Miniature horses vs miniature Shetlands

[shetlandponylover]

Hello I was wondering if anyone could help me please? I have a little miniature Shetland filly who will make 30" fully grown. I'm looking for a companion for her and something that I could show aswell as my little fillly. I have found a lovely little miniature horse mare but I was wondering are they as hardy as a miniature Shetland? Do miniature horses suffer more with colic etc than a mini Shetland. Do they have more illness etc. The mare has her winter coat etc and sounds perfect for what I'm wanting. Any advice would be so helpful thankyou for reading xxx

 

[Enfys]

I think they are just as hardy as shetlands, mine winter out unrugged and in knee deep snow (for them) and temps down to -20C (and we had a mild winter this year).

They have a shelter and I treat them just the same as any of my other horses through the winter. Go for it, never had any problems with them, colic or other wise. Minis are only as delicate as humans make them.


Rose is 20 (at least) and grows quite a hefty coat:

 

[Stinkbomb]

Well it depends on what you want to do with the miniature. showing wise they are both shown totally differently. miniature shetlands are shown "natural" whereas miniature horses should be clipped out. I have a miniature stallion that i show. It takes alot of effort to get him right for the shows, training, exercising and he gets clipped almost every time before a show. Horses require alot more preparation before shows and it depends on whether you have the time to do that. Also because they are clippped you have the added expense/ hassle of them having to wear rugs most of the summer. There are a few months over summer Inky lives without one, but as soon as we get a cold spell or heavy rain he wears one as they do feel the cold easily when clipped. Also you have to bear in mind the sun when they are clipped too. having said that mine lives out 24/7 most of the summer. Winter wise both my miniature horse stallion and my Mini shetland gelding live out all winter. They have one rug on each but they could quite happily live without one. The shetland is no more hardy than the horse.

Here is my miniature stallion:-

 

[shetlandponylover]

Thankyou all for your help you have some very gorgeous little horses xxx