How is pony care different from horse care?

montanagirl · 06-20-2007, 03:55 PM

Well, since Rosie, the 9 year-old Shetland pony, will be coming home on Sunday, I figured I'd better ask if anything will be different with her than with horses. (Other than the fact that she's the size of a Newfoundland and it doesn't hurt when she steps on my foot!) She's not a mini; she's a Shetland/Welsh cross, if that means anything. She's been eating freechoice hay and occasional periods out on grass, from what her current owner says.

Any good pony advice? I'm guessing she'll be trimmed and wormed in rotation with the "big boys."

I'm so excited for her to come home! My kids will be so surprised!

pvf · 06-20-2007, 04:03 PM

deworm and shots just like normal size, if she's really an easy keeper you might have to cut back on feed a little, but other wise there just like a horse except for smaller

Orchid · 06-20-2007, 04:11 PM

You probably won't want to deworm her with moxidectin, just to be on the safe side, since she is little. And, ponies are notoriously easy keepers, so you may have to limit her grass intake and stay away from grain.

Other than that, they're just like big horses, but with a much larger attitude!

BornToRide · 06-20-2007, 04:19 PM

I second Orchid!!!!

We've get three ponies on a dry lot at our barn, with shade , water, hay twice a day, and they SPLIT a scoop of grain morning and night, and all three of them are STILL fat!!!! Haha!

joustinggirl · 06-20-2007, 05:41 PM

We always treated our ponies to more hay, less grass and grain.

Carri · 06-20-2007, 06:51 PM

Exacty what everyone else said! I was going to mention the moxidectin, too, and she probably won't need any grain unless you just want to give her a handful to treat her.
I am so excited for you!

Sonseeahray's_girl · 06-21-2007, 08:29 AM

Congrats! Ponies are so cute. If she's already been eating freechoice hay, she's most likely going to need to be on a diet as soon as she arrives. I know it's tough...they're so cute and get so sad when they can't eat 24/7! But it's for their own good.

MikeysMom · 06-21-2007, 09:58 AM

Yes, basically what everyone else said. Trims and worming on schedule with the big guys. But, it has been my experience that ponies over eat, even founder, very very easily. If you have a lot of pasture, you won't be able to just let her out on grass 24/7. She would likely founder.

Good luck! Enjoy! Have fun!

ToveroMom · 06-21-2007, 10:07 AM

PLUS the good news is that a tube of wormer lasts for 3-4 doses[depending on weight]

Congrats on the pony

BornToRide · 06-21-2007, 05:11 PM

T-mom is right!!!!!!!

We've stretched a tube of wormer between three ponies several times!!!

montanagirl · 06-21-2007, 08:47 PM

I can see this pony being as much a "porker" problem as my spayed female labrador retriever used to be. She used to look up at us with those sad, sad, melting dark brown eyes...so hungry. (Even when she could barely curl up to lick her

she thought she was starving!)

But I digress. It sounds like it's not going to be that much different. I can't wait for the looks on my twins' faces on Sunday when they go out and find her in the pasture!

Carri · 06-21-2007, 09:27 PM

You better have the camera handy!
And I am jealous, my new one doesnt' come until Wednesday...

IndiaMom · 06-21-2007, 09:56 PM

I"m not sure if this is the 'norm' with most ponies, but our farrier says our 3 yr old pony only needs trimmed about 3 times per year. She has great feet! My QH has a standing appointment with the farrier every 6 weeks.

Congrats on your forthcoming addition!

MikeysMom · 06-22-2007, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montanagirl

I can't wait for the looks on my twins' faces on Sunday when they go out and find her in the pasture!

Yes! Please have a camera. I'd love to see that too! My parents bought my sisters and me our first pony when I was 5 years old. I still remember that day! I'm 35 now and I've had some wonderful days... wedding, baby, etc. But, that day we got our first pony still ranks in the top five of my all time best days! I'm so excited for your kids... and for you!

beckyp · 06-22-2007, 08:15 AM

Can't add anything extra to what others have said,we have pony,and she has had a few problems with feet,but the last farrier we used gave her best trim and did it so it would help her. We have to watch whenever spring grass starts coming on so she doesn't founder.

muttduck · 06-22-2007, 08:19 AM

Great advice from the above, so I ill only reiterate that you'll want to avoid Moxidectin based wormers. (Quest / Quest Gel, etc..)

Congrats on your new pony!

