THE BREEDS OF HORSES 



color is usually bay, brown, chestnut, or roan. These horses 

 were first brought to America in 1866. In recent years, a 

 great many Belgians have been imported, and the breed has 

 grown much in favor, being second in this regard, probably, 

 to the Percheron. It is getting quite a foothold in the Middle- 

 western states. 



The Shetland pony has its native home on the Shetland 

 Islands, about 200 miles north of Scotland. These are very 

 rocky islands, and produce but little feed for live stock. The 

 climate is very cold and rough, and the winters are most 

 severe. There are about 120 islands, and Mainland is the 

 largest. These ponies 

 have been bred here per- 

 haps for centuries. They 

 vary quite a good deal in 

 type. The best sort of 

 Shetland stands from 36 

 to 42 inches high, and is 

 a shaggy, drafty-looking 

 little pony, especially in 

 the winter. These ponies 

 should really be miniature 

 draft horses, with full chests, wide backs, long ribs, and 

 long, wide, level rumps. The head should not be too fine, 

 and should have a broad forehead, and a nice, open, clear 

 eye, showing the pleasant disposition usual with ponies of 

 this breed. There are different colors, but bay, brown, and 

 black are most frequent. Shetland ponies are common all 

 over eastern America, and are great favorites with children. 

 They are very patient and are safe pets. In England, large 

 numbers have been used in the coal mines to haul coal cars. 



The Ass is commonly referred to in America as the 

 jack, this being the male, while the female is known as the 



Fig. 20. A Shetland Pony. First prize at 

 Glasgow. Photograph by the author. 



