Shetland Pony
Name:
Shetland Pony
Lifespan:
30-50+ years
Height:
11-11.2 h.h.
Appearance:
Attractive head with small ears alert, intelligent eyes.Short in the legs with a sloping shoulder and a well-set neck.Strong and muscular through the frame and particularly sound in the wind and limb.
Markings:
Yes
Color:
Any color but not spotted
Aptitude:
Riding,Light draft, Light agricultural work, Packing, Showing, Jumping, Competitive horse sports.
Where from:
The Shetland Islands, Scotland
Facts:
As stated previously, the Shetland Pony was a valuable employee when it came to the coalmines, and continued to have a place in the industry well up into the 1970s, yet many mines replaced them with new types of mine machinery and transport vehicles. Yet, even today, some mines still make use of the Shetlands.
Due to the Shetland Pony's area of origin so close to the arctic circle, it has some of the worst weather. The later Shetland generations benefited from this though, all the years of putting up with these harsh conditions cause the breed to evolve with a double thick coat of fur which repelled rain and allowed the Shetland to endure such frigid weather. In the warmer weather months, the Shetland shed the extra fur and it was replaced with a silky like hide. The Shetland can survive in a number of different environments.
When Queen Elizabeth and her siblings were younger, the Shetland Pony was very popular among the Royal family. They spent many days and even years riding these ponies. The Queen mother spent many years and still is the Patron of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society.
Super fact:
For being such a small horse, the Shetland Pony is unusually strong. This is because the breed made its development in the rather harsh conditions of the Shetland Islands, from which they received their name. The natives of the islands trained the ponies to be domestic and used them for farm work and other chores, such as hauling seaweed up trails to be used as fertilizer.
Shetland Pony
Lifespan:
30-50+ years
Height:
11-11.2 h.h.
Appearance:
Attractive head with small ears alert, intelligent eyes.Short in the legs with a sloping shoulder and a well-set neck.Strong and muscular through the frame and particularly sound in the wind and limb.
Markings:
Yes
Color:
Any color but not spotted
Aptitude:
Riding,Light draft, Light agricultural work, Packing, Showing, Jumping, Competitive horse sports.
Where from:
The Shetland Islands, Scotland
Facts:
As stated previously, the Shetland Pony was a valuable employee when it came to the coalmines, and continued to have a place in the industry well up into the 1970s, yet many mines replaced them with new types of mine machinery and transport vehicles. Yet, even today, some mines still make use of the Shetlands.
Due to the Shetland Pony's area of origin so close to the arctic circle, it has some of the worst weather. The later Shetland generations benefited from this though, all the years of putting up with these harsh conditions cause the breed to evolve with a double thick coat of fur which repelled rain and allowed the Shetland to endure such frigid weather. In the warmer weather months, the Shetland shed the extra fur and it was replaced with a silky like hide. The Shetland can survive in a number of different environments.
When Queen Elizabeth and her siblings were younger, the Shetland Pony was very popular among the Royal family. They spent many days and even years riding these ponies. The Queen mother spent many years and still is the Patron of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society.
Super fact:
For being such a small horse, the Shetland Pony is unusually strong. This is because the breed made its development in the rather harsh conditions of the Shetland Islands, from which they received their name. The natives of the islands trained the ponies to be domestic and used them for farm work and other chores, such as hauling seaweed up trails to be used as fertilizer.