Shetland Ponies

Source: Lonesome Dove Ranch © 2000

Shetland ponies are distinguished by their small size. The horse stands from 28 to 42 inches. The main breed registry in the United States, the American Shetland Pony Club, does not register any horse over 46 inches. The breed has a dense mane and a long forelock. The legs are short. As for the color, the breed comes in all colors except spotted. Thus, Shetlands can be of black, chestnut, bay, piebald, and other colors.

Shetland pony breeders and owners distinguish between two types of the breed. They are the Classic and the Modern Shetland pony. The Classic type is the straight descendent of the horses originally bred in Great Britain. The Modern type has Hackney pony blood in it. It has a number of various uses and often serves as a show horse and a horse for children. However, some people state that this type of Shetland pony is too high sprung and cannot rival the Classic Shetland ponies as a children's horse.