Bored shetland - ideas?

Emsarr

Emsarr

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I've recently started a new horsey job at a private yard and the owner has asked me to do something with the Shetland to keep him occupied and make him feel important within the herd. I already take him for walks in-hand. She suggested long-reining him but I don't quite know where to start :o

Any advice or other suggestions are much appreciated!
 
Loose schooling, loose jumping, spook-busting games (ie walking on/under tarps, getting used 2 flapping stuff/umbrellas etc)
Teach tricks- paw/bow/play football
Just few ideas off top of my head!!
 
Take him out hacking off another horse? I used to do it with a shetland my then bosses kids had, both were tiny toddlers so it usually just got lunged. Built up the hacking slowly, but got to the point it could hack for a few hours, having to trot even when I was walking to keep up. I'd canter, shetland would gallop. It used to love it.
 
Littlelegs said:
Take him out hacking off another horse? I used to do it with a shetland my then bosses kids had, both were tiny toddlers so it usually just got lunged. Built up the hacking slowly, but got to the point it could hack for a few hours, having to trot even when I was walking to keep up. I'd canter, shetland would gallop. It used to love it.
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I had thought that but he likes to hang off the gelding's tail and the mare doesn't seem too keen on him being overly close to her.

Would bareback backing him be a good idea? Even if it was only for a 10min walk and I probably wouldn't bother with a bit etc, just used leadropes on either side of his headcollar
 
My mini Shettie will showjump in hand :D I build a little course of fences probably no higher than 1 foot and she tows me round, I have trouble keeping up sometimes :o
 
TelH said:
My mini Shettie will showjump in hand :D I build a little course of fences probably no higher than 1 foot and she tows me round, I have trouble keeping up sometimes :o
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Oh, not sure if there's any jumps but could easily make a few natural fences!

Jools2345 said:
sounds like a fab job
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It really is, I've not enjoyed a job like this in a long time :D
 
Mine drives but to ring the changes she jumps on the lunge, does poles and goes for walks. She's also ridden occasionally, I'm too heavy really but the odd 1/2 hour won't hurt.
 
TelH said:
My mini Shettie will showjump in hand :D I build a little course of fences probably no higher than 1 foot and she tows me round, I have trouble keeping up sometimes :o
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I taught our old section A to jump like that, every night on the way in from the field, me and her would do a grid! She was great when my stepson did leadrein jumping, so used to it. The biggest problem was when he came off the leadrein and she didn't understand that I wasn't coming! I also used to lunge her over fences, never found a cavasson small enough, so had to be on the bridle.

Why not practice showing in hand moves with him, and getting him to stand up - with the goal of doing a show in the summer?
 
If you are small enough then yes by all means ride it. I also admit to doing the inhand jumping thing with daughters 11.1. For absolutely no purpose, as she was taught to jump under saddle in the normal manner. Just because I found it quite fun as I'm childish like that.
 
Honey08 said:
......Why not practice showing in hand moves with him, and getting him to stand up - with the goal of doing a show in the summer?
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We're not a showing yard, just 'happy hackers' but I could still teach him little things like that :)

Littlelegs said:
If you are small enough then yes by all means ride it. I also admit to doing the inhand jumping thing with daughters 11.1. For absolutely no purpose, as she was taught to jump under saddle in the normal manner. Just because I found it quite fun as I'm childish like that.
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I'm not small but I'm light enough, I had to school a Shetland last year for a friend as he wouldn't behave for her 4year old, we never did much in one go but we did pop the odd jump here and there (got him up to 2ft6).
Will definitely try the inhand jumping, sounds like it might work with him :)

Thank you everyone!!
 
I got a great big pilates ball for mine, she kicks it round the paddock and we play tag quite regular. Not so much lately since the old boy who owns the land almost died laughing when I faceplanted trying to duck out the way, but it's fun :D

Because she can sometimes be bossy and will lean on me in hand, We've started doing grids and things using a Kelly Marks "Perfect Manners" book although she still gets away with murder she's much better and seems a lot happier to be doing something other than paddock mowing. I swear that all she ever wanted was to be treated like a 'real' horse (was turned out with 20 others and never shown any kind of attention or even put in foal until we bought her aged 16). She drags me over jumps too, absolutely loves it.
 
If Findus is not an option:D.Start breaking to harness. Even if his job is never more than harrowing the sandschool.
 
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