shetland vs section a (or other native)

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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Hey all

i have a 2yr old who is very interested in horses and riding. I also have a baby one the way. and a (very lightweight) 12yr old who is sometimes interested in riding.

i'm moving house, to somewhere with not quite enough grazing (though we're planning on renting more once we're settled) and my horse is going to need a companion. So... it makes sense to get a small companion that my small family members can ride/handle etc.

Now, i've always envisaged getting a strawberry roan section a for them, as that was my first pony... but as grazing is going to be a bit resricted to start with (and as my 2yr old is showing an interest earlier than i anticipated)... i am now wondering if a shetland would be a better option.

Things that are important to me:
-good for the 2 yr old to handle (obviously with supervision!)
-cheap to keep
-good companion (would my 15.1hh be able to groom/be groomed by a shetland?!)
- something kids can enter into little shows

Should i still be thinking about a section a? or a shetland? or a mini shetland? or an exmoor?
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does anyone have any thoughts?!
p.s. my horse is super friendly to ALL horses and ponies, i can't imagine he'd be a bully to anything. in fact, quite the opposite.
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All horses are different but I have known quite a few 'highly strung' section A's. In general I think shetlands tend to be more docile but it really does depend on the horse - just go and look at all different types/ breeds.
 
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All horses are different but I have known quite a few 'highly strung' section A's. In general I think shetlands tend to be more docile but it really does depend on the horse - just go and look at all different types/ breeds.

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my old section a was a bit 'highly strung'... even on his death bed at aged 38 (ish) he was a little bugger... he was eventually pts as vet couldn't rasp his teeth (they were v bad) due to his rearing and kicking...
but... for some reason, i've always thought of shetlands as biters... perhaps i had a bad experience with one as a child...?
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perhaps i'll scour the land for all different small breeds. god, i can see this being a long hunt... it's taken more than 3 years to find a house i like... i hope it doesn't take that long, my poor horse will be lonely!
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Not all shetlands bite!! We have a mini shetland (from a rescue) and a Section A - they are both big babies and like fuss and attention. However the shetland has a short attention span and despite her size if she has had enough/gets bored etc etc will rear give you a shetland 'hug' and take herself of to the pony paddock!! Despite their size they are very strong!! Our Section A is the perfect lead rein pony - had done in hand showing before we got her so is perfect for kids as she loves shows as she knows what to do so the kids invariably win a rosette. She also adores the attention and will stand for hours to be groomed,fussed over etc and so much as flickers and eyelid. She is also very whizzy at gymkhana games and can be ridden by a strong child rider - will jump 2' - and has done Pony Club etc. However being grey she does like a good roll..........

In all our Section A is a better childs pony than the Shetland - but in fairness to the shetland she had a very different life before we had herand is very good - never bites or kicks just never really been schooled to do anything as she is so tiny. I think that can be the problem with shetlands - they are incredibly strong for their size. There are some fab shetlands out there - there are a few near here that go out hunting - I love them clipped with their fat furry legs!!

The most impoortant thing is to find a good safe childs pony - don't worry about breed etc - they are like rocking horse poo - so when you find one just grab it with both hands!!
 
I've always thought As are exceptionally pretty, but those I have known have mostly been a bit spooky/skittish/sharp. So I'd go for shetland, and if you get a standard there is at least some hope of mutual grooming for your horse!
 
SHETLANDS rule... I HAD to buy mine at the age of 16 years old because I felt like something was missing from my childhood. We had great fun showing, because we won, and he could be so sweet with the kids. Yes...he was cheeky but he taught the kids a thing or two!! The best thing was the toddlers could run up and hug his back legs, pick up poo scoops and start waving them about, try using metel curry combs to groom... Honestly you couldn't take your eyes off these rats for a second.
 
