To take on mini shettie or not.........?

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Clare85

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I've had a text from a good friend tonight asking if I want to take her mini Shetland mare on loan for my 2 yo daughter, as she needs to reduce numbers (she currently has five horses). The pony is a complete legend and I would love to take her on - there are just a couple of issues I'd need to overcome though:

1) persuading the husband :/
2) I am 8 weeks pregnant and sick as a dog (think not being able to keep water down). I've just given up my share horse because of the sickness, as I just feel awful and just can't commit to him atm :(
3) where do you keep a mini shettie where you can ensure similar sized companions and manageable grazing (with laminitis, etc. In mind)

I'm kind of talking myself out of this but I would be a bit gutted to miss the opportunity as the pony is so nice and I know her and her owners well. She would be brilliant for my little one to learn on and have a little fun. What would you do in this situation?
 
Awh hugs, sounds like you're on an emotional rollercoaster - have you told your friend all of the above
If she trust's you to take her shetland then maybe she's already thought of an idea to make it work?
If she's a friend then truely if now doesn't work another time will so don't think that just cos you can't make it work right now that a door closes. If you can find somewhere then you've half the battle. if you don't have anywhere maybe nows now quiet right just yet
 
Thanks both, yes feeling a little emotional atm!

Molasses - she is a good friend and if I said no now, I know she wouldn't be offended and close the door. It's just that pony may go to someone else and then be too small for my daughter in a few years.

She really is a lovely little thing, I've known her from a year old, my friend broke her in and she has taught both her kids to ride. Loves fuss, very trustworthy, definitely worth her weight in gold.
 
You will need strict diet management and farrier with it if it's for lami (and they're a nightmare to keep weight of anyway) so you will need to be fit enough to work it properly as a 2yo walking about won't really do that. It will be super for your 2yo but then when you have your baby will you have time to go to It and let your 2yo ride? I'd be tempted to wait until your 2yo is about 4 and your new baby is 2 so you can get something they can both play with. I think Shetlands are more work than a large horse!
 
Thank you both. I would have back up for a lr as my sister would always be happy to help out. Also, re. exercising her, I know I would need to long line or lunge or loose school regularly. My lo would probably not ride every day anyway as she is so young - I don't want to put her off, but would like her to have the option as rs will not usually take them until they're 5.

Just to be clear, this pony has always been well managed and has never had lami. Obviously, I would want to be able to manage her just as well. This is my major concern, that it may be difficult to find somewhere to keep her which has the set up for a tiny shettie with regards to weight management.

Think I just need to do a bit of research into the area and have a chat with my friend today.
 
I got my son a mini when he was 2. He rides for 5 mins, max 10 mins once a week if the weather is good, so if I didn't have my own place and had to pay for it to be kept, it would be a waste of money. He enjoys the first 5 mins then gets bored and wants to get off.

The weight control aspect is a nightmare. I think riding every day is unrealistic, and I don't think its good for a child's hips to ride regurarily before 4 or 6 or something.

Not to be all negative, its great to have pony outside so when my son decides he wants to ride, we just pop out and fetch the pony. And I agree with the other posters, great ponies are hard to find
 
Many places won't take them cause they are too hard to keep in, its also very dangerous for the mini to be in with larger horses if they are kicky (my own large gelding has never once in his life even lifted a leg, even when being kicked! but i would never have trusted my old horse with minis)
 
my friends mini used to live in her friends back garden! he also goes out on walks with the dogs to keep him fit- there are a few of us with dogs on the yard and we take turns taking him out, so he gets a potter about 5 days a week and sat on by little ones 2-3 times a week, but as someone else said- only for about 10 mins at a time. he has a very securely fenced wood chip paddock at the moment, as is company for a horse on long box rest. from a fitness view point- it you are happy to push a buggy with the kids in the walk the pony you will be fine. really you need a few companions on similar size and needs- which some yards may have. my friends mini can be turned out with my boy- a 15'2 gelding and they are good friends, but other big horses do seem to pick on him.
 
Is there any way she can stay with your friend but you take on bills etc or is she looking for a home as she's short of grazing? The set up where she is is obviously ok for her so why move her unnecessarily? That way maybe your friend can give you some help while you're felling rough (and while the baby's very young) and you could give her a hand with her other horses when she needs it?
 
I have 2 minis that live in a field with bigger horses. I use grazing muzzles but I have to tie them into their manes. I can long rein one and have a harness and cart which I will get round to using one day. My 16.2hh mare got the little ones for company and she loved her boys, they even shared a stable with no trouble.
 
Thanks all.

equi and pippixox - the weight management and living conditions thing is the main issue here I think. I'm doing a bit of digging around the area atm to see if there's anyone with the setup who's looking for a little companion or something.

annagain - unfortunately staying where she is would not be an option for me. She is currently a 40 min drive from me which is not feasible everyday really. Plus, my friend has trouble with arthritis and has recently had quite a big operation which has knocked her for six. She needs to reduce numbers to reduce her workload as she is struggling physically. Shetland currently is not ridden as both her kids have outgrown her so she is proving a lot of extra work to keep slim. Not so bad now but come spring it will be hard for my friend.
 
Selkie said:
I have 2 minis that live in a field with bigger horses. I use grazing muzzles but I have to tie them into their manes. I can long rein one and have a harness and cart which I will get round to using one day. My 16.2hh mare got the little ones for company and she loved her boys, they even shared a stable with no trouble.
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That's lovely to hear that yours get on so well with your big girl. I used to ride a horse who had a mini shettie in the herd and always got on very well with the bigger horses - used to show them who was boss and nip under their rugs at feeding time in the winter. So cheeky, I do love minis, I have to say.

Do you find they mind the grazing muzzles much? Do they live out all year or do you bring them in off the field at any time?
 
Mine has a muzzle on 9 months of the year. He's out with 4 bigger horses (15h-16h). They are a settled herd and they get on great, but I wouldn't want him in an environment where new horses get turned out with the group. Some people electric fence off an area in a field that is high enough for the mini to get under if they need to avoid bigger horses. My mini is only 5, I would probably worry much more if he were an elderly pony trying to avoid being bullied. While I wouldn't take any unnecessary risks putting them out with any big nasty horses, at the same time mini's are much tougher than they look.

I have all mine on a diet 9 months of the year so they are on a track system (living out all year round), but the mini can reach under the fence hence why he needs the muzzle too. If you find a bunch of elderly lami's or fattys to put him out with it could work quite easily.
 
there is no reason to not have a mini! they are the BESTEST!

mine lives out in my 3 acre field with my big two and in the summer he's sectioned off so he doesn't get too much grass!
 
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