Shetland Pony 'experts' pls

Fabforester

Fabforester

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We are on the look out for a ridden Shetland for my two daughters. My three year old currently clambers all over my unimpressed NF gelding who at 14.1hh is a few years off being hers. So, we are looking for a good shetland. Experienced with natives, but never owned a shetland before.

Can you tell me what are good Shetland questions / things to look out for? Aside from Laminitics and those prone to sweet itch, what else do we ask about before viewing? We are in Cornwall so will poss have to travel a fair bit to find Mr right, so want to rule out as much as one can on the phone.

Tips v welcomed, thank you.
 
I'm not one of them, but lots of people only want shetlands reg'd with shetland pony studbook - important for showing and resale. A driving pony is a bonus as you can exercise and have fun with him/her too. Personally, I'd get an elderly section A who has been there, done everything, even for a little kiddie... especially as you can do leadrein classes, less easily outgrown, and move on to pony club / off lead rein, and the longer legs make for far greater ease in learning to rise to the trot - let me tell you, rising to shetland trot ain't easy!! Shetlands as first ponies that are genuinely suitable, well mannered, placid and not even slightly willfull - few and far between!! Shetlands are grown-up's ponies - I say that owning 7 of the little b*****s, and I love them all dearly. They are regularly worked and handled, and have impeccable manners for me. Show them a child, and I'll show you Beelzebub! No doubt there will be numerous objections to what I have said, but those that are genuine rarely get parted with (have you considered getting one on loan??), the above post the exception I'm sure! ;-)
Whatever you do, don't get a young one, they have way too many opinions! I also am very wary of "they can grow up together.."! And the elderly ones are usually crafty. Am I being too anti-shetland yet??
Otherwise, as a breed - can have dodgey confirmation, legs at funny angles especially the minis who have been bred to be really small, croup high, odd teeth, upright feet... Don't get an obese one!
IMHO the smaller the shetland ie minis, the more opinionated and spirited they are - my 33" and her high school movements are well known at driving club events, as a precursor to "Let me at the cones! Where's the marathon? Are we going yet?? Please!!!!!" Saluting the judge while halting at X is my domain, not hers...
The bigger the shetland, the calmer they are, for some reason - so look for a standard, above 34", if you are really sure a shetland is a wise idea. And getting rugs and tack for them that actually fits can be a pain. Seriously, despite owning 7 shetlands, if I had a 3 year old child, I'd go and buy/loan a section A or other small native, that has been handed down through families of children and done everything, and put child locks on the gate to the shettie paddock.
Oh and when you view the pony, make sure its out when you arrive and that you catch it, beware of pony that is already tied up. (Also you can look out for excessive starvation which may indicate laminitis previously.) Lead it in, lead it away from other horses, try loads of spooky stuff like balloons, plastic bags, traffic, loading, picking up feet, tack it up yourself, child clambering all over... Pull its tail (gently...). Stick your fingers in its mouth and ears. Scream. Run around. Anything else you can possibly think of that children (not just your child, but their friends too?) may do around or on a pony. The vendor may think you are insane - perhaps explain first? - but its your child who could end up eaten or squished if any of this bothers the pony! And don't touch a pony that shows any indication of having been fed tidbits, or even the slightest inclination to show you its hind paws. Happy pony hunting!
 
Don't tar them all with the same brush! We have 2 un-registered shets, one a mini and one a standard. We bought them both as youngsters, 4 and 5 respectively, and they are fab. Neither suffer from sweetitch or lami, and are both bombproof to ride, long suffering when being dragged around by 'little' people, and easy to handle in all repects. They even got invited for a sleep over last weekend, to provide pony rides at a neighbours little girls party!
Wouldn't sell ours for the world.......
 
Our standard shetland was 5 when we got him for my Autistic grandson, they both came on in leaps and bounds and now the shetland is a bomproof ride for all the little people on our yard.Yes he can be a begger at times,never with kids,and hes the boss in the field
 
Well, that told me! No, seriously though, thank you very much for your lengthy detailed and clearly very experienced response. Definate food for thought and as we are in no rush and will wait for the right pony, perhaps now is time for me to look at welshies and perhaps a small dartmoor hill pony. We are very experienced with NF ponies and just wish they came in the 10-11hh bracket. Thank you again for your info, and great comments for what to do when viewing.
 
While I completely understand that there are several gorgeous, well-behaved Shetlands out of there, Crockshard is right in that they never get sold because they are so few and far between! Sidney's lovely ones aren't for sale which just proves a point.

I have a mini shetland who is very good with me, although cheeky, but he just has no patience for children. In fact, many Shetlands don't! I am inclined to agree with Crockshard; look for a small Sec A. Don't get me wrong - they are cheeky and still naughty ponies, but their attitudes are generally a bit better. However, definitely do not rule out Shetlands because if you can find a good one, it will be worth it's weight in gold!

Good luck with the search and take lots of piccies when you find one! :)
 
My 33in mini shettie as not realized he is alive yet as he is so quiet, he is fab around kiddies and totally bombproof, I did own a bigger one when my son was little who was the total opposite.
They can be escape artists and some of them I swear do not feel electric fencing and will happily just duck through it, as with all breeds there are good ones and bad ones.
Agree with the poster who writes about the confirmation being sometimes iffy my mini has awful comfirmation but as a companion it does not matter to me, he is the sweetest pony I have ever owned who lets my neice sleep between his legs in the stable.
 
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