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!
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.
Let’s find out how to prepare a Shetland pony for a photo shoot in this weeks’ video from Shetland Pony Club.
When is the best time for a pony photo shoot?
When the weather improves, the Shetland ponies have their summer coats and the wildflower meadows are in bloom, it’s the perfect time for a Shetland pony photo shoot. Getting the perfect photo takes time and care, and the ponies need to look their best in the pictures.
How to prepare a Shetland pony for a photo shoot
The secret is to shampoo the ponies to make them look gorgeous. We have special pony friendly shampoo and warm water for the ponies to enjoy their beauty spa.
Honeybee has had his legs washed, Sundance has a beautiful shampooed tail and Crème Brulee has had his mane washed. The ponies that need the most preparation are the white ponies (known as grey because of their skin colour), Snowdrop and Tintin.
What is the secret to a perfectly prepared pony?
Getting a Shetland pony to look show shiny and his very best is not as easy as you might think. Find out what happens to Batman?
What’s the best way to move a Shetland pony to a new field? Join Rosemary as she shows us how not to do it!
How (not) to move a Shetland pony to a new field
Shetland ponies are known for having lively personalities and enjoying playing and having fun. They can be independent thinkers and don’t always do what we expect them to do.
Moving the herd to a new field with more grass should be easy, but is it?
Shetland Pony Club is aiming to reopen on 29 March 2021
Shetland Pony Club is aiming to reopen on Monday 29 March 2021*. This date is *subject to government coronavirus restrictions still to be confirmed and may be later. Please bear with us as we wait for more detailed information. (updated 22 February 2021).
Summer Pony Camp Days for children from age 5+ can also be booked (£125 per child per day 9.30am – 4pm).
Easter Holidays bookings have not yet been released (pending government guidelines). We hope to bring these to you, including our famous pony Easter Egg Hunts, in the coming days.
Do take a moment to watch this week’s fun video: how (not) to move a Shetland pony to a new field
Take care and stay safe
From Rosemary, the Shetland Pony Club Team and all the Shetland ponies
This week we are bringing you how to make a Pony Stained Glass Window and a pony update from the Shetland ponies who have had a lovely week in the spring sunshine. The bluebells are out and they are beautiful. The ponies are missing you, as The Ranch is closed due to the coronavirus. So, we have another pony craft idea for you to enjoy at home.
How to make a Pony Stained Glass Window
Lucy and Amy are bringing you another “Crafty Shetland Pony” idea: Pony Stained Glass Windows. You can make them at home with simple craft materials you already have, and enjoy displaying them.
You will need:
Pony Printouts templates to download
Shetland Pony Full Body Outline for Stained Glass Window – download here
Shetland Pony Head Outline for Stained Glass Window – download here
Scissors (ask a grown-up to help)
Glue stick
Ruler
Pencil
Sticky tape
Dark card or paper
Different colours of tissue paper or greaseproof paper
We hope you have fun making them and would love to see some photos of your creations. Email them in to: info@shetlandponyclub.co.uk
Shetland Pony Club Online – join now for free
If you are enjoying our Crafty Shetland Pony video series, we are excited to let you know that our new Online Shetland Pony Club website is now live. It’s packed with lots of pony fun and learning for you to enjoy. You can sign up here for free now.
Ranch closure and bookings rescheduling information
The Ranch remains closed until further notice because of the coronavirus pandemic.
All paid bookings for March to May have been issued with a voucher code to enable you to rebook at a future date to suit you.
All paid bookings from June onwards – should it become apparent that we are not going to reopen from June, all paid bookings will be issued with a voucher code in due course, to enable you to rebook at a future date to suit you.
Gift Vouchers – expiry dates will be extended if you are unable to use them within the current expiry period.
Pony Share Membership is on hold and members have been notified of this.
Refunds – we hope that you will support the ponies, if you are able to, by accepting a voucher code to ride in the future. Should you require a refund instead, please email us and we will organise this for you.
Take care from
The Shetland Pony Club Team and all the Shetland ponies
Pony Mornings – are 2 hours long and are perfect early riding experiences for children from age 4 years old. £49 per child.
Starter Rides– are 45 minutes long and specially designed first riding experiences for children from age 2½ years old. £39 per child.
Halloween Pumpkin Rides – come and enjoy our legendary Halloween themed pony treasure hunts for pony-mad witches and wizards. Enjoy 1½ hours of pony riding fun at the ranch, for children from age 4 years old. £49 per child.
