How tall for ridinga shetland?

[oinkmoooink]

One of my shetland ponies really would make a lovely show pony - or soeveryone says- but im not sure how tall a rider we couldget away with putting on her, shes 38iches,last time i measured and i know shetland riders do tend to end upa bit tall, but how tall could she get away with in the show ring?
I will post pics when my computers fixd, oh and shes 4 years old
We are looking for a little rider for her if anyones innterestedand we are going to loan her at the end of may...if anyons interesed...
Im araid the picsi put upwill probs befromabout a year ago, as shes currently quite woolly and needs a bath-was going to do that todaay but weather...

[oinkmoooink]

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/oinkmoooink/pebblescute.jpg
only pic on this computer

[Wally]

Don't do what the majority in the UK do, they have tall riders and then ride with their stirrups up under thier chin, thus throwing their balance out and they end up sitting on the ponies' loins.

Nothing wrong with a tall rider on a small horse so long as they use their legs as a counter balance, and have them long.

[oinkmoooink]

yeah, see my problem is, by the time most children can control a pony who doesntlive in side reins andstuff, their really tall! Shes be ok for lead rein, andfirstridden sort of stuff, but only with a good rider
and judges seem to think that if a child older than 6 they shouldnt ride a shtland- in general
Her mums 36inches and an angel, but i dontknowif i would ever finda rider small enough-though there was a lovely one for sale a while bak that had qualified for HOYS andstuff...

[Frances]

I think she looks lovely but she is a bit fine built, unlike some of our more chunky weight carrying Shetlands.

Here are two photos of our 38" mares. You can see that they are much bulkier and can carry alot of weight - my daughter jumped on to lightly back them and they didn't mind in the slightest.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e302/Frances144/Capture-001584.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e302/Frances144/Capture-001631.jpg

Your rider will have to be fairly petite and as you say, probably won't have much control.

Our two look like brick-outhouses in comparison with your's!!

[oinkmoooink]

They were meant to be minis :D But cameout big, but kept someoftheminibuild which is a pain. Shes been ridden where she was on loan, ovr jumps too, but the people weight nothing, ithink with the right training she could comfortable go up to 6 1/2stone, wouldnt want anymore on her for too long though (i hop onher mum occasionaly whos smaller anda bitfiner to check she stilunderstands leg aids, but shes incrediblystrong from driving)
your two do look niceand chunky, wish mine were! Pebblesdoes have more weight on her now,she was 3 i thatphoto- judges ata show thought she was a 2 year old:o
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/oinkmoooink/Picture1678.jpg -mum, she does put her earsforward, honest!

[Wally]

I think our lot might be referred to as substantial Island type! :D :D

[oinkmoooink]

Just some more pics of them, not sure why...their from the other day, do you think the chestnut one is looking a bit chubby? She seems to have grown an extra stomach from when she left me

[allinyourrows]

Do you know anyone with a very light shotish teen/older child?

[oinkmoooink]

Not really, theres one girl in my village (nevermet her but friend knows her) who is quite small and verty light, whos always walking through the field, so might catch her next time i see her walkining through the field, or get my friend to ask her
we'll put an ad up in the local shop, the older shewttie would be fine with anything as long as they dont pull on her mouth (she doesnt do anything then, just doesnt respond) , and the younger one would be ok on leadrein, but needs someone a tad more confident, shes only 4

[MollyMuddle]

We show our shetland stallion in the lead rein pony or first riddens, with a 2 year old jockey in the lead rien and a 5 year old in the first ridden. But I have had my 7 year old cousin, who schools him, on him at a show, he's 11.1h because he's a native shetland x american shetland so he's big enough for that. But so long as the rider isn't too heavy for the pony theres no height limit, unless he feet are on the floor ;)

[Wally]

Rules state that no child under the age of 12 may ride a stalion in the SPSBS rules, so a stallon will not be allowed in the first ridden.

[laceyfreckle]

i think you'll just have to keep looking for a 'small child'.

I am very lucky that my daughter is 9 but only weighs 3st 111oz and is the height of a 5yr old (and can ride ok but still a novice:D) please excuse her hands in pic.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t40/laceyfreckle/EBAY232.jpg

I am currently 'training' my nearly 3yr old son as well and he is off lead rein now on my pony but only in walk and sitting trot. (still needs a leader for rising trot)

[laceyfreckle]

double posted

[oinkmoooink]

Shes tiny!!!
We'll keep look out, the older one can take my weight, and the yuonger one can, but not for too long, but its pointless me riding them for more than 5mins, i just sit on them occasionally to make sure they still know thier leg aids etc
My neice was on my coloured yesturday which was qite sweet, but they dontcome down all that often

[eml]

Just a comment, I don't know where you show mollymuddle but in the uk stallions cannot be ridden/shown by anyone under 12 and no child under 3 is allowed in LR classes.

I know the Shetlands are along way offshore but I suspect the same rules are applied.

[Wally]

They certainly are.