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Shetland Ponies

A unique and hardy breed...

Shetland Pony in Unst

Shetland's world-famous miniature ponies can be seen throughout the islands - grazing by the roadside, on the beaches or on the heathery hills. Appearing to roam wild, the ponies are, in fact, all owned and tended to by local crofters.

The flowing mane and tail, coupled with the thick furry winter coat protect against the often harsh conditions of the islands.

These captivating creatures stand anywhere between 28 and 42 inches high. Charming and instantly recognisable by their flowing mane and tail, the ponies can be seen modelling a black, chestnut, grey, bay, dun, blue roan, piebald or skewbald coat - thick and furry in the winter or short and soft during the summer months.

Shetland Pony

For over twelve centuries these fascinating small horses have roamed the exposed hills and moors of Shetland. This unrestricted lifestyle has led to the evolution of a unique and hardy breed, befitting the environment.

In the 1850's heavy black male ponies were in high demand for export to the British coal industry. This followed the introduction of a law in 1847 that banned children from working in the mines. Hardy, resilient and very strong for their size, the ponies made ideal substitutes as they were able to pass through low underground tunnels hauling truckloads of coal.

Shetland Ponies

Their export greatly reduced the number of stallions in Shetland, threatening future breeding patterns. As a result, the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was established in 1890 to rectify this and to ensure that purity of the breed was retained.

At home, Shetland ponies were used as workhorses - cultivating the land and transporting peat from hills - a useful addition to crofting families.

The first Stud Book asserts that Shetland ponies are foaled in the fields, live in the fields and die in the fields. This description still rings true today. Ponies graze on hill ground, known locally as common grazing or 'scattald'. The acres of rough heather clad moorland may appear scant subsistence for any animal. However, Shetland ponies have developed good conversion rates for food and high milk yield for their foals. In some parts, where land and sea meet, the ponies can supplement their diet with nutrients from mineral rich seaweed on beaches.

There is plenty of open space to roam freely and ponies can seek shelter, if need be, behind hillocks, old stonewalls or peat banks.

On Show

Today, Shetland ponies are talked about the world over, and are often a focal point at major competitions including the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley in October and the Shetland Pony Grand National, which forms part of the International Horse Show, at Olympia in December.

In Shetland, visitors will be able to spot them grazing by the roadside. They can generally be seen at Walls, Tingwall, Dunrossness and the island of Unst.

From May onward, new foals can be seen.

For further details on Shetland ponies and stud farms please contact:

Pony Breeders Association,

3 Gostagert Blick,

Sandness,

Shetland

ZE2 9PL

Tel:+44 (0) 1595 870 717

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