Horse advice?

**Nicos** · 23-07-2016, 07:29 PM

Gosh no...sorry...the Internet wasn't even around during my equine years!

My only experience of Shelands were those never handled before and boy were they headstrong and difficult ponies.

**Stan79** · 23-07-2016, 08:20 PM

We've had an offer of a couple of Shetlands and i know that they're good with kids and have been trained...

**Nicos** · 23-07-2016, 09:23 PM

Can you have them on loan for a few weeks to see how you all get on with them?

**bearded bloke** · 23-07-2016, 10:15 PM

Have a look here Stan ......... Needs and Costs ... and here ... Health and Welfare

**Nicos** · 24-07-2016, 03:41 AM

I was just thinking.....as you do......
Personally I'd be very wary of not having some form of insurance.
Most cover 3rd party and vet bills ( after the initial �100 or so)

It's not cheap

**ecudc** · 24-07-2016, 07:31 AM

How old are your kids? My only concern about Shetlands is that you could pop the children on (bearing in mind that Shetlands are quite wide so they may not be able to sit on them properly initially) and lead them around a bit until they are about 6/7 when they would be able to start properly riding for themselves then you'd have 1-2 year before they got too big for the Shetland. If they want to continue riding you will have to get a pony which might mean selling the Shetlands = heart break.

You'd also need to be sure that you are happy to muck out, feed, groom the ponies every day if the kids loose interest.

**Nicos** · 24-07-2016, 07:54 AM

.....or pay someone to look after them for you...but that's not what it's really about is it?

**Nicos** · 24-07-2016, 07:56 AM

Oh- and I forgot to mention...horses and ponies are herd animals and need to have a companion- ie a 2nd pony or a goat or something else.

Selling a pony ( espesh for the first time) is utterly heartbreaking....be warned

**noviceveggrower** · 24-07-2016, 10:06 AM

I'm sure Harvey Smith said he taught his boys to ride on donkeys first. He said they plod on at their and are fairly unflappable. They also gave them confidence even if the boys fell off. He said that Shetlands are very strong willed and single minded. So he felt that once his sons had the confidence with a donkeys then they moved onto Shetlands.

**mothhawk** · 24-07-2016, 09:09 PM

I helped out as a kid at the local riding school. They had a Shetland. It was perfectly behaved walking round on a lead with tiny kids and beginners, but with a competent little rider, off the lead rein, the little b@gger would behave for about 5 minutes, then suddenly buckle at the knees and roll on the ground to get rid of the child on its back. Strong-willed doesn't begin to describe them. get a Welshie or a donkey.

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