Exercising a Shetland

[Clofox]

Hi all,
today I have offered to lunge a Shetland down our yard so she get some excersie, she hasn't been exercised for a longgg time due to no one with time to do it.
So my question is how long should she be lunged for and what would you do with her?
Its not to bring her back into work as she used to be just, it's just so she an loose that little bit of that extra weight!
Sorry I really don't have a clue on how long I should start off with and how to build it up and everything, it will be once maybe twice a week until I have more time.
Thank you for any help.

 

[Clofox]

Bump..I really need your guys help

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

play it by ear on how tired, hot, sweaty, resp rate etc..... 10 mins ?? Then build up if copes well?? Remember lunging is hard work for them! X

 

[Clofox]

Thank for your help I was thinking with starting off with something like 10mins then slowly build it up, 10mins of walk with a bit of trot. Or just walk or.. sorry guys I really have no idea on the best way to exercise her time wise and stuff!

 

[varkie]

The same as you would a big horse.

I would probably do 20 minute circles right from the start, but I would just make sure to keep the circles large with regular changes of rein, and in the early days, lots of walking with short bursts of trot. I wouldn't want to get pony so out of breath initially that it couldn't recover within two circles of walk afterwards.

Have you considered long reining, or inhand walking - particularly if you have hills around you? If you have, that's probably going to do more for calorie burning, without the same strain on joints. Particularly if you add in a few jogs - do your fitness good too!

 

[Clofox]

The same as you would a big horse.

I would probably do 20 minute circles right from the start, but I would just make sure to keep the circles large with regular changes of rein, and in the early days, lots of walking with short bursts of trot. I wouldn't want to get pony so out of breath initially that it couldn't recover within two circles of walk afterwards.

Have you considered long reining, or inhand walking - particularly if you have hills around you? If you have, that's probably going to do more for calorie burning, without the same strain on joints. Particularly if you add in a few jogs - do your fitness good too!

Thanks for your help,There is some hills around us but she is very VERY strong even on the lunge so once I have more control on lunge I will take her on some walks!, long reining is not am option for me due to costs and other things. I could do with some hill work!

 

[tabithakat64]

The two on our yard get worked five days a week, three or four days are walking in hand or on the lead rein including hill work and road work. (you might need to use a bridle if yours gets over excited).

They get lunged once or twice for about 20 minutes including jumping or play handy pony games in the school, which they like too.

We we will starting to longrein one of them in preparation to break her to drive.

BTW Chloe did you used to own a chestnut mare named Foxy, also called Ocean?

 

[pansy]

Ours does not like being lunged in fact she does not really like anything apart from eating - she is a grumpy little madam - we take her for a walk or a run around the field she not to keen though - would not be without her shes part of the family & the big boys know not to mess with her xx

 

[tabithakat64]

I should probably mention that both were obsese but with the exercise and soaked hay as well as muzzling from March until December the gutter along their backs and crests has gone and you can easily feel their ribs etc through their winter coats although they still do a a little bit of a belly.

 

[Clofox]

tabithakat64; No i don't, i have a Bay Foxy on loan,wish she was mine though
Thanks for help guys, shes is a madam but belongs to the family so selling her for them wouldn't be an option, she is very "large" strong and boy can she move! I was thinking on introducing pole work to make it more interesting and maybe if she calms down a bit..some inhand hill work.

 

[juliette]

My friend has a mini shetland and her exercise is gained by walking in hand to the post box, farm shop etc.. She loves it and gets lots of attention from everyone she sees!

 

[Yertis]

how about ride & lead? mine seem to enjoy getting out and about

 

[claireandnadia]

My mums shettie has no interest what so ever in going around in circles but he loves to go out for a walk.

 

[Enfys]

Walk in hand or from another horse, my minis loathe going around in circles, long reining they don't mind either.

Charley really enjoys going out like this, we regularly almost cause trucks to go in ditches when they see him cantering along beside me.

 

[trottingon]

Walk in hand or from another horse, my minis loathe going around in circles, long reining they don't mind either.

Charley really enjoys going out like this, we regularly almost cause trucks to go in ditches when they see him cantering along beside me.

Jeeeeezzzz if he were to spook he'd be straight under those wheels????

 

[nevis]

Echo all the above re getting them out in hand rather than circles. More stimulus, more fun (for you and pony!) and much easier on those wee joints.

I have 2 - one broken to the cart and one about to be and long reining in harness. Most days when I'm by myself I just put a bridle on each, have one either side and go hobbit yomping around the trails in an effort to get calories off all of us.

