Thinking about a Shetland

[LowriseMinis]

Well, I don't think we'll be breeding Minis anytime soon. Figuring out the mare we bought to breed was a dwarf was a little crushing. Now out of nowhere our gelding's bite has gone off. Not severely, but...it's enough to be discouraging. I'm not sure I have the heart or gumption to get that deep into the Minis!

I've been reading and it sounds like our American Shetlands are a bit more, let's say, 'genetically stable' than the Minis. Is this true?

If I was wanting to get a good beginner's education in Shetlands, where's a good place to start?

 

[kaykay]

I love both Miniatures and Shetlands. I will say that imo (no flames please) the shetlands are hardier a little easier to breed and foal out etc.

I would recommend you look at Classic Shetland Ponies.

You still need to know what good conformation is as there are poorly conformed ponies too. But I do think in general Shetland Breeders are much more ruthless about culling out bad conformation/genetic problems vs some miniature breeders.

See if there are any classic breeders near you and try to hook up with them. Pick their brain as much as you can and attend some shows so you can learn to pick the different types etc

 

[Filipowicz Farm]

We started out with a weanling colt we gelded that was 1/2 Classic Shetland. The we aquired his dam and 1/2 brother. We got a few AMHA/AMHR miniatures but then went back to ASPC/AMHR horses. Our breeding program is mostly double registered Classic Shetlands and 1/2 Shetlands. We love them

 

[Leeana]

I LOVE all horses BUT if I were introduced to the shetlands first I amy not have had minis. Not to say I do not love mine and Sid is my pride and joy but I sure do love the attitude of the ponies.

Alison

That is what i always say! If i had started with the shetlands BEFORE getting into the miniatures, i prob would have stayed with the ponies. Actually, at the moment its quite tempting to stay with the ponies from here on but i've got plans for my minis program and there is no reason you cant do both at the same time

>

Last week sometime, i believe Andrea (disneyhorse) said something about how consistant the quality is in the shetlands and she is completely correct.

Where's a good place to start?? Here

. This is where i've gained 99.9% of what i know about the breed. Also, go to the shows, most AMHR shows have ASPC classes as well and watch how they are shown.

If you want to get into the ponies, its much easier to go from Minis to Classics, rather then Minis to Moderns if you get what i am saying.

Once you get your first pony your hooked, find a good breeder and go from there. The minis have their high points, but the ponies are more fun

.

 

[Coventry Lane Farm]

We have a few ASPC Classic Shetlands and some that are dual ASPC/AMHR. We also have miniature horses that are AMHA/AMHR and AMHR only also. We love the both, shetlands and miniatures and this year was our first year getting into shetlands and going to Shetland Congress and we had a blast. Shetlands have a different atitude that of miniatures for sure,they are all so smart and you show a shetland pony differently than a miniature. We show them all, miniatures and shetlands at the rated shows and everyone has a great time showing their ponies at Congress and miniatures at Nationals. We will have three shetlands out next show season and this year we only had shown one, so our interest in the breed has been a learning experience and will be looking forward in attending the shows in 2008.

Best thing to do is watch them at a show and ask alot of questions, that is how you learn. Our first classic shetland that we purchased was Buckeye WCF Classical Story from Getitia Matheny in Ohio last October, she was very helpful and Story is a very willing stallion and loves to show. They are beautiful to watch in the ring, especially the driving classes.

 

[disneyhorse]

Awww I don't think your mare is a DWARF, she's just not got the best conformation. Minis definitely are tricky to breed and there is much more variety in quality than in the ponies. I was really amazed at the overall quality of the American Shetland. (Yes it was me that said it, Leeana). It was when I went to the Shetland Congress that I realized how much more competitive the Shetlands were. Sure, the classes were smaller at Congress than at Nationals. At Nationals, there were sixty horses in the ring but only 20 were probably "Nationals quality" in a class. At Congress, there were maybe 15 ponies in the ring but perhaps only one or two weren't "nice enough" overall to be competitive. But WOW those ponies, every one was basically conformationally correct, had decent movement, and were typey. The horses that won at Congress were just plain breathtaking!

With any breed of animal you decide to get into, it really helps to check out those National shows by flying out and watching and talking to the breeders who are producing the nicest animals in the country. If you're really looking to breed and show, you've got to do your homework unless you are willing to constantly "trade up" as you learn. You can't get attached to your first animals if that's truly the goal you have. Because hopefully you will choose wisely, but sometimes that doesn't happen.

I think you would LOVE the Classic Shetland. They have all the qualities that make the miniature horse so popular except they are a little bigger in general. They are kind and beautiful and versatile.

Andrea

 

[crponies]

Here is a Shetland breeder in our area: Jim Curry. I still haven't made it over to meet him but have heard positive things about him and admire his ponies.

 

[Mercysmom]

I have minis that I bred and have shown but bought my first Modern Shetland a few years ago and kept her foal who I love... she never had the shoes or stretchies on but boy can she move! Can't wait for the 2008 show season.

Good advice from many who are more experienced than I with the ponies.

My pony is hotter than the Classics that I know but is very intelligent and when I want her to do something, she will listen, albeit with snorting, huffing and puffing like a little locomotive. She has spunk and attitude - even challenging our older mares by coming up behind them, slyly throwing a kick at them and taking off.

Wish I had started with the ponies myself.

Denise

Silversong Farm

 

[Lmequine]

If Jim Curry is near you or close enough where you can go visit then take the time to do so. He is a long time breeder, trainer and judge and is always happy to share information with people that want to learn more about Shetlands. Here is his website address: www.freewebs.com/szhooper/

On his mare page I know that in September he told me that he wanted to sell, Lily. She is a very pretty black pinto classic mare and Jim has told me that she is show quality. I had some client look at her and we liked her but the transportation fees to get her to Texas were more than they were willing to pay. Also take a look at Winter Breeze on the yearlings page. I sold her dam to Jim and Breeze was still nursing. She is making a nice foundation classic mare and I have show a couple of foals by her sire and done well with them in the ring.

I think that you will be very pleased with Shetlands and would enjoy raising and showing them. They are as stated earlier, quiet hardy. I have found them to be very easy to train as well.