Backing a Shetland- Weight

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Is 9 stone okay to back a 42inch Shetland?

I've been offered an unbroken ex-broodmare, quiet as a mouse. Would I be okay to back her? I'm quite tall but used to ponies. Was planning on using as a LR and maybe riding her myself a few times a month with the view to keeping her as a first ridden too.

I've not backed anything for years but she's well handled.

Can't link it for some reason but Google - "Rider weight allowance and calculation 2017 - British Horse Society" which may help.

42 inch is what, 10 hands approx? That's small although I know Shetlands are immensely strong. Don't they say approx a stone per hand for m&ms?

Also have a look on a thread on Horse &Hound forum - "Shetlands, how much weight can they carry?" which basically discusses this v question!

Good luck!

I thought they were supposed to be able to carry a farmer and his wife to market?

Tricky. My friends just backed here's are reckons 7 stone max. But it's hard to fine someone that's capable of backing that's lightweight. She did a bit herself and then got a junior rider to do the rest. Good luck.

I think 9 stone is ok if the Shetland has decent conformation- I've ridden well built Shetlands when I weighed 8.5st, and they could definitely carry me ok (only bareback, though, as I didn't want to put a heavy saddle on them as well). I only ever did it as a one off though. I'm guessing if she's an ex-broodmare she's at least 5/6? I wouldn't consider it if she was younger than 4.

Personally, I'd give it a go, but try and sit on her as little as possible, and watch carefully for any signs of lameness or discomfort. If you can find someone lighter weight (competent teen? petite adult?) that might be a better option.

In the heady days of my youth when I weighed 8 and a half stone I backed a Shetland to saddle who had previously just been used for driving. He was much the same size as yours. I only ever rode him at walk and a tiny bit of trot, never rode for longer than 15 min or so, and never expected him to carry me up or down hill. In essence, we would go out for an hour or so and I would vary between riding for a bit and then dismounting and walking (or running) for a bit, which was all good training anyway. As soon as it was obvious he was okay he was passed to someone more suitable for his size.

I have the same problem OP, but I’m tall and nowhere near 9 stone. A friend of mine has offered the loan of her large, heavy teddy bear, but apart from that I’m limited to lunging and long reining. I’ve also had a cub saddle on her a couple of times, but she’s very wee and I suspect I might struggle to find her a rider.
It’s a pity, because she does some lovely paces when she’s arsing about in the field, and she has the most gorgeous attitude to my children.