diff --git a/src/io/ipc/read/mod.rs b/src/io/ipc/read/mod.rs
index adc2b41e477..a374df53287 100644
--- a/src/io/ipc/read/mod.rs
+++ b/src/io/ipc/read/mod.rs
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ mod reader;
 mod stream;
 
 pub use common::{read_dictionary, read_record_batch};
-pub use reader::{read_file_metadata, FileMetadata, FileReader};
+pub use reader::{read_file_metadata, FileMetadata, FileReader, LimitRows};
 pub use stream::{read_stream_metadata, StreamMetadata, StreamReader, StreamState};
diff --git a/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs b/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs
index 8c864957530..9066542743e 100644
--- a/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs
+++ b/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs
@@ -169,7 +169,26 @@ pub fn read_file_metadata<R: Read + Seek>(reader: &mut R) -> Result<FileMetadata
     })
 }
 
-/// Read the IPC file's metadata
+fn get_serialized_batch<'a>(
+    message: &'a ipc::Message::Message,
+) -> Result<ipc::Message::RecordBatch<'a>> {
+    match message.header_type() {
+        ipc::Message::MessageHeader::Schema => Err(ArrowError::Ipc(
+            "Not expecting a schema when messages are read".to_string(),
+        )),
+        ipc::Message::MessageHeader::RecordBatch => {
+            message.header_as_record_batch().ok_or_else(|| {
+                ArrowError::Ipc("Unable to read IPC message as record batch".to_string())
+            })
+        }
+        t => Err(ArrowError::Ipc(format!(
+            "Reading types other than record batches not yet supported, unable to read {:?}",
+            t
+        ))),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Read a batch from the reader.
 pub fn read_batch<R: Read + Seek>(
     reader: &mut R,
     metadata: &FileMetadata,
@@ -202,30 +221,18 @@ pub fn read_batch<R: Read + Seek>(
         ));
     }
 
-    match message.header_type() {
-        ipc::Message::MessageHeader::Schema => Err(ArrowError::Ipc(
-            "Not expecting a schema when messages are read".to_string(),
-        )),
-        ipc::Message::MessageHeader::RecordBatch => {
-            let batch = message.header_as_record_batch().ok_or_else(|| {
-                ArrowError::Ipc("Unable to read IPC message as record batch".to_string())
-            })?;
-            read_record_batch(
-                batch,
-                metadata.schema.clone(),
-                projection,
-                metadata.is_little_endian,
-                &metadata.dictionaries,
-                metadata.version,
-                reader,
-                block.offset() as u64 + block.metaDataLength() as u64,
-            )
-        }
-        t => Err(ArrowError::Ipc(format!(
-            "Reading types other than record batches not yet supported, unable to read {:?}",
-            t
-        ))),
-    }
+    let batch = get_serialized_batch(&message)?;
+
+    read_record_batch(
+        batch,
+        metadata.schema.clone(),
+        projection,
+        metadata.is_little_endian,
+        &metadata.dictionaries,
+        metadata.version,
+        reader,
+        block.offset() as u64 + block.metaDataLength() as u64,
+    )
 }
 
 impl<R: Read + Seek> FileReader<R> {
@@ -299,3 +306,64 @@ impl<R: Read + Seek> RecordBatchReader for FileReader<R> {
         self.schema().as_ref()
     }
 }
+
+fn limit_batch(batch: RecordBatch, limit: usize) -> RecordBatch {
+    if batch.num_rows() < limit {
+        let RecordBatch { schema, columns } = batch;
+        let columns = columns
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|x| x.slice(0, limit).into())
+            .collect();
+        RecordBatch { schema, columns }
+    } else {
+        batch
+    }
+}
+
+/// Iterator adapter that limits the number of rows read by a
+/// fallible [`Iterator`] of [`RecordBatch`]es.
+/// # Implementation
+/// Tracks the number of remaining rows and slices the last [`RecordBatch`] to fit exactly.
+pub struct LimitRows<I: Iterator<Item = Result<RecordBatch>>> {
+    iterator: I,
+    limit: Option<usize>,
+}
+
+impl<I: Iterator<Item = Result<RecordBatch>>> LimitRows<I> {
+    /// Creates a new [`LimitRows`]. If `limit` is [`None`], it does not limit the iterator.
+    pub fn new(iterator: I, limit: Option<usize>) -> Self {
+        Self { iterator, limit }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<I: Iterator<Item = Result<RecordBatch>>> Iterator for LimitRows<I> {
+    type Item = Result<RecordBatch>;
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+        if let Some(limit) = self.limit {
+            // no more rows required => finish
+            if limit == 0 {
+                return None;
+            }
+        };
+
+        let batch = self.iterator.next();
+
+        if let Some(Ok(batch)) = batch {
+            Some(Ok(if let Some(ref mut limit) = self.limit {
+                // slice the last batch if it is too large
+                let batch = if batch.num_rows() > *limit {
+                    limit_batch(batch, *limit)
+                } else {
+                    batch
+                };
+                *limit -= batch.num_rows();
+                batch
+            } else {
+                batch
+            }))
+        } else {
+            batch
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/record_batch.rs b/src/record_batch.rs
index 02182af41df..6ead0ac213c 100644
--- a/src/record_batch.rs
+++ b/src/record_batch.rs
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ use crate::error::{ArrowError, Result};
 /// Cloning is `O(C)` where `C` is the number of columns.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct RecordBatch {
-    schema: Arc<Schema>,
-    columns: Vec<Arc<dyn Array>>,
+    pub(crate) schema: Arc<Schema>,
+    pub(crate) columns: Vec<Arc<dyn Array>>,
 }
 
 impl RecordBatch {