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CHAPTER IV. 



SHETLAND PONIES. 



Shetland ponies are probably the smallest breed 

 of horses in Europe, and their native home is in 

 the Orkney and Shetland Islands. A difference of 

 opinion exists as to whether these ponies were intro- 

 duced by the Norwegians in their invasion of Shetland 

 during the ninth century, or whether they were 

 indigenous to these islands before that period. The 

 majority of evidence is in favour of the latter con- 

 tention, and it is held by many competent authorities 

 that Shetland ponies were used by the Celtic natives 

 as far back as the fourth and fifth centuries. 



CHARACTERISTICS. 



The chief characteristic of Shetland ponies is their 

 small size. They range in height from nine to eleven 

 hands, and are comparatively thicker and broader in 

 proportion to their height than most other breeds of 

 horses. They are hardy constitutionally, and can en- 

 dure great fatigue, whilst their extraordinary strength 

 is marvellous. They possess good tempers, are very 

 sagacious and docile, and are easily trained to all 



