We have a tiny little shetland stallion. We are thinking of getting a mare or two. Rocks (stallion) is an extreamly lovable, kind and gentle natured little fellow and that is the main reason for wanting to breed him. We have our sights on another mare who is also a delight to handle in everyway. she is as much of a sook as he is and she teaches young children to ride at the local RDA. We have been offered this mare due to the RDA closing down (probably not enough funding to keep them open gggrrrrr) SO im wondering about just turning these guys out together in a paddock and letting them stay together right up untill the foal is about to be born. Does anyone have any reason (and i dont want answers like "because there are too many horses in the world" that is a seporate issue all together as im breeding these pair to produce a balanced well manered and kind progeny for my son) not to do it in this manner? i will be waiting until begining of winter before introducing them to the same pasture for i do not want the mare to carry a nearly full term foal in the middle of summer I have breed QH in the past but never (up untill 1 month ago) even had close contact with a shetland but common sense tells me the exact same rules apply?? Any advise on exactly how to introduce these two to minimise any squables? Iv heard shetlands can be more of a handfull at times then larger horses?