Shetland advice

Thinking of taking on a shetland that needs re-homing - good natured, current owner titally ignorant and has neglected shetland and another 14hh pony. I thinking of having for companion for my 15hh cob. I have reservations re creating havoc if upset when I hack or go to a show but won't know til I take the leap. If I am only having as a companion, possibly local shows under M&M what would you do re Vaccinations, (currently none) Insurance (would you bother, if so would would be cheapest/recommended considering low value of pony) Obviously I'd get wormed, have teeth checked, get farrier out straight await and keep grazing in check re laminitis risk, but does anyone have any thoughts or advice for me to consider?? Thanks.

p.s. my cob is a 17yr old show horse who is winding down and is fully vaccinated & insured
 
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gigs

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Our shetland can escape from anywhere so check your fencing you will be amazed at how the little buggers get out !!
 
Vaccinations etc are the same for a shetland as they are for any other horse.

The only problem I have with my shetland is that she is an escape artist!!!

What sort of advice are you after?
 

I'd do Tet vaccinations. I had mine insured but it doesn't cost that much, I just had mine covered for the basics (Vet & Public liability) it was about £5 a month.

Check, check & check again your fencing. Ours used to roll under the electric fencing!

Google horse insurance & do a few different quotes to see the best price.
 
can't understand why you wouldnt have it insured. Believe it or not shetlands really are ponies, and as such can have the same accidents and illnesses as any other horse.
 
My friend had one that rolled under fencing too .... how do they do that ?!!

I'm just weighing up the pros vs cons.

My horse is ok on his own, I've had him 13 yrs, 11 in a livery yard with others around him but not in the same field, the past 4 yrs he's been on his own at home with me. He can't see or hear any horses close by so I'm just thinking as I wind him down should I consider getting something and this one has come up 3 miles away.

I haven't been looking, just got told by neighbours that she wants to re-home her.

My cob is very placid and used to get beaten up if in the field with anything else, this shetland is bullyed by the 14.2 it's with so don't think it'll threaten mine.

Any more thoughts?
 
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can't understand why you wouldnt have it insured. Believe it or not shetlands really are ponies, and as such can have the same accidents and illnesses as any other horse.

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I agree, I've never not had an animal insured, I'd be the first to end up with a huge bill if I did. I'm just after others opinions. I'd only want third party liability and vets fees but most ins co's seem to offer block packages and I don't want to pay for want I don't need.

I know people who regularly show in-hand and haven't got any vaccinations or insurance, but I don't think it's worth the risk, personally speaking.
 
Shetlands are the spawn of Satan himself!
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These tiny little cute things will try to convince you that they are cuddly, hairy teddy bears..........Don't be fooled!

A Sheltie will cost you much the same as an average horse/pony and will probably give you twice as much grief.
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My sheltand is a complete angel
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Respects electric fencing (It's not even on) but does think he's a complete sex god and does lots pancing around and tosing his hair... He's a stallion so poos in neat little mounds. Not too greedy, not been a trouble with lami but I watch him like a hawk and is currently in a 20x40 paddock.

Sheltand are ponies too!! He is just as capable as getting flu and tec so needs jabs. You may think whats the point of insuring him but could you have him pts say he coliced and needs costly surgory? Got grass sickness? Or quite likely lami?
 
I don't think shetlands are different to any other horse, health or behaviour wise. They seem to have a bad reputation but I suspect this is because they are often treated like cuddly cute teddy bears rather than ponies. I have two and neither of them are any bother, you could do anything with them. Both have worked in the past and been treated like horses, therefore haven't developed any bad habits.

Watch the grass though as they are prone to laminitis.
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I don't think shetlands are different to any other horse, health or behaviour wise. They seem to have a bad reputation but I suspect this is because they are often treated like cuddly cute teddy bears rather than ponies. I have two and neither of them are any bother, you could do anything with them. Both have worked in the past and been treated like horses, therefore haven't developed any bad habits.

Watch the grass though as they are prone to laminitis.
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I have never treated mine like a Teddy-Bear. He's too big to fit in the bed.
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It's just very important that people understand they need to be treated with the same respect as any other equine. Potentially even more so.
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Cute! Similar face to one of mine. If you can insure her for vet's fees then I'd go for it. And while they have the same needs, they do only go through half the amount of wormer, etc, that a bigger horse does!
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Like the others shetlands need everything exactly the same as any other equine. In fact its the problem of people treating them like pets/ teddys that is the reason for all the little s**ts that are thrown around the country.
 

As others have said, treat them with a firm hand & you won't have a problem.

My first miniature Shetland came from a local stud & it was a good stud but a mother/daughter combo who viewed them as "cute" pets.

He was about 6 months old when I got him & if you attempted to even go near his feet he would get down on his back & wave his legs in the air. He would literally have a paddy!
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A month/two months later he'd stand quietly for the farrier & go to sleep while having his hooves trimmed
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so firm but fair handling is a must.

We used to keep ours on nearly bare paddocks in the summer. Or strip graze them by about a foot of new grass each day. We never had a problem with lami but they were watched like a hawk for weight gain.

Also, you may have to have the tape set to a high setting because Saffron was so fluffy & cheeky that he'd walk through the fencing. He didn't feel the effect of the electric as his mane was so thick!
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Good luck, she looks cute
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Generally unless you are very unlucky they cost you very little, insure it, vaccinate it, worm it etc the same tho, other than that very easy on the whole!
 
