Shetland/Mini owners question!

McNally

McNally

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I am shortly moving from a livery yard to my own place. Plenty of grazing, good grass and we have currently built 2 stables (can add to that if need be)
My own horse and my daughters pony will live there.
My horse will be fine alone if the pony is ever ridden by himself (in the winter i will ride both) and he also needs lots of grass so he's ok.
The pony on the other hand dislikes being alone, he's ok but i feel bad as he gets nervous and is half blind so i think its a bit unfair. He will also need restricted grazing, so i plan to fence a bit off for him.
I have always loved shetlands especially mini ones and thought about getting one to keep our pony happy and maybe for my daughter to show a bit in hand.
My concern is fencing- I currently have 3 good sides and one bad side! the good sides are fairly thick hedge the bad trees with barbed wire linking them. We have put electric tape on wooden posts all round so they cant get to the wire or any gaps in the hedge but dont think this will keep tiny one in! Whats best? (everyone i know with shetties have escapee's on a very regular basis!)
What would be the going rate for a youngster? I saw some recently at £350 but also anywhere up to £1500- can i expect to find a healthy handled pony fairly cheap?
 
Where abouts are you? There are LOTS of shettie colts that are being practically given away, still cheap enough even if you have to geld.
In fact where I am there are 4 free on preloved.
Fencing wise I use stock fencing, keeps the little beggers in!
 
Oh Ok, I'm not worried about conf or breeding (conformation not awful though I dont want problems!) It would just be very local level shows- I was thinking coloured classes or similar, just a bit of fun really. Other than thats its just a companion. I'd be after a gelding as thats what out two are already so having a free colt gelded would certainly be an option!
I will check out gumtree although its still just an idea t this stage!

Are Mini's more prone to health issues than your average shettie?

Thanks both x
 
We use stock fencing, behind electric. That way, if the electric doesn't work (they do get very thick winter coats!) then the stock keeps them in. But hopefully the electric keeps them off the stock.

The price you pay will depend on what you're after. Some colours tend to be more expensive (coloureds, duns, etc), youngsters will be cheaper, ponies that have never done anything will be cheaper. Registered mini horses are often more expensive than registered mini shetlands. Will also depend whether registered is important to you - registered tends to be more expensive than unregistered.

As an example, of the shetland ponies we are about to put up for sale, I have a couple of chestnut two year olds who will be sold for about £400 - fully handled, jabbed, etc but have not been shown or done much. Then I have a black mare to sell, fully handled, jabbed etc, been shown, bitted, lightly sat on, lightly shown (always placed) about to start long reining, good breeding but never to be bred from (had two difficult births now, which is why we're selling her), and I think I'm going to price her at about £750. By comparison (this is a theoretical pony - I'm not selling one like it!) if you had one that had won / placed at county level, was coloured or a popular colour, backed, broken to harness, good in traffic, handled, jabbed, could be bred, etc, then you could name your price, but it would certainly be in four figures. We've had a couple of offers for our stallion recently, and while I shan't name what we were offered by anyone, lets just say you'd be taken aback at how much people will pay for a good shetland.

You can certainly source shetlands through rescue centres, they often have a few. There are a lot in sales too, but if it is important to you that they are handled, then do be careful - a large number of shetlands in sales are either unhandled, or not what you'd recognise as handled! Make sure to spend time with the pony in the pen before bidding in the ring! Even private sales, do make sure it is handled - not all ex stud ponies are.
 
McNally said:
Are Mini's more prone to health issues than your average shettie?
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Not majorly. Things to check are stifles, teeth straight (not under / over) and that they are in proportion - you do get dwarfism, but that's usually obvious as them not being quite in proportion.

Places to look for ponies for sale are www.shetland-pony.com and www.shetlandponyweb.co.uk (I think!). Both sites list not only individual ponies for sale, but breeders - you should be able to find breeders in your area, and find a pony suitable for you.
 
