Miniatures - love em or hate em??

I like 'proper' shetlands but not miniatures- they look too odd for me and i don't really see the point in them.

I don't hate them though.
 
Other than look cute (and behave outrageously at times!) Stig doesn't have a "use" as such, though he has taught smallest son about a bit of respect.....son now doesn't take the P, or Stiggy tries to remove a chunk of his leg/arm/behind.
 
I really like them, would love to have one just as a companion for the coloured when mare goes, but as OH pointed out, a lot of them have problems with lami, and also our last mini was a bit of an escape artist. Mummy hates all kinds of ponies, so I went onto horses very young, I don't think she was impressed when I re-suggested the idea of a pony at my age- so it looks like my next companion will be a horse!
 
I can sort of see the attraction for those who want to be around horses but not bother with riding etc, but personally I doubt I'll ever want or have one. Rather have a dog to be honest. :D;)
 
I breed miniature shetlands, so clearly I love them.

They are a fantastic breed - brave, kind, loyal, intelligent. But what people have to remember is that for all their small size, they are a horse, and should be treated as one. That is where people go wrong with shetlands - they treat them as a dog or a pet, and then the clever little shetlands just walk all over them. You should always treat a shetland as though it is 16hh, and then you'll never go wrong. The only 'bad' shetlands I have met have been those who have been mistreated - either by too much kindness, or cruelty.

They definitely are capable of a job of work - and are actually much nicer if they do work. A shetland has an active mind, and if you don't give it something to think about, it will find entertainment for itself. They can be ridden by small children, and driven - especially in pairs.

They are no more prone to laminitis than any other native pony. It is perfectly possible to keep them and not have laminitis - I have 21 currently, and not a single one has (or has ever had) laminitis - touch wood!

They are a great introduction for children, to the world of ponies. They are brilliant for people who don't have vast amounts of space, and aren't that fussed about riding, but want something to drive / show / walk out with. They're also brilliant for the nervous, the elderly & the disabled - we've had them go out to all these sorts of homes - as they are great confidence givers (if they've been brought up properly) and kind enough to allow for others restricted abilities.

They don't make great lawnmowers, and we won't sell them to homes where that is someones intention - they get bored doing that, and get too much grass. They do need to go somewhere they will be used for something, and get lots of attention. They are real fun ponies - my horsey life has been far richer for having them in. I just adore them. Anyone who isn't convinced about them is welcome to come & see ours, and see if they change your mind! ;)
 
varkie said:
I breed miniature shetlands, so clearly I love them.

They are a fantastic breed - brave, kind, loyal, intelligent. But what people have to remember is that for all their small size, they are a horse, and should be treated as one. That is where people go wrong with shetlands - they treat them as a dog or a pet, and then the clever little shetlands just walk all over them. You should always treat a shetland as though it is 16hh, and then you'll never go wrong. The only 'bad' shetlands I have met have been those who have been mistreated - either by too much kindness, or cruelty.

They definitely are capable of a job of work - and are actually much nicer if they do work. A shetland has an active mind, and if you don't give it something to think about, it will find entertainment for itself. They can be ridden by small children, and driven - especially in pairs.

They are no more prone to laminitis than any other native pony. It is perfectly possible to keep them and not have laminitis - I have 21 currently, and not a single one has (or has ever had) laminitis - touch wood!

They are a great introduction for children, to the world of ponies. They are brilliant for people who don't have vast amounts of space, and aren't that fussed about riding, but want something to drive / show / walk out with. They're also brilliant for the nervous, the elderly & the disabled - we've had them go out to all these sorts of homes - as they are great confidence givers (if they've been brought up properly) and kind enough to allow for others restricted abilities.

They don't make great lawnmowers, and we won't sell them to homes where that is someones intention - they get bored doing that, and get too much grass. They do need to go somewhere they will be used for something, and get lots of attention. They are real fun ponies - my horsey life has been far richer for having them in. I just adore them. Anyone who isn't convinced about them is welcome to come & see ours, and see if they change your mind! ;)
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Here here :D We always have people stopping us when we're out walking ours and they're always fascinated. We've had ours many many years, before the miniature craze really started. We used to be the only ones with a mini at shows etc (it was easier to take the pony rather than the pram when the older ones went showing!) and now when we go they're everywhere!

I honestly believe the miniature shetlands character is hard to beat :)
 
varkie said:
They are a fantastic breed - brave, kind, loyal, intelligent. But what people have to remember is that for all their small size, they are a horse, and should be treated as one. That is where people go wrong with shetlands - they treat them as a dog or a pet, and then the clever little shetlands just walk all over them. You should always treat a shetland as though it is 16hh, and then you'll never go wrong. The only 'bad' shetlands I have met have been those who have been mistreated - either by too much kindness, or cruelty.
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Agree 100%! I've only got three but they are absolutely fantastic personalities and very quick to learn. Hence the problems if you 'spoil' them, they are horses.

I do worry about them being bred so small they begin to have physical problems as I do with any breed that is 'over bred' for certain features or bred irresponsibly.
 
