My friend owns a 15-year-old pony and seems to think he needs nothing. However, it can get below freezing here. I bought the pony a blanket and my husband and I put it on him the past few evenings of freezing temps. He has lived his entire life in North Florida and is acclimated to the temps here, not Scotland, where they originate from. This is the basis for my argument. The pony's owner believes his genetic makeup predisposes him to accept any cold temps that he is faced with. I would greatly appreciate any information someone who has worked with Shetland ponies may have to offer. Thanks.
2006-12-10 07:40:38 · 10 answers · asked by vschlachta 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Many thanks to everyone who replied. I knew that the Shetland ponies in their native habitat could sustain very cold temps. I was unsure of how this pony was faring b/c of the severe flux we have in temps here in N. Florida. It could be 19F one evening and 75F the next, prohibiting him from developing a proper winters coat for those freezing nights. The blanket is off of him now that it is warm again, but when we put it on him, he was huddled, shivering, amongst some trees and withered vines. He has a shelter, but it is not enclosed on three sides, only one, and I am severely concerned about this. So, rather than gripe about it any longer, my hubby and I will put up the other two sides ourselves. I am reassured to find that so many of you feel that he will be okay with out anything extra. I had not intended to leave the blanket on him permanently, just on those nights when it was freezing b/c of the drastic changes in temperatures we have here in Florida. Thanks again.
2006-12-10 14:19:21 · update #1
You're not going to like this.....But everybody else is right! Shetlands DO NOT NEED RUGS no matter where you live! I have shown Shetlands & miniatures, these ponies are built for anything, in fact they do very well on next to nothing! If they are unneccesarily rugged then they are prone to overheating, making them sweat which in turn leads to a very wet pony & a very chilled pony which can lead to DEATH! generally when Shetlands get wet it's on the top of their coats which due to it's thick double layer & their own natural oils the water simply slides off rather like a duck! You didn't say whether the pony has a field shelter or not, if he doesn't get your friend to build him one, all it needs to be is a simple shed with 3 closed sides so he has somewhere to lie down comfortably in the snow & it will protect him more than enough from any sharp frost you may get. Hope this puts your mind a rest! :¬)
2006-12-10 09:08:52 · answer #1 · answered by Pixiesticks 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shetland Pony Blankets
2017-01-18 11:48:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shetlands are usually just fine in the Winter. They grow a thick, insulated coat of Winter fur as soon as it starts getting cold and shed it for the Summer. Keep in mind that if you give him this blanket he might not grow his Winter fur as thick...and if someone forgets to put on his blanket at night he WILL get cold. He's probably better off without it.
I live in Missouri (it has been 2 Degrees Fahrenheit this last week, with a windchill of -11). It's pretty cold here...a lot colder than North FL. Many people here have ponies and horses and they do just fine without a blanket. The horse should have some kind of shelter to go into at night or during adverse weather, but should be just fine temperature wise. Shetlands are absolutely genetically predisposed to be weather tough. Don't worry....your friend knows what they are talking about.
2006-12-10 07:50:11 · answer #3 · answered by dancing_in_the_hail 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
North flordia?? probably never as long as she doesn't clip him. I live in WI and we can get 30 below weather (not including windchill) with the horses having no probem outside. If he is used to the weather and is not shivering in the cold, he is perfectly fine. It isn't just shetland ponies- it is almost any horse. Some thinner coated breeds may need a blanket in colder weather (TB, arabian) but most don't. I have worked at a lot of stables (from 90 horses to 20 horses) in WI and the only time a horse had a blanket on in the winter is if the owner clipped him or was actively riding, and I doubt that N FL gets as cold as here.
She should not turn him out wet or sweaty after a ride, but as for no blanket, he should be fine.
2006-12-10 07:47:35 · answer #4 · answered by D 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There is the original Shetland native pony and the more refined American show version. As long as this is what we call a shetland he shouldn't be rugged. He should be carrying a thick coat, mane and tail?
It doesn't do them any good to sweat in a rug, they lose condition. They live in the North and you see them covered in snow and ice, you have to go and knock it off them every so often.
If he looks miserable and his ears are freezing he needs more shelter and a thick bed of straw/shavings.
2006-12-10 09:05:13 · answer #5 · answered by sarah c 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
shetland ponies do not need blankets. Even in the shetland isles where they come from it gets very very very cold since it is up near iceland. They grow thick double coats to protect themselves. Your friend is correct. I have seen them with a layer of ice over their bodies and they are perfectly happy. They will suffer if rugged up and fed too rich foods. They are genetically made up to thrive on poor quality food and feeding too well can cause laminitis. Mine were fat and healthy on little more than carrots and hay.
2006-12-10 07:45:36 · answer #6 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The same temperature the last time a shetland pony needed a blanket in north florida
2006-12-10 07:43:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Shetlands dont need to be rugged, there a native breed and manage fine in cold weather.
2006-12-10 09:27:31 · answer #8 · answered by looby 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
never they have a double coat designed for vey cold wet weather, they will not be happy in a rug. take it off now before its too late
2006-12-10 08:21:42 · answer #9 · answered by Samantha T 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i keep a blanket on mine after it gets 32 degrees.
2006-12-10 07:44:13 · answer #10 · answered by sweetthang7171 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