Shetland Pony

The Shetland Pony was named after an isolated group of islands on the far north east of the Scottish mainland at the same latitude as Greenland. Its origin is not clear but it is believed that it traces back many centuries to various pony breeds. Eventually a strong, hardy pony developed with free, straight action and a characteristic lift to its joints due to moving over rough and rocky terrain. The Shetland Pony is well adapted to the harsh climate surviving on poor quality grazing and growing a double coat in winter as a protection from the cold. The coat has "guard hairs" that shed the rain and keep the skin completely dry. The Shetland Pony was used as a riding and pack horse carrying grain, peat and anything that needed to be carried. Due to their strength and small size they were in great demand for the under ground work in coal mining, diminishing their numbers as the best stallions were used. With the start of the mechanician in the 1920's and 1930's the Shetland Pony was no longer needed. Selected breeding of the Shetland Pony did not start until the 19th century. In 1890 the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was formed to maintain the purity of the breed and to promote the Shetland Pony.