Talk to me about Shetland Ponies

We've had 5 over the years (still got one, we've had him 20 years)

1) All have lived out in a mixed herd, with whatever else we've had. They can stand their ground if they want and aren't that fragile! One turned out with full size hunters, as well as other ponies, the next only lived with ponies up to 12hh and one 18hh (we were all kids by then), two more lived in a mixed herd with a 16hh welshxtb, a the one we've had the longest has lived with all combinations! Currently turned out with 2x12hh, 1x13hh and 3x14hh but wouldn't hesitate to put a horse in again.
Only one had lami in it's lifetime (not when we had him), and as said above they live in a mixed herd. Admittedly we keep the grass poor by strip grazing or heaving stocking, but not had an issue with it.

2) No reason they can't be fab lunging and long reining. Small adults can ride the standards, especially the 42inch ones. They can be wilful to lunge but ours have all enjoyed it and jumping. People have trained them to piaffe/highschool moves long reining :D They're obviously ideal to drive too :)

3) Ours is good, we used to have stock fencing with our post and rail 10 years ago but new house is a mix of post and rail, hedges, and single strand about 2'3 high electric, only running off a car battery. Doesn't escape :)

4) Nope none of ours have been :) Our first was a character as a show colt but calmed to a fab childs pony, the next was always lovely (3YO filly I rode), the next few again, lovely ponies. One was very nervy, very very, I guess there was some history to it! She couldn't be caught as she was just so scared but she was never head strong. The one we've still got has always bit lead-rein leaders given the chance, and swears outside his stable door now his sight is going a bit, but never pulls away :)

We did have a mini for a short while too actually, she again lived in a mixed herd, she drove, didn't escape other than over stable doors so we put a grill up! She was very sweet on the ground, a small child could do everything with her.
 
Ours is great but to be fair is probably more work that the big one! Lami prone, muzzled, has to be in quite a bit over summer, is too small to lead off the big one so I have to lunge to keep weight down. She's a babe though - lovely temperament so she's worth the extra work :-)
 
I have 5 miniature shets and they are fab. Such good fun and adorable. They vary in age, temperament and character. To answer your questions first -

1) I appreciate that any pony can get fat and lami prone, so what kind of turnout do you provide to keep them happy but healthy? Do they go in happily (and safely) with other horses, or are they sectioned off into smaller paddocks? I will be strip grazing my current ponies over the spring summer, so would a Shetland safely live out with them? Mine are only 13.1hh and 14hh and both friendly.

Mine live with two bigger ponies (both around 14.1hh). The 'bigs' are also good doers so are on fairly poor grazing and strip grazed. They tend to get the fresh strip then the shets hoover up behind them. I do have a sectioned off paddock that they can go in which is virtually bare - when they go in here I use a big bale of hay with a small holed net around it - works really well for them.


2) Realistically, how do you exercise a Shetland?! Hand walking is obvious, but can you lunge/long rein them easily enough?

I don't really. In summer I will occasionally take them for a walk but they live out 24/7 so exercise themselves

3) How do you fence them in? My fields are fenced with electric as my ponies have been known to escape. How Houdini are Shetlands and do they feel electric through their huge coats?

Mine do respect electric fencing. We have the bottom three nodules on a post with wire, then two more higher up for the 'bigs'. They listen to the fence and know if the electric is off - then I have been known to be seen chasing 5 ponies round the rest of the field, or worse, the YO's garden!!

4) I know thios is individual to each pony and the way you handle them, but are they headstrong or rude? My niece is almost 5 and very small and my mum is quite frail. I would take the time to find the perfect pony, but do they take the mick if they know you are weak?

Two of mine are perfect mannered. Wouldn't dream of trying to take the mick. One is the stubbornest pony in the world if he doesn't want to go somewhere (like back in the field if he has escaped!!) He can plant himself and oh my, he may be small but he may as well be 15.2 if he doesn't want to shift. One is a mix - he is generally good but can get a bit strong - the give him an inch and he'll take a mile type. In general, they all have very strong characters. They do get away with more as they are smaller - but they aren't handled by small children. As yours will be for a child, you would need to lay down the boundaries, just as you would a bigger horse.

They are cheap to keep - only costs really are farrier and big bale hay when required - a bale tends to last 5 of them 3-4 weeks. Wormers can be shared (depending on brand, one syringe will do at least two) One is very old so she costs a bit more as she needs two feeds a day and bute, regular dentists and vets check ups. But she is just adorable.

I think every yard needs a shettie!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top