A holiday care plan for a Shetland pony covers restricted grazing, weighed or measured hay, a firm no-treats rule, constant water, shelter, daily feet checks, and active watching for laminitis, the condition this thrifty native breed is most at risk from when kindness loosens its diet. Everything else in the plan supports that central discipline.
Grazing and weight control for a Shetland pony on cover
Grazing control is the heart of a Shetland pony plan, because a Shetland evolved on sparse island grazing and extracts more from rich pasture than almost any sitter expects. Write exactly where the pony grazes each day: the bare paddock, strip-grazed section, track system, or the hours a grazing muzzle is worn, with how the muzzle is fitted and checked for rubs. State the hay amount as you actually feed it, soaked if that is your routine, and ban hard feed, carrots by the bag, and lick buckets left in the field unless they are already part of the pony's normal plan. Ask the sitter to use your weight tape or condition check weekly and record it, since a Shetland can gain visibly during a single holiday on unrestricted grass. Name the field companions and warn that a Shetland moved onto a big horse's generous field routine is a pony being set up to fail.
Water, shelter, and coat care for a Shetland pony
Water and shelter for a Shetland pony look simple, and the plan should keep them that way while covering the breed's thick double coat. Troughs need daily checking and scrubbing as usual, and a Shetland drinking from a low trough should never be offered a raised bucket arrangement borrowed from a taller horse's stable. Most Shetlands live out unrugged with access to a field shelter, so write whether your pony uses the shelter or stands out in weather by choice, and forbid a sitter from rugging a sweating pony in a heavyweight rug out of pity. That dense coat hides condition and ticks alike, so ask for a proper hands-through-the-coat check over ribs and crest every few days. Note mane and tail tangles can wait for your return; comfort checks cannot.
Feet, movement, and laminitis watching in a Shetland plan
Feet and movement checks protect a Shetland pony because laminitis often announces itself quietly in a pony who still wants breakfast. The plan asks the sitter to pick out feet daily, feel for unusual heat, and watch the pony walk and turn on a hard surface, reporting a shortened stride, reluctance to turn, rocked-back stance, or lying down more than usual the same day, not at your return. Give the sitter your vet's and farrier's numbers with explicit permission to call the vet first if those signs appear, since early action matters more than reaching you across time zones. Keep exercise as normal if the pony is in work, naming who may drive, lead, or ride and at what intensity, and state plainly that a pony showing foot soreness is not exercised through it. Record where the headcollar, hoof pick, and weight tape live so checks actually happen.
Companions, handling, and handover for a Shetland pony
Companionship and handling notes finish a Shetland pony plan, because a Shetland separated from its usual pair often stops settling even if its diet is perfect. Write who the pony lives with, who is caught first, and how this pony is led, since a strong, clever Shetland can tow an unprepared visitor toward the best grass with total commitment. List any vices honestly, such as barging at feed time or nipping when girthed, and the exact handling you use instead of confrontation. Add the emergency basics: your contact order, the yard backup person, insurance or vet account details, and where the pony's passport and records are kept. Ask for a brief daily log covering grazing hours, hay, water, feet, and anything unusual. Held in KinsLe via Care Pass, that strict Shetland routine reaches your sitter word for word, so nobody's holiday generosity undoes your pony's waistline.