Mini’s V shetlands respecting fences.

[PurBee]

I’m wondering if miniature horses, fallabella’s are easier to fence-in than shetlands - is there a mini horse breed placid enough to behave with electric fencing?

While im here i may aswell ask if a mini will generally get on with 2 bigger nice natured horses? Im thinking of adding a 3rd and just love the miniatures…its like have a permanent foal around the place ?

 

[paddi22]

I put minis in with all my big horses and they get on fine. my Falabella style ones are equally as talented at spotting gaps in fences, and if anything are harder to keep in because they are smaller so can squeeze through smaller gaps!

 

[meleeka]

I have a mini that’s fine with fences. If it’s electric it has to be on, but I only need 2 strands. He lives with 2 x 12hh welsh mares and a 16hh Friesian. They treat him like the annoying little brother, but are very protective of him. He gets away with all sorts, including sharing their feed buckets or their haynets. None of them would share with each other.

 

[PurBee]

I put minis in with all my big horses and they get on fine. my Falabella style ones are equally as talented at spotting gaps in fences, and if anything are harder to keep in because they are smaller so can squeeze through smaller gaps!

Do they act that way with electric fencing?
Im torn as i keep my 3 line electric fence with only top 2 lines ‘live’ - leaving the lower one off, so my gsd dog doesnt get zapped while shes out in the fields with me. A mini is about her size, so thats a pickle if i have to electrify all 3.

 

[Equi]

It depends on the mini horse just as with big ones. I’ve some that will not go through an unnelectrified fence and some that make it their mission in life to destroy all fences regardless.

They can get along with big horses just fine but personally I hate 1 mini with only big horses for company. They need someone their own size they can do stuff with also plus the fact they will need much less grass means you may end up with the mini in a small patch alone. So basically you’re now buying two lol
As for placidness, British minis whislt cheeky are not quite as “hot” as the American/Falabella. My smallest American mini is essentially a thoroughbred in personality and the American/Falabella blend is a Welsh cob.

 

[cauda equina]

My Shetland is fine with electric fencing, whether it is on or not
He lives with a 14 hands (his chum, they play good natured fighting games) and a 15 hands

 

[southerncomfort]

My mini shetland has been a nightmare the last few days. Never know where I'm going to find her! This is with 4 strands of tape.

I've changed to electrifying the lowest strand and so far so good! Apparently she doesn't mind her back or belly getting zapped but draws the line at her legs!

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

My Shetland was always fine with electric fencing as long as it was on, if it was off she would put her head under the bottom strand to lift it up and casually stroll under it, but she was so laid back she never went any further than the nearest bit of grass and if you held the fence up and pointed under it she would put herself back in ?
She lived with my two 13hh ponies all the time and at times they were out as part of a larger herd with big horses and there was never any problems, she was sneaky and smart and kept herself out of trouble the big horses let her get away with far more than they would any of other normal sized ones.

 

[wills_91]

My smaller mini is worse than the bigger mini, both are pretty awful.

They have been turned out with all shapes and sizes but for me it depends on the nature/temperament of the bigger horse I'm choosy with who mine go out with.

 

[PurBee]

It depends on the mini horse just as with big ones. I’ve some that will not go through an unnelectrified fence and some that make it their mission in life to destroy all fences regardless.

They can get along with big horses just fine but personally I hate 1 mini with only big horses for company. They need someone their own size they can do stuff with also plus the fact they will need much less grass means you may end up with the mini in a small patch alone. So basically you’re now buying two lol
As for placidness, British minis whislt cheeky are not quite as “hot” as the American/Falabella. My smallest American mini is essentially a thoroughbred in personality and the American/Falabella blend is a Welsh cob.

Thanks for the info about breeds and numbers, lots to think about - i can just picture OH face when i say “ive been advised 2 mini’s minimum” ..he’ll be something like: ?
??

I just told him and got an instant ???‍ “Oh really? Hmmmmm”
LOL!

 

[PurBee]

Its lovely to hear from you the bigger horses let the mini’s get away with more than they would a normal sized horse, that’s encouraging.
My mare was a broodmare and was a super mum and will probably treat it protectively. The gelding is cheeky and playful but smart and curious with it, so never overt aggressive boy-play - and he’s great with the GSD dog, cats and birds near him, so i think theyd be a good pair to a mini, and the mini would provide some entertainment for them maybe!

If i see a pair of mini’s im going to be sorely tempted ? i often see sellers selling 2, and that would be a nice new home start for the pair, having each other as familiar, while getting used to the other 2.

 

[ycbm]

I've had one 44", and a pair of minis and I never had any issue with keeping any of them in with 1 strand of electrified wire at an appropriate height, even when on weight control.

One was, however, a metabolic disaster at 2 years old, so you might need to be prepared to dry lot. And I agree that the real tinies need a friend the same size. Not joking, they really do.
.

 

[PurBee]

The metabolic issues with mini’s i‘ve heard mention often on this forum - is one breed more susceptible than another?

 

[Auslander]

Two of my gremlins are respectful of electric fencing whether its on or off. Then we have Ivan, who could not care less if it's on. He has perfected the art of runnig diagonally at the fence, ducking his head at the last minute, and galloping through it as fast as he can to avoid the zap

 

[JGC]

Two of my gremlins are respectful of electric fencing whether its on or off. Then we have Ivan, who could not care less if it's on. He has perfected the art of runnig diagonally at the fence, ducking his head at the last minute, and galloping through it as fast as he can to avoid the zap

To be fair, my 15.1 does full gallop at the fence, about three metres away, sticks her legs straight out (think refusing a jump style) and belly-slides under the wire with the impulsion generated.

Sadly, we've never been able to catch her on camera (as we are, you know, trying to stop it happening).

She is of Heinz 52 breeding, but there's got to be a lot of pony in there ...

 

[Equi]

The metabolic issues with mini’s i‘ve heard mention often on this forum - is one breed more susceptible than another?

My mini shet is classic ems and medicated. The American doesn’t seem to be effected (same ages nearly)

 

[PurBee]

To be fair, my 15.1 does full gallop at the fence, about three metres away, sticks her legs straight out (think refusing a jump style) and belly-slides under the wire with the impulsion generated.

Sadly, we've never been able to catch her on camera (as we are, you know, trying to stop it happening).

She is of Heinz 52 breeding, but there's got to be a lot of pony in there ...

?? …picturing your mare belly sliding under your fence has cracked me up! Thats a novel approach she has to navigating fencing…i’d LOVE to see that on film!

Im yet to video my 15.3 gelding doing his houdini fence trick - he won’t do it if im around. 4 very tight lines from 1 foot up to 5 foot contains him. 3 lines and he’s got it sussed.

 

[PurBee]

I've had one 44", and a pair of minis and I never had any issue with keeping any of them in with 1 strand of electrified wire at an appropriate height, even when on weight control.

One was, however, a metabolic disaster at 2 years old, so you might need to be prepared to dry lot. And I agree that the real tinies need a friend the same size. Not joking, they really do.
.

Thats useful to know - 1 strand works at the right height, so im better off getting 2 of similar height.
My place is like an ark - whenever 1 of something finds its feet to my home, i always get it a friend after observing them on their own. My 2 spend lots of time grooming each other, sleeping head to tail yinyang style, and a mini wouldnt be able to join in so well with those closer herd behaviours due to size difference.