How heavy should a Shetland be?

[MissFliss]

I have companion Shetland pony who has been wintering out with some spelling horses. I saw him a couple of weeks ago and thought he was looking a bit porky and made a mental note to bring him in. This weekend I went to get him and he is grossly overweight! He is fine in himself, not lame at all and no digital pulse, but of course he needs to slim down. According to my weight tape he is 285kg. What weight should he be? He is around 10hh and a typical Shetland.

He is being yarded at night with some meadow hay, and spends the day in the fenced drive which has a minimum of pick. He is also being led out for half an hour a day. Poor little man, I feel like such a bad owner, but I am astonished how big he got so quickly!

[Joyscarer]

It is my preference to do a condition score on my horse rather than use a weight tape. My ex gym instructor said that when she was in shape she actually weighed more despite being smalled because fat weighs less than muscle.

[MrDCBags]

http://www.horsedata.co.uk/weight_table.htm

not sure if this helps

[Mikal]

If it helps - my shetlands are 10.2hh and one weighs 202kg and the other 198kg - they are both quite elderly and get ridden twice a week.