Introduction with pics and a "how much can he carry?" question!

[Kerry Claire]

Hello there, it's about time I join the adults who ride ponies club! I've been a member of these forums for quite a while but haven't posted much in a long time but hopefully that's about to change!

My name's Kerry, I'm 18 and I bought my first pony a couple of months ago. He's a 12.2hh part bred Welsh C called Simon (Si for short) and he's just turned 4yrs old. I'm hoping to get a sharer for him soon as I'm finding it hard to give him the time he deserves due to work commitments etc.

So my question is this.. once he's fully broken in and been in regular work for a few weeks, what's the most weight you think he could carry (assuming it's an experienced rider)? He is slightly chunkier than he looks in that second picture but quite fine for a C in my opinion.

Thanks in advance for any replies and I hope to get to know you all soon!

[Pink's lady]

He does look rather petite! He's also little (12.2 is weenie :p) and only a baby. I therefore wouldn't be willing to put more than 8st on him. Once he's filled out and grown up a bit, maybe 9st. Bear in mind his saddle will weight a stone or so and the riders 'standing still without riding stuff on' weight is a lot less than their 'wellies, three pairs of trousers and four tops with a body protector and a thick jacket on' weight.

I'm 10st and wouldn't even considering getting on him.

[puzzles]

I would say a bit less than that - about 7-8 stone max. for a rider. a LW saddle & clothing would help considerably.

xx

[skips and soda]

I wouldn't like to say how much he could carry but a Wintec saddle is nice and lightweight and the changeable gullet/Cair panels means it will change shape with your horse as he fills out. Hope this helps!

[Kerry Claire]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I really appreciate it :)

I have to say I'm rather surprised by the responses I'm getting. I'm now very glad I asked though as it will probably save his back in the long run. The first person I asked reckoned he could easily take 13st! I thought about 10 myself, but after I heard that I was thinking of advertising for a sharer with a weight limit of 11st (providing they're experienced). I do think he looks chunkier than in those pictures but as I said not significantly.

He does have a very lightweight saddle and he carries me without batting an eyelid (I'm 8st) but with him being young I don't want to sacrifice experience for weight with any potential sharers if that makes sense. It's hard to find the balance as most people light enough looking for a share seem to be kids straight from riding schools - deffinately not what I want for my baby.

Do you think it would be reasonable to advertise for someone under 9st and if they're at the heavier end just see how he copes and carries himself with them aboard?

Thanks again

Kerry

[laceyfreckle]

i would have said about 9.5 - 10.5 stone. more 9.5 stone until he is about 5 and a half. I have a 12.2hh sec B mare who carry's me fine and i'm 10 stone. she also carrys my sharer fine who's 9 stone. Yours does look quite fine for a C ...more of a B type shape.

[Brandy Snap]

I've always gone with the 'noone heavier than me rides my pony' philosophy!

As he's so young and still growing and learning and will be unbalanced I wouldnt put anyone heavier than you on him.

We have a 13.3hh 4 year old at the yard and noone over 9stone can ride him at the mo. When he's older and more balanced and muscled then he'll be able to carry more weight.

[ShariN]

From what I can see in the pictures he looks rather narrow and refined.
As young as he is and as refined his build is at 12.2 hands, I would not put more than 100lbs on him for now.

Over on this side of the US..they are breeding very refine Icelandic's, built very much like him and they are finding out that those small equines with that kind of build, can not handle the weight, their thick body and big boned counter parts can.

Is up to you what you do, but I would not want to put to much weight on him at this point, just to be on the safe side.

[abbiegirl]

awe he is gorgeous:)

[puzzles]

Yum yum . . . ;-)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[xxxkristinaxxx]

I wouldn't put anyone heavier than 9stone on him. And they would have to be a balanced rider

[salee]

while the breed details for most native types claim they can carry a small elephant,
you have to remember this was decided way back when they would have been carrying adults for SLOW riding such as back and too from farms and markets, not showjumping or faster work, also the tradition of not breaking till 4 years old was more common,

the modern versions of native breeds have tended to be lighter than the original, so i would say knock a few stone off the heaviest estimate, also bear in mind it is not only the weight in stones of the rider but how well the rider controls their weight when mounted.

an old instructor of mine used to say some light riders 'rode heavy' i.e they banged about in the saddle or slouched making it harder for the horse to carry them,
to understand this imagine you are piggybacking a child... if the kid flops about or wriggles it is not as easy as if they keep still is it?

for your pony i would say untill he is older not more than 8 stone pref less, and then when mature he can cope with upto 10 stone depending on the work expected, and the length of time ridden.

my old 11.2hh welsh was such a difficult pony to control, the kids couldn't always cope so i sometimes rode him for 10min or so, i was about 8 1/2 stone so way over his weight but he still tried to run off etc, and despite it all he was sound & had no back problems at 25years old.

ponies = more challenge in a smaller package!