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the British breeds of ponies. Being- conspicuously intelligent, 

 docile and easily trained, the Shetland has long been in great favour 

 as a child's first riding pony, and has also been in use for light 

 harness work, either singly or in pairs, and amazing records of its 

 strength and endurance on the road could be quoted. 



The great commercial demand for Shetland Ponies may, however, 

 be said to date from their employment in the coal mines of the 

 North of England. In many of these the thin coal seams and 

 consequent low workings necessitate the use of very small ponies, 

 and the Shetland, being the only pony under 10 hands, has had 

 this market practically to itself. 



The Shetland was the first of our pony breeds to possess a Stud 

 Book of its own. This was started in 1889 the headquarters are 

 at Aberdeen and has given a great stimulus to the careful 

 breeding of the ponies, and of late years, owing to the imposition of 

 heavy duties on unregistered animals imported into Canada or the 

 United States, it has proved of immense value to breeders who had 

 the foresight to register their ponies. 



Characteristics of the breed. By the rules of the Stud Book 

 Society, no animal which at three years old exceeds 40 inches in 

 height, or at four years 42 inches, is accepted for registration. 

 This has proved a salutary safeguard against the introduction of 

 alien blood. These are, of course, the extreme heights, and 

 anything from 38 to 40 inches may be taken as the usual height of 

 registered ponies. Instances of animals as small as 25 inches are 

 recorded, but are of doubtful authenticity. Perfectly formed and 

 fully grown specimens from 30 to 31 inches high, are, however, to 

 be obtained. Pure Shetland Ponies of all colours are found, but 

 from an early period blacks and dark browns were reckoned the 

 hardiest and best by the islanders, and these colours have been most 

 favoured by breeders. White markings are viewed with suspicion, 

 and the feet, which are as a rule exceptionally well shaped, should 

 be of good dark horn throughout. A white hoof is rarely seen, 

 except on pied ponies, for which there is a demand in the United 

 States, but whole-coloured animals are most favoured in this 

 country. Grey is probably the rarest colour of all, and was almost 

 in danger of becoming extinct, but an effort is now being made to 

 prevent this. 



The following points are regarded as desirable : 



Head small, fine, if anything rather dish-faced ; eyes large, 

 intelligent, and set not too high in the head ; nostrils wide and 

 sensitive ; ears short and well carried ; mane and forelock full and 

 flowing. 



Body compact, with well-sprung ribs and short straight back ; 

 quarters strong and not drooping ; shoulders deep and well laid back. 



Legs, The forelegs short, strong and muscular, with great 

 forearm and well-arched knees. Cannon bones short and flat, 

 pasterns clean, long and flexible. The hind legs should have well- 

 developed thighs with no suspicion of being cowhocked. 



Feet round, open and of good blue horn. 



Tail full, abundant, and Avell carried. 



