Showing Shetlands

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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I would love to hear about see people's Shetlands that are shown inhand please. How do you all find the showing world and Shetland community? Tell me all ! I would dearly love to have one to show but Ive noticed the show rings seem to be really dominated by breeders/studs rather than people who only have 1 pony?
 
Lots of years ago now, but I, along with a few other teenage girls, used to show Shetlands inhand. We had fun doing it, had moderate success, and I don't think it was terribly serious (at least, it wasn't for us handlers).
These were ponies belonging to a breeder, not our own. We weren't really a part of the Shetland community, so I can't make any comment on that.
 
I have four shetlands, started with one as a companion pony three years ago and the numbers have increased each year! I show them inhand, we do local agricultural shows, county shows and this year went to Windsor. I love it, so much fun and easy to do which is a must as I work long hours. We went to Bath & West last week but I was working away during the week so was still bathing the ponies at 8pm on the day before!

Anyway, got a bit carried away, back to the question - I'm a member of the regional Shetland group and through this and going to local shows I made some great friends and the social side of showing is part of the fun. Yes a lot of the top places are taken up by breeders but it is so so satisfying when you beat them! they always say well done and are happy to give advice when you ask.

You might of guessed - I love it!
 
brilliant! Can you share some pics guys?

catroo - stupid question but are more shown as young stock than adult mares & geldings:confused: Just looking at a few local shows and the majority of classes seem to be for youngstock?
 
We used to mainly show youngstock, and there were a couple of stallions, don't remember any of us having mares or geldings to show now you mention it.
I've no pics, sorry, they weren't mine so never bought photos, and it was the days before digital :D
 
Warning, picture overload

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My colt last Autumn as a yearling

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This year at Devon County Show as a two year old

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Five year old gelding last summer

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Another two year old, gelding this time

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The youngster of the herd, one year colt at Devon County show this year.

There are a lot of classes for youngstock and at a lot of shows all mares, geldings & stallions are all in together. The stud book society offers best gelding rosettes to affiliated shows to encourage people to show them more.
 
We have a show shetty who was successful as a youngster in a showing home... we gelded him and he lives a quiet life as a field companion :o sacrilege ;):D
 
I show my Shetland in hand. I'm lucky as he's coloured so I have three different classes I can enter (Shetland, mountain and moorland and coloureds).
When in the Shetland classes I find height is really important. Mine is absolutely dwarfed in a standard class but is slightly over height for miniatures (I've been told to re-measure as he needs to be a maximum of 34inches for miniatures).
My boy is a gelding and only has one eye but I keep him fit and he really struts his stuff in the ring, his cocky attitude really does make him stand out.
I have personally found black ponies tend to be favourable with some judges but a lot of the bigger shows hold 'coloured/non black' classes.

I've also found the Shetland community thoroughly lovely! I showed a welsh a for two years and it's all very different. Much more chilled out both for the people and more importantly the ponies!
 
I show shetlands both in-hand and under saddle. We also breed them, though our youngest pony is now 4yo. We do well at all levels and we first got noticed by buying a rather nice black stallion and beating the unbeatable under a straight judge. We then got - heaven forbid! - a grey gelding that I also rode. No one in Scotland showed 'coloured' shetlands until we tanned backside with Mr F. Then we got his 2yo chestnut half sister and again did very well with her. Because of these two we became very recognised up here and our first homebred we kept in the country was an absolute cracker. Once you get known you will be ok but until them be prepared to be standing down the line a bit no matter of how good your pony is.

If you get one to show then get the best you can and get one that is a bit different for your area. If its full of blacks then get a chestnut or bay. If its dominated by 'coloureds' then get a black. Roan minis stand out and do well if you go down the mini route.
 
Here's a picture of him last week...
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If you are looking at getting a Shetland I can thoroughly recommend driving them, that's what Tigs and I do when we aren't showing! Sorry I don't have a half decent one whilst actually in the ring.
He is successful at county level even with one eye which makes me immensely proud! I have a lovely array of red and blue rosettes all thanks to him!
 
My mini Shettie :) She's quite hefty for a mini, only an inch under the maximum height. She's 6 now, I've been showing her since she was 2. She's been placed at county level several times and last summer at a smaller show we had a particularly successful day where she won all 3 of her classes and was in hand champion :D

 
2 of my current show ponies at their very first show. Lucy won her class, section championship and went reserve supreme novice, her yearling daughter, Fi, won her class, youngstock championship, reserve colured to her mother and then went reserve supremem novice youngstock.



