176 



THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



breeder, has used Arab pony stallions on Shetland mares, pro- 

 ducing a pony of considerable refinement about 46 to 48 inches 

 high. These are known in the trade as Fetlar, or Lady Nicholson 

 ponies. On Bressay, Iceland ponies have been crossed on Shet- 

 lands. Visitors to the islands have seen work horses weighing 

 from 1200 to 1500 pounds, some of which have been bred to 



Fig. 68. A pony mare in winter coat on one of the Shetland Islands. From 

 photograph, by courtesy of John Anderson & Sons, Lerwick, Scotland 



Shetland stallions. Bearing on the subject of Shetland type, the 

 following, by a well-known British authority,^ is of interest: 



At present, things are somewhat in a transition stage, which causes confu- 

 sion in the minds of some people as to what is the correct type. When the 

 show career of the Sheltie first commenced, the best paying demand was 

 undoubtedly for the pits, and the aim was to get the biggest possible bulk as 

 near the ground as possible, while symmetry and true action had to take a 

 secondary place. Fortunately for the breed, however, the advent of the foreign 

 demand has created a higher standard. Beauty of shape and smart, well carried 

 head counts for more than it used to, and true, close and springy action is 

 deemed essential. Occasionally, however, when a judge full of the old tradi- 

 tions officiates, the prizes will go to ponies with huge bodies on abnormally 

 short legs, suggestive of moles, and no doubt most valuable to drag a hutch in 

 the low galleries of a coal mine, but absolutely unsuited for a child's saddle 



1 Frank T. Barton, Ponies and All about Them. London, 1911. 

 Digitized by Microsoft® 



