Dartmoor Hill Ponies

lizijj

lizijj

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Hi, just posting after a previous thread prompted my further questions.

I have two Dartmoor Hill Ponies (of Shetland type and between 11 and 12hh). Have had them since the drift (probably weaned too early), but well handled and had them three years now.

I'm breaking them in to ride and drive, have bitted, long reined and had both saddles and 'Klibber' back packs on, (they have to make farm deliveries to have a job).

As far as backing goes - I'm 5ft 1 and shock horror about 11 and a half stone. They are sturdy little beasts, I'd be interested in peoples opinions - constructive ones - about backing them myself.

Thanks :)
 
Get someone to watch, if their back dips with you on I'd say you're too heavy. Ponies are tougher than people think. If they seem ok I would just make sure you build up the ridden work very gradually and swap for a lighter rider if they seem to be struggling.
 
How old are they? I posted asking about backing weights for my boy who's a dhp x cob and about 13hh and the general consensus seemed to be the rider should be around 9st max so I would imagine most people will advise against you doing it yourself. Sorry :(
 
They are four y/o. No need to be sorry! I thought I'd be too heavy, but have seen a lot/read a lot about the breed being able to take more weight than and average pony for that size. We have leaned over them for quite a while now and they are not dipping, just moving off!
 
Sorry, but I think that's too much for a pony that size, especially for backing. Build is more relevant than height but I wouldn't want 12 stone on a fully fit mature exmoor of that height myself, as with a saddle & riding stuff you'll be at least 12 stone.
Please tell me that 'if their back dips your too heavy' is a joke.
 
Little Legs - I did say constructive advice please - fed up with forum replies being either negative or sarcastic.... Thank you for your reply and advice anyhow. I know exactly what 'Sugar and Spice' means by back dipping. :)
 
Not a joke, my opinion that's all. I happen to think ponies are tougher than people generally think. That's my experience of them. I don't believe in abuse which is why I said at the first sign of struggling a lighter rider be found. I wasn't, for instance, suggesting that a heavy rider get on a small pony for the first time then go hunting on it, or something like that, to work it to point of injury. How will somebody find out a particular ponys weight limit without trying and seeing?
 
Sorry, no idea why my advice wasn't constructive? I politely gave my reasons for thinking it was too much, not sure how that is either sarcastic or rude really. If someone else posts something that I find impossible to believe is a sensible reply to your thread I have every right to comment on it. Regardless of whether you get the meaning of sugar & spices reply, I certainly don't. Wasn't my understanding it was a recommended way to establish weight carrying ability, hence my hope it was a joke.
 
Cross posted s & s. Granted there are grey areas in weight carrying ability, but the back dips way past the point someone is borderline weightwise. I wouldn't want to use an obvious sign of pain to judge it.
 
OP it depends if they're moving off because they're uncomfortable with the weight, and I don't see how you'd feel that reaction without sitting on them. Whether you see that as a sign to sit on them or not depends on how cautious a person you are I guess. I'd sit on them. Even if it turns out to be a mistake, if you then get straight off I can't see there would be any harm done.
 
littlelegs said:
Cross posted s & s. Granted there are grey areas in weight carrying ability, but the back dips way past the point someone is borderline weightwise. I wouldn't want to use an obvious sign of pain to judge it.
Click to expand...

Agreed, ponies may be tough but they can also be incredibly stoical. OP - I won't back anything that little, and I am under 7 1/2st, but it is your ponies, your decision :)

Would love to see pics, I don't think I've ever seen any of the smaller DHP's :D
 
Littlelegs just to be clear (because you said about not understanding, not because I think you're daft (because I don't)) its what I was taught and I don't mean a huge ouchy sudden dip, I mean a small slight sagging of the back with rider on due to muscles of horse being unable to support weight of rider. I don't believe its a pain response. Of course I have no problem if you disagree.
 
We'll have to agree to disagree, I think once a horse does that its way beyond slightly too heavy. As horses can't talk, I think its up to us not to put them in the position that we have to look for clear signs we've asked too much. Not just in cases like the ops where its a young horse with its first experience, but for any horse.
 
Too heavy, if they have not had the greatest start in life anyway, so probably won't be really strong till they are five or six.
As long as they are quiet types there is no reason why a child can't back them, and you do all the ground work, it takes two people to back a pony anyway.
It will be good for them to do plenty of long reining and they can go down in to the village and so on without the added complication of a rider.
 
 
Personally, no, I wouldn't consider it, what little legs says is spot on and constructive IMO. Good luck with them though, it sounds like you have been giving them the right start and Im sure youll be able to find some scrapper of a teenager who could come and help you :D
 
Thank you, they both look really sweet :) I've only seen the bigger ones, and crosses - did you know that the reserve for the Pony European Event team last year was out of a DHP mare? :D
 
Aww they're lovely :) I have to say I don't think I'd be happy backing them myself and I'm just under 9 stone, they don't look as stocky as the full up shetlands you can get who can carry adults. Good luck with them though, they look like they've really come on!
 
They're lovely little ponies you've got! :D I have one who was 11.2hh when I got her at 4 but she has matured a lot more now she is 6 (not quite sure what height she stands at now, no bigger than 12hh.) I rode her a couple of times when we first got her and I'm about 5'4 and 9 stone. I wouldn't really have wanted to have been any heavier.

First day we got her:
260585_10150682335365164_3225119_n.jpg


Taken in December (a lot fatter and hairier but she is a sturdier build all round now):
388505_10151042889185164_1315550904_n.jpg

:)
 
Thanks guys - there were an awful lot of other ponies in the drift we bought from, I only hope they have all have found nice homes, but somehow....

It's frustrating that they are not recognised as a native breed. 'Tina Turner' (the coloured) in my opinion, is a nice stamp of a native mare.

I'll look for a 'scrappy' teenager, though I'm paranoid about liability these days!
 
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