Shetland Pony

There's great strength packed into this little fella. The Shetland Pony ranks among the smallest of the horse breeds, yet for its size it's one of the strongest you'll come across anywhere. It stands no taller than 42 inches (107 cm) at the withers, and it carries a thick coat, a heavy mane, and a broad, sturdy body well suited to cold, wind-battered islands. Small as the frame is, a Shetland is well able to pull a load far heavier than itself, a trait that had it earning its keep long before it ever became a beloved children's pony.

The breed traces back to the Shetland Isles, off the north coast of Scotland, a place where harsh weather and scarce grazing shaped a compact, hardworking little animal over the generations. Centuries spent surviving on poor pasture left the Shetland well able to keep its condition on very little, and it takes rain, wind, and cold in its stride. These same qualities mean today's Shetland asks less of you than a larger horse would, though there's a downside too, that easy keeping brings a real risk of the pony piling on weight.

There's no shortage of brains in a Shetland, and plenty of stubbornness to go with it, sure. They're quick learners, they don't forget what they've picked up, and they'll test any handler who isn't consistent with them. Treat one fairly and steadily, though, and you'll find an affectionate, dependable companion, which is exactly why so many families reach for a Shetland as a young rider's first pony, and why they're so well loved for driving too.

Who it suits

Any family with children keen to learn riding and driving will find a lot to love in a Shetland. It's a fine match for owners able to give it daily handling and hold to firm, consistent boundaries, because this pony will happily take advantage of anyone inexperienced or a bit soft on the rules. It's not the pony for someone hoping for a fully hands-off animal, mind, since a Shetland's cleverness and appetite both call for active management.

Ponies have made their home on the Shetland Isles for a very long time indeed, with archaeological evidence pointing to small horses there as far back as the Bronze Age. It was the islands themselves that shaped the breed we know today, cold, wet, wind-swept, with thin grazing and precious little shelter to speak of. The animals that survived were small, thick-coated, and well able to live on poor forage, and these traits carried down faithfully through the generations.

For most of its history, the Shetland was simply a working animal for the island crofters, hauling peat for the fire, pulling carts, and working the land alongside its people. Its small size was no small advantage either, in a place where feeding a large horse would have been no easy task.

Then, in the 19th century, demand for the breed grew sharply across the British mainland. Once laws put a stop to women and children working in the coal mines, ponies were sent underground in their place to haul coal, and the Shetland's strength and compact build suited the low tunnels wonderfully well. Great numbers of ponies were exported from the islands for this very purpose. The Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society was founded in 1890 to record and protect the breed.

Across the 20th century, the Shetland moved on from industrial work toward companionship and sport instead. It became a standard first pony for children, a favourite for driving, and a familiar sight at shows and fairs the country over. Since then, the breed has spread well beyond Scotland and is kept and loved right across Europe and North America.

There's a small but mighty build to the Shetland. The body runs deep and broad through the chest and barrel, the legs are short and strong with dense bone, and the head is small, with a wide forehead, small ears, and large eyes set well apart. The neck, too, is short and muscular. For its height this is an exceptionally strong breed, and the overall picture you get is of a sturdy, low-set animal rather than any sort of scaled-down riding horse.

The coat is one of its finest features, truth be told. Come winter, the Shetland grows a thick double coat, with long guard hairs that shed the water well, giving it grand protection against rain and cold. The mane and tail run full and long, and there's a bit of feathering down the lower legs besides. Come summer, the coat thins out a good deal.

Coat and colors

You'll find the Shetland in a fine range of colours. Black, bay, chestnut, brown, grey, and dun are all common enough, and broken or pinto patterns are welcomed too. The one colour you won't come across is the spotted leopard pattern seen in some other breeds. None of it, mind you, makes the slightest difference to the pony's working ability or its temperament.

There's a fierce lot of character in a Shetland, and no shortage of intelligence either. It learns quickly and holds onto what it's taught, but it forms its own opinions too, and it'll push back against a handler it doesn't respect. That's where the stubborn reputation comes from, really, a Shetland that's learned it can ignore a rider or push past someone will keep right on doing so unless the boundaries stay firm and consistent.

With people it knows and trusts, though, the breed is affectionate and steady through and through. Its small size and generally calm way with children make it a popular first pony, though young riders will still want supervision, since a clever pony can easily get the better of a beginner. Around strangers, most Shetlands come across confident rather than nervy. Put among other ponies and horses, they're usually sociable and settle in grand, which suits their herd nature down to the ground.

