Mini Shetland in back garden

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LisaDaly83

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Hello,
Just after some friendly opinions please.
I’m thinking about putting a mini in my back garden at home. It’s in a residential area and will be in a wooden stable made by ourselves. My garden is not anywhere near the size of an acre. See pictures. I do have access to a field and companies at weekends. What are you opinions whether to go for it or not. 🙂
 
It unfortunately won’t let me upload it. Says it’s too bigger file. The local council will take it if I pay extra which is fine but I know what you mean about it being on its own.
 
No. Ponies, whatever their size, need a decent amount of space to move in and company of their own kind. Weekend field time with horses it won't have time to acclimatise with isn't enough and your garden is tiny.

It's a lovely dream for a person - I don't think it's a decent life for a pony.
 
It's an absolute no, plus your garden would be mud and poo in no time at all and you'd be surprised at how much poo even one mini can create
Ponies need company, food and space to run around, the only requirement you would be meeting here is the food portion assuming you provide sufficient hay as there isn't nearly enough grass.
 
nikicb said:
you may find there is a restriction on keeping a horse on your premises being a residential area.
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I dont think it would be allowed. There are probably local authority regulations. My s.i.l. who kept some rare breed hens in a residential area was not allowed to have a cockerel, due to noise of crowing.
 
Not enough space at all in your garden, even for a mini!
They really do need company too. Also your toxic garden plants and bushes will be eaten and make them ill unless you dig them up or fence them off from them.
Even if you removed everything from your current garden and just had grass, that wouldn’t be enough room. It would all be mud in no time.
You’re vastly under-estimating the basic needs of any equine. Buy a field, then think about it.
 
Sorry, it's not enough space, even for a mini. Plus even tiny hoses need company so keeping one on its own really won't work. They may be small, but would trash that patch of grass in no time at all.
 
I'm afraid your lovely garden will end up as a bog filled with churned up poo and hay and the shetland would likely end up causing havoc, chewing fences, pulling things down, trying to do laps around what space is there and breaking things through stress and boredom.

Childhood dream of mine to have a pony in the garden but having a pony in a few acres is hard enough in winter especially, let alone on a small patch of grass. As someone else said too, you'd have to get rid of all your other plants as they might be toxic and other garden ornaments/furniture as they would likely just get broken or cause injury.

Where would you store feed and hay? The grass would soon be gone so you'd solely need to feed hay and you'd need somewhere to store it. Where will you put it out so it doesn't get trodden into the ground? When the vet and farrier comes for dentist and vaccinations plus anything else, will they have access to get to the pony easily with their equipment, somewhere to tie it with a dry standing? Access to water and where will you put the water?
What would you do if a neighbour's fence gets blown down in the wind and they don't/can't repair it straight way, what back up will you have to keep the pony in?

There is an awful lot to consider. I'm sure a bunny rabbit would very much enjoy bouncing around that grass having a nibble instead if you want to add something nice to your garden! Much less destructive than a shetland!
 
LisaDaly83 said:
I’m thinking about putting a mini in my back garden at home. It’s in a residential area and will be in a wooden stable made by ourselves. My garden is not anywhere near the size of an acre. See pictures. I do have access to a field and companies at weekends.
Click to expand...
Why do you want the mini at home? Can he not live full time in the field with companions?
 
As the owner of a mini....no, absolutely not.

The needs of shetlands are the same as any kind of pony when it come to space, company etc.

It would be unkind to keep one alone in your back garden.
 
A friend of mine keeps her Mini’s in her garden but it’s a large wrap around garden with a shelter and about 5x that size. In the winter they get in the fields around her property and she doesn’t have any neighbours close by. And most importantly there is 2 of them.

I wouldn’t consider it in that garden. Why couldn’t the pony just stay with the companions they will see at the weekends?
 
No definitely not!
1. Not enough space
2. Unsuitable ground
3. Unsuitable plants
4. Far too much clutter for pony to injure itself on
5. No pony should ever be kept on its own, except in exceptional circumstances. I want one isn't a good enough reason
6. Obviously very inexperienced owner, or you wouldn't need to ask
 
LisaDaly83 said:
Hello,
Just after some friendly opinions please.
I’m thinking about putting a mini in my back garden at home. It’s in a residential area and will be in a wooden stable made by ourselves. My garden is not anywhere near the size of an acre. See pictures. I do have access to a field and companies at weekends. What are you opinions whether to go for it or not. 🙂
Click to expand...
Do you currently have (or have had) a mini, or any other horses?
 
And just wait until your neighbours start to complain about the smell and the mess, and the trashed garden devaluing their properties! Environmental Health officers will be on your doorstep pronto! If you want ponies, you will need one acre per pony plus an acre spare, plus shelter and storage.
 
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