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Shetlands are the spawn of Satan himself!
shocked.gif

These tiny little cute things will try to convince you that they are cuddly, hairy teddy bears..........Don't be fooled!

A Sheltie will cost you much the same as an average horse/pony and will probably give you twice as much grief.
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I swore I'd never have another...

I bought the first one as it was the first pony my child actually wanted to ride after being spectacularly bucked off on a previous pony. So, having never owned a shetland before I bought this little ginger hairball that was fed on sugarbeet, mix and fairy cakes. On his first day he bit my son. On his second day he dragged me down the road. On his second week he decided he liked napping and I stood for almost an hour outside the yard gate whilst he tried it on.
Blood sweat and tears went into that pony... he wasnt given an inch. He was 100% safe but was used to being the boss at his previous home.With us he was treated like the hunters he shared a yard with, and when he got too big for his boots he would be shoved out in a field with them (thus realising he was actually the bottom of the pecking order).
I wondered what on earth I'd bought.
But he came right in the end, with proper handling, mostly down to my son.

We recently bought another shetland as after we sold the first we realised we missed having a little hairball around. This one came to us 100% safe in every way, and is handled by my kids daily. About a fortnight ago I was standing in the field talking to my kids and letting the pony have a break from his muzzle when he whipped round, pinned me up against the fence and started kicking me. I learnt my lesson... to never get complacent.
 
What about leaving them on their own?

She is very people friendly, probably just craves attention as she's been lacking for so long!

I know I'll have to leave her for short periods at once to get her used to it, but do those of you who own them think they settle alone if left ..? i.e I could be at a show all day with my cob.

I do have a stable with a full size door to put her in if needed.
 
I wouldnt stick a shettie in a stable with a full size door. How would your cob feel if it couldnt see out? It'd freak...

They're usually fine to be left alone, but you need secure fencing.
 
you have to think about it logically. If it was the other way round, and you put your cob in a stable whilst you took the shetland out would you shut the top door to stop the cob jumping out?

It's the same principle. In which case, if you were that worried, you'd leave it in a secure field where it'd be safer if it went nuts.
 
yes, shetlands are suprisingly resiliant. Maybe if you're concerned you could buy a couple of sheep to a) help the grass and b) act as extra company.
 
They dont eat as much as larger horses and thus should cost less money but for some reason mine arent any cheaper!!!! ( prob because they are very spoilt!!! )

I have two littleones ( mini horse and mini shetland ) They are grazed together with no other horses and i can quite happily take one out to the show for the day. Ty ( the one left ) will whinny for a good ten minutes but then he settles down no problem.

Do make sure you have good fencing. Ty doesnt bother but Inky soon realises when the electrics not on. I have a five strand fence and yes i have seen Inky complete all kinds of acrobats to wriggle out, all worthy of a "ten" from a panel of judges!!!
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Jut a quick question you should ask yourself - can your horse cope on the level of grazing that the shetland will need? Will it mean turning them both out on a smaller field - will be be ok with that if he's used to more freedom than a 20x40 say?
 
I have 2 shetlands and neither are any bother at all. I would have no problem putting them in a stable with a normal sized door for a while if necessary. IMO, they are no different to any other horse/pony. The only thing you have to consider is the fencing. Neither of mine would dream of kicking out at a person just as my others wouldn't. One of them can be nippy but he is just playful in general I think due to being cut late..
As others have said, treat them as you would any other equine. Vets fees/farrier etc will cost the same but feeding should be little to nothing for a companion..
Mine are turned out on 10 + acres in the winter with my others and are on an acre in summer..no muzzles
 
I have two shetlands and like others have said they are no bother at all. Quite the opposite, my girls are elderly and all they want is a quiet life. I use electric fencing and it doen't have to be electrified - it is but that is to stop the ID mare next door going through it.

They aren't that much cheaper to keep than any other horse apart from feed and hay. They still need worming although one wormer does both of them, farrier - vet - dentist etc costs the same as any other sized horse. I get their feet trimmed every 12 weeks, teeth done once a year.

My girls aren't insured (one is 18 and the other 24) and have set myself a vet bill limit of 1K for each - which I would probably not stick to if it came to the crunch!!
 
Hello - I have answered on CPS forum go for her - she seems a lovely little girl.

Treacle the mini on our yard during the day when in has a stable guard web up so he can see out - he is very well behaved and never escapes. At night we close his door. He is never bothered about having the door closed, so no reason why your little girl should freak.

They take only take 10 mins to feed, muck out and give a quick groom - so much easier that a 16.3 clydie.

Anyway you know that Becky wants her if you don't - I would have her tomorrow if I didn' have Stinky and Cairo - she is so pretty.
 
As others have said - treat a shetland like a 16hh horse & an escapologist in training, and you'll be fine.

We breed them, and have 22 of the little darlings. We love them, but they do tend to be HUGE personalities.

With regard to how she is when left, probably not something we can predict until you try it. She may be fine in the field, or she may need to be in a box with a full size door. Some shetlands can jump amazingly - the other day I caught one of mine trying to jump over the shetland sized stable door! ::)
 
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