A Look At Shetland Ponies

by admin on Monday, July 26th, 2010 | 1 Comment

Known as Scotland’s little giant, the Shetland pony is known for its small stature. Although this breed is much smaller than the average pony, it has many uses and is fun and gentle. Anyone who is considering owning Shetland ponies (not Shetland ponys) should know a little bit about them.

The Shetland earned its name from the Shetland Islands of Scotland. This is where this pony was developed, bred in large numbers, and exported to other parts of the world where it gained much popularity at the end of the 19th century.

An act of Parliament in England made these small ponies in high demand for a time. Children had been used to haul small tubs of coal from the mine shafts, but when law prohibited children from working in mines any more, an alternative was needed, and the Shetland pony, small but sturdy, was found fit for the job. At this time, these ponies became quite expensive and those who were fortunate enough to own one were considered rich.

This pony is the strongest horse relative to its size. Some have estimated that these ponies can pull half their own weight for miles with no trouble. They are beautiful little animals with thick manes and tails, and can be found in a variety of different colors.

They have become popular as children’s pets because they are quite gentle in temperament and are small enough for little ones to mount with ease. Because of their gentle fun personalities and cute appearance, these horses are easy to spoil, something that all Shetland owners should beware of. Nothing is worse than a rebellious horse. Though they are small, Shetlands still need the proper training to become well behaved useful animals.

Shetland ponies have the longest lifespan of the entire horse breed and often become quite attached to their owners just as if they were a dog. Many times these ponies have been seen following their owner around happily.