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You are in... Forums > Welcome To Your Horse Forum > The Yard > Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Equus123

Joined:

Sep 11

Posts: 28

Equus123 says:

Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiya everybody,

I am getting a shetland pony, my first pony!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAAAY!!!!!!!!! But, as I am new to horse ownership I thought id ask you guys some questions if its alright?

1. I am 5ft 2inches and 7 stone, I am wanting to ride my shetland, i have heard that you can get different size of shetland, do you have any advice as to what size i should get?

2. If im riding about 5-6 times a week, hacking and light work in the arena, what feed should I give him, I thought of keeping him out at grass 24/7 with a hay supplement in the winter months, am I right?

3. Is a shetland pony right for a first horse? I've heard they are fairly cheap upkeep wise.

4. Finally, How much is an average riding shetland?

Thankyou sooo much, you guys are life savers!!!!!  xxx

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 16:56)
wagonsroll

Joined:

Jul 11

Posts: 669

wagonsroll says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right, start at the top, I have a neighbour who breeds shetlands and all i can tell you is they can carry a fully grown stag dead weight which can be enormously heavy up to 20 stone i think she said, also they used to ride them out to the shoots (fully grown men) so you'll be fine height and weight wise,  the bits in the middle not sure about but i'm sure someone else will know, i know that you shouldnt pay more than 300 pounds and that will be for a perfect breeding pony. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 17:25)
equi

Joined:

Jan 09

Posts: 2781

equi says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Well i honestly would say that a shetland is not the right pony for a riding pony. They are generally used to teach 4 year olds to walk and trot. Although you can get some cracker ones i don't think you would be overly impressed with the amount of things you can do on it. If i were you i would get the idea of a shet out of your head and focus on something a little better for the amount of riding you want to do like a welsh cob. 

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 18:14)
melxvengeance

Joined:

Aug 08

Posts: 2819

melxvengeance says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 as an owner of 4 of the little buggers, I would say i'm an experienced shetland owner!!

tbh, i agree with equi. They are cute to look at and great for young kids but I wouldn't advise riding them for 5-6 times a week. as for height, anything under 32" high is a minature shetland and anything 32" and over is a standard, but shetlands normally only go to around 42" which is 10.2hh which really isn't big at all. they are limited to what they can do in schooling, you wouldn't be able to jump anything bigger than a small crosspole and as for local competition...well you're snookered. I know they are strong but I think it could do long term damage. what about teaching it to drive a little trap instead? shetlands are bred to pull traps, not be ridden!

 

you'd get a shetland pony for about £300. but if you look hard enough you could get a 13.2hh welsh pony for the same price which would be much more suitable for every day riding (and competition!!)

[This Reply has been modified by the Author]

Norwegian Fjords - the golden horses with the golden hearts. Minty, Loki, Teiko, Willow, Cherry & Charlie - my lovely ponies :)

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 18:27)
melxvengeance

Joined:

Aug 08

Posts: 2819

melxvengeance says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 going to wagonsroll bit about perfect breeding pony - i would expect to pay £500 for this. for a shetland pony that is good enough to breed and show with you need something that is registered with the stud book society and most shetties out there aren't. my shettie gelding has very good breeding, he is off county showing stock and by Viscount of Grutness who is standing at stud in germany. but he doesn't have a SPSBS passport. to get one it would cost me around £200 because i would have to get him & his dam DNA tested!! 

Norwegian Fjords - the golden horses with the golden hearts. Minty, Loki, Teiko, Willow, Cherry & Charlie - my lovely ponies :)

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 18:31)
Equus123

Joined:

Sep 11

Posts: 28

Equus123 says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankyou ever so much everyone for your advice.

I think I will take your advice and either get a larger pony so I can ride, or just get a shetland as a companion.

thanks again, it means alot

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 19:47)
AMLS

Joined:

Apr 10

Posts: 306

AMLS says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello !!!

 

I have known a lot of shetlands and they are very cute but with very big personalities for such little ponies. I also wouldn't advise them for the amount of riding you'll be doing. Sure they'll carry the weight but it won't be a very comfortable ride ... incredibly short stride obv and I would be concerned for the joints.

 

Also you'll find you can only get so far and find you want to progress which you'll be unable to do with a shetland ... you'll be pretty limited. I suggest hunt around and find a bigger pony which will be more versatile and allow you to have more opportunities.

 

Good luck !!!

 

x

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 19:50)
rach82

Joined:

Apr 11

Posts: 316

rach82 says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiya - I agree with most of the above - a shetland won't make a good riding pony and you will be limited to what you can do!

I am also 5'2" (but a little heavier! lol!) I have a 13.2 and an 11.2 - I ride both and the 13.2 feels right but the 11.2 does feel too small and it's not a comfy ride!

We bought the 11.2 in March (hes for a toddler which rides once in a blue moon - hence why I ride him!) and he cost just £500 - with tack! He is a welsh a and is 5yrs old - he is a superstar!! so good with the kids, maybe a little cheeky with me mind! He is very cheap to keep as is my 13.2 part-arab x welsh.

 

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 20:26)
CharParsley620

Joined:

Jul 10

Posts: 2406

CharParsley620 says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I'm 5'1 and a little bit heavier than you and I fit quite well on my 13'2 new forest! Like the others, I definitely wouldn't advise a shet, I know they're strong, but they aren't very big to be honest and I think you'd definitely benefit from getting some bigger. :) 

Good look with your search, keep us updated on what you get! 

xxx

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It's lonely in the saddle since the horse died.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (19 October 2011 20:37)
highlander

Joined:

Sep 08

Posts: 1512

highlander says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sister has a shety but to be honest I'd not have one as I clash with the huge personality. They are capable of carrying upto 20stone but that was for short distances. Schooling a shety can be done, there is a few shety dressage ponies but they are mostly in german etc. As a first horse I would think a 13.2 who knows what its doing would be better for you progress with your riding with. Welshies or a really good highland (both carefully chosen probably with help from a much more experienced person). I'd go for more money to really find a good one so ie £2000-3000 plus vetting on top. You might find one on loan as well, I'd go for a older one too! Good luck with your hunt for the right pony/horse!

It has been calculated thay any two thoroughbreds picked at random will on average have more than 13% of their genes in common.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (20 October 2011 11:49)
lydiarose

Joined:

Oct 10

Posts: 783

lydiarose says:

Re: Shetland Advice. Please reply soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I'm 5'2, about 81/2 stone and I have a 15.2hh horse aha! It says on your profile that you're 15 so maybe think about something even a little bigger because you may still grow. Maybe a 14.2? It sounds like you're going to be doing a lot of riding and you may progress and want to do shows so I'd say maybe even a 14.2 hardy breed so that costs aren't too high and it also means you won't grow out of him/her too quickly and have to face a heartbreaking sale. I had a hardy loan pony who was 13.2 when I was 14 and he lived out 24/7 and all he had was grass, water and hay!

Good luck with your search!
 

Woodhouse JT <3

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  • Posted 2 years ago (20 October 2011 12:41)

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