450 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
November, 1909 
The American Shetland Pony 
By Fritz Morris 
thousands of our youngsters, must be im- 
ported is quite wrong. While the “‘shel- 
ties’ came originally from Shetland 
Islands, a fair sample of the species is 
bred in this country. One club has made 
it a special object to encourage the perpetuation and im- 
provement of the Shetland pony, and preserve a record of 
it, and they are so particular to maintain a high standard 
that no Shetland pony ex- 
ceeding forty-six inches in 
height is registered. The 
‘‘sheltie” is the most lovable 
of all animals, and he has a 
way of inspiring a lasting 
affection. He is as patient 
as a donkey, as spirited and 
active as a terrier, and as 
sure-footed as a mule, and 
it is just these characteris- 
tics which makes him such a 
prime favorite with parents 
for their children’s pet. 
The sheltie is of all col- 
ors—black, brown, dun, 
chestnut, piebald and cream 
—though the favorite color 
is a matter of fashion. Not 
long ago the blacks were considered the best and the piebald 
least desirable, although, at one time, the latter were in 
great demand. Taste altered and went to mouse-color, then 
changed to blacks, browns and bays. 
As a pet, pure and simple, it is considered that the ‘‘shel- 
tie’ has established himself in most families. Something 
in the nature of a freak from his babyhood upward, he has 
the knack of securing and maintaining his master’s love and 
is possessed of the singular power of transposing the posi- 
tions of master and servant, for the “‘sheltie,” as a rule, 
holds the whip-hand. He has an abiding fondness for chil- 
dren, and it is a curious fact that boys and girls seem better 
able to control him than their elders. The pony just now 
An equipage “ built to fit” 
Four-in-hand 
holds a very prominent and unique position. Unique, be- 
cause he has lately risen from the condition of a children’s 
plaything to a footing of practical adult usefulness; promi- 
nent, because the best of his kind carries a value in dollars 
and cents that is considerable. 
The Shetland pony breeders in this country are, just now, 
very much interested in the various types of the registered 
Shetland, and in developing and exhibiting them at the differ- 
rent State fairs, and it goes without saying that no 
up-to-date Horse Show is quite complete without including 
the distinguished liliputian 
quadrupeds in a_ well-ex- 
tended breeding classifica- 
tion. The harness classes 
have also added premiums. 
Some of these finely con- 
formed, and most gimpy, 
miniature animals are full 
of style and very trappy 
gaited, and they never fail 
to excite instant comment 
from the Horse Show 
critics. 
For a number of years 
the Illinois Shetland breed- 
ers’ exhibits have won about 
all of the money offered at 
the big State fairs and the 
city horse shows, and, as a 
demonstration of this fact, it may be stated that there were 
four different breeds of Shetland ponies exhibited the past 
season from some of the Illinois breeds. The Silver Spring 
farm herd of Logan W. Black was exhibited at the State 
fairs of Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Kentucky, Tennessee, where they won most of the prizes 
offered for Shetland ponies at each. 
The cost of what the average pony eats does not shrink 
the wallet of the owner to an appreciable extent. It is 
related of one little fellow who mysteriously disappeared, 
that after the passing of two or three weeks he was found 
in an abandoned clay pit, healthy and unconcerned, having 
rustled his living out of the hole and he was still happy. 
Registered Shetland mares 
