Disclaimer: this is my personal home page: any views expressed here are purely my own, not representative of the University of Dundee, the Highland Pony Society, or any other body.
So what about the diminutive character of the Shetland? You either love them or hate them, but don't write off the Shetland as a child's first pony. It is much more than that. Shetlands have plenty of character and can outwit most adults given half a chance. I am in no way saying the Shetland is unsuitable for a child, far from it, but they are certainly up to other roles too. They are increasingly successful as driving ponies, both in private drive and as scurry pairs. And there is a large number of ponies doing well in the showring, both in hand and under saddle.
The pony originated in the Shetland Islands north of mainland Scotland and many still thrive there, but the pony has expanded it's terrain all around the world and into a wide variety of activities. Originally crofters' ponies, like many of the natives the Shetland was agricultural and pack animal for much of it's working life. However, due to the small size, the Shetland was also considered ideal for work in coal mines, dragging huge loads of coal to the surface and working in near total darkness. This practice is fortunately long gone now, and the Shetland is more often found as a child's pony, a companion, a driving pony or a mascot. They thrive best when given a good job of work to do and can be too strong for a child (too strong minded for many an adult!) so the driving world and things like the famous Shetland Pony Grand National have been great for the breed to show it can do more than look cute!
The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society, founded in 1890 and based in Perth, registers foals and promotes the breed world wide - I've only recently discovered it's web site at http://www.shetlandponystudbooksociety.co.uk/ but you can contact the Society via the Breed Societies page of this site if you prefer not to type it all in!
Height:
Registered stock must not exceed 40 inches (102cms) at three years or under, nor 42 inches (107cms) at four years or over. Ponies are measured from the withers to the ground, by measuring stick, and a level stance, preferably concrete, should be used.
Colour:
Shetland ponies may be any colour known in horses except spotted.
Coat:
The coat changes according to the seasons : a double coat in Winter with guard hairs which shed the rain and keep the pony's skin completely dry in the worst of the weather and, by contrast, a short summer coat which should carry a beautiful silky sheen. At all times the mane and tail hair should be long, straight and profuse and the feathering of the fetlocks straight and silky.
Head:
The head should be small, carried well and in proportion. Ears should be small and erect, wide set but pointing well forward. Forehead should be broad with bold, dark, intelligent eyes. Muzzle must be broad with nostrils wide and open. Teeth and jaw must be correct.
Body:
The neck should be properly set onto the shoulder, which in turn should be sloping, not upright, and end in a well defined wither. The body should be strong, with plenty of heart room, well sprung ribs, the loin strong and muscular. The quarters should be broad and long with the tail set well up on them.
Forelegs:
Should be well-placed with sufficient good, flat bone. Strong forearm. Short balanced cannon bone. Springy pasterns.
Hindlegs:
The thighs should be strong and muscular with well-shaped strong hocks, neither hooky nor too straight. When viewed from behind, the hindlegs should not be set too widely apart, nor should the hocks be turned in.
Feet:
Tough, round and well-shaped - not too short, narrow, contracted or thin.
Action:
Straight, free action using every joint. Tracking up well.
General:
A most salient and essential feature of the Shetland pony is its general air of vitality (presence), stamina and robustness.
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E-mail: a.douglas@dundee.ac.uk
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Copyright ©A Douglas 1997 |