THE SHETLAND PONY 



177 



pony. At the very next show, perhaps, the opposite type gets the preference, 

 which naturally creates confusion in the minds of those who are not fully con- 

 versant with the show history of the breed. 



The characteristics of the Shetland pony are very marked in 

 certain directions. The head of the Shetland should not be too 

 fine ; the eye should be prominent ; the neck short and strong, 

 with some crest in stallions ; the shoulders strong, well laid in, and 

 not too heavy ; the breast prominent and full ; the body short in 

 coupling, wide on the back, with considerable spring and depth of 

 rib ; the croup broad, 

 fairly level, and wide, 

 with the tail set high ; 

 the quarters full and 

 strong ; the legs short 

 and of superior bone, 

 though perhaps ap- 

 pearing heavy ; and 

 the feet round, dark, 

 and of excellent bone. 

 The natural tendency 

 is for the Shetland to 

 be " cow hocked," 

 thus giving an inferior 

 placement of the hind 

 legs. Narrow chests 

 are also too common. 



The color of the Shetland pony is variable black, bay, and brown 

 being the more common. Gray, chestnut, roan, and piebald (that 

 is, spotted) are seen, the latter, in fact, being somewhat frequent. 



The coat of hair of the Shetland pony is one of its striking 

 features. In common with all animals originating in a cold, moist 

 climate, the hair naturally tends to be thick and long. On the 

 islands, as winter approaches, this may attain a length of three 

 inches on the body, which causes the pony to present a very 

 rough, hairy appearance. This furnishes important protection in 

 winter, and in spring, as it sheds off, the pony presents a trimmer, 

 neater appearance. In America many Shetlands have rough coats 

 in winter, but the tendency is to show less hair than on the islands. 



FIG. 69. A Shetland pony, first in class at show of 



the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. 



From photograph by the author 



