traveling a Mini Shetland

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sillyfilly2009

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Hi, need some help with traveling my shetland,he is a mini only 30in tall im moving to a new yard soon,it to far to walk i have GOT A IFOR WILLIAMS 505 but have not got a clue how to tie him so he is safe to travel,thanks for any help
 
ooh, i'm going to watch this with interest, as i have the same problem...

there was a thread a couple of days ago about random ways to transport ponies... i suggested i might squeeze mine into the back of the car... only semi joking....
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When we had a shetland I used to tie to breast bar and she travelled fine, we only used to do short journeys. Some one at pony club has had an extra set of mounts put in for shetlands in their IW trailer so that the breast bar is in the right place, not sure where they are tied to though.
 
Loose with no partitions in is ideal IMO, otherwise loose with all partitions in and bars up and secure. If it is a bit flighty you may have to get yourself in and out over the ramp as they do fit through the jockey door!
 
Don't tie him at all just take the partition out, or, if you really think he would be better tied, crossways across the very front.

Good point, watch the jockey door, yes. My mini actually loads and unloads through it.

I was at a County Fair not long ago and saw a regular rear unload trailer adapted for minis. The little carriage went in first and then there were 3 forward facing partitions for the ponies. Brilliant!
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We brought our 30" mini home at the weekend in our Ifor 510. We raised the breast bar to its highest setting so he didn't bang his head, then just cross tied him and he balanced himself. Left partition in - he is v small! He was fine, and even ate some of his haynet. Mind you, we did drive exceptionally slowly!
 
When I travelled the little ones in a trailer I stacked the front with straw bales so they couldn't get under the bar, then tied them with it on the lowest setting.
 
If you lived near to me.I could have helped you out.I travell my 2 Miniature Horses Jezabell and Tinkerbell 28inch and 24inch,in my Kangoo Van [image]
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have only ever done it in a horsebox but the short version is normally we tie them backwards (ie head at bum end herringbone), otherwise they go round the front of the partitions. However, an eventer who shall remain nameless ended up having to block one in with shavings and a wheelbarrow after the mini mini getting a lift to a new owner (near a 3-day) managed to get its headcollar off and tootled off underneath the bellies of the rather flash event horses whilst the truck was moving!! There were rumours that it was put in the toilet but think that was just urban myth!!

I all seriousness we used to transport our mare and foal with the foal in front of the breast bars in the nose as the mare would only travel alone, this worked brilliantly as he fitted fine at the front and was close to mum!

I think either blocking it into a very small space or loose is the order of the day!!
 
When I took Doughnut to Liphook 3 hours away I left partition in (in a 510) and stacked x2 bales of hay with a blanket over them and tied the hay to the partition. Then put a bale accross the front on its side with another wedged behind to act as a breast bar and cross tied him to the real breast bar fixings (low of course). He was absolutely fine and fitted in perfectly with room to spread his legs!

I put the hay in as I didnt want him to slip under the partition rubber skirt thing.
 
We used to travel the young ones loose, others we used to tie up but sometimes depending on the individual shetland, I agree sometimes there better off loose, if you driving steady which you would be doing anyway, no harm will be done, less likely to get themselves into a pickle if he/she is not tied up and not used to traveling.
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If you decide to tie, make sure you cross tie.
I had my shetland in a single trailer and I made the mistake of tying him on one side - needless to say he managed to turn round and get the breast bar stuck across his back. I was terrified I wasn't going to get him out - he was fine and my lesson was learnt.
He's also cross tied in our horsebox, although a couple of years ago a proffessional transporter left him loose and bootless, but that lorry was partitioned off wall to ceiling.
 
I used to show my 34" shetland so I've seen a lot of methods now but I found the most effective with my 510 was a bale of shavings at the side (pony could get under partion) and at the front with the breast bar on the highest setting. Then tied with a hay net just low enough he could reach. I contacted our local IW people who said they could put new brackets in (I think about £50? Not to bad anyway) but even attaching them to the bottom on the partion wouldn't of been low enough.
 
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