CHAPTER XXII 



SHETLAND PONY 



The native home of the Shetland pony is on a group of rocky 

 islands about 200 miles north of Scotland. These lie between 

 59 and 61 north latitude, slightly to the east of north, and 

 comprise a total of about 1 20 islands, with a total area of some 

 500 square miles. Only about fifteen of these islands are inhab- 

 ited. The principal island is Mainland on which is located Lerwick, 

 the largest town and port with about 3700 inhabitants. Other 

 important islands are Fetlar, Bressay, Fair Isle, Yell, and Unst. 

 These islands are rough and barren as a rule, and are situated 

 in a turbulent sea, under unfavorable climatic conditions, where 

 a comparatively low temperature prevails for much of the year. 

 No trees or brush of significance grow on the islands, and what 

 land is cultivated lies in the valleys. On the islands the ponies 

 are fed grass and hay, not often receiving any grain, and it is 

 said that sometimes they are even obliged to eat seaweed on 

 account of shortage of hay. 



The ancestry of the Shetland pony is of course uncertain. The 

 drawings of the prehistoric horse in the caves of France show 

 considerable resemblance to the Shetland type, and it is sup- 

 posed that they are descendants of this prehistoric form. How 

 long they have been bred on the islands is not a matter of record, 

 but they have been bred there for centuries. In their early his- 

 tory they are doubtless more or less related to the ponies of 

 Iceland and Scandinavia, and perhaps Wales and Ireland. 



The type of the Shetland pony is really that of a small draft 

 horse, although many are seen that are fine of bone and slender 

 of body, more after the trotting-horse type. However, the ponies 

 on some of the Shetland Islands are of a different type from those 

 on others. In fact, it is claimed that a different type is found on 

 each of the following islands : South Mainland, Unst, Fetlar, 



