Shetland Pony for a Toddler

[chickeninabun]

I am thinking of getting a Shetland pony for my daughter who is 2 & half

. Well, really it would be for me to dote on and potter about with, but my daughter would "help" (in the way toddler's do!) and ride it.
Does anyone have any experience of Shetlands with very young children, as I know they have a bit of a reputation for biting, etc

!
Also can you buy hats, boots, etc for tiny tots?

 

[Helen010382]

As with everything there are good ones and bad ones.

My one big bit of advice is to treat it like a pony and not as a dog/pet. They still need to be taught manners.

Where abouts are you? Might be able to point you in the right direction of where to look.

 

[chickeninabun]

Am on East/North Yorkshire border, near Goole.
My neighbour is trying to move her horse to a field near our house but it would be on it's own, so I was thinking a Shetland would be a great companion and fun for me and my daughter.
Plus we've got a dog so will be treating it like a proper pony, as we don't want another bl**dy dog!

 

[Helen010382]

How scary is that - I'm originally from North Cave!!!!! Mum and dad still live there and still have some of my ponies there!

Will PM you some places that are worth trying.

 

[mlm]

we had one a couple of years ago come to our yard for a couple of weeks as owners went on holiday . i have never known attitude like it. it acted like a bolshy 17.h horse. i would not have let young children play with it, let alone groom it . and it was so strong when you tried to bring in from field. saying that it was cute looking but i know the yo was pleased when it left

 

[Happytohack]

I've just bought two for my granddaughters! One is 9 hh and the other is 8hh. I wanted two to be company for each other as shetlands and big horses don't always mix - mainly due to the fact that shetlands need to be on restricted poor grazing so they don't get too fat and at risk from laminitis. I was very careful when I was looking as I wanted something that was rideable and used to young children. I was very lucky in that they are very good with my granddaughters who are 4 and 2 years old. You'll have lots of fun!

 

[chickeninabun]

Brilliant! Thanks. It's a small world ain't it?!!

 

[sarah23]

I have a mini shetland he is sooooooooo good i have some guy keeps knocking on my door to sell him for his kids. My kids ride him around the feild with no saddle and bridle on that's how good he is. Like someone else said you need to look around, beause shetlands are know to make up their own minds, but it's like all horses there are good ones and bad ones so please don't walk away from the shetland just beause some say to stay away from them.

 

[cazzaroogie]

I got my daughter a shetland from the rspca early this year. My daughter is just 2 and loves brushing the pony-ginger and has had a sit on her. I think they are great 1st ponys for the little ones and if you are looking I would defo recomend going to your local rspca as people forget they have many horses and ponys needing homes. Ginger was found abandoned in a field which had so much grass she had laminitis but since we have had her she has lost lots of weight and has not had it

 

[Christmas_Kate]

*coughs* my children have just outgrown theirs... *cough*

Shetalnds, IMO, are kiddie sized adult's ponies. Ours is fab on the LR, fab out plodding on roads off the LR, but I have yet to meet a shetland that isnt as strong as an ox. My eldest now wants to do PC etc, so we need something a little less opinionated.

I've brought lots of stuff for my toddler. www.mad4ponies.co.uk is fab for kids stuff. www.dinkyrugs.co.uk for shetland stuff..

 

[sarah23]

I must add this it is from my earlyer post on how good my shetland is. This is my little shetland at the fancy dress guess what we went as.

Horse And Hound.

And yes there is a pony under there.

 

[chickeninabun]

Thanks for everyones help!
I was a little apprehensve about a shetland until I read these replies! Now I am definately getting one!

I love the idea of my little tot cuddling and grooming a little hairy beastie. I just want to give her all the things that I couldn't have as a child, and growing up in a horsey family is one of them!
Just need to go and butter up my cheque book now... oops, I mean my Husband!!

 

[Selkie]

I have two shelties. I got them to keep my horse company they are both really good, not nippy but I dont often give them treats and if I do I thow it on the ground so they are not nibbling round pockets looking for something. I have just started long reining one. The children from next door come and ride one of them and he is really good on the lead rein. Look around for one I am oringinally from just outside Goole and when I went to York Horse Sales in March they were going for about £600 where as up here I got my to for free

 

[vhf]

My first pony was a shetland - I won enough on him competing off the lead rein that at 6 I bought my next pony with the winnings (We are going back a long time and it was Canada though!) I supposedly "did" him completely unaided from the age of 4 (it was years before I realised my parents must have redone everything once i was out of sight!)
He went on to teach all four siblings, various cousins, and half the local children on two continents. But woe betide anyone over 10 trying to get on him... he knew who he was supposed to be good for, and let out all his shetland tendencies on anyone else!

 

[Ottinmeg]

my 10.2hh shetland is 5 going on 15, she doesnt bite or nibble.she is fine with the kids running around her (3 & 4 yr olds ) they ride her bareback up to the field and sit on her while she is in the stable etc and she doesnt mind at all. she gets left for weeks and weeks and once in a while a kid is plonked on her and she is good as gold.