1st pony - shetland or sec A?

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serenbach

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Hi, I'm thinking of getting a pony for my 6 yr old daughter, and also to keep my Welsh D company.

I have been told by a few people to stay away from shetlands, and to go for a section A. My daughter has no experience of handling ponies, and i ideally want something she can gain confidence in handling, so i thaught a shetland would be good, as the are so little, she won't feel intimmidated by him?

Any thoughts/ advice greatly appreciated, I don't want to make the wrong decision and have her lose her confidence before she's gained it:):)
 
It's less to do with height than attitude. More Section As that I have met than Shetlands that I have met have been amenable to being handled by small (even tiny) children. My Section A will perfectly happily follow a toddler holding her lead rein and move over when asked to by the same child.
 
I always thought that Shetlands could have a bit of an attitude, also their thicker necks can make stopping and steering more difficult if they don't want to co-operate.
 
My friends daughter has an adorable shettie, she is only 3 and can do anything with him, BUT when it comes to riding he jiggles her about soo much with his tiddly little legs she does not like it, she much prefers riding mum's section C stallion!! lol
I would go for a section A it will be much easier to learn to ride for her.
 
I would say a section a (trying to not be bias!) because they are generally happy to be dragged around and messed with by children. Shetlands tend to have more of a stubborn streak. Also a section a may last your child longer if you get a larger one.
 
shetlands tend to be a little wider too, making it harder for your daughter to gain a correct seat and leg position.
Alot of people round me seem to be having a good time with welshy or other types than shetlands as first ponies but attitude and temperament are probably the most important thing at the moment for you
 
all depends on the ones you go to see! you can get a really nasty or really brilliant example of either breed! i've seen both. its just the luck of the viewing i think. the smaller tends to mean the less damage if they do do something wrong, even if its non intentional, like stepping on her foot or reaching for some grass when being lead.
riding wise i think if she's still on the lead then either can be fine. its more about when the lead rein comes off!
 
nativeponies said:
neither...a nice Dartmoor or a small NF would be far more suitable
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i agree!! i have an NF and she's fantastic! she's cheeky but not a bad bone! means they end up a little bit taller and broader but theres not much more reliable, especially a more mature experienced one.
also more growing room for the future!!
:)
 
neither, both are very wide and tend to have bouncy canters- a slimmer pony with a greater length of stride for canter confidence- perhaps an older part bred pony?
 
i deffo think a section A, and there no too expensive. If she is 6 I am assuming she will be tiny so a small cob will prob be huge for her! When I was little I had a section A, and was also double barrelled by a shetland. At were I used to work they were called *****lands, compleatly evil! I have seen some nice ones, but at the riding school ALL the beginners small ponies were Section A or Section A cross.
 
my son (1yrs) has a section a waiting in the wings, she is only a 2yr old, i brought her as a yearling when i was pregnant and she will happily let my son stroke (is more of a bash tbh) her, sit on her and be led round (is is held safely in place), and he holds her lead rope whilst i carry him to bring her in from the field, they are true friends already,
 
I'd also suggest a dartmoor, small NF or maybe even a section B. Also look at non native types. The riding school my nephew rides at has lots of show pony types and they are much easier for the little ones to ride as they aren't so wide or strong and have nice floaty paces. A lot of them are older competition ponies in semi retirement, might be worth looking into.
 
I'd go for a dartmoor too....just because i love them, and my first pony (at 12) was a dartmoor, so she shouldn't grow out of it any time soon.

We have 2 kids at our yard. 1 with a Welsh A and the other with a shetland.
The shetland is actually better, the kids can lead her - she will just follow them around the yard, be trusted alone with them, and has a better trot that the weshie, but if they are off the lead and the shet wants to go somewhere or eat...she's going, she used to do it with the girl that used to own her too who is bigger than her current riders,

However the welshies downfalls are more to do with her being an ex-inhand show pony, so she still trots like one, so it's not that easy for the kids to sit to, Again she's great with the kids but not as easy for them to lead.
 
Thanks everyone - sounds like a pretty definite no for the shetland then!!

I had thought about a dartmoor or NF, but to be honest, I don't know of any around us (we are in wales, and they just seem to be Sec As!), will definately keep my eyes and ears peeled for one though.

