Why do you love your shetland?

LynH said:
Don't worry FuzzyFurry he is out of the country next week when your little fuzzy is coming to visit ;0)
Click to expand...

Shame, I am sure Tiny Fuzzy could convert him..... she managed to entrap my DH - who is an out&out confirmed equine hater.
He was seen last year at a local show dragging TF off to the ice cream van! (TF's only outing) This is the man who hates anything to do with horses & was only with me under sufferance as a mate let me down the night before. He'd never even held a pony before that day - and there he was going 'walkies' :biggrin3: (but he still calls her 'the dog' ....grr)
 
Me! Ours is totally gorgeous, he probably has the best temperament of any horse I've ever known or ever will know. He is friendly, playful, cute....whats not to love!
 
Patchworkpony - I've never worn a helmet to drive him and that day for some reason I considered wearing one but didn't. I'll never drive without one again.

Luckily it happened in a field up hill with my 14 year old sharer there who had the sense/bravery? To stand at the top of the hill in between him and the ditch he was heading towards.
I had nothing, no brakes, how I didn't come off the back and how he didn't meet his end with a broken leg I will never know. Someone was watching over us both and I am SO thankful.

I feel more settled knowing it scared someone else too!

My YO said he was being a typical coloured/shetland and being naughty but I truly believe something must have hurt him (he's so unflappable) and when naughty he simply plunges but I have full brakes etc. I'd feel better if I knew what caused him to bolt.

Sorry completely blurted out everything on a nice fluffy Shetland post!
 
Here he is going beautifully shortly before bolting.

1zzm4qf.jpg
 
Because they're so hilarious, cute evil like mini-villainous horses. mine knows exactly how to manipulate us all and yet is gentle and polite always. i've watched him let my dog sit underneath him having a chew on his frog on his sleepy resting hoof. he drives, rides, drags a harrow and squeals like a pig every morning at exactly 7.30 when he knows i'm up to be let out of his mini starvation night-time paddock. every single morning. clockwork pony
 
Mynyddcymro - sadly a driving animal can suddenly bolt, it is a risk we take when we sit behind them rather than on top. I have close friends who drive at very top level and their view is that once an animal has bolted it may well do it again and again. My own experience is once they frighten themselves in harness they are often very reluctant to do the job again. I met someone a while back who had been in a nasty accident all because a wasp stung her previously very quiet pony and it bolted on the road. If you do decided to drive him again may I suggest that you book a driving lesson with a very reliable pony just to make sure that your nerve isn't shot and then start again from scratch long reining your Shetland to gauge his reaction. Above all give yourself plenty of time to get over what was a very nasty experience. As you say you were incredibly lucky. I have been told by my expert friends that only one in about ten animals will make a really safe driving horse or pony. Makes you think doesn't it? Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top