Rug for a mini-shettie?!

SuperCoblet

SuperCoblet

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I'm not introducing him until he's definitely mine and home, he's on my FB if anyone's friends :)

anyway, reading shetties take ages to dry out then cold, going to get him a light weight turn out for really rainy days. Just no idea what size to get him!

He's 8 months old and 30 inches high, suggestions please!

Chocolate pudding and cute shetland thoughts for all!
 
Google Dinky Rugs made to fit little ones and nice quality. I have a standard shetland and have couple of rugs from this site. My friend has mini's so I know you will find a rug to fit.
 
I've come up with a list of companies that I've come across which are useful for shetlands here: http://varkiesstud.co.uk/html/links.html

As to size - hard to say, depending on build. At 30", that is going to be very tiny. Our 34" ponies are usually in 3'3" - 3'6", with the occasional one in a 4'. So you've got to be looking at under 3' I'd think. Hard for me to be sure, as while I do have ponies that size, we don't rug them! Their coats do them just fine without rugs.
 
Shetlands don't need rugging, they tend to get too hot and sweaty even in a light weight rug I'm afraid. Don't worry about him getting wet, the water won't actually reach his skin due to the double coat they have

Especially with a young fluff ball pony
 
Wheels said:
Shetlands don't need rugging, they tend to get too hot and sweaty even in a light weight rug I'm afraid. Don't worry about him getting wet, the water won't actually reach his skin due to the double coat they have

Especially with a young fluff ball pony
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Thank you, i think im being too soft! I know he doesn't really, just makes me feel better!
 
I have a mini, I was wondering if I was being mean not rugging him but reading this confirms my original decision. They have incredibly dense coats, they dont need rugging but dont groom as this takes out the oils in the coat they need to stay dry.
Wheels said:
Shetlands don't need rugging, they tend to get too hot and sweaty even in a light weight rug I'm afraid. Don't worry about him getting wet, the water won't actually reach his skin due to the double coat they have

Especially with a young fluff ball pony
Click to expand...
 
Rugging them can actually be a negative thing unless they truly need it - I have known ponies go on to get skin problems because they get too hot & sweaty under their rugs - even lightweight or rainsheet rugs.
 
Why bother!!?

They have a double layered coat and are bred to cope with harsh conditions. In the 7 years of owning shets we never rugged them - just ensured they had access to shelter and fibre in their bellies!
 
Thanks everyone, I knew I shouldnt really need one!!
Shall be introducing him on sunday! :D

While all the Shetland peeps are here... If I wanted to travel him and coblet together in an I for Williams trailer, how would I do it?
 
varkie said:
Rugging them can actually be a negative thing unless they truly need it - I have known ponies go on to get skin problems because they get too hot & sweaty under their rugs - even lightweight or rainsheet rugs.
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Sidney said:
Why bother!!?

They have a double layered coat and are bred to cope with harsh conditions. In the 7 years of owning shets we never rugged them - just ensured they had access to shelter and fibre in their bellies!
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This ^

If you do rug with any damp in the coat, you could well be asking for the pony to catch a chill, due to trapping the damp in!

Best management of small shaggy pony is to give a little more hay in cold wet weather (makes you feel better, just gets pony fatter).

The only grooming should be with perhaps a plastic curry to oik out the lumps of dry mud or a dandy brush when dry. (never ever brush a shaggy yak when wet in the winter as you WILL trap moisture in the lower layers)

TF gets a near daily groom & loves it - I really only scrape over the top, find her 'itchy' areas & remove dried mud & leaves that she adorns herself with.........

Did you know it can take more than 4 complete 24/7 days for a shettie (mini or std) to dry out at this time of the year if you bathed them? Even when ours were used for panto 30+yrs ago, we used to only wash manes & tails - talc was our friend......

So, all good advice from posters above: enjoy your little one, give him room to move about, perhaps a bit more hay if temps are very cold/wet - and dont be tempted to rug him till he is clipped (when a lot older!)

Hope you enjoy him lots :)
 
Rally neresting I noticed my new tiny's coat was reall damp this aftrnoon - even though we haven't had any rain today- I was just considering the need for a rug so thanks for timely thread OP. I guess they stay wet as the warm air is trapped next to their skin and doesn't get out to dry the top layer of hair??
 
Polos Mum said:
Rally neresting I noticed my new tiny's coat was reall damp this aftrnoon - even though we haven't had any rain today- I was just considering the need for a rug so thanks for timely thread OP. I guess they stay wet as the warm air is trapped next to their skin and doesn't get out to dry the top layer of hair??
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Its currently around 12 degrees here (was at 5pm) and up to 14 during today - my mini was also 'humidly damp' due to shaggy coat not ventilating enough as no breeze at all.
She'll be happier when temps drop back a bit more again :)
 
Re the travelling, we used to put the breach bar down as low as it would go, then used it (with a breakable tie!) to tie the pony too. We also put straw bales behind the breach bar to stop the ponies slipping under.

I am sure it is not technically correct but worked for our chaps!
 
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