For those of you with Shetlands

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missshell

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How much roughly would you say it costs a month to keep a Shetland? (Would'nt be ridden just a pet)

Thanks
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ETS: Would be kept at home
 
Too expensive for words, they are such hard work!!

Haha, sorry only joking!

Well there is the intial outlay for buying absolutely superb fencing as the dratted little things love running straight through fences just for a laugh. So high voltage electric battery and secure tape is an absolute must.

Aside from that, if your grazing is reasonable ( nice short grass, they live on air) it wont cost you a penny, aside from a farrier trim every 2 months which is about £10.. then if you want to go down the route of worming and vaccinations, then that is extra
 
Tee hee - agree with the fencing point! Mine managed to wriggle through most things inc. 3 strands of electric tape so use electric netting now and change batteries very frequently! Other than that trim of feet every 6 weeks, worming and a little bit of hay in winter and thats it!
 
Yes electric fencing (basic kit with D batteries) - about £120, trim every 6-8 weeks about £25, wormer £10 every couple of months then bales of hay £3 a go but you'll only need a few.

Then again don't forget the potential for vet's fees, which are just the same as any other horse or pony.
 
Theres protenial for them to cost just as much as a warmblood...They still need all there jabs, wormer, teeth, vets bills....Would you insure him? If you didn't and he needed colic surgory thats £6k....you see where I'm going..!
 
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Would you insure him? If you didn't and he needed colic surgory thats £6k....you see where I'm going..!

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Shovel on the back of the head would do the trick in those instances!
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I have one and he's the cheapest of all of mine to keep.

He still needs hay, worming, farrier, vaccinations etc. I don't run to the vet if he looks a bit stiff though as he is only a companion. As long as he looks happy and healthy that's the main thing.

Of course, the term "hardy shetland" is also a great big fib! Never known such a wimp as Dinker (my Shetty). He's the first to be by the gate crying to come in at winter and will dive bomb any fencing to get under the biggest trees for shelter in a storm!
 
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Tee hee - agree with the fencing point! Mine managed to wriggle through most things inc. 3 strands of electric tape so use electric netting now and change batteries very frequently! Other than that trim of feet every 6 weeks, worming and a little bit of hay in winter and thats it!

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Electric netting is the way forward lol thats what ours are in!! They aren't that expensive as they dont need that much! Just a trim when needed and worming!
 
i pay £15 wk for my shetlands livery including hay. on top of that as others have said there is worming at £15ish each time to tie in with the other horses on the yard. Trim by farrier every couple of months

feed wise she gets a scoop of pink powder every day as is only 2 so needs the vits, this prob works out about £6 month? she just gets a teeny handful of lite chaff that i buy for my TB.
 
Day to day..nothing for me. Plenty of grazing. Farrier now and again and tetanus once every 2 yrs so not alot really...

eta: and of course worming...

also, just to point out that if they get injured, call out fee's etc are the same as a full sized equine...and they need handling just the same too
 
I did have one for 3 years as a companion for my horse.

Worming, jabs and feet trimmed. The only thing I'd strongly recommend is secure fencing. I had to put an extra two rows of tape round the field as she would duck underneath, also if electric make sure its on as they know
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The other thing to watch is spring & summer grazing.
 
Thanks for the replies. I would want one as a companion for when i get my horse next year and just needed a rough idea of cost.
 
Mine costs next to nothing....apart from the fencing repairs! (Which has amounted to £ hundreds!)

He only needs half a tube of the wormer each time and if you buy it online its' cheaper. He'd eat the powdered stuff, but the others won't so I give them all syringeable wormers.

A few feety trims.

Hay and feed is minimal all year round as we have plenty of grass.

He gets vaccinated and has his teeth done annually (has to be sedated for the teethy bit)

So I'd say about £5 a week on average.

In 16yrs only had to have the vet out to him 3 times as he's a toughy. Plus the odd wound checked out, runny-eyes cream, grotty-botty where he'd been rubbing tummy on long-suffering tree sapling etc!

Of course, there's all the other 'little extras' to keep the boy happy: Snak-a-ball and treats, outdoor rug, dinky boxing boots off ebay; apples and carrots; day trips to the beach with the odd icecream thrown in!!
 
My Shetland would just poo on the straw, or roll in it like a mad thing!

He's a very methodical eater which is why one of the hay racks are too high for him to reach so the others get a look-in!
 
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