you feel like you’re getting in his way
• your legs are hanging down below his tummy

Sizing up

A horse will be much taller than your fave pony, which won’t just make climbing on board more difficult, but potentially handling him, too. Things like putting on his bridle and throwing on his rugs could be more tricky.

Solution See if you can practise with a taller pony or horse at your riding school or borrow a friend’s. Get a feel for putting on a rug – remember to fold it correctly to make it easier – and try to encourage the pony to bend his head around you when putting his bridle on so he doesn’t lift his head too high.

Do you think you’re ready to move on to horses? Read more in July PONY mag, on sale 01 June 2022.