I definately agree that you can have good and bad ones in every breed, and will be going for the 'older, been there, done that' type.:)
 
hehe both! well you normally see 6yr olds on a welsh sec a and 3yr olds on shetlands so up to you really see what you can find theres not always a choice
 
I agree too - I have 7 shetlands and not one of them would I let a child anywhere near! I had 2 section a driving ponies that have gone on to be children's lead rein ponies, and get driven gently now, and they are total gents, lovely stride length to do rising trot and canter on, polite, sensible and have seen the world. There are some exceptional shetlands out there who are fab kiddy ponies, but they are the exception to the rule.
Would recommend getting friendly with the local pony club and seeing if there is an outgrown leadrein/1st pony of any breed (section a's can be a bit sharp - either get an oldish one, or a part bred...?) who 'has the t-shirt' and will probably be recommended by lots of the other mums - these ponies are often for loan only as they are too precious and priceless to part with...
 
I would definitely go for a welshie. Shetlands can be bulshy little sods :D:D

ETA I do love shetties, but I wouldn't for a first. :)
 
definitely section A.

we got mine when i was just turned 4 (i remember meeting him at fayre oaks) and he must have been 5 or 6- no older. he truly was the best pony, i regularily rode him until i was 11 (and a tall 11, but we managed fine) at which point i went onto our newly broken D mare (he taught me that much). i used to hack him everywhere on our own, bombproof in traffic, safe, steady but fun. everything you could ask for. in the beginning mum just lead us of ernie our sec D stallion (both were well behaved!) then she let us off as we got more confident. best way to learn to ride IMO

i rode him again when i was 14 when we had to sell him and it was just like old times, had a canter up the grass verge didnt struggle with my weight etc etc i would still ride him now if i could :)

a true friend, i was devastated when we had to sell him :(
 
xloopylozzax said:
definitely section A.

we got mine when i was just turned 4 (i remember meeting him at fayre oaks) and he must have been 5 or 6- no older. he truly was the best pony, i regularily rode him until i was 11 (and a tall 11, but we managed fine) at which point i went onto our newly broken D mare (he taught me that much). i used to hack him everywhere on our own, bombproof in traffic, safe, steady but fun. everything you could ask for. in the beginning mum just lead us of ernie our sec D stallion (both were well behaved!) then she let us off as we got more confident. best way to learn to ride IMO

i rode him again when i was 14 when we had to sell him and it was just like old times, had a canter up the grass verge didnt struggle with my weight etc etc i would still ride him now if i could :)

a true friend, i was devastated when we had to sell him :(
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That's such a nice story, sounds like just the type i need!! My first pony was a section a aswell, she was a lovely pony, although a bit stubborn, and definately taught me to ride!!
 
crockshard said:
I agree too - I have 7 shetlands and not one of them would I let a child anywhere near! I had 2 section a driving ponies that have gone on to be children's lead rein ponies, and get driven gently now, and they are total gents, lovely stride length to do rising trot and canter on, polite, sensible and have seen the world. There are some exceptional shetlands out there who are fab kiddy ponies, but they are the exception to the rule.
Would recommend getting friendly with the local pony club and seeing if there is an outgrown leadrein/1st pony of any breed (section a's can be a bit sharp - either get an oldish one, or a part bred...?) who 'has the t-shirt' and will probably be recommended by lots of the other mums - these ponies are often for loan only as they are too precious and priceless to part with...
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Wow - that says a lot!! Surely out of 7 of them, a couple would be child friendly!! Have definately made up my mind - welshie or dartmoor/NF (if i can find one round here!) it is then, now just got to find the RIGHT ONE!!! Thanks everyone for your fab advice!!
 
This is my grandson aged 6 on his shetland,he is autistic
we went to buy a secA and it bucked and reared and threw him into a bed of nettles,he was stung all over even in his eyes.
As he screamed a shetland was stood nearby and it licked his hand and grandson said i want thast one........
Reuban as shetland is called is a complete star and hes was only 5 at the time.
Another livery on our yard is selling her secA and has got a shetland for her 4 year old daughter,this too is a complete star




billynsoph.jpg
 
Oh dear am a bit worried now, we have nearly (just trying to find a field) bought our little girl a 9 year old shetland x fallabella mare as her first pony but after these comments Im not sure if a shetlands a good idea! Anyone have any positive views on them? My daughters nearly 3 years old and adores riding with no fear what so ever, she would happily get on and ride anything, without any hands too :rolleyes:
 
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