The Shetland pony is a Scottish breed of pony originating in the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland. It may stand up to 107 cm (42 in) at the withers.[1] It has a heavy coat and short legs, is strong for its size, and is used for riding, driving, and pack purposes.
Two women of the Shetland Isles with ponies: photograph taken about 1900
Shetland ponies originated in the Shetland Islands, located northeast of mainland Scotland. Small horses have been kept in the Shetland Islands since the Bronze Age. People who lived on the islands probably later crossed the native stock with ponies imported by Norse settlers. Shetland ponies also were probably influenced by the Celtic pony, brought to the islands by settlers between 2000 and 1000 BCE.[2] The harsh climate and scarce food developed the ponies into extremely hardy animals.
Shetland ponies were first used for pulling carts and for carrying peat,[3] coal and other items,[citation needed] and ploughing land.[4] Then, as the Industrial Revolution increased the need for coal in the mid-nineteenth century, thousands of Shetland ponies travelled to mainland Britain to be pit ponies, working underground hauling coal, often for their entire (frequently short) lives. Coal mines in the eastern United States also imported some of these animals. The last pony mine in the United States closed in 1971.[5]
The Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society is the breed society for the traditional Shetland throughout the world.[6] It was started in 1890 to maintain purity and encourage high-quality animals.[citation needed] In 1957, the Shetland Islands Premium Stallion Scheme was formed to subsidise high-quality registered stallions to improve the breeding stock.[citation needed]
A classic image of an ideal Shetland pony, Nordisk familjebok (Swedish encyclopaedia), c. 1904–1926.
The Shetland Pony is hardy and strong, in part because it developed in the harsh conditions of the Shetland Islands.[citation needed] It has a small head, widely spaced eyes and small and alert ears. It has a short muscular neck, a compact stocky body, short strong legs and a shorter-than-normal cannon-bone in relation to its size. A short broad back and deep girth are universal characteristics, as is a springy stride. It has a long thick mane and tail, and a dense double winter coat to withstand harsh weather.[citation needed] It may be of any known horse coat colour other than spotted.[1][9]: 502 [10]: 34
It is not unusual for a Shetland pony to live more than 30 years.[citation needed]
Usesedit
A Shetland pony in harness.Shetland pony "Grand National" in the UK
Today, Shetlands are ridden by children and are shown by both children and adults at horse shows in harness driving classes as well as for pleasure driving outside of the show ring. Shetlands are ridden by small children at horse shows, in riding schools and stables as well as for pleasure. They are seen working in commercial settings such as fairs or carnivals to provide short rides for visitors. They are also seen at petting zoos and sometimes are used for therapeutic horseback riding purposes. In the United Kingdom, Shetlands are also featured in the Shetland Pony Grand National, galloping around a racecourse with young jockeys. A few Shetland ponies still fulfil traditional working roles on the islands, and can be seen carrying peat (which is abundant and used as a fuel source in Shetland) cut from the hillsides in large saddlebags. Their strong physique and ability to cross a variety of difficult terrain types means they are still a viable choice for the job, even in an age of mechanised agriculture.
Junior Harness Racing was founded in Queensland by a group of breeders to give young people aged 6–16 an opportunity to obtain a practical introduction to the harness racing industry. The children have the opportunity to drive Shetland ponies in harness under race conditions. No prize money is payable on pony races, although winners and place-getters receive medallions.[11]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shetland pony.
^ abBreed Standard. The Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society. Accessed July 2020.
^Hovens, Hans; Rijkers, Toon (2013). "On the origins of the Exmoor pony: did the wild horse survive in Britain?" (PDF). Lutra. 56 (2): 134. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
^Reid, C. "Women unloading peats from kishie". Shetland Museum and Archives. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
^Storey, B (1958–1960). "Pony". Shetland Museum and Archives. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
^The Last Pony Mine, a documentary film, Les Benedict, director, Steve Knudston, producer, 1972. Available on Youtube in 3 parts part 1part 2part 3
^"Shetland Pony Stud Book Society". Shetland Pony Stud Book Society. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
^Elwyn Hartley Edwards (1994). The Encyclopedia of the Horse. London; New York; Stuttgart; Moscow: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN0751301159.
^. German Classic Pony Society. Archived 5 November 2013.
^Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN9781780647944.
^Élise Rousseau, Yann Le Bris, Teresa Lavender Fagan (2017). Horses of the World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN9780691167206.
