Maximum weight on a Shetland

[catroo]

Hi

I'm after a bit of advice on what you feel is the maximum rider weight for my Shetland.

He's a standard Shetland stallion, very 'up to height' and really good amount of bone. He wears 5ft3 rug to give you an idea of size.

He's just been professionally broken in with a small adult doing the riding. She looked good on him and I'd say she was 7-8 stone max fully clothed. He's now home having a break before he starts again.

I'm looking for a rider locally to hack him out and help keep him fit, his main rider would do all the schooling etc. It would need to be an adult or teenager.

What maximum weight would you suggest?

Thank you

 

[rhylis]

I used to ride Shetlands many years ago when I was around about 7 stone to 7.5. They all seemed to cope well with that as they were big standard types. A problem finding a rider for a Shetland can be finding someone short enough as well as light enough. I'm only 5ft1 so the proportions weren't too far out but I think I'd have felt awkward if I were any taller.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I'm 5'4" and about 10st and hop on my shetties for 15-20mins at a time when needed. I wouldn't ride them for longer than that. I will be breaking my soon to be 4yo in January but he is a big, chunky lad. All of ours are big and solid, even the wee-er mares are still solid, leg at each corner types.

It depends how much work you want them to do as to what you can expect them to do.

 

[GirlFriday]

Long reining is your friend here...

 

[catroo]

Thank you

I do plenty of long reining, I ideally need a rider to do more fast work with him in between though.

I might see if I can borrow one of the geldings and do ride and lead with him

 

[GirlFriday]

For faster work ride and lead sounds much fairer than a borderline weight jockey (and will be so cute... - have the forum seen pictures?).

 

[ester]

For faster work ride and lead sounds much fairer than a borderline weight jockey (and will be so cute... - have the forum seen pictures?).

What would you deem borderline then TN as OP might find a non borderline one?

 

[rara007]

In my limited experience with full up Shetland entires is that I wouldn't trust them to be the led in a ride and lead! A big entire standard isn't a small animal- sounds like he coped well with the rider that broke him so that gives you a ballpark. How big is his main rider? Roughly matching that would make stuff like bitting and saddles easiest!

 

[GirlFriday]

I've not seen the animal and am not aware of the level of fitness/maturity etc but the fact OP was asking about borderlines sort of implies likely jockeys might be close in OP's head, no?

There aren't many Shetlands I'd be comfortable seeing even small but normally sized (as in not unusually small due to medical condition) adults on TBH and this one is quite young.

 

[Charlie007]

After the Shettie grandnational at olympia they said these shetties can carry 14 stone!!!

 

[GirlFriday]

can carry <> is good for them to carry!

 

[ester]

Medical conditions?! I know small light adults without medical conditions that choose to have ponies themselves, they are just petite and certainly plenty of teens that would fit the brief without being what I would consider borderline. I'd agree with rara about the ride and lead issues too having seen it not go to well even with established if the ridden horse is horse not pony.

 

[GirlFriday]

I went to school with and now walk my dog with an adult who has a form of dwarfism - I'd happily see someone like that on something smaller/finer than a standard shettie. Most 'petite' adults - not so much, i can only think of one s I type. And yes, I do ride ponies myself when slim - but bigger ones!

 

[be positive]

Roughly where are you in the SW OP? I met someone recently who currently has nothing to ride, she is a tiny young adult and had owned a Shetland which she rode, I have offered her some riding with me in the new year but if you want to pm your area she may be interested in riding your pony as well.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

After the Shettie grandnational at olympia they said these shetties can carry 14 stone!!!

They can carry a fair bit and pull even more.

There is no weight limit on the Shetland pony grand national, just a height limit of 5ft.

When I looked into it back in 1999 you could be up to 5'2" and 9St. The rules haves changed a lot since then!!!

 

[pennyturner]

My 36" Shetland tanked off with me for a half mile gallop when I sat on him for laugh with just a head collar last year. I'm 5'6" and 11.5st.
He only pulled up because we reached the place we normally stop!

A month of so ago he stuck his neck between my legs from behind and lifted me onto his back. They are in many ways much stronger than larger ponies. Also plenty capable of dropping you if they think you're too heavy

 

[Charlie007]

They can carry a fair bit and pull even more.

There is no weight limit on the Shetland pony grand national, just a height limit of 5ft.

When I looked into it back in 1999 you could be up to 5'2" and 9St. The rules haves changed a lot since then!!!

I'm not sure they were referring to the weight limit in the grandnational, I think it was more in general that they could carry 14stone . I was quite shocked!! Although a proper standard shetland can't be far off the height of a welsh A can it?? I'm so used to seeing miniatures!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I'm not sure they were referring to the weight limit in the grandnational, I think it was more in general that they could carry 14stone . I was quite shocked!! Although a proper standard shetland can't be far off the height of a welsh A can it?? I'm so used to seeing miniatures!

Good grief no! I think the grand national employs a - suitable weight for height limit but defos not implying that they can race with 14St lol!

The max a registered Shetland is allowed to be is 42" which is 10.2hh. Your average Welsh A is about 11.2hh. Yes some are smaller, some are bigger - upto 12hh to be registered properly. Mini shetlands top out at 34". Above that they become a standard.

 

[millikins]

We broke a 10.2 standard gelding with my daughter as rider. She's 5'3" and about 9st. Pony carried her without any problems, more of an issue is finding a suitable saddle. He was such a chunk that he took up her leg quite well. They are far more substantial than Welshies.

 

[Sandstone1]

I saw the bit on BBC breakfast yesterday. They were talking about the Shetland pony grand national and 14stone weight limit was mentioned but it must be a mistake surely!

 

[rara007]

Yes, no weight limit just age 14 limit (and 5 foot)

 

[Auslander]

This little chap appears to be coping pretty well with a an adult rider! https://www.facebook.com/the.fei/videos/1187526804628043/?hc_ref=SEARCH

 

[catroo]

Thank you all

His main rider is a small adult, I'd say she's 5ft max. She isn't locally though, he'll be going to her yard for a few weeks at a time to prep and compete and then come back home in between. He absolutely loves being ridden, squeeze only required!, so I'd like to find someone locally to keep him going in between.

I'm lucky in that I can hack for miles on private tracks that are secure, I'd only ride and lead round these to limit the risk. The tracks are only open to people from the yard. He is a big strong boy but he is well socialised, he's competed in hand all over the country, stayed away at shows etc.

He's 5yo, I did a lot of work with him prioring to backing to make sure he was fit and strong over his back. Once he's had his little holiday I'll do the same again.

I don't necessarily have a rider in mind, a few people have made suggestions and said 'so and so is only 5'2 and 9 stone' etc etc, I'm just trying to find the best option. Ideally as light as possible but very experienced and competent so I can trust them to go off alone.