Shetland ponies are ploddy and easy to drive.......aren't they?

[Wally]

Esther .D and I went for a practice run today with Jackson Pillock.

We have roped Esther in to driving him at the Royal Highland Show. Well, we went out, only for about 3 miles 95% of which we did at either extended, lengthened trot or Canter and he never broke into a sweat or was puffed when we got back home.

He is 37 inches, and not of heavy build, but is a little spitfire. We both agreed he is in no way a kid's pony or a novice drive.

We did the same yesterday, but with Frances and I in the cart, so the weight was a bit more.

I have NEVER seen a Shetland pony move like him. When he's a bit older he will be truly able to extend in trot. As it is now he can sit down like no other Shetland I have ever seen.

.....then we took Andy and Charlie out in the waggonette! Bit like comparing Nureyev with Arthur Mullard!

[Libbyo]

Bless. Where are our pictures please?????????????????

[Mehitabel]

i must say i;ve never heard anyone accuse a shetland of being ploddy! it's normally that they're the devil incarnate... he sounds super - let\'s see him in actoin!

[domane]

How old is Jackson, Wally? Bless him :)

[Wally]

Jackson is 6, I think.

[Wally]

Frances only took video, don't know whether she can take stills off it or not.

[Iron Maiden]

i must say i;ve never heard anyone accuse a shetland of being ploddy! it's normally that they're the devil incarnate

I agree! We had 2 Shetlands at the RS I worked at, they were complete maniacs! You needed at least 10 stone of helper leading them or they'd be off across the school so fast you could barely see them!! People used to treat them like teddy bears but they were anything but, I think they were really serious competition horses in small, furry bodies. I'm so pleased that some of them get to live up to their potential, Wally's ponies are incredibly lucky.

[Ptaty70]

Wally, I LOVE that your ponies have a job and boy don't they do it well. I love his name!!! From what I've seen, Shetlands have a bit of the 'small man' syndrome.. It's just a pity that some people don't see past that and shove them in a field until they get so fat they can't move!

I remember on 'That's Life' when the woman had the shetlands and to give them a task, she put on a felt saddle, sewed rag dogs on to the saddle (with a broom handle up their backs), and free schooled the ponies, so it looked like they had a small yet highly competent rider! hmmmm, would love to see that again **slinks off to You Tube**

[Mossy]

Shetland - ploddy? nah!!! Down our way they hunt on lead rein along qualified point to pointers and keep up all day! That is NOT ploddy. They are Highlands in miniature and we all KNOW they are trekking school plods, don't we.

[Wally]

You'd be amazed at how rude fok are to me about Shetlands!

When I have had a bigger horse for sale and the phone has melted with folk phoning. When I tell them that one is sold and they ask me if I have anything else. If I tell them about a Shetland I have they are so rude. "Don't Wan't a lawn mower", "I wan't a real horse","I want something that can work", "don;t want a pet", you name it I have heard it.

Frances, Esther and I have big plans for him.....if he can only keep his fizz under control.

[Mossy]

No I wouldn't!!!

[Wally]

Pics as requested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdhz0BQC8PQ

[Ptaty70]

Is that Mr Pillock himself? If so, he should be called Nuryev!!! with those strides! his tiny feet didn't seem to touch the floor!

Looks really special up there! love all the animals milling around together. Bliss!

[Wally]

That is indeed Mr. Pillock himself. And when he's settled and not whizzing about like a looney he can perform much better!

The other small folk "helping" are the Pants and the Button and Chapster, who is recovering from having certain parts removed!

[Ptaty70]

whispers ** i rather like his whizzy paces** :D

shall have to re-examine the video to see if I can notice which one is Chapster... poor guy ;)

[Wally]

Chappie is the small , dear little person who is skewbald. Stuffing his small face at the bale! (we didn't name him after a make of dog food!!!!)

He will make the dearset kids/family pony. My son says he's going to teach him heel work to music!...not sure the equine world is ready for that just yet!

