The Shetland pony is one of the most popular horse breeds(pony), especially for children.
The Shetland Pony’s gentle disposition makes him an ideal choice for young children who want a riding companion and who find themselves around horses for the first time.
Like all pony breeds, the Shetland Pony is a very small horse. In fact, the breed is considered the smallest pony in the UK.
This pony has a broad head that is small, a face that is slightly chiseled, small ears and wide-set eyes.
The neck is strong and short and the body is generally compact.
In addition to the sloping shoulders and short back, the Shetland pony has a deep girth.
The Shetland pony comes in all equine colours except spotted, with black being the basic colour.
Common colours include grey, brown, black, chestnut, roan, dun and bay, but the breed can also be found in skewbald and piebald.
Many Shetland ponies also have irregular white and dark patches.
The legs of these ponies are also short, with the cannon bones being shorter than normal for their size. These animals also have a short and bouncy stride.
Despite this small stature, however, this breed of horse can carry a considerable amount of weight and is surprisingly durable.
These ponies exhibit sturdy hooves and feet, their hind legs are wide and their backs are broad.
One of the distinctive features of the Shetland pony is its beautiful and full tail and mane.
These serve to protect the horse from the harsh weather in its home country.
Also, the rest of the body has a double coat that is thick and provides additional warmth when the temperature drops.
History of the Shetland pony breed
The origins of the unique Shetland pony are not completely known, but this breed of horse lived for a long time in the Shetland Islands, which are located off the northern coast of Scotland.
In fact, excavations in this part of the world show that small ponies lived on the Shetland Islands as early as the Bronze Age.
It seems that written records of Shetland ponies began to emerge in 1603 and the first written mention of the breed appeared in the Court Books of Shetland.
Some people believe that Shetland ponies originated by crossing Viking horses with local ponies.
Others believe it is possible that the pony may have evolved over time in the Scandinavian tundra after being brought to the area by the Vikings.
Still other experts believe that the most likely theory for the Shetland pony is that these animals originated in Scandinavia before crossing the ice fields that formerly connected Britain to Scandinavia.
Shetland ponies were then domesticated and the original ponies were bred with lighter ponies brought to the islands by Nordic settlers.
The breed may also have been influenced by Celtic ponies between 2000 BC and 1000 BC.
The Shetland pony is one of the most popular horse breeds, especially for children.
The Shetland pony is very small, but it is also hardy and strong and can survive in sparse pasture.
These qualities have enabled the breed to survive the harsh winters of Shetland for hundreds of years.
Shetland ponies were used to pull carts and in the 19th century were also used as pit ponies in coal mines in the United States and England. However, they became very popular as ponies for children to ride, and later were also used as riding ponies.
It was not until 1890 that the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was founded. It was then that the Shetland pony became the first pony to have its own breeding society.
In the late 19th century, the export of Shetland ponies began to various parts of the United Kingdom and other countries abroad.
As a result, today the Shetland pony can be found in several countries around the world.
Requirements for care
The Shetland pony requires the same basic grooming techniques as any other breed of horse.
This includes regular washing, brushing and combing of the pony to keep the coat smooth, clean and healthy.
However, you should pay special attention to the Shetland Pony’s hooves, which require daily care using a hoof pick and hoof brush to remove dirt, stones and other debris.
This will ensure that there are no injuries that need immediate treatment.
