How do you break a shetland in?

[P0ny Lover]

Was wondering how you break a shetland in since they are so little. I have a shetland myself, and if he was younger (he's 34 and a stallion) I would totally have broken him in. I'm 5,1 and roughly 7 stones so I think I would be able to break a shetland in? Anyone have experience in doing so?

FYI I was talking about this with my friend that's why I'm wondering

 

[rhino]

You use your least favourite child, surely?

 

[teddy_]

To my knowledge, the showing people I know have used young riders who are confident and accomplished for their age.

Saying that, if the Shetland is a full up type, 7 stone is not too heavy.

I competed and took cubbing a Shetland stallion when I weighed 8 stone 3lbs - and he absolutely did not struggle to carry me.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Not done it personally but my childhood Shetland was started by my mum with lots of long reining and a dummy then a very small teen.
He turned into an incredible pony.

 

[Peglo]

I broke in a half miniature Shetland as a young teen. I was very skinny but my legs were almost on the ground.

 

[Burnttoast]

I broke in a half miniature Shetland as a young teen. I was very skinny but my legs were almost on the ground.

My tired brain will only read "I broke in half a miniature Shetland" and think goodness that's a bit violent!

 

[daffy44]

Prayer?

 

[HopOnTrot]

We had a mini Shetland, I long reined her in cub saddle then placed 2 year old on top. Worked out fine

 

[teapot]

Carefully.

 

[Gloi]

Takes me back to my teens when there was a full up Shetland gelding that people dared others to ride. He was normally ridden on lead rein but he galloped off with me bareback round a 10 acre field without any trouble and no brakes.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

My daughter only just stopped riding a tall Shetland. She is just over 8 stone. He had no trouble carrying her. She’s been asked to help break in another Shetland. She won’t be riding that one regularly, it’s just to get him going.

 

[littleshetland]

I’ve never broken one in….just got them used to lots of handling, leading,grooming and having small kids around them. Got them to stand quietly with some hay to munch on, leant over them a few times and then quietly slipped a small (as someone said above, least favourite child ) on top and off you go! Best keep them on a lead rein for a while tho…

 

[ycbm]

I enlisted a parent with a small child and told them to keep firm hold of said child's loose jacket at all times and to lift them off if the pony took any kind of misstep.
.

 

[nutjob]

My trainer is backing one atm. She's petite and he looks quite large for a shetland, definitely not a miniature.

 

[Esmae]

I've only ever started one shetland and after a lot of ground work, I just chucked a child on board and the pony acted as if nothing had happened. It was sold by the breeder after that and went on to do shetland grand national races.

 

[tatty_v]

I’ve never broken one in….just got them used to lots of handling, leading,grooming and having small kids around them. Got them to stand quietly with some hay to munch on, leant over them a few times and then quietly slipped a small (as someone said above, least favourite child ) on top and off you go! Best keep them on a lead rein for a while tho…

We‘ve done this with ours too, he’s been super about it! Now doing a bit of long reining for exercise and to get him used to not always having a lead rein person.

 

[Marshpiper]

Actually you don’t, they break you in!