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The Shetland pony is, perhaps, the oldest horse breed of Britian.
Named after the islands from where it originated, the Shetland is now one of the most popular
ponies in the world. This little pony is probably as shaggy as it is because it was conditioned
by its environment. The Shetland Islands, which lie off the northern coast of Scotland, are mostly
barren with a harsh, brutal climate. For a long time, centuries in fact, the Shetland pony lived
out in the open, protected from the elements only by their thick hair, long mane, and forelocks.
The Shetland Islanders domesticated these hardy little ponies to do work for them. This work included
carrying peat drown from the bogs for use in the cottages as fuel and hauling seaweed from the
shore to the fields to be used as fertilizer for the crops.
This little pony is known as the strongest Equid relative to size
in existence. When the coal mining industry became extensively developed in Britain around the
1800s, Shetlands were imported in large numbers to haul coal cars in the "pits". Many of the ponies
were born and also died in the coal mines. Some quite literally never even saw the light of day.
Many ponies were exported to America to work in coal mines also. Mechanization rendered the Shetland
pony inefficient in coal mines by the mid-1900s. In the coal-rich American Mid-West, Draft Shetlands
are still quite common. They compete in weight-pulling contests at the count fairs similar to
those in which heavy draft horses are seen competing.
The Shetland's roots are unknown, although they are an ancient breed.
Most likely, they have strong ties to the ancient ponies from Scandinavia, and may have reached
the Shetland Isles before the lands were separated by water in approximately 8,000 B.C. They would
have been influenced by the Celtic pony, which was taken to Scotland by the Celts in the second
and third centuries B.C. This little pony is one of the oldest surviving breeds and has probably
not changed very much in appearance.
The Shetland is possibly the strongest of all breeds in relation to
its size. It was commonly used for farm tasks as well as working extensively in the coal mines
as pit ponies, as mentioned before. Because of the harsh living conditions, the Shetland remains
to this day a hardy and resistant pony breed. They have very waterproofed winter coats, are very
surefooted, have excellent eyesight, and are long lived. These ponies are found worldwide, most
of all in America, which has bred a larger, flashier Shetland known as the American Shetland.
This new breed is most commonly used for showing and carriage driving. It has some Hackney pony
infusions in the bloodline. The English Shetland pony is generally used mostly as a children's
pony and as a pet, due to its very small size. They are good starter ponies for children, but
one must take care that they not be spoilt, lest they develop a difficult temperament. They are
measured in inces or centimeters, rather than hands. A Shetland pony only three years old should
be no taller than 40 inches, while a four-year-old and older can be up to 42 inches.
They have a small, attractive head with wide spacing between the eyes,
their ears are small and alert, and their necks are short and muscular. The back is short with
well-defined withers, deep through the girth, with well-sprung ribs. Their legs are short and
strong, long through the forearm and short through the cannon. They have copious mane and tail
growth and very, very thick winter coats. They can be any color, just not spotted.
World Of The Small Equine
Shetland Pony Breed Profile
Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society
About The Shetland Pony
The British Horse Society: The Shetland
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