Pony Size Chart

What size of pony would be most suitable for your child?

Visual Example #1:

Maddie is in 4th grade. She was born in November so is one of the older kids for her grade. Maddie is 10 years old and weighs about 68lbs.

Videos of Maddie Riding Ponies of Various Sizes:

Videos of Maddie doing Groundwork with Ponies of Various Sizes:

Photos of Maddie with Ponies of Various Sizes:

11'2h Pony

12'1h pony

12'2h pony

12'3h pony

13'2h pony

14h pony

15'1h horse

Maddie with her pony, Peanut. We feel they are a nice size for one another.

Visual Example #2:

Emma is in 6th grade. She was born in June so is one of the younger kids for her grade, though relatively tall. Emma is 11 years old, around 5'3, and weighs about 95lbs. Given her choice between Blondie and Thistle, she opts for Thistle.

Videos of Emma Riding Ponies of Various Sizes:

Videos of Emma doing Groundwork with Ponies of Various Sizes:

Obstacles with 12'1h pony, Thistle

Photos of Emma with Horses/Ponies of Various Sizes:

11'2h pony

12'1h pony

15'1h horse

Food for Thought

Wondering what size of pony would be best for your child? Use our pony size chart! This chart can help you grasp the differences between the various sizes of ponies. Here are some generalizations to keep in mind:

For every inch increase in height, the rider’s leg will be raised up 2 inches. So, a rider's leg will sit 2" higher on a 13h pony than on a 12'2h pony.
In hunter/jumper competition in the US, a pony is a horse smaller than 14’2 hands.
In Western riding in the US, a pony is a horse smaller than 14 hands. Full sized cowboys compete on horses of 14 hands because they are quick and can turn sharply.
In the UK, a pony is a horse smaller than 13’2 hands. Many riders ride ponies until they are at least 18.
Most ponies do best carrying less than 20% of their body weight. Most small ponies weigh 600lbs or less, most mediums weigh 600-700, and most larges weigh 800-1100.
A 5'10 adult stands eye-to-eye with a 15h horse, a 5'7 adult stands eye-to-eye with a 14'2h horse, most 12 year old girls stand eye to eye with a 13'2h horse, most 10 year old girls stand eye to eye with a 12h horse, most 8 year old girls stand eye to eye with an 11h horse
Most kids cannot easily tack-up a horse standing taller than eye-to-eye with them.
On the US h/j circuit, if you are 12 or younger, you ride a small pony, a pony under 12’2 hands. If you are 14 or younger, you ride a medium pony, a pony under 13’2 hands. If you are 17 or younger, you ride a large pony, a pony under 14’2 hands.
Small ponies jump 2'3, medium ponies jump 2'6, and large ponies jump 3'.
The spread of the jump is equal to the height of the jump, so large ponies jump fences as large as 3'x3', about the size of a picnic table without the benches.
Kids are allowed to ride larger ponies but remember, a 10 year old on a 12h pony competes over fences 2'3 but the same 10 year old would have to jump 3' fences on a 14h pony
It is our opinion that 3' fences are significantly more dangerous than even 2'6 fences. A pony rarely encounters anything as large as a 3' step or log in his natural environment.
In Iceland, most everyone rides ponies under 12’2 hands. These ponies are best suited to endure the climate and can do the most work for the least food.
The most common sizes for ponies are 11'2h, 12'1h, and 14h. It is hard to find a medium pony. Most mediums are finer boned, so are comparable rides to 12'2h ponies.
Because mediums are hard to find, we often put our students on 12h ponies until 6th grade, then move them up to 14+h horses/ponies. Usually by age 12, students have less need for the generous affection that a 12h pony provides. Horses still bond strongly, but are often less playful.
A rider can ride a 14h pony her whole life. However, if a student is going to compete in h/j, OHSET, 4H, or a discipline other than endurance during high school, the other students will be likely be riding 15-17h horses.
Generally horses and ponies 12-15h have the fewest health and soundness issues.
Most 13'2+h ponies can go out on grass like an average horse, while ponies under 13'2h must have their grass intake regulated because they have pony metabolisms vs horse metabolisms.
Most ponies around 12'1h can carry a mom for a short tune-up ride.
Most kids ages 5 and under need a miniature pony. Minis are a ton of fun and are always in demand, so it is not difficult to find new homes for them when your kids grow out of them. The AMHA registers horses 34" and under. The AMHR has two divisions: Class A is under 34" and Class B is 34-38". Class A minis are wonderful for driving, but are not generally large enough to carry a rider. As long as the rider is under 20% of the mini's body weight, most Class B minis can be ridden.

Horse/Human Height Ratios:

After much time observing how riders sit on their horses, we've observed that there is a predictable ratio between a rider's height and where her leg will fall on the horse. Generally speaking, if the horse's height at the withers is 10" taller than the top of the human's head, then the rider's heel will fall right at the bottom of the horse's barrel. Also, with this height ratio, the human can just reach the horse's poll if the horse lifts his head up to the greatest height. When the horse's head is in a casual position, the horse and human stand eye to eye. Of course, there are exceptions to every generalization. Horses come in different shapes, so the rider's leg may fall in a different place on a 14h Arab than on a 14h Fjord. Also, one rider who is 5'7 may have long legs and another rider who is 5'7 may have short legs. The ratio we are using, human height 85% of horse height, is designed to exemplify a nice fit between a horse and human of average build. One of the reasons that we've used this ratio is that we would like to emphasize that most taller horses are finer boned, so though their height is greater, there carrying capacity may be lower, which we feel is a contributing factor in the soundness issues that are so prolific in horses over 15'3h.

*Most minis do not get smaller than 28-32". We continued to the size chart to very small sizes to help visualize the progression. Also, some toddlers and children are very petite for their ages.

Here's a PDF with lots of pictures of ponies with different size students

Pony Size PDF *Please note there was a typo in this doc saying that medium ponies are 13'3 and under. They are actually 13'2 and under.

Email

info@ponypros.net

Phone

(541) 848-9573