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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

Fallabella Ponies

39 replies

Carrotsandcelery · 20/03/2011 19:10

Has anyone out there got one?

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MitchiestInge · 20/03/2011 19:43

no, they always seem a bit pointless to me - are you thinking of getting some?

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Carrotsandcelery · 20/03/2011 20:42

No Mitchie but was interested in what they were like to keep as a pet. Our budget and housing wouldn't allow for it apart from anything.
DD has it in her head that if she got one she could keep it in the back garden. I have tried to make her see sense but she just thinks I am being mean.
However, she did get me thinking, wondering what they were like.

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Mirage · 20/03/2011 21:09

They are a favourite for horse thieves-they are small,easily transported and cute looking.

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ManateeEquineOhara · 21/03/2011 07:37

The yard moron at my old yard had a couple in her garden. They are not there any more - possible got bored of them, possibly stolen?
They are cute, and I can imagine getting quite attached to one, IDK, maybe they are a better dog - sized pet than a dog...more independent perhaps? Although I am quite inclined to agree with Mitchie that they are actually quite pointless.

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Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 21/03/2011 11:21

I don't think buying a Falabella for a child to keep in the garden is a good idea. Sorry. They were originally bred down from shetlands. These ponies are the most un pet like animals ever. Apart from the fact that one pony on it's own will be bored stiff, and incredibly lonely, horses of any kind are incredibly complex to care for. Just because it's small, doesn't mean it won't need worming, grooming, it's feet looked after by a farrier, rugs in the winter and shelter. It would need exercising, regular attention, and the ground will need proper maintenance to make sure the pony stays healthy. All this aside, true Falabellas cost a fortune. Anything cheap will more than likely just be a miniature Shetland. Shetlands are bred down from highland ponies, used for farming and working, and incredibly intelligent. Do you see where I'm going here?
I totally understand how your DD feels, I was the same as a child, but she would be better to have riding lessons, volunteer at a stables or befriend someone horsey and be a sharer until she is older or you have more money.

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Carrotsandcelery · 21/03/2011 11:27

Saggy I had absolutely no intention of keeping a pony in the garden. I was just intrigued by the little ponies once she got me thinking about them. Dd is still young so has no idea about the work involved in keeping ponies. I used to have a pony myself and am fully aware of what is involved. I just wondered what they were like.
FWIW she does go for riding lessons and is qualifying to help out at the stables when she is 10.

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Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 21/03/2011 11:43

these little ponies have a big following. Saw loads at Hoys and Hicksted. I'd imagine, being bred from Shetlands they probably have loads of character attitude.

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Callisto · 21/03/2011 12:10

The only miniatures that I have known have been little shits and totally unsuitable for children. They can also have terrible joints and sometimes their bodies are too small for their guts and they spend their existence in agony.

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Carrotsandcelery · 21/03/2011 12:14

I did wonder if they were like overbred dogs and suffered horribly from unnecessary ailments. I will tell my dd that and it will put her off completely. We are a rescue pet and heinz 57 dog family here.
Saggy I do understand your concern as some idiots well meaning pet owners do do the strangest of things.
I have spent some time with Shetland ponies so I can imagine the sort of character a Fallabella might have. I have a ds like that!

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cedmonds · 21/03/2011 19:23

Hi we breed and show American mini horses. We were at Hickstead and Hoys .They do not suffer from many health issues( the same as any horse) and they are very much like full size horses as they were bred down from arabs. They need looking after the same as full size horses and they are not hardy like shetlands.

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Pixel · 21/03/2011 19:32

Some people near us had one in their back garden a few years ago, we used to see them taking it for walks. I have to say it looked in very good condition and quite happy so they obviously knew what they were doing. The thing that would worry me most would be keeping it from eating anything it shouldn't. You only need one well-meaning neighbour to chuck a load of grass cuttings over the fence and you've got a dead pony. Still, I suppose if you can afford to buy a proper falabella then your main worry will be making sure it doesn't fall in the swimming pool or bite the chauffeur.

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annieapple7 · 21/03/2011 22:32

I saw a TV programme where they were using Falabella types instead of guide dogs! So maybe not totally pointless after all...

