What do Shetland ponies eat?
What do Shetland ponies eat, is a great question that we find the answer to in this week’s Shetland Pony Club advice video.
What do Shetland ponies eat?
The main part of a Shetland pony’s diet is grass. He eats for as long as 16 hours per day, so can eat lots more grass than you might have in your garden.
Ponies like a varied diet
Just like us, ponies like to eat a range of foods. 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.
Winter feeding of Shetland ponies
When it’s cold, the grass stops growing and ponies may need to be fed hay, which is dried grass, as a supplement to their normal grazing. They may need an additional small feed when they are being ridden regularly, to give them energy. Our ponies at Shetland Pony Club have a feed each morning when they are being ridden by children.
Nutritious and delicious
Ponies also need to eat a range of minerals and vitamins. On the Shetland Isles the ponies eat seaweed on the beaches, which is full of nutrients and salt. At Shetland Pony Club in Surrey, we don’t have seaweed, but the ponies enjoy a salt lick to get their extra minerals.
How to store your pony feed
It’s important to store your pony feed carefully. Find out what happens if you don’t do this!
Watch the video to find out more:
Pony Fun Online
To help you keep in touch with the ponies, we have created a FREE Shetland Pony Club Online website. It’s full of child friendly fun and learning for you to enjoy here: https://shetlandponyclubonline.co.uk/register/pony-share-members-3-month-free-access/
Book now for late summer pony riding
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 4 years old. They cost £40 per child. Extra spaces available this weekend.
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– 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 5-10. £125 per day. – email us to join the waiting list
Shetland Pony Parties – amazing pony parties for children aged 4 -10 years old. Use of a private facility at The Ranch, with 6 ponies creating magical memories for your child’s birthday. One and a half hours – £600 for 10 children. Extra riding children (up to 18), £25 each.
October Half Term riding now available to book
For your safety we have COVID-secure procedures in place:
- Please minimise the number of people attending with your child
- You are welcome to watch from our socially distanced benches and marquee
- Find out more about our COVID-secure procedures here
Do take a moment to watch this week’s video: what do Shetland ponies eat?
Enjoy!
From Rosemary, the Shetland Pony Club Team and all the Shetland ponies
Contact us on: 07734 950 309 or email: info@shetlandponyclub.co.uk
