Shetlands, wet ground and mud

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Patchworkpony

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We all recognise that this has been one of the wettest winters in living memory and most horse owners have had at least part of their fields turned into mud 'soup' but I did wonder if those keeping shetlands or minis had the same problem or whether because this breed is a lot smaller, with tiny feet, they did far less damage to the land. For example there are people keeping shetlands on small paddocks or even in a large garden. Have any of you with shetlands (kept on their own) been pleasantly surprised by lack of damage or are you suffering deep mud like everyone else?
 
My mini is out with 2 biggies so nope not noticed much difference

My field isn't too bad. I have a concrete area in the gate way but where I've made a walk way to a field shelter which was in the next door field it's very muddy there. But other wise it's not too bad because the horses stay in the shelter most of their time :)
 
Mine (8hh) has free rein as my internal fencing isn't shetland proof, his feet are certainly leaving prints and he's churning up a gateway that only he is using so less damage than the 17hh but certainly not none. My 14hh unshod companion also makes far less mess so I suspect shoes have a lot to do with it.
 
My 33-incher is out with a bigger one - interesting to see the impaled-chair-leg impressions in the wettest part of the field, adjacent to the ruddy 6" soup-plate craters.............

In answer to your question OP - no probs with mud fever, black leggies (not the usual white) from knees down (TF not me!) and no real difference to how mud usually is, apart from as mentioned above :)
 
Cookie is doing the most damage as he likes to spend his time near the gate. Not to escape or anything, but I think he likes looking out, as most of the field is blocked by trees!

He's coping pretty well, but I do have to clean his tummy most days or it'd get matted with mud! Yuk!
 
Our Shetland is out with a 12hh a 13.2 and a 13.3- sadly the mud is still dire on our London clay. It goes up to his knees if he stands still by the gate! The field is shared 1/2 the day by 4 12-12.1s
 
The biggest problem i have is the dread locks, they are so close to the floor that mud just gets stuck ALL over the belly which is really uncomfy. I have one with a clipped belly and shes fine but my unclipped one needs a good wash and brush every day.
 
Hmmm....

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:(
 
There is a field next to mine, a similar size, similar slope, and apparently similar conditions in terms of running surface water in heavy rain (ie most days). That has 2 mature shetties in, mine has 2 young fell ponies in. Their field is obviously wet but still very much green, and level enough to be poopicked every day still. Mine is very muddy and have been unable to poopick for some time now. Not sure whether there is also some underground difference, and mine are very very active in comparison, but they certainly don't seem to be damaging theirs as much.
 
Nic85 that photo makes me feel so so much better! That's what the enterance and a fair bit of my field looks like right now!
My Shetland bullies the big horses so can't go in the slightly better field.
He has things down to a fine art though, flat out through the mud to the dryer bit then at coming in time he waits til the gate is open and flat out back to his stable ;)
 
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