SHELTIE — SHIRE HORSE 



get along very well without shelter of any kind, unless it be 

 a tree, it is always best to provide them with a refuge from 

 the inclemency of the weather, and a place in which to feed 

 them. (See Hovels, Sheds, Turtiing Out.) 



Sheltie. — A term derived from Hjaltland, the original 

 Scandinavian form of Scotland. (See Shetland Potty.) 



Shetland Pony. — This breed, also known as the Sheltie, 

 is a native of the Shetland Islands, and is noted for its small 

 size and great vigour. These ponies live entirely in the open, 

 and at times of scarcity have often been known to eat seaweed. 

 The recognised height is lo hands 2 inches, and the colours 

 brown, black-brown, or bay, with an occasional chestnut or 

 piebald. They are exceptionally long-lived and hardy, and 

 work well on poor food, having few equals for endurance; 

 hence the demand that exists for their services by owners 

 of coal mines. The chief characteristics of the breed are a 

 broad and rather short head ; large, intelligent-looking eyes ; 

 a rather thick neck ; a short, broad back ; short, heavy- 

 boned legs ; and a general air of determination and strength 

 in spite of their smallness of stature, which should not exceed 

 10 hands 2 inches. In one respect the Shetland is the most 

 fortunate of all the breeds of horses, inasmuch as it has 

 hitherto escaped being the victim of well-intentioned people 

 who, under the guise of attempting improvements, introduce 

 fantastic crosses into the variety they have in hand. 



Shire Horse. — Whether the Shire horse is a descendant 

 of the old English war - horse or not is a question 

 that is open to much doubt, as he very probably is ; but the 

 fact remains that for a great many years past this country 

 has been famous for its breed of big cart horses, which 

 are now known under the name of Shires. There is no 

 doubt at all, moreover, that the modern Shire horse owes a 

 good deal of its excellence to the sagacity and enterprise of 

 the successive British kings who imported big horses from 



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