2 surprise Shetland ponies for 5 year old DD!

[Pumpkinette]

So I got a call from my mum today to say she has gone and bought my 5 year old DD not 1 but 2 Shetland ponies and they are arriving tomorrow.

She was planning on getting 1 but they are inseparable and share a stable so she just took the two of them. I'm a bit annoyed she didn't think to ask me first (I think she knows I would have said no) but it's done now.

I have my own horse who is getting on a bit now and is part clydesdale so really too big for my petite little 5 year old to ride. My mum has a rescue youngster but again she's quite a cobby type,15.3hh and still growing so again not really suitable for DD to ride.

DD had no clue whats happening and we are planning to surprise her on Tuesday. She will be very excited obviously but I still feel buying her 2 ponies for no reason (her birthday isn't until November) is a bit excessive. Talk about grandparents spoiling the grandchildren.

Any ideas on the best way to surprise her? I was thinking of putting a big bow on the stable door.

[Gabilan]

Could you get a card with ponies on it and write something along the lines of "Go and look over the stable door"? Or a model pony and put a sign around its neck saying something similar?

I understand your annoyance but fingers crossed it works out and it's much more fun having ponies at the start of the summer holidays than the start of winter.

[LeBearPolar]

Gosh - is your DD a confident rider? Shetlands can be little buggers! A friend of mine has one which she sort of acquired by accident and he has a will of steel: there's no making him do anything he doesn't want to.

I can understand why you're annoyed!

[Pumpkinette]

DD is fearless but not too experienced as our 2 are way too big for her to ride properly (her legs don't reach the bottom of the saddle). She has good balance and can do rising trot but we are still leading her. She will happy go in the stable and take charge of the horses - moving them back from the door etc.

One one the ponies (the smaller one) is very timid and sweet natured. She will be starting out riding her. The other is apparently a bit cheaky and unbroken and he's a bit bigger. My mum will break him in - my mum is very slim so light enough to do this- and one of the other kids at the yard (very confident rider) is going to ride him quite a bit to help train him. It will be good for that little girl too as she doesn't have her own pony so she's excited to help.

I'm still trying to get my head round it all to be honest.

[SaggyAndLucy]

It sounds like your mum has been had!
They aren't the cutesy little pets they look like.
NEVER feed them treats in hand preferably don't feed them anything at all! And treat them like draught horses. Lots of hard work. Well done to your mum for planning to ride them. That's exactly what they need.
As for the surprise, maybe buy your DD her own grooming kit, wrap it up, give it to her round the corner but attach it to the stable door with a string perhaps that she has to follow.

[Pumpkinette]

Well we put a big bow on the door with a card for her. She was very surprised and excited!

We know how Shetlands are - I've been around horses for about 25 years and my mum 40 years +. Although we've never owned Shetlands we have had our share of cheeky ponies and horses over the years so I think we will be fine.

The tack they came with is awful. The pony saddle does not fit in any way, shape or form. The bridle fits but is very poor quality and by the looks of it has never been cleaned or oiled so it will most likely be too rotted and dry to save. The bit is really ragged and chewed up so that's no good either. I think the little ones teeth need done as she's struggling with her hay (and by the looks of the bit) so we've booked the dentist for them.

We have a cub saddle that will do for now but struggling to find a small enough girth. I think we will need a 12'' which none of the local tack shops appear to stock.

Anyway I have added a photo of the two little cuties. It's not the greatest but the best I have for now.

[SaggyAndLucy]

get a felt pad. DD rode our shettie in one until she was 14! I've ridden on it too. They have a handy handle and are great for improving balance. you can get some nice leather ones for a bit of showing too.

[Pixel]

They are lovely, very pretty markings. .
I've just looked at the girth we used with dshetland's cub saddle and the label says 40cm which I think is 16". She was a 'proper' shetland although she has shrunk with age and now looks more like a miniature, poor old dear. We found the cub saddle was fine but did benefit from the addition of a crupper.

[frostyfingers]

You may already be aware of Dinky Ponies, if not have a look. They have lots of stuff including girths and seem very helpful. I've not bought from them yet but am contemplating a bridle for my 11h Sec A whose face is too small for standard bridles.

www.tackandturnout.co.uk/epages/jr29kctxxscu.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/jr29kctxxscu/Categories/AboutUs