Shetlandpony

The Shetland pony originates from the Shetland Islands. The animals were housed during the Industrial Revolution on the British mainland and there used in mines as pit ponies. Today, the rugged ponies enjoying as first riding horse for children as well as strong and long lasting driving horses great popularity.

Background information on the evaluation and breeding horses can be found at: exterior, interior and horse breeding.

Exterior

The Shetland Pony has a relatively large head with a broad forehead, almost square muzzle, large nostrils and small ears on a strong neck. The legs are short and strong, with clear joints and tough hooves. It has a thick tail, a thick mane and a dense tuft, in addition it has a dense and thick winter coat and also has more dense curtain of chains and lower jaw. The Shetland pony is to be a maximum of 107 cm, the Minishetty only 87 cm. Badges are rare. All colors except Tigerschecken are allowed. Shetland pony breeders who breed appaloosa, call this Apaloosa pony.

Interior

In relation to their body size Shetland ponies are among the strongest horses at all, a trained Shetland pony can pull twice its weight. In general, Shetland ponies to carry up to 60 kg. They came early in agriculture, after the abolition of child labor, especially in the UK as a pit horses in the mining industry, where they were still to be found in the 30s. Today, these ponies are common as riding ponies for children or as a perennial and powerful draft horses and the circus. Shetland ponies are tough and sturdy, they are considered intelligent and durable. You are late maturing and their life expectancy is often around 40 years.

Breeding history

The Shetland pony originates from the island group of Shetland. The islands have an extremely humid climate with maritime embossed for the latitude comparatively mild winters and cool summers. Heavy rainfall, storms and fog, however, are very common. [ Pita 1] Following the unfavorable climate and soil conditions found on the islands of an elite place, which led to small resistant ponies. In the Ice Age, the islands were connected to each other because of the then about 100 m lower sea levels, but had no connection to the mainland. Therefore, from the Shetlands no wild horse finds known. Primal people settled not to the same reason. Since the Stone Age, the Shetland Islands are inhabited. The first horses were probably introduced by the Picts who came before Christ since about 500 to Scotland. They were after pictures from that time very different, sometimes very sophisticated and larger than the Shetland pony and were often depicted in the gait. [ 2 pita ]

In the Paleolithic wild horses from Shetland pony type were widespread in North East Scotland ( Caithness ). At the time of the Roman occupation (1st - 4th century AD) in a standing type of the Shetland Pony Miniature Horse in Scotland was widespread. Very likely origin of the Shetland ponies from these Scottish dwarf horses. In any case, it is shown that horses were already present in vornormannischer time on the Shetland Islands. Ponies from the early Iron Age were large under 102 cm. When the Norwegian / Danish Normans conquered the Shetland Islands between the 8th and 11th century, they brought with larger horses from their home, their influence is, however, no longer visible in the modern Shetland pony. The ponies were then partially over 112 cm tall. [ 3 pita ]

In the Middle Ages, the Shetland ponies were known as Sheltties. Around 1700 they were 91-102 cm tall, the smallest living on the northern islands of Yell and Ulst. A meaning outside of the archipelago had these ponies not initially. Only in the mid-19th century they were used because of their small size as mine horses. Therefore, the prices rose 1840-1890 of £ 5 to £ 35. [ 4 pita ]

Until about 1950, the Shetland pony breed is remained free from foreign influences blood. Since the bigger ponies could sell better, remained the smaller ponies as a breeding base on the island. This meant that the ponies were smaller in 1940 than they had been in 1910. Therefore several larger horses were introduced to counteract this trend around 1950. The offspring usually came in, because its constitution was not hard enough for the climate. Exceptions to this rule are the Sumburgh strain and the strain Fetlar. On the peninsula Sumburgh, which is part of the main island of Mainland, due to the introgression of Norwegian Fiordpferden of Sumburgh strain with a height at the withers of about 130 cm. The more elegant and faster Fetlar Fetlar - tribe on the island with a height at the withers by about 125 cm arose from the fact that a Mustanghengst and Arabs have been successfully crossed. [ Pita 5]

Lord Londonderry began in 1870 at the stud Bressay the original type of Shetland ponies weiterzuzüchten schedule. His stud was disbanded in 1899, but the animals remained of the Shetland pony breed received. Ponies from this breeding formed the basis of numerous pure cultures outside of the Shetland Islands. [ 6 pita ]

The stud book of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was founded in 1890 and closed in 1971, since then further grown in pure culture.

Related breeds

• From the Shetland pony, the Mini Shetland Pony differs only in Height: It has a maximum height of 87 centimeters. It is usually stocky, but also elegant in stature and is found in all colors.
• Shetland ponies have significantly influenced the miniature horse breeds because of their small size, the Falabella (up to 76 cm) and the American Miniature Horse ( to 86.5 cm).
• The American Shetland Pony comes from Shetland ponies of the Shetland Islands, which were imported from the 19th century in the United States. From this we bred a more elegant equestrian, show and driving pony. 1888 was the race official. The first stud book was published in 1891.
• The German Classic Pony is a breed that is derived on the foundation stallion " Jiggs " from the "American Classic Shetland ".
• As in the English Mutterstutbuch no Tigerschecken and no Shetland ponies are allowed in the athletic type, 1999, the own breed German Part -Bred Shetland Pony was founded. For breeding the following breeds are recognized: Shetland Pony, Mini Paarden Nederlands, Nederlands Appaloosa Pony ( Mini Appaloosa ) and British Spotted Pony.
• The Dutch Appaloosa Pony ( Mini Appaloosa ) is only in the Netherlands own, recognized breed with its own stud book. In the remaining countries the animals are out with the herd books of the German Classic ponies and the German Part -Bred Shetland ponies. Mini Appaloosas are not as sturdy as the original Shetty as partially Falabellas were bred. Only Tigerschecken can be entered in the " Nederlandse Appaloosa Stamboek " in the main register. Monochrome ponies can only be entered in the register Stud Book of the Association.
• The Nederlands Mini Paarden is also a descendant of the Shetland pony breed from the Netherlands. There are two breeding directions. When a breeding direction it is ultimately purebred original Shetland ponies. In the other various other similar Pony breeds are admitted as parents.

Nederlands Appaloosa Pony

American Shetland Pony

Falabellamischling

Miniature horse

German Classic Pony

German Part -Bred Shetland Pony

Mini Shetland Pony