Stable door height for mini shetland?

[southerncomfort]

Can anyone advise on ideal height for stable door for a mini please, before I just take a wild guess and perform surgery on the spare stable door?

Thank you!

 

[be positive]

If you have a top door that should be about right and may not require surgery, just check the mini will be unlikely to climb out before changing anything permanently.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

If you have a top door that should be about right and may not require surgery, just check the mini will be unlikely to climb out before changing anything permanently.

Exactly this. I pinned back the bottom door, took off top door and trimmed a bit off the side and fitted hinges onto door and door frame. Removed the draw bolt and fitted it to top and drilled a hole in the door frame, added a bottom bolt. If you are clever, you can fit the type of hinges so you can lift the door off, which I've done with 1 of mine.
Means it can be swiftly lifted off if I need the stable for a bigger one.
Mine are 32 and 33 inches, doors are fine for each of them
Who needs top doors? Lol x

 

[meleeka]

In my experience there’s millimetres between it being too low and just right. (I learnt this when mine jumped out!) The best thing to do is get the pony and make it just joe enough so he can get his head over.

 

[southerncomfort]

Genius idea to use a top door. Will see if OH has the right hinges to make it a 'lift off' door.

Thank you!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Genius idea to use a top door. Will see if OH has the right hinges to make it a 'lift off' door.

Thank you!

Just remember to swivel it - as the bottom of the top door will be cut (usually! ) on a slant to fit into the bottom door when closed. If it is, then flip the door so you have a straight edge as the top of mini door, not the pointy side.

Hinges if lift off ones can be handed, so take care when shopping!
Hinges

 

[southerncomfort]

Just remember to swivel it - as the bottom of the top door will be cut (usually! ) on a slant to fit into the bottom door when closed. If it is, then flip the door so you have a straight edge as the top of mini door, not the pointy side.

Good tip, thank you!

OH has just confirmed that ours are slanted.

 

[Gloi]

At a friend's they cut a window in the bottom stable doors for the minis, The stable can still be used for big horses but the minis can look out of the hole in the lower door when they are in it. It looks super cute

 

[southerncomfort]

I have to say, I love the idea of a window! 😃 Unfortunately OH is not so keen. 😄

 

[Dancing_Diva]

I just keep the big stable door pinned open and have a Mark Todd stall guard up for my mini Shetland. Best of both, she can look out but I can still close the big door should I need to for a big horse.

 

[southerncomfort]

Thanks everyone. Lots of great ideas. Showed the thread to OH who spent yesterday turning a top stable door in to stable door for our little mini. Luckily we had some of those hinges which means it can be lifted on and off. Looks very cute.

Now just have to work out how to get her in there! She has had a hard life bless her and is very timid.

 

[QuantockHills]

At a friend's they cut a window in the bottom stable doors for the minis, The stable can still be used for big horses but the minis can look out of the hole in the lower door when they are in it. It looks super cute

I think we need a photo??!!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Full height with mesh and bars so theres NO escape 😂😂😂

 

[cauda equina]

I leave the door open and tie a sheep hurdle across the gap

 

[southerncomfort]

Full height with mesh and bars so theres NO escape 😂😂😂

Funny you should say that! Got her in the stable this morning and she immediately tried to jump out!

Think it's because she can't see our other pony next door. Might need to put a little port hole in the dividing wall! 😄

 

[Gloi]

I think we need a photo??!!

I wish I had one, they are a bit far away to nip round

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I leave the door open and tie a sheep hurdle across the gap

I've kept door shut but put the hurdle on end inside in the past, saved fitting grills

 

[Leam_Carrie]

Also hoping for a pic... which I won’t show my mini who doesn’t have a stable... but does have a shed full of hay (mainly for my big horse!)

 

[southerncomfort]

Loving this thread.

Its daft really but having been around horses my whole life, I buy a mini shetland and suddenly feel like a complete novice again!

Having sorted a stable I've realised I have zero idea of how much hay to give her overnight. She is a little...ahem...plump!

 

[cauda equina]

The other thing I had to rethink was water buckets - I use a flattish feed bowl instead

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Mine get about 2lb of hay in a tiny net if they have to be in at night. I have a lot of tiny nets... 🤣 sometimes I damp it or soak (old horsehage sacks are great for this) to slow the fatter one down even more.
Water bucket is only ever one third full as saves wasting water and sits in 2 car tyres, try and get small car front tyres

 

[southerncomfort]

Lots of good tips thank you!

I think tiny haynet buying trip is in order!