The spirited side shows itself in boldness and energy. Shetlands can be lively and full of mischief, and they need enough work and stimulation to stay well behaved. A bored, under-handled Shetland tends to turn pushy, or pick up habits that are the very devil to undo afterward.

The Shetland is among the easier equines to keep, being built for hard conditions as it is, but easy keeping is not at all the same thing as no keeping. The main daily tasks come down to grooming, hoof checks, exercise, and keeping a watchful eye on how much the pony is eating.

Grooming

• Brush the coat regularly to clear away dirt and loose hair, with extra attention during the heavy spring shed.
• Comb out the long mane and tail so it doesn't tangle or mat on you.
• Check and pick out the hooves daily, and have the farrier round every 6 to 8 weeks.
• Keep an eye on the legs and feathering for mud-related skin trouble when the ground's wet.

Exercise

• Give the pony daily turnout and movement, Shetlands are active souls and will gain weight without it.
• Put the pony to work riding (with children up), driving, or in-hand, so it's got a purpose.
• Don't let the pony stand idle for long stretches, that only encourages weight gain and pushy behaviour.

Environment

The Shetland handles cold, wind, and rain far better than most breeds do, and it needs no heated stable at all. It does need shelter from the very worst of the weather, mind, and from the summer sun and flies too. Fencing wants to be secure, as these low little ponies are cunning escape artists, and grazing should be limited, since lush pasture is the chief health risk this breed faces.

Having evolved on sparse island grazing, the Shetland can pull a great deal from very little feed. Turn it out on rich modern pasture, though, and that becomes a real problem, the breed piles on weight quickly and is prone to obesity, and to laminitis, a painful and serious foot condition linked to overeating sugary grass. Good-quality hay or limited grazing should form the heart of a Shetland's diet, rather than concentrated feeds. Most healthy adult Shetlands in light work need no grain whatsoever.

Treats and supplements

Go easy on the treats, given the weight risk, small pieces of carrot or apple in moderation will do nicely. A plain salt or mineral lick provides a bit of extra goodness. Most Shetlands on decent forage won't need supplements at all, though a vet may recommend particular minerals where the pasture falls short. And always, always, leave clean, fresh water within reach.

The Shetland is a grand, robust, long-lived breed. Plenty of ponies see out 25 to 35 years, and some go well beyond that with good care behind them. Most of the breed's serious health troubles trace back to diet and weight rather than any inherited weakness, which is heartening news really, as it means a good deal of its health lies within the owner's own hands. Keeping the pony at a sensible weight is, without doubt, the single most important task there is.

Preventive care

• Keep the pony at a healthy body condition, and limit grazing on rich pasture.
• Have the farrier round every 6 to 8 weeks, and watch for the early signs of laminitis.
• Arrange dental checks at least once a year, more often for the senior ponies among them.
• Follow a vaccination and parasite-control programme set out by a vet.
• Give the pony daily exercise, it does wonders for the metabolic health.

The Shetland is quick to learn, and quicker still to spot a soft handler. That's exactly why early, consistent training matters so much. A pony allowed to push past people, refuse to lead, or barge for food will keep right on doing it, and bad habits in a clever pony are the very devil to correct once they've set in. Training goes best when the handler stays calm, firm, and predictable, with the same rules holding true every day without fail. And since plenty of Shetlands end up handled by children, it's the adult's job to set and hold those ground rules.

Basics

1. Teach the pony to lead, stop, and stand quietly in hand before anything else at all.
2. Set clear personal-space rules, so it won't crowd or barge people.
3. Bring in grooming, hoof handling, and tacking up gradually, and calmly.
4. Build up ridden or driving work in short, frequent sessions, to hold its attention.
5. Keep your responses consistent, so the pony always knows just what's expected.

Shetlands are slow to reach full physical maturity, and shouldn't be bred until they're fully grown, generally around three years of age or older, even though they may turn fertile before that. Mating follows the usual pattern for horses, with mares cycling seasonally and gestation running to roughly 11 months. A mare will typically carry a single foal, twins being rare and usually more trouble than they're worth.

Foals arrive small but full of go, and are able to stand and nurse within hours of being born. The mare provides the milk and the early guidance, and foals start sampling forage within a few weeks while still nursing away. Handling foals gently, and early, goes a long way toward producing ponies that are easy to manage later on. Given how small the breed is, real attention to the mare's condition, and to a sensible pairing of sire and dam, supports safe foaling and healthy foals alike.