232 THE HORSE BOOK. 



vironment of the mainland of Scotland and 

 England. In addition to its more menial duties 

 a use was soon found for the Shetland as the 

 pet and plaything of children, and in later years 

 this has become almost wholly the sphere of its 

 activities. Importation of Shetlands to this 

 country began in the middle of the last cen- 

 tury and on the kindly soil of many states it 

 has taken root and flourished amazingly. Natu- 

 rally on the rich lands of the cornbelt there has 

 been some trouble experienced to keep it from 

 growing too large, but the breeders by selection 

 and the wise regulations of the stud book have 

 kept the size down most acceptably. Shetland 

 ponies over 11.2 hands or 46 inches high can 

 not be registered as pure-bred. 



Hap-hazard matings in this country have not 

 done the breed any good. In an effort also to 

 keep the size down some breeders have made 

 use of ultra-diminutive stallions irrespective of 

 their individuality, with the result that too 

 often we find them ^^sheepy'' in conformation 

 and lacking in style, finish and action. On the 

 other hand some breeders have demonstrated 

 conclusively that even on the richest soil Shet- 

 lands m'ay be bred quite small enough and at 

 the same time little aristocrats from nose to 

 heels. Thick, rotund bodies, neat heads, well- 

 risen crests and short legs neither bucked in the 

 knees nor set in the hocks are points after which 

 the best breeders strive. The more action both 

 of knee and hock the better, but it is hard to get. 

 At that the market for Shetlands has of late 