But he's the sweetest person out. A long way from the terrified little hill pony we got 2 years ago, who we had to pin down in a trailer in a bit of a rugby scrum , just to get a head collar on! As you see, we don't need headcollars anymore.....nasty common things! :D :D

[Ptaty70]

oo no, now after watching 'the underdog show' i now have images of a boy (don't know his age) lifting his leg and a very compliant Chappie squeezing underneath following the carrot! start practicing with the see-saw!!!!!

Oh so many more tricks come to mind!

(headcollars?? what are they?)

[Palomino Mare]

wow what a cracking trot he has on him!!he got such a good conditioned coat too!

awww my fav is chappie though!

[Wally]

he got such a good conditioned coat too!


The camera does lie! If you get close up you can see all the bites and scars from his little friends from little play fights....andy and Charlie sprt the same battle scars.

[ShariN]

So wish we had some real shetlands over here! You have some really nice quality ones too.

Love the video both your shetlands and the stand off with the goose and your dog. So which one won?

[MrDCBags]

Wally, I LOVE that your ponies have a job and boy don't they do it well. I love his name!!! From what I've seen, Shetlands have a bit of the 'small man' syndrome.. It's just a pity that some people don't see past that and shove them in a field until they get so fat they can't move!

I remember on 'That's Life' when the woman had the shetlands and to give them a task, she put on a felt saddle, sewed rag dogs on to the saddle (with a broom handle up their backs), and free schooled the ponies, so it looked like they had a small yet highly competent rider! hmmmm, would love to see that again **slinks off to You Tube**


Small Boy has a very good relationship with a shetland. Huggy is a different pony when Small Boy rides as they don't need to be led he took a few weeks to weigh and measure the Small Boy who at time looked vaguely like those rag dolls:D . They both have a twinkle of mischief about them now. Small Boy is 8 and built like a streak of p*ss, he fits Huggy beautifully. Tomorrow they will be dressing up as bandits at our yard show.

I am indebted to Huggy and his breed for relighting the spark that Small Boy so nearly lost.:D

[Teehee]

wow he's just a flying there!!! :D

[bevy]

He is a powerhouse. I love the little coloured stuffing his face! Just what I would like for the granddaughter then I can have my thuggy NF back!!!

[Icklewillow]

ive been lucky enough to have shetlands in my life, and morello is certainly the boss!! at 37 inches he has always been the boss of the field and has his irish draught companion tagging along behind him!

and little felix as a darlin but completly scatty!

morello is an expert escape artist! watching him climb over a full size horse stable door ( after wondering how he got out!) is the funnyist thing i have ever seen! shoulders up and feet over, and a good ole scramble... then a heap on the floor!

but having said about the manic two boys.. Little cherry pie ( morellos mum who is no longer with us sadly) was the dearest, sweetist pony, so calm, she taught me everything about driving when i was younger and we had great fun together and was totally suitable and very ladylike! so i guess it can happen!

i have just come back in the country and have had great fun grooming for their owner as Felix and morello are driving as a pair! so nice to see and are behaving very well.. for the moment!

[Afellpony]

It must have been when I was 17 or 18. Anyway, the stables I helped out at in Kingston had a skewbald Shetland called Mustard. I was small and light enough to ride him. Sooooo as he needed some work, I was asked to take him out with the ride which was going to Wimbledon Common (no we didn't see the Wombles)!. Anyway jogging along quite happily at the back of the ride, when suddenly, he just shot forward, past the ride and flew. That started the others off and we were all galloping up the track. The woman who was leading the ride was shouting at us all to come back. He was so fast and bouncy it was like sitting on a pneumatic drill (not that I ever have). He stopped as soon as we got to the end of the track. He was so fast though for such a little tubby fella!

[Joyscarer]

Given that my worst ever fall was off a shetland gelding when I was 10, I would never say they were ploddy. It was my only ever fall where I have broken bones :rolleyes:

[Miriam]

Silly me thought this was a new thread :D

The sat down to watch Vid going I've seen that one. Frances sent it to me I'm sure.

Its good to see old Beanie there enjoying herself. Sorry just took more notice of the dog. Its her and that goose. I think I should have introduced her to geese whilst she was here. Not that Fi was impressed at seeing her sister again :D