The ultimate shetland of all shetlands to get you noticed! Riccalton Flint - now retired from all forms of showing as he has been there, seen it, done it, won it, got the t-shirt in both in-hand, ridden and working hunter along with racing. I owe this pony SO SO much!



I don't have anymore in-hand pics lol! They are all undersaddle!
 
Mynddcymcro...I cannot believe I have found you on here...!!! I dont know if you remember me but I spent ages chatting to you and admiring Tigger at the Shropshire Show...???? Because I loved your gorgeous little guy so much we have been out and gathered a little herd of minis to show, I adore them and owe it all to your handsome little chap....!!!!!!!! Xx
 
SatansLittleHelper - no way! Seriously!? I'll take that as a huge compliment thank you :)
I think I've replied to your PM but it's not appeared in my sent messages? X
 
Mynyddcymro - really interested in the fact that you drive your Shetland. What height is he and how many people does he pull at a time? Do you find him sensible on the roads? We are buying a black 3 year old that I plan to break in and drive next year - this will make a huge change from driving the bigger breeds.
 
Patchworkpony - he's roughly 36inches but have been told to re-measure as several people reckon he's smaller. He pulls two people at a time (on occasion, usually its just me) I'd say combined weight between myself and sharer is possibly verging on 18 stone not including cart and harness and he really does bomb about everywhere at a stinking trot if he gets the chance.
Tigger is bombproof beyond words but if he's feeling fresh he's partial to a brief spook at an overhead bird etc just to keep me on my toes.
I have no real experience of driving anything else except my section a who I also broke in, I do feel I have more control and am safer driving my Shetland although that may be down to the trust I have in him.

Here he is a couple of weeks ago...

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Mynyddcymro - he is fabulous and he looks SO happy in harness, such a credit to you. Did you break him in yourself? Do you do driving events with him or just go for drives? How does he cope pulling you up hills?
 
I was looking at doing the exact same thing! Having been to some local level (riding club/charity) showing shows I've noticed the big thing is Welshes and now Shires! So a shetland would definately stand out. Interesting to see how others do it! I've decided I'd love one to show properly, do some county shows etc. Plus it could keep my boy company as he loves shetlands!
 
My YO has got three adorable miniature Shetlands. She doesn't usually show them but she and her daughter recently took one of them (a gorgeous palomino with a blonde mane and tail and the sweetest personality) to a local show to do the novelty classes. They won pony the judge would most like to take home, came second in bonny pony, and took reserve champion in the children's championship. They also collected a small procession of children who followed them around (YO said she felt like the pied piper :D), all fussing over the pony. One girl apparently abandoned her own pony with her mother and asked if she could have this one instead!

Not quite the sort of showing you're after, but it just goes to show how much fun can be had with them!
 
Patchworkpony - he thoroughly enjoys it! I've owned him since he was 10 months old, he turned 11 this year, I've done absolutely everything with him including breaking to harness, I broke him in last May and started showing him last August. He is my pride and joy as well as my best friend!
I'd love to compete but that's something I know nothing about so we just go out and about. He's fine up hill and I often canter him up them to keep him fit or if there's two of us we stick to a trot, he hasn't struggled yet. We usually drive 3+ miles a couple of times a week and there's always plenty of go in him!
 
Satanslittlehelper - you're too kind! I think I remember who you are, had you just brought a Shetland that was in foal? A lot of people came and found Tigs that day!
 
Yes that was me lol. Tigger was too cute for his own good and I got hooked....!!! So will hopefully see you at some shows this year with my little stallion :) Im very grateful to Tigs... and you of course lol x
 
Mynyddcymro your boy is so lovely! ! I hope mine look as happy driving one day as yours does!

Did you find it difficult breaking him to drive? I want to break mine but have never done it before, so far they've been so well behaved though so hopefully they won't mind me learning with them lol!

Everyone should have a shetland they are just the cutest and so much fun!! My two will be experiencing the showing world for the first time next weekend... There will be loads of photos! :D
 
Muckypony - it's wonderful all the lovely comments my boy is receiving, thanks so much!

He was a little toad, he would rarely long rein and when put to cart would sometimes plant and refuse to budge. Simply because he felt he didn't need to. But the first time I ever stuck the cart behind him he pulled it, it was only out on the roads he'd misbehave so I worked him in the field for a few weeks and finally cracked him. He's a beautiful person and tries his socks off for me when it suits, both of mine were super easy to start but both trust me so that played a huge part, the rest was down to luck I think!

Tigs is my best friend, I have far too much fun with him!

Half tempted to start weekly Tigger updates!
 
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