Contributed by Meghan Davison

Shetlands are one of the world's most popular pony breeds. Although they are no higher than 10.2 hands (at the withers--the high point between the shoulder blades), they are extremely strong and this allows them to carry heavier weights in proportion to their own size than any other breed of ponies in the world.

Shetland ponies are very rugged animals with a strong back and tough, hard hooves. Both mane and tail are very thick and they grow an abundant winter coat which helps protect them from brutal island winters. Their most common colour is piebald (black and white), skewbald (brown and white) and solid black, although they are not limited to these colours.

The ancestors of today's modern Shetland Ponies were often put to work in mines and on farms. The unlucky ponies who worked in mines usually suffered from bad health and lived quite short lives because of accidents and, of course, the harmful atmosphere in a mine. These ponies, however, were ideal for this type of work because they are sturdy and reliable.

Because of their extremely small size, Shetlands are very popular as children's mounts; there is only a small distance to fall if something goes wrong. They are very gentle, easy to control, and eager to cooperate, which makes them a safe mount for a child. Shetlands are also quite sensible when hitched to a carriages.

Only after this breed was brought south to Scotland did people start to recognise what wonderful creatures they really were, and so Shetland breeding started to become quite popular.

In 1888, the American Shetland Pony Club was formed, with over two hundred breeders listed in the United States alone. Two years later, in 1890, these breeders formed the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society and Volume 1 of its stud book was produced a year later. Because Shetlands were isolated from other ponies--except occasional contact with the Icelandic Pony--they are one of the world's purest breeds.

Today Shetlands are domesticated and appreciated, however things weren't always that way. When food was scarce, they would resort to eating almost anything, even seaweed. And even though their winter coats are very thick and protective, they weren't always enough to protect them from winter weather on the Shetland Islands, which was anything but mild. Because they were not offered the shelter of a stable or barn, they often had nothing but stubby trees to protect themselves from the severe weather.

The Shetland Pony comes from the Shetland Islands which is a cluster of islands about 100 miles from the coast of Scotland. Shetland ponies are believed to be descendants of the 'Tundra Ponies' that came to Britain sometime during the last Ice Age. It is said that these ponies decreased in size, from approximately 13.2 hands to 10.2 hands, because of the severe environment and scarce food supply. Today only about one hundred Shetland ponies occupy these islands, though they are bred broadly in Britain, North America, South America, Europe and Australia.

Contributed by Meghan Davison

Links:

American Shetland Pony Club
Bristol Miniature Shetlands