Minatureshetlandpony

[meandmrblue]

Hi does anyone know what weight a minature Shetland pony can carry he needs to do some work as he is a little over weight at the moment.just got him last week .IAm strip grazing him to help with weight.

 

[ponypilotmum]

depends what height, but a true mini, i'd say about 4 stone.

 

[jumbyjack]

Probably around 125 to 150 kg, depends on build. My pony got to 205kg, I was so shocked as it sneaked up so gradually, diet put in place immediately!

 

[Stinkbomb]

A miniature shetland weighs around 100-150kg so you would need to base it on that ( if hes a miniature he will need to be under 34" and thats not that tall!! ). There are plenty of other exercises a mini can do other than being ridden that will work the calories off. Lunging and walking in hand. I have two minis, one that needs work at the start of every summer to get the weight off for the shows and they are never ridden.
Just be mindful not to reduce his food intake too much or this can cause Hyperlipemia in smaller breeds particulaly.

 

[varkie]

My daughter is 3 stone, and the ponies easily carry her - but she is getting quite tall (she'll be six this year), so I'd imagine she would outgrow them in the next year. So I'd say it depends on the miniature - a right up to height miniature will carry more than one a hand or more less. Also dependent on build - all mine are pretty stocky.

A smaller, lighter one, I think you'd have a limit of around 3 stone. A stockier, heavier one, you'd have a limit of 4 stone - maybe a bit more.

Mini shetlands can vary in their own weight - some of our smaller ones are only 125kg, but the bigger ones can go up to 175kg.

 

[muddygreymare]

Could you take him for in hand hacks, lunge him/ longrein etc to get him doing the work? I think he could only carry 3-4 stone so it might also be useful to do some inhand/groundwork with him to give him some exercise if you don't have a small enough rider