As to ponies - There are a lot of different pony breeds out there.
The Welsh Pony has 4 different divisions (or did when I was most actively looking for ponies).
Section A - a "true" Mountain Pony. Sized up to 12.2 hh in the United States (not sure what the sections actually are in Wales or Great Britain). The smallest is usually no smaller than 11 hh (or 44" at the withers).
Section B - called a "riding pony". Larger in height, built somewhat different for a smoother ride (& drive) for older child/adult riders. Sized up to 14.2 hh. Not sure if there is a lower limit. A cross between a Section A and a Section B usually retains the Section B status - even if smaller but about 20 yrs ago (about, I think) there was a lot of "infighting" over these designations (was fighting over colors/markings, too). Haven't been a member in the last 15 yrs, not following and have no idea what the current rules are with the Welsh Pony Society.
Section C - called a small cob or a cob pony. Sized up to 13.2 hh (might be wrong on that one, but used to be) BUT built much heavier/cobby. Often have good, true A lines bred in.
Section D - A cob HORSE, based on Welsh pony lineage. There are strains that are built for riding and there are strains that are used for heavy harness just like an actual draft horse.
Welshies, of course, orginated in Wales. There are still quite a number of breeders there and they have the Horse of the Year show to present their stock at. BIG DEAL!! Many lovely Welshies here in the US - there were several active importers on the West Coast - think I see some new ones brought in every so often. Loved reading of the tales of these importers when they went to the various breeding farms and returned to wait for their new ponies!!!
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The Shetlands are imported from the Shetland Isles. In Shetland history, the first imports came across "the pond" in 1880 and the American Shetland Pony Club was one of the first breed associations started here. The ponies first imported were of different sizes and colors.
Now there is a split between Miniature Horses (currently 3 different registries) and Shetlands (currently has 4 sections) - in the US. The 4 sections are currently Foundation, Classic, Modern & Modern Pleasure. Heights up to
Yes Shetlands of all types are small (the tallest height is 46"). They can be cross bred with full size horses (any pony breed can be) to produce more height w/ pony like dispositions and metabolism (why I did it).
And several of our 1/2 shetlands ARE or were large enough for an adult to ride. Standard horseman's pony height limit is 14.2 hh. (58" at the withers). Breeding our 14.1 hh Arab mare to an 11 hh Shetland stallion resulted in a 1/2 arab pony that was larger than she was (both in height & frame) when he matured and measured "pony height" of 14.1 7/8" - permanent pony card in the then USEQ program (used to be the American Horse Show Asociation or ASHA).
I pictured 2 of our daughters riding him in different years in post on other thread - here are a couple of me riding him before we sold him (he's the 2nd regretted sale). 1st pic taken of me in January 2006. Does anyone on this thread recognize the name of the woman (eventing/TB worlds) in the middle picture (march 2006)? 3rd of me again.
I am not a small woman. And while Wynn is much shorter than myself, she isn't a "small" person either.... We MISS Blizzard.
Blizzard's Shetland sire - he was a WONDERFUL pony. All shetland! Knew his job when he was a kid's riding pony, got mares settled on one cover(breeding) and was a fun adult handful to drive for MILES. The pic on the left was taken when he was 13yrs old. We had already owned him for 10 yrs. and a pic of me standing with him, so you can see how he is "really sized", LOL. I am 5'6" tall. Have no idea on the weight in the '99 pic - think just under 200. He sired a total of 32 offspring - purebred Shets, Hackney/ShetXs & horseXs over his 20 yr lifespan.
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There are many other breeds of ponies - several breeds of which are large enough and with plenty of frame/substance to carry a teenager or adult of various weights. A rounder barreled pony may take up more leg on a tall person - then you are just dealing with the person's height above the pony's back...
The Welsh Pony has 4 different divisions (or did when I was most actively looking for ponies).
Section A - a "true" Mountain Pony. Sized up to 12.2 hh in the United States (not sure what the sections actually are in Wales or Great Britain). The smallest is usually no smaller than 11 hh (or 44" at the withers).
Section B - called a "riding pony". Larger in height, built somewhat different for a smoother ride (& drive) for older child/adult riders. Sized up to 14.2 hh. Not sure if there is a lower limit. A cross between a Section A and a Section B usually retains the Section B status - even if smaller but about 20 yrs ago (about, I think) there was a lot of "infighting" over these designations (was fighting over colors/markings, too). Haven't been a member in the last 15 yrs, not following and have no idea what the current rules are with the Welsh Pony Society.
Section C - called a small cob or a cob pony. Sized up to 13.2 hh (might be wrong on that one, but used to be) BUT built much heavier/cobby. Often have good, true A lines bred in.
Section D - A cob HORSE, based on Welsh pony lineage. There are strains that are built for riding and there are strains that are used for heavy harness just like an actual draft horse.
Welshies, of course, orginated in Wales. There are still quite a number of breeders there and they have the Horse of the Year show to present their stock at. BIG DEAL!! Many lovely Welshies here in the US - there were several active importers on the West Coast - think I see some new ones brought in every so often. Loved reading of the tales of these importers when they went to the various breeding farms and returned to wait for their new ponies!!!
**********
The Shetlands are imported from the Shetland Isles. In Shetland history, the first imports came across "the pond" in 1880 and the American Shetland Pony Club was one of the first breed associations started here. The ponies first imported were of different sizes and colors.
Now there is a split between Miniature Horses (currently 3 different registries) and Shetlands (currently has 4 sections) - in the US. The 4 sections are currently Foundation, Classic, Modern & Modern Pleasure. Heights up to
Yes Shetlands of all types are small (the tallest height is 46"). They can be cross bred with full size horses (any pony breed can be) to produce more height w/ pony like dispositions and metabolism (why I did it).
And several of our 1/2 shetlands ARE or were large enough for an adult to ride. Standard horseman's pony height limit is 14.2 hh. (58" at the withers). Breeding our 14.1 hh Arab mare to an 11 hh Shetland stallion resulted in a 1/2 arab pony that was larger than she was (both in height & frame) when he matured and measured "pony height" of 14.1 7/8" - permanent pony card in the then USEQ program (used to be the American Horse Show Asociation or ASHA).
I pictured 2 of our daughters riding him in different years in post on other thread - here are a couple of me riding him before we sold him (he's the 2nd regretted sale). 1st pic taken of me in January 2006. Does anyone on this thread recognize the name of the woman (eventing/TB worlds) in the middle picture (march 2006)? 3rd of me again.
I am not a small woman. And while Wynn is much shorter than myself, she isn't a "small" person either.... We MISS Blizzard.
Blizzard's Shetland sire - he was a WONDERFUL pony. All shetland! Knew his job when he was a kid's riding pony, got mares settled on one cover(breeding) and was a fun adult handful to drive for MILES. The pic on the left was taken when he was 13yrs old. We had already owned him for 10 yrs. and a pic of me standing with him, so you can see how he is "really sized", LOL. I am 5'6" tall. Have no idea on the weight in the '99 pic - think just under 200. He sired a total of 32 offspring - purebred Shets, Hackney/ShetXs & horseXs over his 20 yr lifespan.
**********
There are many other breeds of ponies - several breeds of which are large enough and with plenty of frame/substance to carry a teenager or adult of various weights. A rounder barreled pony may take up more leg on a tall person - then you are just dealing with the person's height above the pony's back...
