In this week’s pony advice video, Rosemary answers one of your frequently asked questions: is a garden ok for keeping a Shetland pony? Shetland ponies are so small that it might be possible – let’s find out more.
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 does a Shetland pony eat?
Shetland ponies love grass, but the grass on your lawn may have too much sugar in it for horses. It’s better to feed them on longer coarse grass which is less rich. Ponies may need hay in the winter, which is quite messy in a garden and it can get muddy in the place where you feed him. Shetland ponies will also eat your roses, fruit and flowers, which might get them into trouble!
Will a Shetland pony damage my lawn?
Yes, Shetland ponies’ hooves, even if unshod, will damage your lawn surface over time. They can create mud and break down the edges of your lawn too. They also like to roll and play, and this can damage the plants.
Does a Shetland pony need shelter?
Yes, this is more often to provide shade in the summer, rather than protection from the cold in the winter. A stable is good, but a shady tree is also a great natural place for a pony to shelter.
Will a Shetland pony fertilise my garden?
Shetland ponies do up to 6 poops a day, so that’s a lot of clearing up to do. The poop can be great as a garden fertiliser, as long as it’s in the right place. However, if he spends a penny on your lawn, this can burn the grass.
So, is a garden ok for keeping a Shetland pony?
As the video explains, he will be much happier in a field where he has the right grass, space and can enjoy himself with his friends.
We’d love you to join us for pony fun. Summer riding is almost full as the ponies are very popular.
Which pony ride should I choose?
Starter Rides–are 45 minutes long and are specially designed as first riding experiences for children from age 2½ years old. They cost £40 per child.
Own a pony Experiences– are 2 hours long and are delightful early riding and learning experiences for children from age 4 years old. They cost £60 per child.
Summer pony camp days – FULLY BOOKED – enjoy the whole day with your favourite Shetland Pony. Learn to ride him, look after him and enjoy being with him, all day long. 9.30am – 4pm, Summer holidays only. Age 5+. £125 per day. Email us to join the waiting list
With the very hard ground, Batman the Shetland pony has been struggling with sore feet.
Batman the Shetland pony gets new plastic shoes
Batman the Shetland pony has thin soles on his hooves, which bruise easily and the very hard ground has made his feet sore.
Bigger horses with sore feet can be shod with metal shoes that have pads on them to help protect their hooves, but Batman’s hooves are very small, making this difficult.
Special plastic shoes for Shetland ponies
Our farrier has found some special plastic shoes which are small enough for Shetland ponies. They have been approved in a university study and are glued onto his feet, rather than put on with nails.
The shoe with the perfect fit
The special plastic shoes fit Batman’s hooves perfectly. They have a special bar at the back to protect his heal, and a triangle under his hoof to support his frog and protect his sole. They are very neat and you can hardly see them.
Very happy Shetland pony
Batman really likes his new shoes. He feels so much more comfortable and can now go riding again, thanks to our farriers.
It’s time for our spring pony ride to the Bluebell Wood and the children are going on an adventure.
Spring pony ride
This spring has been the driest ever and the ground is very bumpy. The farm manager has kindly arrived to harrow out the rough patches and make the ground soft and smooth for the Shetland ponies to walk on.
Journey to the Bluebell Wood
Join us as we ride with the ponies and children on their spring pony ride to the Bluebell Wood. See how beautiful it looks and what a delightful scent there is from all the flowers. The ground is also soft in the Bluebell Wood, so it is ideal for pony riding.
Is the rain coming?
We really need rain this spring to soften the ground at Shetland Pony Club. Join the ponies on the way back to The Ranch and see if any rain comes their way?
This week we find out about Shetland Pony Nottingham’s Vet Visit.
Nottingham had a small cut just above his hoof, when he came in for breakfast one morning. We decided to organise a vet visit to make sure he was going to be OK.
Vet visit for Nottingham
The vet needed to put in a stitch to help the cut heal and so Nottingham had to have some medicine to make him sleepy for his treatment. He was a very good pony and has now got a big bandage on his leg to protect the cut.
Stable rest for a Shetland Pony
Now Nottingham has to rest in the nice clean stable for a few days to let his leg heal up. The children can visit him there and give him lots of nice hay and clean water until it is better. Get well soon Nottingham!
There are some 2 hour Own a Pony Experiences available to book soon and on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August.
Check our live booking system regularly to see the extra availabilitywe have, or contact us on: 07734 950 309 or email: info@shetlandponyclub.co.uk
New minimum riding age of 4
Shetland Pony Club is proud to be one of the first riding schools in the country to be awarded the Association of British Riding Schools Certification for COVID-19 Safe Working Practices. Having risk-assessed our riding in the light of the government guidelines, we have changed the age for riding to a minimum of 4 years old, until further notice.
For children aged 2.5 – 4, we hope to be able to resume riding soon. Keep an eye on our weekly email, social media and the website here for more information.
Take care from
The Shetland Pony Club Team and all the Shetland ponies
Would you like to learn to be a Shetland Pony Vet? Lots of our staff have trained to be vets and some are hoping to get places at vet school tomorrow, on A-Level results day. Good luck staff!
Many of the children who ride with us would like to be vets too. So, at Shetland Pony Club Camp the children have been learning about their pony’s health and how to care for them.
Caring for your pony
The children have learned the “points of the horse” and what to call them. They have learned about the different feeds a pony can eat and how to mix them up. It’s important for the stable to be clean, with fresh hay and water too.
Learning to be a Shetland Pony Vet
Vets need to be able to recognize poisonous plants to keep their ponies safe. They also need to see if they are healthy by measuring their weight and listening to their hearts. It’s helpful to learn how to bandage a pony too, so the children learn how to do all these things at Shetland Pony Club camp.
Association of British Riding School’s pony health certificate
At the end of a busy day of riding and pony learning the children are awarded their certificates for excellent learning. Well done children!
Do check our live booking system regularly to see the extra availability we have, or contact us on: 07734 950 309 or email: info@shetlandponyclub.co.uk
New minimum riding age of 4
Shetland Pony Club is proud to be one of the first riding schools in the country to be awarded the Association of British Riding Schools Certification for COVID-19 Safe Working Practices. Having risk-assessed our riding in the light of the government guidelines, we have changed the age for riding to a minimum of 4 years old, until further notice.
For children aged 2.5 – 4, we hope to be able to resume riding soon. Keep an eye on our weekly email, social media and the website here for more information.
Take care from
The Shetland Pony Club Team and all the Shetland ponies
