Toying with the idea of getting a small pony for showing.. Options?

Elsiecat

Elsiecat

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Really enjoy in-hand showing but none of my horses are particularly 'inhand' horses.
I am seriously considering getting myself a nice little pony for in hand. Can't decide whether to go for something young or not.
Want it under 10 hands really.
Whats my choices?
Obviously theres the fallabella/shetland root - but is that my only options?

Also what do I want to look out for if I was to go for one of them?

Bit of a large question really but just want to be well planned and know exactly what I'm after. Looking to buy possibly May time.

Thank you :D
 
Montyforever

Montyforever

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Welsh section a? That was the idea behind getting my mare (she's 12hh though) as I've always wanted a go at showing. 3 years down the line and I've not been to one show due to having no transport :eek:

Can't give you any advice about Shetlands. But if you go with a welsh a, get a Twyford youngster. Mines a twyford and she's absolutely beautiful, spirited and a real mini horse and I'm just very biased towards them ;) but if I could go back and get her as an unhandled youngster rather than a barely handled 5 year old I would in a heartbeat! She's now 8 and only just starting to feel like she's hit about 4 .. :eek:
 
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Elf On A Shelf

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For local showing you can't beat a shetland. 9/10 they do well because of the Aaaawww factor. The other 1/10 is because most people expect them to be ugly black or coloured things and cant tell a good from a bad so they do better than the welsh because they are known for being pretty.
 
Elsiecat

Elsiecat

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I've already got a Welshie but apparently her ears are too big and judges tend to go for small ears (I think its the Twyford lines that is known for the small ears?). I'm showing her to get her show experience but she's never ever going to be a show placer! God love her :eek:

What do I go for shetland wise?
Is a fallabella out of the question?
 
Bobbly

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I have two mini girls, one has a tiny tad of shetland (thinks she's a sports horse) and the other is proper 1/2 american miniature bred (total drama queen) with some illustrious bloodlines, both registered with the British Miniature Horse Society. Firstly they are not like shetlands to look after, underneath they really are like mini thoroughbreds with matching temperaments and as proper miniatures to show them they need clipping. They also wear fancy arab type halters which some can cost a fortune and then locally most judges don't know what they are looking at and akin them to mini shetlands, which they most definitely are not! Affiliated classes are very facey (no surprise there) and few and far between. I'd find yourself a smart little shettie that's a bit different and have fun with that, you can take them pretty much anywhere!
 
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Elf On A Shelf

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Falabellas are more specialised in that not many shows have classes for then as they dont come under the shetland banner. A good Falabella will cost you a fair pretty penny.

As for shetlands, for what you want to do, I'd go for either a black mare from Transy stock or a chestnut mare from the Southley lines and at least 39-40" big.
 
Elsiecat

Elsiecat

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Shetland it is I think.
Will have a look at the suggestions now!
What price am I looking at for ideally a youngster who's had no time to develop any bad habits or manners but has the potential to snag a few ribbons?
No problem if its a bit of a diamond in the rough and needs a bit of work!
 
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trottingon

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The Shetland pony stud book society hold sales, I think there's usually one in March in York.
Their website is really good for info.
I used to show Shetlands in hand, very competitive but great fun!
 
Elsiecat

Elsiecat

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EKW said:
Eeerrrmmm you'll not have found the Southley website as those ponies are no longer bred. I am assuming you mean Sharptor?!
Click to expand...

Just re googled what I googled -
I googled Southley shetlands and clicked on first page
Turns out I'm on the Coppice stud!!
It's them I've messaged :)
 
Elsiecat

Elsiecat

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Kat said:
You could consider a Dartmoor too.
Click to expand...

I'll look into it! I was always under the impression they were fairly section-A sized!

I've spied a shetland I really quite like the look of, can someone PM me and let me send back the link for their opinions?
 
WelshD

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I second the Dartmoor suggestion

A little bigger yes but they are enormously charming and very biddable with a lovely shape and a beautiful head

They dont nickname the Shetlands S**tlands for nothing!
 
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I have a dartmoor too, the best of bloodlines, best moving, best looking dartmoor you could ever wish for...

And he is the bane of my life! Lol! He doesnt pay the sightest heed to electric fencing. Needs sedated to be shod. Got lammi 2 years ago. Cant be ridden by kids. Wont load. I bought him as a 3yo to break, show, get some qualifiers with and sell as a 4/5yo. 9 years on I still have him. He has been to 2 loan homes and came back within 6 weeks. He is a boomerang. But he I have come to the conclusion that he is with me for life because he is actually a fricken awesome pony and it amuses me to see him bronc people off and yet be a lamb with me.

I'd stick to the shetlands lol!
 
Elsiecat

Elsiecat

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Going to keep noseying around at all my options. I'm sure something's going to jump out at me.

EKW I PMd you a few hours ago but not sure if you received it?
 
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