If you have ever been to a country fair, you may have seen or even ridden on a Shetland pony. As their name suggests, Shetland ponies originally came form the Shetland Island, Northwest of Scotland. In fact, archaeologists working there have unearthed the bones of small ponies dating back thousands of years.
Shetland ponies are easily identified by their short legs, long mane and tail, and thick winter coat, which serve as a protection against the inclement weather of their original habitat. The ponies are normally between 70 and 107 centimeters high and are commonly black or dark brown. Unlike other horses, Shetland is measured in centimeters not hands, a unit of measure equal to 10.16 centimeters.
Although small in nature/stature, Shetland ponies are strong. In fact, for their size they are the strongest of all the horse breeds. For this reason, the ponies were historically used to haul peat, plow fields, and work in coal mines, where only small animals could negotiate the tunnel. Indeed, many spent their life in the mines, never seeing the light of day.
When properly trained, Shetlands are gentle and docile, making them ideal for children. Their good temperament may account for the positive result obtained when this breed has been used in therapeutic programs for the disabled.
Because of their charming traits and their ability to adapt to very different environments, Shetland ponies have been exported all over the world and numerous clubs and breed registries have been established. But the animals name still link it with its original Island home, where the Shetland breed continues to remain remarkably and genetically pure.
