Question for Shetland Owners.

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Christmas_Kate

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Little man is being ridden by an older girl, who is experienced enough to ride him off the LR. he goes well for her, but she can only ride at weekends.
Today he was being a little S.O.D. In the end, through sheer desperation, i got on him myself and rode him. I did this with sadle and without, so see if it was his saddle making him play up (it wasnt... we've just realised he's okay coming back home... being a git going away).
Anyway, he went well for me, didnt seem to be struggling, and I even trotted him... no obvious problem.


So, the question is, do you think its okay for me to ride him? Realistically he's a large shettie at 9.3hh, and takes 4'6 rugs. I'm 5'5 and 9 1/4 stone. He wouldnt take more than a 14 inch saddle.
The problem with him is he's fat. and he needs exercising properly. Lungeing is justa no-go. He doesnt even respect the whip. Walking in hand is fine, but TBh it's a bit tedious. And my kids only ride on the LR atm, and only about once or twice a week each.

The possibility of me being able to hack him occasionally to vary his work, and to be able to get on and 'demonstate' when I'm teaching the kids seems to be there. But would I be awful in doing so? How would I knowif i was hurting him? if i was too heavy? What implications could there be from me riding him? could I hurt him long term? Obviously, I am very concerned about all these things, but just looking into the possibility of being able to exercise him myself.....
 
My friends shetland is 9.3HH and the vet said up to 4 stone with tack......he does have fine legs.....my friend is breaking him to drive, just an idea!
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I think shetlands are far hardier than we give them credit for. They used to be used to carry grown men!

If he is not showing any signs of struggling I would be tempted to ride him bareback but only for short periods as if he is a little tubby he will invariably b a bit unfit.

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I think there are shetlands and shetlands and it depends if your shetland is a traditonal type who were bred to carry men or is he more of a modern type?

TBH you jumping on him every now and again isn't going to make much difference to his weight.

Do your feet touch the ground when you are sat on him?
 
They were bred to carry a man, and they were used as pit ponies so riding him every now and then shouldnt hurt him. I am just starting to get mine ready for driving but I am a lot heavier than you.
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I remember once or twice my dad (6'1) got on my shetland when she was being naughty. She was a big shetland 10.2hh but she didn't struggle with his weight.
 
no, my feet come to about his knees bareback , But with a small leather saddle pad and stirrups I can ride 'short'. He showed no sign of struggling at all, and was prancing along full of the joys of spring. He's more of a traditional type, stocky and deep girthed.
 
TBH i think your shettie would soon tell you if he wasn't happy! If he is a standard 'old fashioned' shetland then i don't think short periods would hurt him at all, my little boy occasionally plods round on mine on LR and a young girls rides him once a week. Other than that he is long reined at the weekends and sometimes does some parelli games, which he loves, odd days of the week, he is five and gets bored very easy so likes to be working at he takes to everythin so easy!
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i have a nice big standard shetti (not a fan of minis myself!) and last year i had an older girl riding him - he started napping in the indoor and she didnt have the experience to sort it before it became a huge problem - so when no liveries were around - i got on bareback and rode him - just walk and trot (i am heavier than you but same height) he was fine - seemed to enjoy it (think it took us both back to the good old days we had together!) and i managed to easily sort out his napping before it became a big issue - i would say you will be fine as long as he isnt struggling - i would say thou to do it when no-one / not many are around as a lot of people think that they are for toddlers only. i remember back when i was about 12 hacking him out - a driver stopped and had a go at me saying i was too tall for him!!!
btw - have fun as ponies are fab
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I might break the trend but I think that is a tad heavy. I think there is a rule about how many inches of bone they have?
TBH I think 9st is fairly large amount for a shettie to carry. I'm not sure what people expect the horse to do when it's not happy, but I would be wary of doing damage. Perhaps ask your vet as they would know the size of pony and you and would be able to advise.
Like, the occasional pop on (like a couple of times a year) is unlikely to do damage but regular riding? Who knows.
Just IMO though.
 
I was told shetlands, the standard old fasioned type, were bred to carry men, and have seen pics of men riding them, but just wonder what possible damage could be done and what to watch for. I have no plans to start jumping him lol. I just thought the odd short walk out might be beneficial to him?

Long reining... that would be a serious health risk... to me. I prefer my face to not have hoof marks in it
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TBH he is lazy. Going away from home, even with a 2st child on him he'll go "oooh, too heavy... can't walk", then as soon as you head for home he goes "yay!!".
I did feel a complete pillock riding him, and have no menage, so was riding him down the road.


I have to say, he's a lovely ride
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Best thing is to ring the Shetland Pony Stud Book and ask. On the basis that a New Forest Pony can carry a stone per hand, and they're not half as stocky as Shetties' I'd say you'd be fine, even if you were a few stone heavier.

I keep my Shettie fit by riding my mare and leading him. He's a sod being ridden. Not bad on the lead rein apart from being bored stiff, but a sod off the lead rein unless the child is strong and brave.

I used to take my Shettie for miles on the lead, minus any child. Off road I let him off and he trots and canters along with us. In fact, he likes to be in front and is very fast. Due to 'Health and Safety of members of the public', I'm not allowed to let him off the lead on the Forest anymore, but there's another place I have a permit to ride on where there's no 'public' to endanger....not that he would, far too busy to bother with people!!

On the beach
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On the forest
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