^. Just Racing. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
^"Ponies to guide the blind". BBC News. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
February 16, 2024
shetland, pony, scottish, breed, pony, originating, shetland, islands, north, scotland, stand, withers, heavy, coat, short, legs, strong, size, used, riding, driving, pack, purposes, shetland, ponyother, namesshetlandcountry, originshetland, islands, scotlandt. The Shetland pony is a Scottish breed of pony originating in the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland It may stand up to 107 cm 42 in at the withers 1 It has a heavy coat and short legs is strong for its size and is used for riding driving and pack purposes Shetland PonyOther namesShetlandCountry of originShetland Islands ScotlandTraitsDistinguishing featuresIntelligent small size sturdy build thick coat compact and strongBreed standardsShetland Pony Studbook SocietyAmerican Shetland Pony ClubEquus ferus caballus Contents 1 History 2 Characteristics 3 Uses 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp Two women of the Shetland Isles with ponies photograph taken about 1900Shetland ponies originated in the Shetland Islands located northeast of mainland Scotland Small horses have been kept in the Shetland Islands since the Bronze Age People who lived on the islands probably later crossed the native stock with ponies imported by Norse settlers Shetland ponies also were probably influenced by the Celtic pony brought to the islands by settlers between 2000 and 1000 BCE 2 The harsh climate and scarce food developed the ponies into extremely hardy animals Shetland ponies were first used for pulling carts and for carrying peat 3 coal and other items citation needed and ploughing land 4 Then as the Industrial Revolution increased the need for coal in the mid nineteenth century thousands of Shetland ponies travelled to mainland Britain to be pit ponies working underground hauling coal often for their entire frequently short lives Coal mines in the eastern United States also imported some of these animals The last pony mine in the United States closed in 1971 5 The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society is the breed society for the traditional Shetland throughout the world 6 It was started in 1890 to maintain purity and encourage high quality animals citation needed In 1957 the Shetland Islands Premium Stallion Scheme was formed to subsidise high quality registered stallions to improve the breeding stock citation needed A number of pony breeds derive from the traditional Shetland These include the American Shetland Pony and Pony of the Americas in the United States 7 243 and the Deutsches Classic Pony in Germany 8 Characteristics editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Shetland pony news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp A classic image of an ideal Shetland pony Nordisk familjebok Swedish encyclopaedia c 1904 1926 The Shetland Pony is hardy and strong in part because it developed in the harsh conditions of the Shetland Islands citation needed It has a small head widely spaced eyes and small and alert ears It has a short muscular neck a compact stocky body short strong legs and a shorter than normal cannon bone in relation to its size A short broad back and deep girth are universal characteristics as is a springy stride It has a long thick mane and tail and a dense double winter coat to withstand harsh weather citation needed It may be of any known horse coat colour other than spotted 1 9 502 10 34 It is not unusual for a Shetland pony to live more than 30 years citation needed Uses edit nbsp A Shetland pony in harness nbsp Shetland pony Grand National in the UKSee also Pony riding Today Shetlands are ridden by children and are shown by both children and adults at horse shows in harness driving classes as well as for pleasure driving outside of the show ring Shetlands are ridden by small children at horse shows in riding schools and stables as well as for pleasure They are seen working in commercial settings such as fairs or carnivals to provide short rides for visitors They are also seen at petting zoos and sometimes are used for therapeutic horseback riding purposes In the United Kingdom Shetlands are also featured in the Shetland Pony Grand National galloping around a racecourse with young jockeys A few Shetland ponies still fulfil traditional working roles on the islands and can be seen carrying peat which is abundant and used as a fuel source in Shetland cut from the hillsides in large saddlebags Their strong physique and ability to cross a variety of difficult terrain types means they are still a viable choice for the job even in an age of mechanised agriculture Junior Harness Racing was founded in Queensland by a group of breeders to give young people aged 6 16 an opportunity to obtain a practical introduction to the harness racing industry The children have the opportunity to drive Shetland ponies in harness under race conditions No prize money is payable on pony races although winners and place getters receive medallions 11 Miniature Shetlands have been trained as guide horses to take the same role as guide dogs 12 This task is also performed by other miniature horse breeds See also editShetland animal breeds List of domesticated Scottish breeds Mountain and moorland pony breedsReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shetland pony a b Breed Standard The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society Accessed July 2020 Hovens Hans Rijkers Toon 2013 On the origins of the Exmoor pony did the wild horse survive in Britain PDF Lutra 56 2 134 Retrieved 17 December 2017 Reid C Women unloading peats from kishie Shetland Museum and Archives Retrieved 16 July 2020 Storey B 1958 1960 Pony Shetland Museum and Archives Retrieved 15 July 2020 The Last Pony Mine a documentary film Les Benedict director Steve Knudston producer 1972 Available on Youtube in 3 parts part 1part 2part 3 Shetland Pony Stud Book Society Shetland Pony Stud Book Society Retrieved 16 December 2011 Elwyn Hartley Edwards 1994 The Encyclopedia of the Horse London New York Stuttgart Moscow Dorling Kindersley ISBN 0751301159 How did the German Classic Pony come about German Classic Pony Society Archived 5 November 2013 Valerie Porter Lawrence Alderson Stephen J G Hall D Phillip Sponenberg 2016 Mason s World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding sixth edition Wallingford CABI ISBN 9781780647944 Elise Rousseau Yann Le Bris Teresa Lavender Fagan 2017 Horses of the World Princeton Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691167206 Just Racing Just Racing Archived from the original on 20 January 2012 Retrieved 16 December 2011 Ponies to guide the blind BBC News 1 June 2003 Retrieved 16 December 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shetland pony amp oldid 1186547661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
