What Do You Need To Look After A Shetland Pony?

Keeping a Shetland pony is fairly similar to any other horse or pony—they require shelter, fresh water, forage, and possibly a concentrate for any vitamins or minerals they may be missing in their diet.

Can I have a Shetland pony in my garden?

So, can I keep a Shetland pony in my garden? Well, you can, but he will be much happier in a field where he has the right grass, space and can enjoy himself with his friends.

How much room do Shetland ponies need?

How much space do you need to keep a Shetland pony? It’s actually a lot of space, about one acre of land is needed to keep a Shetland pony, that’s over 4,000 square metres and is a bigger space than most gardens.

What should I feed my Shetlands?

They are especially fond of milk thistles in summer and eat prickly common thistles in winter. They also enjoy other spikey plants such as blackberries, both the fruits and leaves, in the autumn.

What is the lifespan of a Shetland pony?

20-25 years
Life expectancy:
Shetland ponies live an average of 20-25 years.

How much does it cost to keep a Shetland pony?

Monthly Costs of a Shetland Pony
Your pony will need its hooves done by a farrier every 6-8 weeks, which typically costs between $45-$150. Annual veterinary costs will generally be $200-$400. In addition dentistry costs around $80-$250 every six months to a year.

Can you feed a Shetland pony carrots?

How to feed carrots to a Shetland pony. Ponies love a treat and carrots are delicious for them to eat.

Should you put a rug on a Shetland pony?

Breeds with naturally shaggy coats, such as Shetland Ponies, are less likely to need a rug. Rugging should be done only after other measures to help keep the horse warm. This includes providing shelter, forage, companion horses and avoiding over-grooming or clipping.

Do Shetland ponies need blankets?

In general, if it’s below twenty degrees, you should put a blanket on your horse. However, what matters most is your horse’s health and coat thickness to know whether or not it needs extra warmth. If you clipped your horse, it needs a blanket in cold weather.

Can Shetland ponies live alone?

One important rule applies to all miniature horses, shetland ponies, ponies and horses: They are herds of animals! A miniature horse, shetland pony, pony or horse should never be alone, but always with at least one counterpart.

Can Shetlands live out all year round?

Shetland ponies are most-notably very hardy, stout, strong and sure-footed. They have adapted remarkably well to Shetland’s often harsh environment, and as a result, need minimum care. They are able to live happily outdoors all year-round and they prefer the rough grazing which dominates the landscape.

Why do Shetland ponies bite?

Their field of vision is wider than ours. Baby horses, just like baby people, explore their world with their mouth. Biting is a part of that testing out their environment. Some babies even like the reaction they get when they bite, like it’s a game.

What fruit can Shetland ponies eat?

There are a wide variety of fruits that you can feed your horse in small quantities. Apricots, blackberries, blueberries, mangoes, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries, tangerines, and watermelon (with the rind) are all safe for your horse to eat.

Are Shetland ponies hard to keep?

Keeping a Shetland pony is fairly similar to any other horse or pony—they require shelter, fresh water, forage, and possibly a concentrate for any vitamins or minerals they may be missing in their diet.

What is unusual about a Shetland pony?

Shetland Ponies have been lived in Shetland for over 4,000 years and it is that unique island environment that have made them as robust as they are. They are the smallest of the pony breeds found in Britain (no taller than 42 inches) but they are also amongst the hardiest.

Do Shetland ponies get cold?

Shetland ponies have several ways to keep warm. First, they are compact and naturally fat, so they have less surface area to lose heat from. They also have a special fluffy coat with two layers, short hair next to the body to keep them warm and longer hairs to trap a layer of air next to the skin.

Can I keep my horse in my garden?

Not feasible. Unless you’ve got land. A normal sized garden will be no-where close to the space and grazing a horse needs, plus they’d be on their own, which isn’t good!! As well as the problems of space and companionship, the chances are the “grazing” wouldn’t be suitable.

Can a pony be kept alone?

Some horses thrive living alone but others are anxious or depressed without an equine companion. Keeping a horse alone can be challenging, but remember, a busy horse is a happy horse.

Can you keep a pony alone?

Their instincts tell them that there are predators lurking around every corner and therefore they still feel much safer in a herd than alone. Horses that live alone do not get to benefit from the shared responsibilities of herd life and all the benefits of social behaviour.

What foods are toxic to horses?

What Foods & Plants are Poisonous to Horses?

• Caffeine. While tiny amounts of caffeine probably won’t hurt your horse, you should still avoid giving him any foods that have caffeine in it.
• Avocado.
• Fruits with Stones (or Pits)
• Cauliflower, Cabbage, Broccoli.
• Bran Products.
• Potatoes.
• Rhubarb.
• Meat Products.

Can pony eat bananas?

You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas. Most horses will chew these treats before swallowing, but horses that gulp large pieces of a fruit or vegetable have a risk of choking.