Varkie, thats great thank you!
I live near to Stow on the Wold where twice a year horse fairs are held. I was talking to one breeder/dealer of Mini Shetlands. He brings about 10 youngsters to each fair and "reduces" them to £300 by the afternoon (i suspect if offered that in the morning he'd accept!)
They are chipped and pass ported and very friendly ponies. He is prefectly happy for my daughter to jump in the ring and play with them all. I wouldnt normally buy from a fair but he does seem pretty legit and the ponies do look well cared for and are obviously well handled.
Is something like this best avoided or...
 
joeanne said:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1033864635/bc780224.html

http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1033796378/16e0d2fa.html
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Hi, Sorry must have cross posted with you! Casper is vvvvv cute! but then something like Harry is also a good option. I have looked on Preloved and missed both those adverts?? I also saw a stud farm dispersal sale today very locally with all sorts of shetlands from foals to ex broodies etc.
Something like Harry though wouldnt require more fencing as she's not little enough to slip under. My own boy was only gelded at 8 though so am NOT getting a mare!
 
If you are honestly worried about fencing, why not get a welshie?
You could get a lovely section A/B (and again colts are crying out for homes) for pretty much peanuts!
 
If the breeder local to you has got them registered, chipped, they look in good condition, reasonable conformation, and they are nice & friendly & well handled, then that sounds pretty good. If the ponies come from the fair, I'd probably be pretty thorough about quarantining them - but then we quarantine all new arrivals, but then we have quite a few ponies, including vulnerable youngstock.

Just be careful if he is dealing them, if you don't know him personally - can you be sure they haven't just been round the country, at half a dozen sales. Are they quiet because they're so tired? Or not had enough water to drink, or possibly been sedated? And should something go wrong, what come back will you have?
 
I'm just scared of loosing it!!!
Sorting the fencing will be fine- its just i took on this complete dump of a field and its cost a small fortune to get it to a good standard, Right now i cant justify spending more on more fencing. It may be that they are ok just the two of them I guess until i try i dont know! I cn put the pony in the stable with a hay net if its a problem right now.

People keep telling me about welsh ponies going for next to nothing but where? would i go to the sales? - there was a thing on TV recently where they were selling them off for £10 each!
 
varkie said:
If the breeder local to you has got them registered, chipped, they look in good condition, reasonable conformation, and they are nice & friendly & well handled, then that sounds pretty good. If the ponies come from the fair, I'd probably be pretty thorough about quarantining them - but then we quarantine all new arrivals, but then we have quite a few ponies, including vulnerable youngstock.

Just be careful if he is dealing them, if you don't know him personally - can you be sure they haven't just been round the country, at half a dozen sales. Are they quiet because they're so tired? Or not had enough water to drink, or possibly been sedated? And should something go wrong, what come back will you have?
Click to expand...

Very good point, I think he is a gypsie type dealer so this could well be the case. They do always have fresh water there but I dont know him as such i just see him at this fair and notice him as he has such lovely ponies!

Like i say its all just an idea in the pipeline right now, not going to rush into anything.
 
Yes at the sales....BUT they are also being advertised hither dither for next to nowt also!
I bet you ten to one, you put an advert on somewhere like preloved saying you want a small gelding shetty/small welsh...maybe a cross....you will be fighting off the replies!
 
I bought my now 11 year old shetland from the stud, he was unhandled and cost me £40 as a newly weaned foal. I had to pay £300 to have him cut. At first we kept him the stable for a couple of weeks trying to get him used to being handled because I feared if I turned him out, I would never touch him again. Within a very short time, he turned out to be the happiest pony in happy town. He is an absolutely delight and I would not be without him.
 
Fab, am quite excited!
Once installed i will set about finding a little friend- i also like the idea of a rescue or being able to offer a home to something who's owner for some reason cant keep it.I looked at the Blue Cross as they always used to have lots of little companions but nothing at all at my local centre?? - been offered several biggies privately (16.2+) lovely horses but not what i'm after tbh.

My search will begin!
 
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