just about to buy a shetland.............help please

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nikkinoo

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I have been to see a shetland for my son today the pony is 3year old and has had saddle on and had kids on his back being led around,
He was really quiet and sweet, and my son even led him around by himself,

I want him for my 4 year old son to ride and maybe do some lead rein classes,

but I have no idea on what to look for in a shetland, Give me a 16hh warmblood and im ok but does anyone have any tips on what i should be looking at,

know you cant put a price on a safe pony but how much are shetlands suitable for children selling for these days,
 
I bought a shetland for my little boy when he was 4, with the pony 5yrs old.

The most important consideration for me was that he safe for a small child to handle and that he didn't have any ridden issues. He had to be good in traffic and capable of being ridden both on and off the lead rein.

Our shetland can't jump but is safe, steady, non spooky, and doesn't kick or bite. He sometimes is not ridden for months, but is no different to ride after a long break, than if he was ridden every day. He is good in traffic and can be trusted on or off the lead rein.

The other things I considered was laminitus as didn't want to be constantly worrying about his weight. I did not have the pony vetted though.

Our little angel is still with us depsite being out grown now and has a home for life. My neighbours children are now riding him so he still has a job - not that he really cares if he is in work or not!

Our lad cost £450 and came with all tack and equipment.

Shetlands don't come with a good reputation, but if you get a good one they are worth their weight in gold, so good luck!
 
I have a Shetland ... I've owned him since he was four. He's now 25 yrs. He eats children for breakfast, :-)
He has been ridden on the lead rein over the years, but you has to keep an eye on him bucking. Off the lead, and he has decked every child that's ridden him - he lulls them into a false sense of security, is ok for 7-10 minutes then bucks and whips off - he's not g called Hooligan for nothing. I domlove him though and did very well showing him in hand because he was quite sharp. He is very good to be brushed, messed with and led about.
I've seen some really nice Shetlands on Horsequest that have done alot. Another thing to watch is sweet itch, so this is a good time of year to see any signs.
 
millimoo said:
I have a Shetland ... I've owned him since he was four. He's now 25 yrs. He eats children for breakfast, :-)
He has been ridden on the lead rein over the years, but you has to keep an eye on him bucking. Off the lead, and he has decked every child that's ridden him - he lulls them into a false sense of security, is ok for 7-10 minutes then bucks and whips off - he's not g called Hooligan for nothing. I domlove him though and did very well showing him in hand because he was quite sharp. He is very good to be brushed, messed with and led about.
I've seen some really nice Shetlands on Horsequest that have done alot. Another thing to watch is sweet itch, so this is a good time of year to see any signs.
Click to expand...

Mine is exactly the same as this!

Only one competent child has stayed on him, off the lead rein, going faster than a walk!!
 
As someone has already said, a good one is worth it's weight in gold! I currently have 2 fully ridden shetlands and one I am breaking and to be honest, they are older kids ponies. Whilst they are both bombproof in every respect one is an ex-grand national pony and is very forward going, puch button but a little sharp, the other is the total opposite he really need ridden to get the best out of him. Whilst both of them would quite happily go around on the lead rein, off the first one can occasionaly spook and throw his head up and spin the other is total lazy toad and kids are lucky to get his head off of the floor let alone walk or trot! I would say at the moment that my breaker will be too sharp for little kids for a wee while yet, she will settle down I think when she is fully established.

On the ground Flint, the ex-grand national pony is a gem, he can occasionally be spooky at nothing but it never comes to anything and 5yo kids have lead him round the show ring in young handler classes and he has never put a foot wrong. Rains on the other hand likes to take chunks out of kids if they put their hand in their pocket as he thinks they have sweets for him else he head will never leave the floor whilst having stuff done to him. Having said that of the 9 shetlands we have I would say I only have 2 that I wouldn't let kids handle - purely because they are entire. THe old stallion I have handled since I was 11 and he is an absolute gem in all respects, he would walk through a field of in season mares and not look at them whilst he has a human attached to him. The other entire is a young 4yo colt who is currently testing boundaries and his trick this week is to nip your ankle then try and push you over - he won't be trying that for long! All of my others I have made sure that you can litterly sit on the floor next to them whilst they eat a bucket of food and you can brush their legs and underneath them. Not advisable to anyone but on the off chance that I sell or loan one one day I would rather know that they are as kid proof as I can make them.

As for lammi - I have one mare with true lammi who we bought back after 6 years of her being a kids pony. The other one has EMS so both are kept on restricted grazing together and which ever other fat one I have at the time. I have 2 ponies with sweet itch. Father and Son. The mother has had it in the past but doesn't seem to get it with us, again got whilst away for 6 years.

At the end of the day if your son can tow the pony around, brush it and clamber on it without it giving 2 hoots then seriously consider it. They are few and far between. Just never forget that although they may be small you can't give them an inch or they will take 10 miles and take 10x as long to break out of bad habbits as normal horses.
 
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