How to exercise a shetland?

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E_Lister

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I have been asked to look after 3 ponies for the next two weeks. Two of them are 14.2hh so I will be riding them, the other is a shetland companion.

She is FAT, I am really worried about her weight and the implications it could have so I am going to try do something about it...

I have already put her in restricted grazing (instead of the 2 acres of lush, ungrazed grass she was in when I found her) and want to try exercise her too.

I can think of lungeing and walking out inhand, is there anything else I can try?

It is unfortunate because I think her owners might take what I am doing very badly, they are numpties when it comes to the shetland, but will take no advice, wont exercise her and feed her whatever she likes. However I am so concerned for her health I would rather jeopardise my friendship than see the pony get laminitis or some other health issues due to her enormous size.
 
Long reining would be good for the pony and useful for you to practice in case you ever have a young horse or a nappy one.

If she is polite to lead then maybe you could ride and lead. If she isn't good to lead then some in hand work might be a good idea: get her walking nicely next to you, stopping when you do, trotting in hand, turning, backing up, moving over etc.

Maybe try loose schooling, with some poles or even mini jumps for variety.
 
Long reining sounds like a plan it had totally slipped my mind! I can even use her driving harness if it fits(which incidentally has never even been put on the pony!).

I have never led from another horse before and I'm not sure what she is like in traffic, leading from the other ponies wouldn't be a problem, it would be how she reacts to it. Any advice for later on in the time if I decide to try it?

I can't free school or put her over any jumps really because there are no schools within striking distance and the field they are in isn't suitable!

Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming. Also, any advice on the management side of it would be greatly appreciated!
 
Long term could you suggest that they get a small person to share the shetland, maybe in exchange for a contribution to costs or some help. I think it is a shame when fit and well companions don't get work. I learned to ride on a companion shetland and it was brilliant for both me (I would never have got into horses otherwise) and for the pony who got a job he enjoyed and was kept busy and not too fat.
 
What I do with mine, and he loves it, is get on the quad and lead him, he jogs around my exercise track very happily beside me. He is also quite happy having a trot and a canter too.

More practical for most people though lunging, long-reining, walk him with the dogs, or lead him off another horse, although it would probably have to be quite a slow one. Or maybe not....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlB9zymwiR4&feature=related
 
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I walk my Shetland alongside my mum and her dog! Not many people around but everyone who passes comments! Also friends bring little tots for rides which we all enjoy (bear included)
 
With my shetland I "attempt" to lunge her - she's terrible, she's the only pony/horse I've ever had problems with to lunge! She doesn't do anything asked so she simply trots and canters about madly bucking etc. - so I just stand there and let her do it, its a form of fitness I guess!! In the past, I used to take her out hacking round the farmers fields leading her from my other horse - she was really good.
 
I love the idea of a quadbike to exercise her, but without a quadbike it might be difficult ;)
Running, I would die! My CV fitness is horrendous!


I have nearly come to the end of looking after her and have been long reining and lungeing mainly. She has also been walked out in hand although I never plucked up the courage to lead her from another pony!

She has been good...ish although I got fed up of smart alec people saying "ooh thats a big dog!"
 
They are not the best to lunge as they think it is hilarious! Long reining and alot of walking! If you have a school just make them trot and canter in there loose. Please please try and get through to the owners the seriousness of laminitis - Shetlands were bred to live on very poor grazing and it sounds a miracle that it hasn't already got it. I electric fence a corner of the field off for mine so he is out and close to the others but has very restricted grazing. I would rather give him a bit of hay than run the risk. Sounds like you have done all the right things.
 
I walk my shetland in-hand and also led her off my mare, not sure if my mare had done that before but she was fine i tried it in field first so both could get used to it and they were fine. Maybe before they get back give it a go?
 
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