Shetland feeding

[PC Steele]

Hi my Shetland and big one are out together 24/7. My boy has 2 feeds a day with meds in the morning one. The Shetland keeps trying to nick his feed. Should I give the Shetland a small feed? (Which he doesn’t need) or fence off a feeding area for my big one? It is all good natured as my big boy couldn’t give a toss and is more than happy to share but obvs it’s got meds in it

 

[poiuytrewq]

I tried a small feed first, a handful of chaff. He’d finish it in two seconds and move onto my horses feed instead!
So when they were all out 24/7 I did fence a feeding area for my horse as it meant I could get on with other jobs while he ate rather than having to stand over him to chase the pony off!

 

[meleeka]

Mine has a handful of Honeychop Lite and Healthy for the same reason. I’m not sure how he does it, but even the ones that are food possessive just let him join in.

 

[FFAQ]

I would fence off a feeding pen for your big lad. I always feel sorry for shetlands as they usually need so little to maintain a healthy weight, but the day is still 24 hours long. It must be very frustrating for them to have finished all their hay and the big horsed have still got loads left!

 

[PC Steele]

I would fence off a feeding pen for your big lad. I always feel sorry for shetlands as they usually need so little to maintain a healthy weight, but the day is still 24 hours long. It must be very frustrating for them to have finished all their hay and the big horsed have still got loads left!

I know I feel so bad!!!!!!

 

[Auslander]

I use hook over mangers to feed the big horses when the gremlins are out with them -as the gremlins couldn't give two hoots about being told off for stealing. If you don't have rails to hook a manger onto, you can hook them over the lip of a blue barrel (I fill mine with water) The mangers that go in a tyre also work if you have the correct sized barrel!
Any Shetland with an ounce of self respect will see feeding pens as a challenge, rather than a deterrent!

 

[EmmaC78]

I give my shetland a small feed plus some carrots when the big ones get fed. I just tie him up so he can't try and steal the other feed when he has finished.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I use hook over mangers to feed the big horses when the gremlins are out with them -as the gremlins couldn't give two hoots about being told off for stealing. If you don't have rails to hook a manger onto, you can hook them over the lip of a blue barrel (I fill mine with water) The mangers that go in a tyre also work if you have the correct sized barrel!
Any Shetland with an ounce of self respect will see feeding pens as a challenge, rather than a deterrent!

I tried that on the gate, my pony just got under and head butted the bucket up! Either off the gate (this is the plan 1) or just flicking food out (plan 2!)

 

[Cortez]

Shetlands are like gremlins/mogwai after midnight: DO NOT FEED THEM!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Tie him up and try to remember to untie him before you go home !

 

[Auslander]

I tried that on the gate, my pony just got under and head butted the bucket up! Either off the gate (this is the plan 1) or just flicking food out (plan 2!)

That does't surprise me one bit! I have drilled holes in between the hooks on my mangers, and threaded old salt lick rope through, so I can tie them to the rails. It was done to stop Fritz taking them off and throwing them, but would also prevent gremlins head butting them off!

 

[Leam_Carrie]

I have a plastic barrel hay feeder which I now use to feed my horse to let her eat without the Shetland taking it. You’ve got to respect how fearless a Shetland is, he completely ignores my big horse telling him off.