THE PONY BREEDS OF HORSES 169 
about 16,000 of these ponies, and as the stud-book has been 
open for about thirty-four years, this number includes 
those that have died in that time. The Shetland pony 
may be considered to be comparatively rare. 
198. Description of the Shetland pony. — The limit 
of height established by the Shetland Pony Stud-book 
Society is ten hands two inches. Ponies over this height 
cannot be registered, 
although in America 
the Shetland Pony 
Club has increased _-® : Vi pes 
the height to eleven ; 
hands two _ inches. 
The average height 
of the pure Shetland 
may be said to be nine 
to ten hands. The 
size is more or less a “Agee a is 
result of the feed, and Fic. 24.— Shetland stallion. 
when food is supplied 
in abundance there is a gradual increase in size in succes- 
sive generations. This increase is less apparent in highly 
bred ponies. The weight of mature Shetlands should ap- 
proximate 325 to 375 pounds, for ponies of average height. 
The best specimens are compact in build, having deep 
body, heavy muscular quarters, short legs, short, broad 
back, deep, full chest, good bone, short, muscular neck, 
small head and ears, prominent eyes and a very docile 
disposition. In color, they are commonly brown, 
black and bay. There are other colors, such as dun, 
chestnut, gray and a few with white markings. Pie- 
balds are not considered desirable, although there is a 
demand for broken colors in America (Fig. 24). 
Reels vO egg 
