Bone Size Miniature Shetland Pony

[basil99]

I show miniature shetland ponies and was told one day my pony was light on bone. I have measured the size of my ponies canon bones and they seem to be 5 - 5.5". Have any of you measured your ponies as I would love to know. The breed standard says nothing about bone size. I would welcome some comments.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Like everything with showing its down to the judges personal preference alot of the time and what they like.

Elf On A Shelf on here shows Shetlands I think hers are standard though but she may know more about it hopefully she will be along shortly.

 

[P.forpony]

Oooh how old are your shetlands?
I've recently ventured into the mini world (for my sins!) and was thinking my yearling was looking a bit spindly but he seems to be getting a bit more solid in the last month or so.
We've only had a few outings so far but had some nice feedback, so I'm assuming it's just the gawky colt effect!
I'll have to get the tape measure out, obviously won't be comparable to an adult but interesting all the same.

 

[julesjoy]

I'll see if any of mine let me measure them, if you don't hear back I've forgotten or they killed me!

 

[basil99]

I have 3 miniatures a 4 year old gelding a 7 year old mare and a 13 year old mare. I have ridden all my life but now I am older I find they keep my interest in horses and I love competing. As in all showing classes you have to take the comments the judges make but this particular judge made me think and I have measured my three and they range from 4.5 inches to 5.5 inches which I think is reasonable given my arab 14.2 has 8inches of bone. I find it interesting there is no breed standard as mine are all registered. Beware once you start showing you will become hooked I am but do not regret it for one moment,

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I have 3 miniatures a 4 year old gelding a 7 year old mare and a 13 year old mare. I have ridden all my life but now I am older I find they keep my interest in horses and I love competing. As in all showing classes you have to take the comments the judges make but this particular judge made me think and I have measured my three and they range from 4.5 inches to 5.5 inches which I think is reasonable given my arab 14.2 has 8inches of bone. I find it interesting there is no breed standard as mine are all registered. Beware once you start showing you will become hooked I am but do not regret it for one moment,

Minis should just be scaled down standards. So the breed standard is the same for both minis and standards, the onlh difference should be height. They shouldn't be fine of bone or light framed in the body. They should be stocky wee buggers!

 

[P.forpony]

Ok got the measuring tape out and we're roughly 29 tall with 3.5 (ish, it wriggles) inches of bone. I've got my fingers crossed for a chunky boy as he grows.

 

[Surbie]

I'm so disappointed. I came here for pictures of cute little hooligans. Where are they????
Surely this breaks a forum rule?

 

[P.forpony]

Does this count?

 

[P.forpony]

Gratuitous mini spam now, tb and cockerjack (aka accident) for scale

 

[basil99]

Thank you for measuring sounds like your yearling will end up with similar bone to mine. I wish you well with your wee man and lots of fun and adventures.

 

[Surbie]

Thank you @P.forpony!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Was it a sheltland or county show?

If it was a local affair I find some judges know absolutely nothing about certain breeds.

I have Arab's and have been told some very weird things from judges.

A few examples

You should be in the part bred class, err no they are a pure bred foreign breed.

Your horse should be plaited or be in the native class.

 

[basil99]

It was a shetland pony affiliated show with a shetland pony judge I know exactly what you are saying about local shows you get totally bizarre comments and you wonder who picked the judge. My favourite an in hand class for miniature ponies and the judge asked us to change the rein! I have decided no matter at what level you show you get these random comments. They may be affiliated judges but they are not gods!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It was a shetland pony affiliated show with a shetland pony judge I know exactly what you are saying about local shows you get totally bizarre comments and you wonder who picked the judge. My favourite an in hand class for miniature ponies and the judge asked us to change the rein! I have decided no matter at what level you show you get these random comments. They may be affiliated judges but they are not gods!

This was a few years ago now this judge supposedly showed Arabs to hoys level... luckily for them it was unaffiliated else there would have been a lot of complaints going in!

I did the most utterly bizarre veteran inhand class this morning! It went a little something like this:
All walk in and round.
All trot round together.
All change rein at the trot.
Trot the other way. 2 circuits each way!
Line up.
Walk away.
Walk back and past.
Trot back and round - with human on the inside.
Walk round to place.

Well if I wasnt warm enough before I was positively sweating by the end!

The ridden was a wee bit better though we trotted both reins then cantered both reins so not as drastic.

Then we get onto the championship... 4 ridden horses/ponies and me on my 2 feet.
All walk round.
All trot round - yes I am managing to keep up with them!
Change rein at trot and keep running the other way!
4 bloomin circuits each way I ran with my poor wee darty in the championship! Then they realised that I probably shouldn't keep going whilst the riddens canter on so I got to collapse in a heap on my poor ponies neck whilst they went both ways.
Then the 4 were brought back to trot and I was sent back out with them for another circuit!

Jeezo!!! If I wasn't fit before I am bloomin army fit now!!! It's the young handlers that were about to go in the ring under the same judge that I am currently pittying!

And I didn't even get a place in the championship for my effort!!!

 

[basil99]

Crikey that is horrendous there must have been some people nearly passing out. I have huge respect for judges and show them respect by presenting myself and my pony well, being polite and following their direction. However we all know that its difficult when you get a judge who clearly does not know how to judge an in hand class. If we love showing we just have to smile and move on there is nothing else to be done.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Crikey that is horrendous there must have been some people nearly passing out. I have huge respect for judges and show them respect by presenting myself and my pony well, being polite and following their direction. However we all know that its difficult when you get a judge who clearly does not know how to judge an in hand class. If we love showing we just have to smile and move on there is nothing else to be done.

Then add the judge to the little black book of "don't bother going under again"

 

[basil99]

You are so right!