The questions that matter for a Shetland pony's carer are different from the ones you would ask for most horses, because the risk profile is different. Your pony is unlikely to be endangered by a carer who does too little. She is endangered by one who does too much: the extra hay net, the gate opened onto better grass, the treat slipped to a hopeful face. So the interview is really a test of discipline and understanding. You are looking for someone who hears your restrictions and recognises them as the core of the job, and who knows what the early signs of laminitis look like in a small native pony and what to do in the first hours.
Feeding questions: the discipline test
Ask directly how they would feel about weighing every hay net, keeping a grazing muzzle on for set hours, and giving no treats at all, even when the pony deploys her full repertoire of hopeful looks. Ask what they would do if a neighbouring owner suggested turning her out on richer grass while the weather is fine. The answer you need is a comfortable refusal, explained by the pony's weight and feet, not embarrassment or agreement. Ask whether they have managed a pony on restricted grazing before, and what they understand the restriction to be protecting against.
Knowledge questions: what footy looks like
Ask what signs would make them call your vet the same day. Listen for the specific picture: reluctance to move or turn, shifting weight between front feet, lying down more than usual, heat in the feet or a strong pulse low in the leg, and a pony who walks as if treading on something sharp. Ask what they would do while waiting for the vet: bring her onto soft, deep bedding, keep her still, no forced walking, no extra feed, and call you. Ask whether they are confident picking out and handling the feet of a pony who objects, because those daily foot checks are where the earliest signs are found, and a carer who skips them on a wriggly pony is missing the main early-warning system.
Handling questions: small pony, real strength
Ask about their experience catching ponies who have decided otherwise. A Shetland is strong, low, and fast, and a carer who has only led cooperative horses can spend a holiday being outwitted in a field. Ask how they would approach a pony who walks away, what they would do about a muzzle that keeps coming off, and whether they are comfortable being firm without being rough. Then test it practically: watch them catch her, lead her, tie her, pick out her feet, fit the muzzle, and weigh a net to your figure.
Backup and communication questions
Ask who visits if they are ill, and whether that person has had the same briefing on the feeding rules, because the stand-in weekend is when restrictions most often lapse. Agree how they will report to you: a daily photo and a line on appetite, water, droppings, and how she walked to her hay is a workable rhythm. Ask whether they will write down anything unusual rather than deciding it is probably nothing. For this pony, a carer who reports a slightly quiet day early is worth far more than one who waits for certainty.
Where to find this calibre of carer
The carers who manage native ponies well are usually known locally by reputation rather than advertising, so ask your vet, farrier, and other Shetland owners first. KinsLe's Pet Services Directory helps you find trusted local pet services and connect with them directly, giving you a starting list of carers to put through exactly the questions above before your Shetland ever spends a night in their care.