Tell me about shetlands....

I love little natives! But, people often get them for companions for much bigger horses-makes mutual grooming difficult. I also met one behaviourist who thought the reason they didn't always get on with bigger horses was the mutual grooming issue and because they have so much hair that not all body language was immediately obvious! real characters and need a job.
Exmoors are also brilliant-and a rare breed.
 
i've had my Shetland for 22 years this year, he is an absolute pleasure to own and work with. He has never had laminitis, he lives out in summer and is stabled overnight in winter. Fences are for climbing through or under, hedges too, but he generally only goes through when he's bored or its muddy- he hates mud.
I've had two Shetlands from the same breeder, the one I have now and his 'nephew'- both with lovely, calm temperaments. He is treated exactly the same as my Highland although he is actually too polite to rip the p***!
 
My 3 year old leads our 3 year old gelding Shetland and our Shettie is perfect in temperament and manners. He only cost £20 at sales!! 8 year old yard managers niece whose a bossy boots got hold of him showing our 3 year old what to do then he tanked off with her round the school.:D:D was really funny. he will stand for ages tied up and he will accept bit straight away no quirks at all and he is gorgues to look at! Hes a delight to own.:D
 
When I was little more than a toddler we had Patsy a Shetland who could be summed up in two words Evil BU****, would cart you under low hanging branches or do anthing too get you off her:D

And I always remember at the Ponies of Britian Show at the East of England Showground both before and after the move to the New Ground (Showing my age here) the Grand Parade Commentator stating that Size for Size a Shetland is stronger than a Shire Horse.
 
I have 2 minis, one quiet shy and the other outgoing and full of it, but not in a nasty way, just a big personality. Any mischief in the field and he's there starting it all, he'll box my youngsters ears until he will play with him :D
Neither of mine have ever had lami, I do muzzle for big chunks of the summer
 
I know shetlands have a bad reputation but we had a couple for 7 yrs and they were absolute darlings. We started off with one as a companion for my cob which worked really well, then somehow inherited another!

They were both broken to ride and were safe as houses even if not sat on for mnths on end.

They were economical to keep and needed minmal feeding. The only time we fed was in conditions like this, and would be only hay.

Ours eventually had their own paddock so was easy to monitor their grazing and fortunatley did respect electric fencing, but always put up 3 strands just in case.

When we just had the one as a companion, he grazed with my horse but had a muzzle on every night to help keep his weight in check.

We eventually sold them last spring as my son had outgrown them and they were just being wasted sitting in the field. We found them both nice homes with new 'little people', and keep in touch with their new owners which is lovely.

I do miss them.....
 
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