How do Shetland’s/smalls cope with living with bigger horses?

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My herd dynamics aren’t working. So I’m tentatively looking for a small person to join the crew and see if we can find a better balance so everyone has what they need.

Ideally we want someone little, travel size as it were, to keep my young Connemara gelding (14.3 and a chunk) company, so that the mares can then have their own group without him bothering them. But I don't know if a Shetland or similar would be up to keeping him in line. He’s a bit of a yobbo with submissive horses, but loves a game of bitey face and a wrestle. The mares hate that so a gelding who is strong minded but not easily offended is probably what he needs.

We can manage grass, exercise and diet etc, and can reinforce fencing. But ideally need someone small and portable (in that they are happy travellers, so can keep the bigger ones company on outings).

Do we think a Shetland would be fit for the job?
 
A friend of mine has a cracking little shetland cross for this job, he's the boss of the bigger horses, gets on with anything and loads and travels well if needed, can be left on his own too. Fencing has to be tall and secure but apart from that he's no trouble, he was advertised on Dragon Driving.
 
I have a tiny, aged shetland mare who lives with whichever geldings I have. She is definitely the herd boss and keeps the Irish yob geldings in check and shelters under the 17hh boy when the weather is bad. She loves to come out on trips but is perfectly happy staying at home on her own if need be. She's more of a labrador then a pony!
 
Mum has a miniature Shetland that is currently out with the two big(ger) ponies, he gets on fine although he does stay out of the way of the youngsters antics- I think that's mostly just his age though, he used to be up for rough play as a youngster himself.
ETA depending on how small you need, the Dartmoor mare I have has been a good companion for my youngster, willing to hoon around but also big enough to push back easily. She's currently not in with the big two though, as she has such different dietary requirements.
 
maisie06 said:
A friend of mine has a cracking little shetland cross for this job, he's the boss of the bigger horses, gets on with anything and loads and travels well if needed, can be left on his own too. Fencing has to be tall and secure but apart from that he's no trouble, he was advertised on Dragon Driving.
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He sounds like exactly the sort I need. I just need to find one now!
 
SpeedyPony said:
Mum has a miniature Shetland that is currently out with the two big(ger) ponies, he gets on fine although he does stay out of the way of the youngsters antics- I think that's mostly just his age though, he used to be up for rough play as a youngster himself.
ETA depending on how small you need, the Dartmoor mare I have has been a good companion for my youngster, willing to hoon around but also big enough to push back easily. She's currently not in with the big two though, as she has such different dietary requirements.
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Our last little chap was Shetland x Dartmoor, he was just perfect as a companion. So I’d be happy with one like him.
 
My mini always lived with bigger horses, the biggest being 16.2hh. He's such a clever little thing and always manages to worm himself into wherever the best hay/shelter is. His trick seems to be to get along with everyone and appear harmless, so that nobody minds him taking liberties 😂. He's also the bravest and most confident pony I've had, I really could take him anywhere and he'd be fine. The only issue with a mini is I have to watch his grass intake as he has had laminitis in the past, but as I've always had natives, he's never had to be kept alone for that.

He now has another Shetland BFF and I can confirm two Shetlands is even better than one!
 
I have two shetlands that are quite capable of sticking up for themselves around bigger ponies. I keep one away from my gelding though as she's very precious and he has form for trying to pick them up and fling them about. The precious one was his and his sisters first babysitter when they were weaned too and kept them in line as weanlings.

As long as you've got the fencing sorted (12 foot high electrified chain link, razor wire on top, trench, and sniper stations ever few feet should do it) they are marvellous little fellows to have around.
 
Back in the day when I only had two very big cobs (16 h plus) one mare and one gelding, I had a little elderly 12.2 gelding that I kept purely to keep one company when the other was taken away. It worked perfectly and little bossy boots used to wriggle in between the two big lumps out in the field when the rain got too heavy or the wind to strong for him. They both loved him and were also ruled by him too!
 
ElleSkywalker said:
I have two shetlands that are quite capable of sticking up for themselves around bigger ponies. I keep one away from my gelding though as she's very precious and he has form for trying to pick them up and fling them about. The precious one was his and his sisters first babysitter when they were weaned too and kept them in line as weanlings.

As long as you've got the fencing sorted (12 foot high electrified chain link, razor wire on top, trench, and sniper stations ever few feet should do it) they are marvellous little fellows to have around.
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You've just reminded me of when mine was pinned in the corner of the stable by a friend's pony. He had his neck in his mouth and squashed him down to the floor. My Shetland was back in trying to steal his hay again half an hour later, so unharmed and seemingly unbothered! Friends pony is banished to the field during the day now and doesn't get to free range anymore because of it.
 
My Welsh A LOVES big horses. The bigger the better! He was great at cozying up to a big placid horse, annoying another horse and then hiding behind his enormous friend. Never came to any harm, he was an excellent companion to my 14.2hh connie for years too.
 
meleeka said:
You've just reminded me of when mine was pinned in the corner of the stable by a friend's pony. He had his neck in his mouth and squashed him down to the floor. My Shetland was back in trying to steal his hay again half an hour later, so unharmed and seemingly unbothered! Friends pony is banished to the field during the day now and doesn't get to free range anymore because of it.
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The Shetland dobbed him in didn't he? And now the Shetland rules the playground while the bully sulks in detention. Clever.
 
I've had std and miniature Shetlands out with bigger ones.
On introducing after being in an adjacent paddock, I've always ensured that they can escape (to somewhere boring) if being used as a space hopper or tug toy.
I've lashed a fence bar across a gateway and also put a single line of electric tape across a corner giving a triangle patch to allow them to escape from teeth etc.
Good luck, happy shopping.
 
We had a mini Shetland with my 13.2 and she was a total bully! She was okay but I find out current 12.2 much easier to manage and she is able to tolerate more grass than my EMS mare so useful for taking the top off grazing!
 
We have a standard 5 year old Shetland (bought as a yearling from Sharptor on Dartmoor) and he is absolutely the boss of my two big boys. He’s also just awesome, doesn’t care about leaving them or them leaving him, is all round confident and only occasionally a shitland!
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I've had std and miniature Shetlands out with bigger ones.
On introducing after being in an adjacent paddock, I've always ensured that they can escape (to somewhere boring) if being used as a space hopper or tug toy.
I've lashed a fence bar across a gateway and also put a single line of electric tape across a corner giving a triangle patch to allow them to escape from teeth etc.
Good luck, happy shopping.
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That seems extremely sensible. I think my mares wish they had that, but they are all the same size.

This sounds like it could work then. I’m going to keep an eye out for anyone looking to loan initially I think. Purchase budget is limited as the big ponies insist on following BBPs fondness for vet bills, supplements and therapists (physical ones, it’s me who needs the psychological one! I’m sure a Shetland can only benefit that situation)
 
As a few others have said the smaller one will likely end up being the boss. I had an 8hh mini out with three big horses and they all knew he was the boss. They'd keep well clear of him if they knew he was in a grumpy mood.
 
planete said:
I had a std shetland to keep our Ardennes mare company. She loved him and he bossed her around. I must say I preferred our section A for his more mellow disposition.
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I think Shetlands are either devils or angels and nothing in between! I have one of each. The mellow one could really be a therapy pony and loves cuddles. I've owned him a year and can honestly say he's never put a hoof out of line. The other can't be trusted around children at all and regards rules as challenges 😂
 
We have a rescue one. He respects the electric fence. In his head he is a 17 hand warmblood. He takes no nonsense from any of the others and spends most of his time wandering round free range! He honestly does not care about anything except eating and rolling!
 
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