What breed is our new backyard pony?

[kathleengp]

Picked up this little guy inexpensively as a bday present for my 9 year old who rides at the barn, and for a future companion for our 14 year old QH who is boarded and will be being brought home this summer as soon as we are finished with some site prep.

The lady I got him from said he was sold to her as a "Miniature horse" (no papers, not even sure of exact age). He looks more like Shetland pony to me....he is almost 3, measures 10 hands and 309 pounds by the tape measure-estimate. I'd love the opinions of some more experienced eyes....what is he?

Thank you!!

 

[haviris]

To big for a mini, shetland would be my guess to!

 

[goodhors]

I think the Miniature Horses stop at about 38inches, measured at the last mane hair on the withers.

So some of them measured as ALL OTHER breeds of horse are, top of withers, might measure 40 inches.

He kind of looks like a Shetland type, which could be purebred, the Miniature breeding mentioned, or a combination of pony breeds. American Shetlands are a more streamlined, refined pony than the English Shetland, leggy. The American Shetland was a heavy influence in the Miniature Horse breeding program when they got the breed started. He has some filling out to do if he is only 3yrs old.

I would be very careful not to overweight him with riders yet. Small size riders under 40 pounds (or total of rider and tack) if he is trained to ride or learning to carry a rider.

Just go with "he is a larger Miniature Horse. Outgrew the breed standard". He might make a nice little driving pony as he gets older. Still lets you play with him, gets him exercised to prevent foundering and obesity. The Miniatures get fat on a handful of grass a day!! Have to be hard hearted to keep them trim looking.

 

[Bunnylady]

Looks like a mini to me. Not all minis stay under 38." Here's my girl, Syd at about 2 yrs (asleep and wearing her winter woolies!). Both of her parents were registered, but Syd is overheight, so she can't be registered.

And just to get you really confused, the miniature horse registries are based entirely on height (although they are leaning toward bloodlines, too, now). There are a lot of registered minis that are also registered Shetlands!

 

[lupinfarm]

I say oversized Mini as well Whatever he is he's freakin' ADORABLE. And I just LOVE your little "run in shelter" for him

Bunnylady, is your pen homemade panels put together with hinges? Do you have a larger photo of it?

 

[Bunnylady]

Bunnylady, is your pen homemade panels put together with hinges? Do you have a larger photo of it?

Yes, those are homemade panels. They were actually put together to make a portable pen so that my minis could graze on my lawn. I wanted something that I could move around easily, those big horse panels were just too big and awkward for me to manage alone (to say nothing of being overkill for Syd and a 32" mini mule!) The hinges are made with eye screws, and 6" carriage bolts for pins. My permanent perimeter fence is more substantial, but these panels work well enough for temporary set ups and any time I need to subdivide a pen (although I have to add a hot wire to keep the goats off.)

 

[lupinfarm]

Bunnylady, is your pen homemade panels put together with hinges? Do you have a larger photo of it?

Yes, those are homemade panels. They were actually put together to make a portable pen so that my minis could graze on my lawn. I wanted something that I could move around easily, those big horse panels were just too big and awkward for me to manage alone (to say nothing of being overkill for Syd and a 32" mini mule!) The hinges are made with eye screws, and 6" carriage bolts for pins. My permanent perimeter fence is more substantial, but these panels work well enough for temporary set ups and any time I need to subdivide a pen (although I have to add a hot wire to keep the goats off.)

Well it looks awesome. I was just asking because I need a temporary fence for my vegetable garden and I don't want to drive too many posts, so I figured with your design I could just put in posts to keep it from tipping and it would allow us to expand the garden easily.

Also needed an idea for a temp pen for nighttime potty runs with the dogs LOL. We don't have a backyard.

 

[kathleengp]

Thanks for all the feedback! I did not realize that he could be mini AND Shetland - but that does make a lot of sense. We knew we needed a companion for our QH before he comes home and this little guy was already living alone.....so we got that run-in so we could get him home quick.

We'll be moving that fence onto an area with small gravel on top of larger gravel footing that my dh is preparing now. Whatever he is, he sure is a sweet little guy and eager to learn some manners. He has always been well treated and loved, so although he needed some manners, he is happy about learning them.

For the price I paid for him, I'm not looking for him to be anything fancy or purebred, just a backyard buddy we can all love.

Thanks for the opinions!

 

[michickenwrangler]

I've been gone the last few days, so I'm a bit behind here. But, I say Shetland.

There are 2 different Shetland strains: American and (I can't remember the name of the other) the latter is the British strain, smaller and stockier. American Shetlands tend to be taller and more elegant.

 

[Horsiezz]

I would say a Mini. There are taller ones. But then again,he could be a Shetland x Mini cross. Alot of people tend to breed them together.