Shetland showing - critque please

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Please could any shetland showing gurus out there who have a spare minute critique this lad for me? He's a miniature, to make no more than about 31", 1st pic is as a yearling, winning rosettes. 2nd pic is as he is today, a 2-yr old gelding. I'm seriously thinking of buying this super little lad as a step into the shetland showing world. Just local stuff, maybe county if he (and me) are good enough. For fun after I've finally admitted to stopping riding because of a very bad back. Inky's mum out there? What do you think? Thanks.

 

[trottingon]

Hi,
I can't give you a proper conformation critique, but he does look rather nice and his colour/markings are very attractive. I just wanted to mention that you said you have a bad back - do you realise the amount of bending down required with a little pony? Yes the mucking out and carrying of heavy water buckets and haynets etc might be considerably less than for a horse so your back will be spared there, but everything else to do with such a small ponio will involve bending down, from picking out feet to grooming etc, have you considered how these actions might affect your back?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Trottingon, yes, I've already got 3 rescue shetlands, one a real tiny at 26" so I know everything there is to know about bending down! I've got a trashed lower back and getting on and off my retired 15.3hh cob is impossible any more, even with a humungus mounting block. So is riding properly and pretty much everything really. But I've found that with the tinies I don't feel vulnerable and I can pace myself. And I need a focus now so that I don't lose heart. My 3 rescued miniatures are a delight but not show quality so I thought I'd find a super little show quality shettie and have some fun. Just wondered if the little skewbald had the right conformation to do reasonably well at a local level. Thanks for your help and concern T, it's appreciated x

 

[Gracie21]

I think he's lovely and looks quite showy! You might as well go and have some fun Xx

 

[nikkik]

Looks nice to me. You could also have a go at driving, it's great fun with the little ones!!

 

[ClobellsandBaubles]

No critique apart from he's a real cutie You should find Stinkbomb I think she has miniatures.

 

[Shysmum]

gorgeous !!

 

[be positive]

Not the best photo but to me he is rather straight in his shoulder and stands over too much ground, he fits into a rectangle rather than a square which I would prefer to see. It may just be that he is tied up so he is stretched, a better photo would possibly change my opinion.

He has got some presence though and nice markings that would stand out locally.