Shetland advice

[Littlegreyauditor]

Hello

I'm a fairly experienced horse owner, with plenty of miles under my belt (until my horse died of extreme old age in 2015). I am planning a replacement horse for riding in the near to medium future. In the mean time my horses stable and small winter 'wandering about' area has been standing empty. The grass got a bit high and we normally bung a few of my ILs sheep on it, but not this year so far...

Anyway. DH has taken a headstagger and bought me a 4 year old Shetland mare to act as a kind of lawnmower, and eventual companion to whatever future horse I get. No problem, I've done this before...only now I'm over thinking it.

I've never had a really little pony and I'm not totally convinced I know what I'm doing. Obviously I'm worming her tomorrow as soon as I get my hands on some paste, will book the vet to microchip and check her, the farrier to trim her feet and Gemma the wonder dentist to sort her mouth out. But I suppose I really want to know is: What am I missing? Is there anything I need to know about shetlands specifically or are they just short, hairy, very typical horses?

I mean I just found out I should avoid haylage to decrease the apparently astronomical risk of laminitis, so now I'm in hyperthought about whether they are a completely different proposition to what I'm used to. This may be because she was a complete and total surprise (as an anniversary present-I bought him a circular saw) and I know nothing about her or her history at all or may be because I am a Shetland novice.

Any advice for me? Please

I have vivid memories of the shitland at the stables where I rode as a child.

If shitland decided she didn't want riding, she would buck off whichever child was on her back and chase them round the ménage with her teeth bared. She also used to roam freely around the yard like a dog, and if you happened to be mucking out she would wander into whichever stable you were in and corner you.

Fabulous little mare

The reputation of a Shetland often comes from people not treating them like equines.

Weight is key. When I bought mine it looked like the first photo, much fatter than yours, 9 ½ hands. Had never done anything other than live in a herd. I took her out every time I walked the dog to begin with. Introduced everything the same way I did with my TB X. She was lunged or long reined every other day.

I didn't have a rider but when I found one she went to a show three days later.

You need to buy a muzzle.

I got a mini Shetland to keep my old pony company after my horse was pts. Pony is laminitis prone so thought we'd be OK, to keep the two fatties together. Turns out mini Shetland is so mini that it takes MUCH less grass to trigger laminitis. I've managed the other pony for nearly 20 yrs but this Shetland is something else

The only thing that really helps is a grazing muzzle. He has it on every day, 7am -5/6pm. Then confined with other pony to a smaller more bare paddock overnight.

Without the muzzle I have to keep him stabled overnight and out on a very small (think 2 stables sized) bare patch.

Wee Stevie update: she has settled in well now, is getting on grand and is terrifyingly intelligent. I'm lunging her a fair bit and the farrier is getting on top of her feet. She has apparently had laminitis "more than once" in the past, and has evidence of a very high sugar diet according to the dentist.

Most entertaining thing she does? She races me to her feed bucket. She will wait at the bottom of the field until I get level with her, I say "Ready, steady, GO" and we both run to the top of the field where her trough is. Honestly she is delighted with herself when she wins, and bounces round me squealing.
So, yeah. My neighbour thinks I'm insane.

Love her. She is such a wee dote.

Thanks for all your advice, brilliant people.

Brillant update. We need a video!

Is it possible to do videos? I tried a couple of times and they would not load.
Instead have some blurry action shots of her asserting her racing superiority

Gorgeous flowing mane. Been ridden yet?

She's adorable!

Not broken yet! That's on my list once it stops raining. Her teeth were a disaster due to a previous high sugar diet, and very sharp so now they are sorted I'm going to try her with a bit and maybe get long raining. At the minute we are trying to lunge with a minimum of bucking and we go for a lot of walks to threaten our neighbours

Reining. Sorry. Rain has been a feature here for the last few weeks.

I hate Shetlands.
No I don't really, I adore my little fur ball but he's far more hard work than my ISH.
Things you will need -
A sense of humour and stamina!
Shetland proof fences - don't assume electric fences will keep her in, my lads mane is that thick he knows he can get under the bottom strip of tape with minimal effect. We have boards around the bottom and then post & rail and then electric tape between rails. He's not escaped- yet!
A grazing muzzle - Shetlands are 'designed' to roam miles eating scrub of poor nutritional value, they are very good 'doers' and this makes them prone to obesity and laminitis when they are grazed on 'normal' grass. Exercise is your friend, as much as possible, and I never rug my lad, it's never much below freezing and he is designed to live on a Scottish Island without a rug so he's using a bit more energy to keep himself toasty which helps with the weight too.

My Shetland keeps my cocky ISH in check, as well as teen DD. Jack Russell is spot on, you need to respect and train/work exactly as you would with a big horse, they don't make great 'pets' as they're intelligent, inquisitive and independent. They make great little horses to have in your life as long as they're kept active - mind and body.
Mine loves a treat ball or a jolly ball to play with and I've taught him all sorts of things from the floor.
She's a lovely looking little one, well done your DH for rescuing her I hope you have many years of wonderful fun with her!