We have had lovely shetties, lovely section A's, and evil A's and nasty Shetties. I think it depends on the pony. I general section A's are higher strung. On of our shetty used to get on very well with dads 17.3, and used to shelter under him in the rain
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But we never had problems with shetlands mixing with big horses. Exmoors are lovely but do tend to be flighty...A mini shetland even a very small 12YO would stuggle to ride. TBH I think your best bet would be to shop round locally and see what there is, regardless of breed, as for children the temerament is so important. Many of the section A's that have been show entire are ticky to handle for kids, and all ours kicked, but there are many nasty shetlands too. My first pony was Ajay the shetty, and 12 years on he is still fab, My sister had a section A, and he is also still fab and with us.
 
I would look for a safe, preferably older pony for your child and not be to concerned about the breed. I have a saintly 12hh companion who is also my daughter's pony. His passport says something like 'brown pony' and his actual age is unknown - well into his 20s, anyway. He is worth his weight in gold as he is so safe to handle and ride, I can lead rein off my pony, as they are best pals, but he can also take older children jumping/cross country. A 'sort hard to find', as they say, but worth holding out for, regardless of breed.
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I have two mini shetlands as companions - they do not need much land, my two and a 14hh pony are fat on less than half an acre of grass that they grazed over winter too. They have their feet trimmed every other time my pony has shoes, share a wormer etc. The only tack I have are two head collars - no rugs. I have a small stable they share if the weather is v bad - perhaps used it twice in a year?

They keep my pony company but are no good at grooming as they only come up to his belly but he does like to wipe his face on their backs
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Mine are too small to be ridden but I would trust either of them to be groomed by a child though one is slightly spookier than the other and I wouldn't be happy with a child giving them a bath cos they can be naughty when the hosepipe goes on...

Though my pony is boss they are certainly no push over and end up on his pile of hay no matter how many times he pushes them off. They've been turned out with 17hh hunters no problem though I obviously have to be careful as it wouldn't take much for a bigger horse to hurt them. However, I have never known another horse not like them - they all want to mother Norman in particular
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Neither of them nip or bite but might mistake a little finger for a carrot and will bother you for polos but are easy to push away.

I did used to own a small 'standard' shetland who was very gentle and eventually was sold to a family for their children - if I had children of my own I would love to buy her back.

I've also known many saintly Sec A's etc - I would go to some small local shows and watch the lead rein and first ridden classes - perhaps there is a nice safe one up for sale?
 
Hmm, i'm rooting for the section A's because I used to have one and he was the best little pony in the world ever ever
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They are such handsome little ponies and will last a bit longer than a shetland in terms of being outgrown.

Go sec A's!
 
There was a section a at our yard and that wasn't really suitable for young child as it was so highly strung rearing etc, yet the shetland can be handled by anyone
 
It depends on thir upbringing, both sec a's and shetlands can be naughty if trained badly. As with any horse! Buying a ridden shetland will be cheaper than a ridden sec A and I would go with a standard shetland, not a mini. It will last you longer.
 
I work for an equine college that is based at a riding school and nearly all of the smaller ponies are sec a's and they are all excellent, we have one shetland and she is quite old and so good too but a lot of shetlands i have come across are quite bolshy when they are younger but seem to get better with age!!
 
I have a sec B mare, she's 11yo so not and old codger and is as good as gold with my 3yo. We've had her for 12 months and knew her before we bought her. I know that some sec As can be sharp, but ours is not at all spooky and only goes as fast as the person leading, without pulling or dragging behind and does not mind being fussed and groomed by little ones.
I don't think a sec A needs anymore grazing than a sheltland and a sec A will last longer in terms of size.
However, I do think that New Forests make the best allround children's ponies, I had two when I was a kid and they were fab.
 
I've got a fantastic mini-shetland for my 3 year old daughter. I had doubts about her size when I bought her as she's so small, but she really is a fantastic lead rein pony. She'll stand all day to be brushed and washed and is the perfect height for my 3 year old, she's so confident with her both on the ground and ridden. We should have a good few years with her and then she'll probably move onto a section A. She hardly needs any grazing or hay either. You've definitely got to go for temperament and it's worth while asking around the pony club. That's how I found out about mine.
 
