Managing an ancient Shetland?

[Allie5]

So somehow I have aquired a shetland pony for my little boy. We were sort of looking but nothing concrete until Dimples landed on my lap! So I'm just looking for some advice about what to do with him now! He has been wormed and I have the dentist booked. The poor wee soul has a broken front tooth that needs looking at. He is in what I would consider good condition for a fairly mature native (first guess by teeth puts him at easily late 20s) in that he is not massively fat! So what should I feed him to just maintain his weight? Are any of the senior mixes any good? He's a little stiff first thing in the morning is glucosamine or cod liver oil likely to help or is it a purely preventative supplement? He is hugely hairy and his mane and tail are basically dreadlocks. I spent an hour at least per day the past three days using a shedding blade on him to try to make him more comfortable but his mane and tail I think I might need to take some scissors to :-( Lastly does anyone know where to buy Shetland pony sized "stuff"? He has a cub saddle but even pony sized numnahs etc drown his little 10hh back! He's such a little sweetheart and I want to do my best by him but I've never really looked after such a mature pony!

 

[Carlosmum]

He probablay wont need extra feed other than grass, but take care he does not get laminitis as spring approaches your dentist will advise you if he is capable of eating grass with damaged teeth. If he cant then soaked high fibre nuts & unmalassed sugar beet are an option.
Unless you know alot about his history I'd advise getting the vet to check him out before you put your little one on board.
Small tack ....Ebay

 

[millimoo]

He WILL need more than just grass, even more so if you restrict him. My Shetland is 24yrs old now. He's rugged if it windy & cold, more so if wet. He's a bit softer than most as he's stabled at night all year round.
Mine wears a lightweight with no lining, but when it's really awful he has a Rambo with lining. He has caught a chill in the past bring caught out in bad weather.
A great place for small equipment is a website called Dinky Rugs, there's loads of mini stuff on there. Although I've never bought rugs from them.
Feed wise, mine is on Dodson & Horrell safe and sound - chaff designed for laminitics with lots of goodies to support gut and feet.
Very regular teeth checks are important with Shetlands as they get into their twilight years, I'm lucky as mine has a straight bit and good teeth, which apparently they don't always have... So my very good horse vet tells me.

 

[millimoo]

Just to finish what I was saying.... (on I-phone and couldn't edit/add to what I'd written)
Dimples sounds like a very lucky pony to have found you, and suggest a vet check as per previous post, especially with the stiffness etc, although something like Devils Claw may be good. Good luck, and hope he's everything you want him to be - mines a monster and eats children for breakfast, but we love him to bits, he's a real character