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Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 21/03/2011 22:41

Being someone who doesnt really ride anymore but loves to be around horses and ponies, and who used to think that shetlands were pointless, I have to say I have completely changed my opinion. I don't think any pony is pointless, just being with them is wonderful.
It's hard to believe that something as beautiful as a Falabella is bred down from huge Arabs and hairy shitlands!

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cedmonds · 21/03/2011 22:55

I have photos of mine when clipped out etc to show and people think they are full size horses (obviously with no one with them) I cannot ride anymore due to health probs so they are the best i can get. It is no different to people showing welsh etc in hand, so why are the pointless?

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MitchiestInge · 21/03/2011 23:26

ok I retract pointless!

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ManateeEquineOhara · 22/03/2011 07:30

I agreed with 'pointless' because they are not like showing Welsh in-hand. Welsh ponies existed in the state they are in - okay, the breed has been 'preserved', but Falabellas have been 'designed', all the desirable features of a Falabella in a show ring have been entirely created.

Showing is not really my thing, and as they cannot ride or drive, I would say not pointless, but a very different point to having a Falabells to any other horse! And I am sure individual Falabellas are lovely and cute and I could well imagine falling in love with one of them :)

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Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 22/03/2011 09:14

Actually, welsh ponies are totally a product. I used to work on a welsh A stud, and have an A myself who is very well bred. I traced her pedigree through Allbreedspedigree, and was fascinated by the result. In a very short space of time, she has Welsh A, B, C and D in her, and over a longer period, she has Hackney, Norfolk trotter, Thoroughbred and Arab. Eventually, her line goes back to Godolphins Barb, Byerley Turk and Darleys Arabian, who are the founding Sires for all Thoroughbreds and racehorses. I also discovered that 'White' is not a natural colour for Welsh ponies either. In the nineteenth century, less than 10% were grey, then one Grey stallion was introduced to breeding stock, and within ten years, more than 50% of welsh As were grey and nowadays it is the accepted colour. Combine this with the fact that English Welshies look totally different to Welsh Welshies, I'd say that over all, they are fairly well produced! (and don't get me started on showing in their natural state!!)

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cedmonds · 22/03/2011 09:57

Hi manatee You can drive them they do driving classes for them for showing or scurry. I never thought they would be strong enough untill I saw them do it! They also have started to horse agility which is the same as what the do with dogs. They are doing it with minis and full size horses.
I was never into showing asnd always BHTA evented but now cant after a bad fall. Its strange how you can change your veiws when you have to.

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ManateeEquineOhara · 22/03/2011 19:38

Saggy - that is quite amazing how your section A has such a mix, makes me wonder how the breed is defined - surely in that case it must be by confirmation/features etc rather than being traced back to an ancestry of generations in the Welsh Mountains!

Cedmonds - Horse agility sounds so fun!!! I can definitely imagine enjoying that! OMG (slightly side-tracking) having just googled horse agility I love the picture at the top of this link www.horseagilitygb.com/ ...off to google some more!!!

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cedmonds · 22/03/2011 20:34

Manatee i also think it sounds fun i was thinking about going to a training session to seewhat it was all about.

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Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 22/03/2011 21:28

Welsh ponies are defined by their stud book entries and their characteristics. I'm not sure if it still happens, but at one time, an oversized A or an undersized B coulItbeen reclassified. It is very interesting researching their history. It makes you wonder what is behind the other 'native' breeds!

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Pixel · 22/03/2011 22:51

Dpony was registered as a C but he grew so is now a D of C type. Apparently.

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Pixel · 22/03/2011 22:52

He is 22 in a couple of months though so as you say it might be different now.

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ambivalentandroid · 23/03/2011 01:35

How do you exercise a Falabella? Presumably you have to take it out on a lead rein? They can't really work, surely, as a child's riding pony - would be outgrown in a flash.

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cedmonds · 23/03/2011 16:50

Hi they are walked out in hand, lunged or freeschooled. They yearlings are walked out in hand only and will go on the walker.I will start lungeing and freeschooling when they are 4. DS had one of the minis that was 2 inches to big to show she started ridding her at just before he was 2 and has only just got to big for her at 4.