As lockdown eases, join us as two Shetland ponies return for riding at The Ranch.
Two Shetland ponies return for riding
Crème Brulee and Honeybee have spent this lockdown at the farmhouse. They made lots of friends with bigger horses there.
Getting ready for riding
The Ranch will be opening soon and so the ponies need to get back to join the rest of the Shetlands and prepare to meet the children for a summer of pony riding fun.
A woodland journey
The Shetland ponies take a long walk through the woods to reach the Ranch – join them on their journey in this week’s video.
What happens when they get back to Shetland Pony Club?
Lockdown is lifting for the Shetland ponies – Yay!
Lockdown is lifting for the Shetland ponies
The ponies are looking forward to lockdown lifting and seeing the children again. Just like for us, it can be a bit lonely in lockdown for the Shetlands. They have their own pony friends, but they do enjoy seeing children too.
Getting ready for riding
Let’s watch the Shetland ponies coming in for a brush and some hoof care. Can you spot Fudge, Dinky and Dreamcoat? Do the ponies line up nicely for their grooming, or do things not quite go to plan…
Shetland Pony Club is opening on 29 March 2021 – Book Now!
Bookings are now open for all of the 2021 season from Monday 29 March 2021. We are almost full for Easter, so book ahead for the summer so you don’t miss out.
For your safety, we will have strict COVID – secure procedures in place.
Only ONE adult is allowed to attend with your child.
Adults must wear a mask when signing their child in.
You are welcome to wait using our socially distanced benches and marquee.
If your child is 5+ adults may leave site provided we have your contact details.
In this week’s video we find out that heavy snowfall’s no problem for fluffy Shetland ponies. They are very happy outside in the snow, as long as they have plenty to eat and drink and friends for company. They look adorable too!
Heavy snowfall’s no problem for fluffy Shetland ponies
Shetland ponies are adapted to live in the cold harsh weather of the Shetland Islands, 120 miles north of the top of mainland Scotland. So, the heavy snow in Surrey this week was no problem for our delightful fluffy friends at Shetland Pony Club.
Wonderful fluffy coats
You can see that the Shetland ponies have such fluffy and well-insulated coats. So the snow can settle on them and does not melt, but they are still warm and dry inside. They have thick manes and tails to keep out the worst weather, with fluffy ears and long eyelashes to protect them too.
Do Shetland ponies need a stable in the snow?
Our Shetland ponies have access to a field shelter and stable at all times of the year, but they choose never to go in them in the snow or rain. They go in mainly in summer to avoid flies. In winter, their natural coats protect them and they find sheltered places to rest in their fields, behind hedges and trees.
How to care for Shetland ponies in the snow?
As long as the ponies have plenty of hay to eat, and access to water that’s not frozen they are happy outside in the snow, and they look adorable!
Pause for a pony: relax for 3 minutes of calm, ASMR
Did you know that the sound of ponies eating is very calming and the sound that they make can help you relax.
It’s actually got a scientific name: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or ASMR for short, and it’s the feeling of relaxation that is felt after listening to certain trigger calming sounds, like ponies munching grass.
So, this week, our gift to you is to sit back and relax for 3 minutes of calm. Pause for a pony and melt your stress away in these difficult lockdown times.
We plan to reopen on Saturday 6 March 2021, (lockdown dependant).
Gift Vouchers are available to buy as e-vouchers and hard copy here. £40 – £125 plus post and packing. E-vouchers are available for instant downloading.
In our last video of the year, we enjoy the best of 2020 at Shetland Pony Club. After the wettest winter on record, we started riding in March with our members enjoying being back in the saddle again.
Lockdown life for the Shetland ponies
After just two weeks of riding, we had a 3-month lockdown and were not able to ride. So, the ponies went back on holiday and were able to eat and run around in the wildflower meadows. It was fun, but all that eating meant that the ponies put on weight and had to be weighed weekly to get back into shape.
The best of 2020
The moon daisies and poppies in our wildflower meadows were spectacular. For many of our members, the best of 2020 was being able to visit their ponies at a social distance and take them walking through the rewilding fields to enjoy being outside with their ponies in nature.
Hands, face, and loads of space
When we were able to ride again there were new routines to learn for the staff and all the children and parents, with lots of hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing outside in the many acres of space at the Ranch. We were able to welcome lots of children to enjoy pony fun and summer camp days too.
Results and routines
With exams cancelled our staff made the best of 2020, enjoying being outside with the ponies through the really hot summer months. We even had a graduation ceremony for Madeleine! Routines continued for the ponies with visits from the farrier, dentist and also the vet.
Halloween pony fun
With members lessons over we enjoyed our annual Halloween Pumpkin Rides, COVID – style, before it all came to an end with another lockdown in November.
Thank you so much for all your support in 2020.
The ponies are on their extended winter holiday now and we look forward to welcoming you all for another season of pony fun from 6 March 2021.
Join Shetland Pony Club Online for FREE whilst we are closed
Shetland Pony Club Online is a new fun website full of pony videos, learning and activities for you to enjoy at home. There is even a section for parents.
In the Shetland Pony Club Online website you will find:
Getting Started – pony news, reward chart, and certificates
Learningabout ponies– child-safe videos and quizzes to learn about ponies
Pony Fun Online – pony painting, word searches, and quizzes
Fun with ponies at Home – pony craft ideas, pony photo gallery, and colouring templates to print and enjoy at home
Ponies for Parents – the benefits of ponies, the riding equipment you need, and our shop
More – Shetland Pony Club TV catch up and your craft and artwork on display
Shetland Pony Club Online is our way of helping you get through these unusual times. It enables you and your children to have pony fun and learning at home.
We have created this website for free, but many of you have asked about donations. If you would like to support our work you can make a small donation through the fun “Buy me a Coffee” scheme. Just click on the link to donate.
We hope you’ll try our fun new Online Pony Club. Do let us know if you’re enjoying it.
We look forward to seeing you inside the new Online Pony Club.
Gift Vouchers are available to buy as e-vouchers and hard copy here. £40 – £125 plus post and packing. E-vouchers are available for instant downloading.
Happy New Year from
The Shetland Pony Club Team and all the Shetland ponies
