This week we find out how we found our Shetland Pony Toffee, many years ago in deepest Dorset.
Dorset Pony Hunt
Rosemary travelled deep into the Dorset countryside in search of the very first pony with which to start Shetland Pony Club. She went to see two dark ponies.
Sweet itch Allergy
Unfortunately, the ponies had an allergy to flies called Sweet itch, so they were not the right choice. However, Rosemary was told of another pony that was for sale close by.
Discovering Toffee
Toffee was close by in a field. He was quite young, with a beautiful Chestnut coat and a wonderful grey muzzle, mane and tail. The perfect choice for Shetland Pony Club.
You can experience a pony of your own, the easy way, with Pony Share Membership. Learn to ride, build a bond with your pony, come regularly to our club and enjoy pony fun in the countryside.
Use of a private facility where your child can learn to ride on our adorable ponies, helped by our wonderful team, creating magical memories for your child’s birthday, that will last a lifetime.
There are 2 party options for 2025:
Maxi Pony Party – 7 to 18 riders – £595 for 7, £30 per extra child
NEW Mini Pony Party – up to 6 riders – £495
Mother’s Day Walk with a Shetland Pony
Treat mum to a delightful morning getting to know an adorable Shetland Pony in the beautiful Surrey countryside. Come and spend time learning about and leading him through the countryside at Shetland Pony Club. Followed by complimentary coffee and brownies and a rosette to take home.
Gentle and fun, ideal for those little people age 3+. Enjoy pony dress up and learn to ride along a short trail with chocolate eggs to find in the countryside, followed by a rosette presentation. Each child will have their own pony and helper. The perfect tots treat at Easter for children aged 3 to 6 years old. 3/4 hour long. £55 child.
– enjoy our legendary camp weeks with your favourite Shetland pony (Mon-Thurs). Learn to ride him, look after him and enjoy being with him all day long. Amazing themed days.
– enjoy 4 mornings with your favourite Shetland pony (Mon-Thurs). Learn to ride him, look after him and enjoy being with him all day long. Amazing themes every day.
9:30am – 1pm, Summer holidays only. Age 4+.
£395 per week
How we found our Shetland Pony Toffee
This week we find out how we found our Shetland Pony Toffee, many years ago in deepest Dorset.
From Rosemary, Liz, Holly, the Team, and all the ponies at Shetland Pony Club
This week, watch the Shetland ponies running out to grass at the end of their busy summer riding programme.
Watch the Shetland ponies running out to grass
There’s a new paddock being made ready for the Shetland ponies to enjoy at the end of a busy summer of riding. Some of the ponies are excited to get there quickly to enjoy the long grass.
Which Shetland pony runs the fastest?
Watch to see which pony runs the fastest out to the grass – do you think Mufasa is the fastest, or is it Simba, Fudge or Prince William?
Who is best friends with Shetland pony Nottingham?
Nottingham is keen to get to the new grass and his best friend follows quickly after – but who is it?
We’d love you to join us for pony fun for half term and weekend riding this autumn. We are open at weekends and in the holidays until Sunday 28 November. There is some extra weekend availability in October for riding – do book up soon.
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.
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.
Shetland Pony Parties – amazing pony parties for children aged 4 -10 years old. Use of a private facility, 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.
Halloween Pumpkin Rides – themed pony treasure hunts for pony-mad witches and wizards. Enjoy 1½ hours of pony riding fun at the ranch, during October Half Term. Age 4 +. £60 per child. Last few spaces remaining.
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 Safari Tent
This week we join Rosemary at The Ranch where the Shetland ponies are all looking forward to a tasty breakfast.
10 Shetland ponies eat a tasty breakfast
All the Shetland ponies love eating their delicious pony feed, and are keen to come in from the field to eat it. They can hear the sound of the feed being prepared and they can’t wait to eat a tasty breakfast.
The larger standard Shetland ponies have a bigger breakfast to give them lots of energy for their busy camp day ahead. They also have more grass in their paddock, as they need to eat more to keep them in good condition.
Can you name 10 of our Shetland ponies?
As they come in, Rosemary names 10 of the Shetland ponies. Can you spot them all and tell the differences between them?
We’d love you to join us for pony fun just before the end of the summer holidays.
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 on 1 and 2 September
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. Extra spaces available on 1 and 2 September
Shetland Pony Parties – amazing pony parties for children aged 4 -10 years old. Use of a private facility, 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.
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.
Come and join our Shetland pony ride to the sunflower fields in this week’s delightful video from Shetland Pony Club.
Shetland pony ride to the sunflower fields
It’s a busy day and the Shetland ponies need a good breakfast to get them ready to take the children riding to the sunflower fields.
Gorgeous sunflower fields
The sunflowers have been planted all around the barley field. They are so tall that the children and Shetland ponies can’t see over them. Toffee really enjoys riding alongside them, but Dreamcoat is keen to stop for a snack.
Perfect for bees and butterflies
The sunflowers look wonderful and provide lots of food for bees and butterflies to eat. It’s wonderful to enjoy riding amongst the sunflowers with the ponies.
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.
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.
