Am i too heavy for my pony?

Question

I'm 110lbs

and i have a10 year old 9.2HH hand stallion (going to geld this fall)

am i to big to ride him?

i sit on him in the pasture while he's grazing and

he doesn't mind at all... i also walk him around while riding him, but mostly i just sit while he grazes.. i'm not hurting him am i? He's really tough so even if he is in pain he'll ignore it so i can't tell if i'm to heavy or not.. i have a good seat so i think he appreciates that at least and after i dismount i always check back to see if he' s sore but he's not! so do you think i could ride him at a trot? or is that too much??

i'm 5'5'' and my feet hang about 5-6 inches past his belly.. and he's more of an american shetland build more horse looking like with longer legs and neck..he's a grade so i really don't know what he is but my vet says he's half shetland and hackney pony... he's well broke but all the little kids are too scared to ride him lol so someone has too!

Answer 1

You're certainly too tall! As for too heavy, I'd guess he weighs around 200Kg max. So, he can carry 15% - 25% of his bodyweight. Working on an average of 20% he can carry 40Kg. 40Kg = 88lbs so yes, you are too heavy for him!

Why have you waited until he was 10 to geld him (out of interest)?

I don't think you should ride him at all, even if he was comfortable carrying 25% of his bodyweight (which unless he is in good health, well fittened, he won't be) that's only 50Kg (110lb) so he'd have to be fighting fit and you'd still be the absolute heaviest he could carry.

Answer 2

I would have to say no.  When I lived in Germany I saw large adult ride Welsh ponies at a show.  It was amazing.  But at the first signs that he can no longer tolerate your weight, stop.

Answer 3

yes sorry but the leg of a pony cant hold that much my aunt is big and almost killed a horse by trying to rid it so sorry  

Answer 4

I dont realy know  but if you are looking for someone to lease him I will I live 25min from the hunter jumper so if you ned me call 650 464 0328

Answer 5

Well, Im 5'4'' and I wouldnt think of getting on anything lesser than 14hh...and Im slim too...

Would be interesting to see what others say.... :-S

Edit: how about just lungeing him mostly instead so you can have more of a relationship that way?

I have a colt foal that I may never ride as he may be too small but I am training him and the bond we have already is amazing that it doesnt really concern me if I cant ride him. My kids will instead :-)

Answer 6

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Answer 7

It should be fine if he is in good health and has all of his muscles built up. I would lunge him for a while( a month or so) to get all of his muscles built up first. And even then you shouldn't ride him too much. But if he shows any signs of tiring out, or being very sore, i wouldn't ride him at a trot.

Answer 8

Ponies that size are deceptively strong.  You shouldn't be riding him extensively, but getting on every once an a while would be fine.  In my opinion, it is better to ride him a bit to keep him in shape than not and let him get fat and uncomfortable.  If you are really looking for something to do with him, you could break him to drive or do natural horsemanship with him and have him be a "trick pony."  As long as you are not riding too much and are not using him as your primary riding horse, you should be totally fine.  Good luck and happy riding!

Answer 9

no you are not too heavy, but before i answer, a 10 year old is too late to geld. you have to geld them early or they will still have the stallion instinct.

okay, when you sit on him you are not hurting him, unless you are too far back on him back, then you are.

you could probably jump if you wanted.

but over all, no any one can ride him, but i am pretty sure it is way to late

Answer 10

you've already figured out that for any real work you would be too heavy for this pony, but for what you are doing, he can handle it, including a bit of trot.  The important thing here is to make sure that you ride him correctly and balanced, so as to make it as easy as possibly for him.  i think training him to drive is great and you will have a lot of fun with him.

As far as the people who say it is too late to geld him that is quite preposterous.  the true stallion behavior is literally due to the testicles.  take those away and the true stalloin behavior goes away.  However, he will have the hormones running thru his system for a good six months or so, so you will continue to see the stallion like behavior for quite some time.  He will most likely retain some basic stallion like characteristics, but these are present in many geldings who are just a bit more "true men" *LOL*....i've had to deal with many geldings who were gelded late (i.e. 8-10 yrs or later) and many of those who had been used for breeding, and none of them continued to act true stallion like after the hormones were gone from their system...

good luck with your guy.. he sounds great.

Answer 11

You are not to heavy for what you are doing with him. I've seen many shetlands/crosses carry adults no problems. You probably wouldn't want to work him too hard or for too long but you certainly could ride him. I'd do lots of lunge work and other strengthening work before you start riding him more though to make sure his back is strong enough. Good luck!

Answer 12

No your not to big but you can't geld them at 10 years, they need to be gelded before 2 yrs old because else they'll have the stallion insticts still.

Charlotte x

Answer 13

I think you might have grown out of your pony. I wouldn't trot on him. He just seems to be to small for you if your feet are hanging 5 ot 6 inches past his belly. I'm not sure though! Good luck! Maybe you could ask your vet or riding instuctor.