I always remember learning to ride on a shetland that seemed to think it was a tank. There was no chance of being able to stop or steer it. I always felt that a sec a might be a bit easier to control. However - as said above choose something suitable, not breed specific. There's some lovely heinz 57's out there.
 
I agree New Forests are good allrounders too - my favourite.
I think you really have to make the decision on the pony itself being suitable in both training and temperament for the job you want it to do, not necessarily on its breed.
 
Shetlands without a doubt.

We're now on our second shetland and although i've toyed with the idea of a pretty sec a for the ring I don't think i ever really would go there.

Our current shetland is by no means boring. he's got a HUGE personality but is ridden by children of all ages, and restores confidence in any child. he will plod for the nervous, he will have a sedate trot, or will happily canter off the leadrein with a small child and pop the odd jump. He;s in his late twenties.

With shetlands it's all in how you handle them. its VERY easy to ruin them, simply by treating them by a small pony. The trick is to treat them as you would a 16hh horse, expect uttermost respect and don't let them do anything naughty simply because it's 'cute'.


anyway a few (hundred) pics to convince you
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, we've had him 18 months and in that time she's gone from a complete just-turned-3yo novice to riding off the LR, cantering, popping ditches on hacks and has started jumping too.
Oh and by the way he was purchased as a lead rein only pony... and is by no means 'quiet' however is totally trustworthy and has done all we have expected of him, and more.

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with my son who is a very nervous rider

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I help my friend with her herd of 25 plus shetlands...mares, geldings, stallions and foals. Not one biter...all well behaved.

People need to treat shetlands like ponies instead of toys and they are fine
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and IMO can make fabulous childrens ponies and companions..
 
_charlie_ what fab photos!!!! amazing! what a lovely little pony and cute little kids!

thanks for the squillions of replies, i've been trying to get on here all afternoon to see if i got any... but my (recently dumped) friend turned up for tea and sympathy and i felt a bit evil trying to sneak my laptop out!

it's lovely to hear so many memories of small ponies. i really feel the world is being taken over by horses, and it's a shame as i remember so fondly the millions of hours spent with my little ponies as a child. xxx
 
I am going to go with section A for obvious reasons
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If you get a decent section a ........ They can make the absolute perfect childs pony , My last pony tommy tucker was a section A ....He was perfect in everyway , Hacked every where, jumped at shows, did lead rein both M&M and show hunter .

He was and still is a fantastic pony .

Shetlands .... Well I just don't like the little blighters
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We've got a little old section a for Maxwell (he's also 2) - we hunted high and low for him and to be honest it was choosing the right pony and not the breed (if you know what I mean?) Our Sec a is totally brilliant with Maxwell - totally knows his job - which is the main thing - if i'd've found a shetland with the same manners I would've had that too but we didn't - (also a shetland would carry your 12yo fine for the time being)

I'd just look for a lead rein pony and see what you can find!
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Kate x
 
Now I love Section A's and have had the most wonderful ponies, top class with kiddies. Shetlands are not always easy or good for kiddies to handle but notably are very wide for short legs. I would therfore recommend something more along the lines of a Dartmoor.
 
I'd go with a Sec A, that was what my first pony was and she was a legend, I'd do anything to have her back. She was safe and reliable, and a brilliant allrounder, used to be lead out happily with my mums mare, and then when I got more confident happily went out of the lead rein alone or in company. She used to show, jump, hack, had hunted, had done everything. I would say she was definately my pony of a lifetime, I miss her so much.
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I've never had any experience with shetlands so can't comment on their suitability!

I'm sure you'll find something, as long as its got a good temperment and a kind eye then it'll do well
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Good luck searching!!
 
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Now I love Section A's and have had the most wonderful ponies, top class with kiddies. Shetlands are not always easy or good for kiddies to handle but notably are very wide for short legs. I would therfore recommend something more along the lines of a Dartmoor.

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A Dartmoor was at the very top of my list, but unfortunately they were very expensive and there weren't any around up here.
Fab childrens ponies, though that should last a good few years.

Sue
 
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