Not sure I can remember how to post pics but if this works - the black one is rising 4 and the grey rising 5 - the black one HATES not being in front and will out trot anything to be in front. Putting them as a pair next year will be interesting...

 

[MagicMelon]

The extent of exercising my shetland normally consists of her tanking off on the lunge, broncing like mad and trying to run at me! She's always done this which is bizarre considering I've managed to teach plenty of young horses and ponies to lunge perfectly well over the years, but a shetland apparently not! But I figure exercise is still exercise so I've given up and let her tank about for a while

 

[Clofox]

MagicMelon your Shetland sounds like a handful!
Aww love all the pictures! I agree it will be boring for her but as far as I'm aware (will speak to owner at the weekend) she doesn't have a bridle and last time she went for a walk she got a bit...out of control and ended up bolting off onto a road, so I'd rather not be help responsible if she does!
getting excited now!

 

[SNORKEY]

I started lunging my mums retired mare last year as she was getting footy and very fat, she hadn't done any lunging for at least 2yrs. I just started her at a walk for a few mins each way. Then I started trotting after a couple of walking sessions, she was so unfit that she was puffing after a couple of rounds, so I just kept walking and then trotting so she could catch her breath. When she was a bit fitter I started introducing pole work. Just start slow and keep it to a few mins to start with, then build up to about 15 mins.

 

[nevis]

Magicmelon - any pics?! We canna be far awa...

Op - I think this is where I got bridles and bits from - leather hard as hell as reflected in price - but the black hooligan has gone from towing large woman around hill to enjoying finger weight contact with a rubber snaffle - I think the head collar just doesn't mean anything to them as they just drop down and GO for it? http://www.horseandponytack.co.uk/category/bridles/ ... I had to take the cavessons off as too large for mine at the mo ... I kinda like seeing what their mouths and jaws want to do anyway. I confess before I bought the bridle I had the bit tied to the headcollar wi baler tow.

Have fun with your wean!

I forgot to say earlier - a really good groom - a good 20 mins currying and brushing with a bit of a strategy can give them a good circulatory boost - anything that boosts circulation or metabolism has got to be good for feet ...no?

Best of luck and well done for trying with the little 'un. They LOVE a job!

 

[Clofox]

Thank you Nevis! will have a look and no doubt spend some money
I gave her a quick lunge on Sunday and thats the 1st time ever really come into "contact" with her,shes been a field ornament for too long now and her belly will be on the floor soon! d
She is sour and moody and i've always said i dont like her she scares me but im SO excited to have another little equine in my life all be it shes not mine but still, it will be rewarding to get that belly of her and MAYBE as she has done driving before get her back into in summer when i have more time,but we will see....
Yes, will def give her a good groom on Sunday and plait her up with pictures and lunging, and when shes ready some pole work! as the other shettie at our yard loves a bit of jumping!
*so excited!*
will try get some pictures!

 

[nevis]

I confess I wanted the hobbits as low maintenance company for the big eejit (& future driving ponies as my riding years are nearing their end) and good pal found them for me off a hill in Shetland so mine are young and unspoiled.

When I said to husband I was thinking of them - he said aghast - but you HATE shetlands. What I hate is abandoned lonely Shetlands (that bite, kick and are mean!)... they are bright BIG brained personalities that need JOBS!

If I don't get mine out the field and take the big ones out... they pretty much grab a headcollar and put it on themselves. They were bred as working horses - they need input!

If yon wee mare is sour... try some basic stimulus ... a wee walk in hand... reward anything that's good, (reward the first wee TRY of anything that''s good)... be firm about bad stuff but try not to be aggressive. They LOVE doing a good job... and get mightily miffed if they think they're wrong.

If you ever go into the dogs forum on HHO... look up posts from Cayla and Cave Canem - brilliant behaviour stuff that works for dogs/ponies/children/ (relatives...)

Good luck!

 

[Clofox]

Thank you for your help Nevis
A'm SO excited to get started on Sunday!
Yes,she has got a HUGE personality and has gotten sour over time,but i'm hopping by rewarding good behavior and like you said they love a job so by getting her even just exercised, then some poles and maybe some driving in the summer we should have a happy slightly fitter pony!

 

[MagicMelon]

Magicmelon - any pics?! We canna be far awa...

Are you nearby? Nope, no pics but I'll try video her sometime on the lunge! She's such a stroppy little creature (another reason I dont DO mares!), if she were bigger I'd be seriously worried!