***tland almost made me die of cute overload today

kellybee

kellybee

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Okay, so whilst everyone else is off to HOYS this weekend, I was fencing my fields. I also decided to make some brushing boots for my shetland, who has a few shin splints, I think because the prev owner let her feet get crazy long and her inside hoof splayed.

Anyway, after looking around for shetland boots and reading a lot of posts saying even the dinkiest of boots dont fit some shetties, I decided to just make some.

Over the field I went in my wellies, tape measure in hand. Her cannon bones measure 7inches around. She's a standard, and she's pretty chunky so no surprise there. From knee to fetlock though... 3 inches. That was the first time I almost died of cute overload today. The second time was when I cut the fabric and realised it wasn't even big enough to use two strips of velcro :S

Might post some pics of her in them when they're done :D
 
Navy and pink, with bright blue lining. I used an old kiddies waterproof jacket for the outside, a belly cover off an old stable rug for the filler/strap and a tshirt I got hairdye on for the lining. The only thing I bought new was the velcro and the piping and that cost me 50p each for a metre.

I should add that, what I thought would be a 30 min job turned into about 3 hours, esp when I used stick on velcro and then tried to sew it with the machine. Broke two needles before I thought to put fairy liquid on the edges of the velcro so the glue wouldnt smear on the needle/eye.

Check em out! My £1 waterproof shetland sized boots!

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Suppose I ought to start praying they fit her now!
 
You have a talant! Ever thought about doing these on a commercial scale? I have two very small miniatures and its a nightmare trying to get anything that fits. I have spent months looking for a bridle small enough for my yearling and failed. :D
 
Crugeran Celt said:
You have a talant! Ever thought about doing these on a commercial scale? I have two very small miniatures and its a nightmare trying to get anything that fits. I have spent months looking for a bridle small enough for my yearling and failed. :D
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Well, its not the first time I've made stuff for her. I made her some webbing reins, her cub saddle cloth, Alfie's saddle cloth and a few rugs but I've never made boots before. I did get a mega teeny bridle from pink-equine (its not pink!!) at YHL last year. They make all thir stuff with italian leather and I'm sure they do in hand bridles too (I guess thats what you're after for a yearling) and they often have stuff in that isn't on the website if you call. Some of it is a bit bling, but they do plain sensible leatherwork too.
 
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Awww very good DIY-ing! I have a sewing machine that I haven't got out in a while, I need to repair a rug and then I need to think of fun horse thibgs to make!
 
Oh wow!!!!
I think we need pics of the other things you have made!!
You have a huge talent! I knit rugs for orphaned lambs, but they are no where near as good as yours!!!!!
 
kellybee said:
Well, its not the first time I've made stuff for her. I made her some webbing reins, her cub saddle cloth, Alfie's saddle cloth and a few rugs but I've never made boots before. I did get a mega teeny bridle from pink-equine (its not pink!!) at YHL last year. They make all thir stuff with italian leather and I'm sure they do in hand bridles too (I guess thats what you're after for a yearling) and they often have stuff in that isn't on the website if you call. Some of it is a bit bling, but they do plain sensible leatherwork too.
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Thankyou I will check them out. Yes an in hand bridle is what I am after, she may be little but she is feeling her feet and is a bit of a madame which to be honest makes me laugh which I am sure she realises so does it more. Your pony is delightful I am sure she would love to join my minies.:D
 
Oh that is just too cute!! Just.gorgeous.

Is she ridden or driven? Or just a very cute pet. Want one now, my oh is not impressed with you ;)
 
Aww! Thanks so much! We bought her just over a year ago.

She's pretty amazing, even for a shetland. Total one in a million pony and I squee her every day :D

Quoted from another thread, this is why:

kellybee said:
We bought a 16yo shetland; "been everywhere done everything" for my 2yr old niece to learn on. She's tall and talkative and pony mad, and my 14.2 isn't particularly fond of screaming kids, so we decided to look for a pony she could ride now and again. We found said shetland on a classifieds ad, she seemed too cheap but we'd tried a few others and found them to be a little too boisterous, so we borrowed a friend's eleven yo daughter and went to see the pony. They asked us to bring our own tack as they didn't have any for her (sold with another shetland they said), and we put the 11yo on the pony. She planted her feet at first and played with the bit, but they said she was used to a happy mouth, and this was a plain eggbutt, plus it was a cold day. Hacked her down a main road and back on a lead rein, no issues at all. Did a little trotting, and realised she was a very quiet, kindly little mare, and would be perfect for my niece to climb all over if nothing else.

A month later, and the pony who seemed mad keen to please was being used in the riding school. She jumps like a pro, takes real care of the kids and the only problem we've ever had is that she's turned out to be laminitic. Perfect angel of a pony. Best thing we ever bought, and I have to say I've cried shamelessly with outright pride when she's exceeded herself with the kids.

Then one day I dug out her passport and got in touch with the breeder. I wanted to know if she had particular triggers for her lammy because she wasn't overweight or on rich grass when she came down with it. The breeder then promptly told me she'd given the pony away free to a good home because she was nasty, uncontrollable and unsafe. She had never been ridden in her life. And that statement was valid right up to the day she left the breeder, just before I bought her. She's never had much contact with people, never been used as a broodmare or anything and has never been on the road or in a trailer, let alone to a show. I was absolutely mortified at first, then convinced she was talking about a different pony. Then I realised it was the same pony, but something had changed. Her attitude. It crossed my mind that she's capable of being vile, but that's never happened. She's a very happy, safe and competent riding pony whos never yet set a foot wrong with any of us.

Now, less than a year later she's doing allsorts and loving it. I have never had a safer pony, and can only think the reason she's so different with us is that she's a) been relieved of her boredom and b) happier in a more social environment instead of being turned out with 20 other untouched ponies. I'd never have so much as looked at the pony if I'd known the truth, but they are capable of learning at a later age, and she's the perfect example. I don't believe that's applicable for all horses, but for this one, apart from the cold bit and the planting of feet when we tried her, I'd never have known she was unridden.
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