Shetland Pony
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The Shetland pony is one of the smallest breeds of horse. For its size, however, this short legged animal is the strongest member of the horse family. The Shetland pony gets its name from the stormy islands off the coast of Scotland where it has lived since prehistoric times. Island settlers soon recognized the animals hardiness and working potential, and it has been domesticated since 500 B.C.

Characteristics: The Shetland pony has a compact, stocky body with a deep girth and a short back. It has short, muscular limbs and small, hard, open feet.  Its small head and its short, thick neck are almost hidden by its long, bushy forelock and thick, long mane.  The tail is also long and bushy.  The pony may be any color, but black and dark brown are most common. During winter, when the weather is cold, windy, and wet, the Shetland pony will grow a thick coat to provide warmth and waterproofing.

Breeding: In mid to late spring, a Shetland stallion will seek out a mare in heat. The 11 month gestation period ensures that the foal will be born early the next spring when the gras is at its best.  However, the breeding of Shetland ponies is usually carefully controlled.  The breeders choose which stallions get to mate, even when  the ponies are living in a semi wild state. The mare usually gives birth to one foal, which she nurses until she becomes pregnant again. Sometimes, however, the breeder takes the foal from the mother when it is about eight months old.

Shetland Pony & Man: The shetland pony was used by island farmers for transport and to help work their property.  Because it is very strong and takes to the harness, it has always been used to pull heavily loaded carts. today it is used in cart races.  In the nineteenth century Shetland ponies were used as pit ponies were used as pit ponies that were bred for this purpose had large, ugly heads. With the demand for pit ponies now gone, this feature has been bred out.  The Shetland pony was imported to the United States, and it has become so popular that this country now has its own "Shetland" breed.

Food & Feeding: Like all horses and ponies, the Shetland is a grazer. When it has rich grass to eat, it may graze in short spurts during a 24 hour period. But if the pasture is poor, it may feed for 22 hours a day. Because it manages to survive on the meager grass of ts island homeland, the Shetland pony has a reputation for "fattening on almost anything." Domestic ponies need a little more than hay in winter.  When the Shetland Islands are covered with snow, the pony will paw at the ground to get at the grass and moss under the snow.  If this is not enough food, the pony may climb down to the beach to eat seaweed and scrounge fish heads from fishermen.

Key Facts: Sizes:
Height: Maximum in U.S., 4 ft. Maximum in Great Britain, 31/2 ft
Lowest recorded height: 2 ft.

Breeding:
Sexual maturity: About 3 years
Mating season: Mid to late spring in native habitat.
Gestation: 11 months
No. of young: Usually 1

Lifestyle:
Habit: Sociable, Forms small herds in the wild.
Diet: Mainly grass.
Lifespan: 20 years, sometimes more

Related series: The Shetland pony belongs to the same genus and species as all horses and ponies. It is among the oldest breeds in existence.
Distribution: Thought to have originated near, and evolved on, the Shetland and Orkney islands off the northeastern tip of Scotland. Now present in many other countries worldwide.
Conservation: The Shetland pony still exists in a semiwild state in its native envitornment. It is also bred in domestication in many countries.

Did you Know?
The American Shetland pony is used in trotting races. It has vbeen timed at 1 minute, 55 seconds, overhalf a mile.
The Shetland pony can pull twice its own weight, which means that it has about twice  the power of most heavy horses.
A 3 foot high Shetland pony once carried a man 40 miles in one day.
The Shetland is one of the five favorite breedsin the United States. Others are the thoroughbred, Appaloosa, standbred, and quarter horse.

American Shetland:
Height: 11 hands (31/12 feet) average
Build:  lighter than British Breed
Legs: Neat, with high knee action
Pony and Man: Competes inpulling contests and trotting races and is used as a child's pony.

Brittish Shetland:
Height: 10 hands (3 feet) average
Legs: Shorter than those of American breed
Winter Coat: Thick and warm for portection from the elements.
Pony and Man: Like the American Shetland, it si used as a childs pony.
Body: Deeper and more heavily built than American breed.