JesterandPatch
Active Member
I last posted back in April 'Am I mad for considering this' as I was pondering getting two Mini Shetlands after giving up riding about 6 years ago when I had to get my beloved Dales x PTS.
After a lot of soul searching and looking on rehoming sites I just couldn't find what I was looking for, until a breeder popped a photo up of two little colts that had recently been born and would be available after Weaning in October time.
I promptly put a deposit down and spent the summer worrying about my decision, fast forward to now, the breeder asked If was able to take them a little earlier, both had effectively weaned themselves and were eating well, one of the mums was looking really poor and she wanted the foal away so the mum could build up condition before the Winter sets in.
so they have been with me a week and a half they are five months old and I am totally besotted, although the first week I was questioning everything I was doing and panicking about keeping something so diddy alive, we have now settled into a good routine.
current routine is in at night together with adlib meadow haylage and a small feed of Pink mash / molasses free chaff to put their vits and mins in. in morning other half lets them into a yard area with part concrete and a large woodchip area they have another small feed of unmolassed chaff and adlib meadow haylage, I pop over around 13.00 when I finish work and let them out on the grass and they then come in again around 18.30.
They are in smallish electric fenced paddock on a field that was cut for hay in the summer, but has now flushed due to the rain, little tummies seem to be coping well on this routine but I am unsure whether I can increase their paddock / grass time safely, they are only literally taking the tops off the grass and think it is still growing more quicker than they are eating it.
The both are happy to be caught, lead pretty well, love a good groom and getting much better at having their feet picked up and faffed with, my farrier is coming next week.
will speak to the vet in October time when they have their jabs about getting them gelded, not sure whether to do it sooner rather than later or wait until next Spring.
hopefully get them out showing next year once they are yearlings, watch this space.
Rowan is the Skewbald who is a lot bigger than Badger the Piebald
After a lot of soul searching and looking on rehoming sites I just couldn't find what I was looking for, until a breeder popped a photo up of two little colts that had recently been born and would be available after Weaning in October time.
I promptly put a deposit down and spent the summer worrying about my decision, fast forward to now, the breeder asked If was able to take them a little earlier, both had effectively weaned themselves and were eating well, one of the mums was looking really poor and she wanted the foal away so the mum could build up condition before the Winter sets in.
so they have been with me a week and a half they are five months old and I am totally besotted, although the first week I was questioning everything I was doing and panicking about keeping something so diddy alive, we have now settled into a good routine.
current routine is in at night together with adlib meadow haylage and a small feed of Pink mash / molasses free chaff to put their vits and mins in. in morning other half lets them into a yard area with part concrete and a large woodchip area they have another small feed of unmolassed chaff and adlib meadow haylage, I pop over around 13.00 when I finish work and let them out on the grass and they then come in again around 18.30.
They are in smallish electric fenced paddock on a field that was cut for hay in the summer, but has now flushed due to the rain, little tummies seem to be coping well on this routine but I am unsure whether I can increase their paddock / grass time safely, they are only literally taking the tops off the grass and think it is still growing more quicker than they are eating it.
The both are happy to be caught, lead pretty well, love a good groom and getting much better at having their feet picked up and faffed with, my farrier is coming next week.
will speak to the vet in October time when they have their jabs about getting them gelded, not sure whether to do it sooner rather than later or wait until next Spring.
hopefully get them out showing next year once they are yearlings, watch this space.
Rowan is the Skewbald who is a lot bigger than Badger the Piebald
they have trouble written all over their little faces 
I’m sure you’ll have a fab time with them!
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