06-20-2007, 03:55 PM
montanagirl Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 591	How is pony care different from horse care? Well, since Rosie, the 9 year-old Shetland pony, will be coming home on Sunday, I figured I'd better ask if anything will be different with her than with horses. (Other than the fact that she's the size of a Newfoundland and it doesn't hurt when she steps on my foot!) She's not a mini; she's a Shetland/Welsh cross, if that means anything. She's been eating freechoice hay and occasional periods out on grass, from what her current owner says. Any good pony advice? I'm guessing she'll be trimmed and wormed in rotation with the "big boys." I'm so excited for her to come home! My kids will be so surprised! __________________ No hour is ever wasted that is spent in the saddle. --Winston Churchill

06-20-2007, 04:03 PM
pvf Regional Forums Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,276	deworm and shots just like normal size, if she's really an easy keeper you might have to cut back on feed a little, but other wise there just like a horse except for smaller __________________ www.prairieviewfarms.net Raising Reg. Paints and Quarter horses

06-20-2007, 04:11 PM
Orchid Bombproof Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11,048	You probably won't want to deworm her with moxidectin, just to be on the safe side, since she is little. And, ponies are notoriously easy keepers, so you may have to limit her grass intake and stay away from grain. Other than that, they're just like big horses, but with a much larger attitude! __________________ Careful what you wish; Careful what you say; Careful what you wish; You may regret it; Careful what you wish; You just might get it. ~ Metallica, King Nothing

06-20-2007, 04:19 PM
BornToRide Coming two Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,639	I second Orchid!!!! We've get three ponies on a dry lot at our barn, with shade , water, hay twice a day, and they SPLIT a scoop of grain morning and night, and all three of them are STILL fat!!!! Haha! __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

06-20-2007, 05:41 PM
joustinggirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boones Mill, Virgina Posts: 3,799	We always treated our ponies to more hay, less grass and grain. __________________ Pink Tiger says \'Grrrrrr\'

06-20-2007, 06:51 PM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,643	Exacty what everyone else said! I was going to mention the moxidectin, too, and she probably won't need any grain unless you just want to give her a handful to treat her. I am so excited for you!

06-21-2007, 08:29 AM
Sonseeahray's_girl Started Join Date: May 2006 Location: On Top of the World! Posts: 2,864	Congrats! Ponies are so cute. If she's already been eating freechoice hay, she's most likely going to need to be on a diet as soon as she arrives. I know it's tough...they're so cute and get so sad when they can't eat 24/7! But it's for their own good. __________________ Horses don't always stand quietly and wait for you to get smart -Beth

06-21-2007, 09:58 AM
MikeysMom Long Yearling Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,016	Yes, basically what everyone else said. Trims and worming on schedule with the big guys. But, it has been my experience that ponies over eat, even founder, very very easily. If you have a lot of pasture, you won't be able to just let her out on grass 24/7. She would likely founder. Good luck! Enjoy! Have fun! __________________ What will they think of next? Nothing. There is nothing left to think of.

06-21-2007, 10:07 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	PLUS the good news is that a tube of wormer lasts for 3-4 doses[depending on weight] Congrats on the pony

06-21-2007, 05:11 PM
BornToRide Coming two Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,639	T-mom is right!!!!!!! We've stretched a tube of wormer between three ponies several times!!! __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

06-21-2007, 08:47 PM
montanagirl Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 591	I can see this pony being as much a "porker" problem as my spayed female labrador retriever used to be. She used to look up at us with those sad, sad, melting dark brown eyes...so hungry. (Even when she could barely curl up to lick her she thought she was starving!) But I digress. It sounds like it's not going to be that much different. I can't wait for the looks on my twins' faces on Sunday when they go out and find her in the pasture! __________________ No hour is ever wasted that is spent in the saddle. --Winston Churchill

06-21-2007, 09:27 PM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,643	You better have the camera handy! And I am jealous, my new one doesnt' come until Wednesday...

06-21-2007, 09:56 PM
IndiaMom Halter broke Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 176	I"m not sure if this is the 'norm' with most ponies, but our farrier says our 3 yr old pony only needs trimmed about 3 times per year. She has great feet! My QH has a standing appointment with the farrier every 6 weeks. Congrats on your forthcoming addition! __________________ The purpose of life is a life of purpose. --Robert Byrne

06-22-2007, 08:15 AM
beckyp Seasoned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: utica,ky Posts: 4,471	Can't add anything extra to what others have said,we have pony,and she has had a few problems with feet,but the last farrier we used gave her best trim and did it so it would help her. We have to watch whenever spring grass starts coming on so she doesn't founder. __________________ If not at home try the barn.

06-22-2007, 08:19 AM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,956	Great advice from the above, so I ill only reiterate that you'll want to avoid Moxidectin based wormers. (Quest / Quest Gel, etc..) Congrats on your new pony! __________________ Custom stall signs and pet portraits, Wood Burned by hand with your equine's (or pet's) image: www.WoodburnedPetPortraits.com Self Defense Supplies, Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays: https://selfprotectionsupplies.com/