Stinkbomb said:
Yes we have classes for hack type, Hunter and Cob types :)
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And don't forget there's classes for Arab Type too - now there's a double whammy for all the arab dislikers on here (see recent thread!), a miniature and arab type shock horror LOL!! I have a miniature PBA stallion :)

I judge quite a lot of miniature classes and have already been booked to judge next year - so I must love em!
 
amandap said:
I do worry about them being bred so small they begin to have physical problems as I do with any breed that is 'over bred' for certain features or bred irresponsibly.
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Absolutely agree with this. As a shetland breeder, I won't breed from mares under 30" (max height for a mini is 34"), and tbh, I prefer them at 31-32" or above. I have just one breeding shetland under 30", and that is my stallion - but he is an exception - for all his small size, he is very typey, and gets great comments on his conformation. He is our mature stallion - I also have a two year old whom I hope will successfully license as a stallion when he is older - I measured him the other night at 30" - and he should go up a bit more yet, and he is a nice solid chap, so will still be capable of a job of work. For all our stallion is small, he would be capable of a job of work - I have his son, who is the same height (and gelded) and I'm hoping to drive them as a pair in the future.

I think shetland breeders should be very careful of breeding too small - first off, I do think that leads to genetic problems, including dwarfism, slipping stifles, jaw & teeth problems. These are not widespread among shetlands, but do occur from time to time - but seem to crop up more once people start trying to breed smaller & smaller. But also, we do need to remember that they are a pony, and not a dog - and they do need to be capable of a job of work - which if they end up too small, they will not.

Just to show that small can be VERY beautiful - this is my stallion, Duke, just 28.5":
Duke_2009_01.JPG
 
I have to be honest and say that I've not really had much to do with them, but they are cute!
I hate seeing overweight ones though. I get very angry when I go past a field and see tiny miniature Shetlands who look like they are on the verge of laminitis.
 
nativeponies said:
i quite like ****lands, miniature horses and mini ****ties..

i cant get my head round those deformed dwarf things though
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not quite the same but we have miniature pigs ( pets not breeding stock ) two from same litter one is exactly as it should be but one as it gets older is clearly not quite right confirmationally, we took them on as 'older' piglets when have lost all saleability as not 'cute' anymore, but wasnt obvious even then. What is really scary is it was sold entire and people are breeding so indiscriminantly to make fast profit that it could easily have been bred from producing got only knows what, as it is I thinks it will be costly sorting out its problems btu at least we wont pass them on
 
Flame_ said:
I don't hate them, but when loads of useless horses are going spare because most people want something to ride, it seems a bit stupid to purposely breed useless little pet horses. If you want a pet horse, surely just pick one off the endless lists of companions looking for homes, why breed them specifically?
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Because my miniatures are not just pets. I go all over the country showing so i dont see him as a useless little pet horse :) Not everyone wants to ride. I lost my confidence after a bad accident which has left me with one eye so riding is not my thing anymore. Although I hope to be doing abit of this next year!....

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PF :_ Inky is of Hunter Type. Ill try find some pics of the others :)
 
For PF

here are some pictures of what we would class as "refined type" "thoroughbred type" " arabian type" "hack type" depending on which society you show with..

Kisses_Greats.jpg

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Inky is shown as "Hunter type" or "draft type" ( draft type doesnt mean like your typical shire horse type, just thicker boned than refined ) or "Middleweight type"...... here showing off his overall reserve grand champion miniature draft type 2010 MHCGB and Overall reserve grand champion miniature middleweight type 2010 MHCGB sashes :)

mhcgbchamp2010003-1.jpg


And your "heavyweight type" and "cob type" would be your shetland types, but you can also get miniature horses that are thicker set but not shetlands. :)
 
There not called *****lands for nothing!!
If you get one which is trained well they are lovely but you get the ones that are litle buggers. I prefer dogs tbh
 
Sorry, but how can you NOT love them? I mean look:

179.jpg


Sunny.jpg


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Don't worry, I can understand why people don't love them :p

Well for me, my little one is great fun to have around. He is very affectionate, he doesn't bite and always wants to play. He makes me laugh every day. When my tb was on box rest for a month, Sunny was worth his weight in gold because I could bring him in during the day to keep silly tb company. He made barely any mess, ate a tiny bit of hay and kept silly tb sane!

Every morning he comes running over with his nose in the air because his favourite thing is to be kissed lots and lots on the nose :)

Also he is SERIOUSLY cute :D
 
well i love ours .
minature 2 yr old filly.
they are the jack russels of the horse world .
big horse with attitude in little body .
very confident and brave and adores fuss and attention.
 
I think they are very cute, not something i would own but each to their own! I do like a decent shetland though and looked at some when looking for my daughters pony, but ended up with a Sec A instead as so many of the shetlands were little buggers!!
 
I like them, there cute. However I'm not really sure in the point of them and I do think a lot of people get them thinking they need less care than a bigger horse, which of course is not true.
 
well if you had asked me a few years ago I would have told you I have no interest in them , but we took in a rescued mini and caught the bug , we now breed and show them , I only have 19 at the moment but Ive had up to thirty
 
debsflo said:
they are the jack russels of the horse world .
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Haha, I just said that exact phrase to my friend this evening as I was telling her about how a shetland at our yard knocked someone over face-first into a puddle of mud! :D I love hairy little Thelwell-style shetlands, not so keen on the more refined minis just because I don't find them as adorable to look at. I think that if I ever end up having kids, the excuse to buy a shetland will be a massive factor in that decision. :D
 
We have a midi Shetland( 1/2 mini, 1/2 standard) on the yard where we keep our 2. He is such a dude, attitude and then some. He has been known to lead Cappy, all 17-3hh around by his head collar, must have been on tiptoes. I love them and would love a herd of them,as has been said they are the terriers of the horse world!

I learnt to ride on a Shetland, you rode her properly or she dumped you. Simples. They have such enormous characters you can't help but have strong feelings, one way or another for them.
FDC
 
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