Exercising a mini shetland + ride & lead questions..

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Chumsmum

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Well the summer brings it's usual 'OMG is my gelding pregnant?' questions
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so I've decided that my two mini shetlands need to do more than drain my wallet, annoy my pony and amuse me with their antics..

They are both too small to be ridden by anyone and one is too cow hocked to be driven (plus I've never driven before) so thinking walks in-hand? However my pony has Bone Spavin and I have to keep him regularly exercised so time is limited I thought maybe try leading them (one at a time obviously) from my pony? I've got a quiet route that takes about 20mins in walk, it circles the farm, half of it is lanes where you might meet a car if you're unlucky but there is always the possibility.

Couple of questions:

How far/how long would they have to walk for it to be beneficial - no trotting - don't mind walking but I'm not running beside them if in-hand and can't trot my pony on the road if leading anyway.

How far would you go first time and how would you build it up - they don't have shoes on but have fairly good feet but not used to hard ground (I worry about causing more harm than good).

They have never had a bit in their mouths but I can control them on a halter - but would this be a big no-no for leading?

Any first time ride & lead tips - never done it before but my pony is usually as steady as a rock.

Thanks for any advice/replies
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I should think a 20-minute loop would be a great way to start! A headcollar is probably fine; if you're really worried about control, you could always thread the lead-rope through the ring closest to you, and put it under his chin and clip it to the ring farthest from you.

Put the mini shetty on the side of you away from the traffic, natch.
 
I won't try to advise on how long to exercise for, or building up the exercise, but...

If you can control both your ride and lead ponies, there's no harm in trotting on the roads - as long as you're safe and in control.

I don't see any problem with leading them from a headcollar, again, as long as you're safe and in control.

Tips - try it in a field first, just in case! Use a long leadrope to give you more chance of holding on if they do mess about. But make sure you keep your leadrope short to give you more control. Make sure you don't let the leadrope come between your foot and the saddle/ride horse. Try to keep lead ponies head level with your knee, and definitely not in front of your ride ponies shoulder (in case they race).

Enjoy
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May be stating the obvious, but make sure the pony you are riding is totally calm about ropes around his legs, at some point you will invariably get mildly tangled.
And make sure the shetlands lead well from the ground you don't want to end up playing tug of war.

If you are not walking on tarmac the whole time their feet should be up to it no trouble especially if you dont go out every day. Just look out for excessive or un even wearing down of the hoof, esp on the cow hocked one.

If you are worried about control invest in a a rope headcollar (the ones that tie not buckle) as they are narrower you can apply more pressure...

Have a nice ride!
 
This is how I exercise my mini shettie most of the time. My lead horse is very patient, and he has to be as the shettie can be very annoying, trying to nip him on the shoulder as we go along
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I lead from a headcollar, though my shettie does drive and is used to a bit I don't like the idea of catching him in the mouth from above. I do sometimes thread the leadrope through as mentioned above if he's in a very naughty mood though.

Building up slowly from 20 minutes should be fine, though I find mine has to trot to keep up with my horse's walk.

Keep the leadrope short but use a long one so you can let it out if you need to, I found my shettie tends to stop dead and refuse to move if he gets tired. I would also take someone with you on foot the first time in case you have a problem!

We now do about 40 minutes with my horse trotting some of the way and the shettie is still going strong and being annoying by the end.

I'm sure he would go much further but my horse and I probably couldn't take any more!
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Great advice everyone thank you, especially regarding leading
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Will walk the circuit with both of them a couple of times to get them used to it and then I will take the quietest one
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with a helper for the first time and have a go.

Thinking about it, my pony is quite forward going so poor Shetlands will have to trot to keep up so that will be extra exercise for them without much effort on my part
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Will take some photos - my mini shets make my 14hh pony look big
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i would bit them 1st.
i wonder if leading from just a headcoller is safe?and of course would insurance cover just a headcoller?

was there not a post ages ago about leading a pony on the road in just this and it made the insurance void?
 
you could lunge/long rein them in the field as another option. long reining would be good as it would teach them to obey commands and respond to the reins (which will make them easier to lead from your pony).
 
i lead my 11.1hh welshy from my 17hh lad, she loves it and has a tendency to walk faster than him and then stop for a munch
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i have her in a well fitting headcollar with a long leadrope
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Good idea about teaching the commands - they have never done any schooling before so not really sure how they will react - wonder if I can find a lunging cavesson small enough?

I'm going to take my 'big dogs' for a short walk tonight to start getting them used to going out of the farm..
 
I exercise a miniature pony (not a shetland) and he's led off a 16.1hh horse. I have to shorten my stirrups or I can catch his back !!.. He doesn't walk beside me as he has to trot to keep up, and he's also as cheeky as MagicMo's mini. Seems Mini's love to try and wind the ridden horse up by nipping them on the shoulders or the knees !
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I luckily ride off road so don't need to worry about roads. He is lead in a halter but with the clip on the side ring, as I find the headcollar can ride round towards the eyes a bit and annoy them, if you clip the leadrope underneath their jaw

Have fun, least your horse is a more sensible height and your mini can't disappear under his belly.... Luckily my horse is sensible, but he would playfully nip back the mini if I let them two get on with it, so I don't !
 
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