Show me your shetland paddocks

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kat2290

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I'm still fretting over how much space my two shetland yearlings should have, I seem to go from one extreme to the other one day thinking they definitely have too much, the next they don't have enough. If you've seen any of my previous posts you'll know their feet haven't been 100% so I've sectioned part of the field off for them as a precaution, but I'm still worrying each day about how much grass they need.

I'd love to see your shetland paddocks to compare and hopefully put my mind at ease! :o
 
Mine goes out with the big uns, she's laminitic but I find it's better controlled if she's muzzled rather than left to go hungry. Our grazing is pretty poor and we have no clover so this suits her just fine. I believe the really short, distressed grass is higher risk than the longer stuff so I've not put her on a starvation paddock this year and for the first time ever she's gone through spring without laminitis.
 
More space more need to roam use up fat, less space more reason to stand doing nothing might as well be in a stable, muzzle them or let them graze it right down and just leave it bare.
 
I can see where your coming from but on the same token are the extra calories they burn wandering around not just replaced by the extra grass they have access to?

Our field is on a fairly steep slope so even sectioned off they still have to burn a few extra calories than those on a flat field...
 
Mine is running over 2 tiny paddocks in the day & then opened up with the addition of 2 larger ones at night, along with FLF.
However,
1. She is muzzled 23.5/7 (FLF is not)
and
2. The water tank is down by the yard.

My theory in spring/summer to do away with all water tanks apart from 1 - is that they HAVE to get quite a bit of exercise in commuting up & down to drink from the top fields where they are usually grazing overnight.

However, I'd not be muzzling yearlings. Try to keep them moving as much as you can as many people shut tinies into such small patches that they then get stuck in a merry-go-round of tiny pony, no exercise, kept in tiny patch.

In worst case scenario, get a lawn mower out - mow it down as close as you can (obviously collecting clippings as you go) and then get ponies on it. Better a larger area that you may have to supplementary feed on, than too much green stuff.

Good luck, am sure they look fine :)
 
Kept 4 on a hilly 2 acre paddock, then an undulating 8 acre paddock. Have had 6 Shetlands over the years, all kept in a minim of 2 acres. Never had a problem with laminitis or obesity - watching them galloping around the 8 acre paddock squealing and bucking was a sight to behold, I have never seen any other breed gallop around and play as much as Shetlands :)
 
I just don't know where I'm going wrong and getting so fed up :( I've got the two of then plus my llama on just over an acre, the land is extremely weedy and whilst there are patches where the grass is quite long they tend to keep to the short stuff. I think the long patches are mainly poo areas. It's a fairly steep hill so in theory should be good for burning extra calories, and before they got foot sore they did lots of galloping around.

I have been slightly more concerned the last few days as their tummies just seem to be getting bigger and bigger, they both look like they are in foal (they are definitely definitely not!) but the rest of their bodies are in good condition. I know this can be caused by not getting enough protein, and/or from poor grazing which suggests maybe I shouldn't be restricting them but I'm terrified if I turn them back out on the whole field that ill do some serious damage to their feet. At the minute they are getting fed a min/vit supplement with extra biotin in fast fibre so they should be getting all the vitamins they need - only started this about 9days ago though.

Confused.com!!
 
If they do not have a cresty neck and fat pads on their shoulders they are doing fine, shetties tend to have big bellies its a gravity thing, also they will retain weight in summer in prep for winter it is natural, they re also growing so need the extra bit of grass, stop worrying they will be fine.
 
Thanks for the reassurance :) I really do need to stop worrying!

It's just concerning when I can see they are not 100% comfortable on their little tootsies all these worst case scenarios are constantly running through my head over and over. Having read so much awful stuff about laminitis I want to avoid it at all costs :(

Tomorrow I'm going to try and get some good condition shots of them and also of their hooves, partly to put on here but also for my own record keeping :o
 
This is mine although they are shifting from there on Wednesday as its too bare and I need to spray the weeds, just waiting for the other sprayed field to be useable. They are on adlib hay and a mineral lick. My Shetland is actually starting to get a bit too thin (he is ridden a lot!) which I don't really understand as he was quite well covered in the winter when he was also on adlib hay and surely shivering off more calories. Must be the extra riding I suppose. Probably that field would be fine if he wasn't in work.

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Think you have seen this pic already.

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Thanks FW :) my guys look similar to your titchy but just with bigger bellies lol... I think I need to chill out :rolleyes:
 
I panicked at first about ours but actually he's fine. I have a muzzle on standby but he's so active I've not needed it. He gets a handful of Hifi lite whilst the others get fed. I'd advise a green guard type if you do muzzle not the bucket ones they are so hot and claustrophobic especially for babies
 
No pictures to show, I'm afraid. But my two mini's are kept out with my two big girls (both 15.2) on a large 5 acre field. I do worry, obviously, but they get lots of exercise charging about with the two bigger horses and so far (touch wood) have been fine. I always worry when I swap fields (I have three fields, all roughly 5 acres) and the grass is lush but tend to keep a close eye and would restrict if saw any signs.

I think it's the luck of the draw sometimes though, as have had Shetlands in the past who had to be constantly restricted as the wiff of grass would bring on laminitis.
 
My 17.2hh is on just under an acre as his 'restricted grazing' so I would say 1 acre is more than enough for two shetties and a llama. Have you considered a track system? should encourage them to move more...

as for round bellies or indeed shetties that have lost weight all of a sudden, consider worm counting them. It's been a bit of a problem this year due to the strange weather we've had... worms haven't emerged til much later so early spring worming may not have got 'em!
 
My Shetland is kept mostly on the yard during the summer months - I daren't let her in with the big boys until the grass is eaten down - when the boys have eaten the grass down she goes out with them & shows them who is in charge - she can always see the others , whilst they are in during the day she wanders round outside the stables we have concrete outside the stables & a grassy area - I tried her with a grazing mask, & also sectioning an area off for her , the mask came off with 5 mins & she just saunters through the electric fencing ! She seems happy enough x
 
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