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The Early Years
Unfortunately early records do not confirm how the ponies arrived on the islands. It is believed they may have been introduced by the Norse settlers, or the
Picts who were of the same Celtic race as the early inhabitants as the nearby Scottish mainland. Whilst the Shetland differs now from the horses to be found in Northern Scotland it was probably very similar in earlier times. Many factors have influenced the early evolvement of these horses including the building of roads, the improvement of the agricultural system, and the introduction of larger breeds from further South. An Edinburgh publication in 1701 attributes the Shetlands diminutive size and hardihood as follows....
"The coldness of the air, the barreness of the mountains on which they feed, and their hard usage, may occasion them to
keep so little, for if bigger horsesbe brought into the country, their kind within a little time will degenerate...being deep and mossie in many places,
these lighter horses come through when the greater and heavier would sink, and they leep over ditches very nimbly, yea, up and down rugged, mossy braes or
hillocks, with heavy riders upon them....i have seen them climb up braes upon their knees, when otherwise they could not get the height overcome, so that our
horses would be little, if at all servicable there".
Unfortunately early records do not confirm how the ponies arrived on the islands. It is believed they may have been introduced by the Norse settlers, or the
Picts who were of the same Celtic race as the early inhabitants as the nearby Scottish mainland. Whilst the Shetland differs now from the horses to be found in Northern Scotland it was probably very similar in earlier times. Many factors have influenced the early evolvement of these horses including the building of roads, the improvement of the agricultural system, and the introduction of larger breeds from further South. An Edinburgh publication in 1701 attributes the Shetlands diminutive size and hardihood as follows....
"The coldness of the air, the barreness of the mountains on which they feed, and their hard usage, may occasion them to
keep so little, for if bigger horsesbe brought into the country, their kind within a little time will degenerate...being deep and mossie in many places,
these lighter horses come through when the greater and heavier would sink, and they leep over ditches very nimbly, yea, up and down rugged, mossy braes or
hillocks, with heavy riders upon them....i have seen them climb up braes upon their knees, when otherwise they could not get the height overcome, so that our
horses would be little, if at all servicable there".
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The Shetland was used in the fields although most of the croft work was carried out by larger ponies with Highlands, Icelandics, and various crosses being used. The Shetlands were a mode of transport around the islands before roads were introduced, and they were invaluable in bringing home the peats from the scatholds.
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There is a very vivid description of the breed published in the first stud book of 1891, with an extract from the 1897 Edinburgh reprint ‘Historical Description of the Zetland Islands’ by Thomas Gifford….
These diminutive horses have always been remarkable for the
wonderful amount of strength they possess considering their small size,
and the greatest amount of fatigue they are capable of enduring. Their hardihood
and sure-footedness may be accounted for by the manner of their life, and
probably to the same cause may be ascribed their sagacity, spirit, and activity.
Though left untamed, and perhaps unhandled for years, these sharp, little
animals are easily tamed and rendered docile, and, under kindly treatment, show
no signs of vice.
“The Shetland pony is the most lovable of animals in the wide
creation. To see it at it’s best, it should be seen with it’s foot on it’s native heath,
unencumbered with shoes, grazing and roaming wild over the breezy hills. They
are sprightly and active as terriers, sure-footed as mules, and patient as
donkeys. The horses accredited as the nobles of the lower animals, and the
Shetland pony stands at the head of the noblest race, as the most intelligent
and faithful of them all. I should like to have the explanation of the fact from
the comparative anatomists, it cannot be the climate, for the Icelandic ponies,
which are further Nort, are stupid brutes in comparison. Just look at the way the
Shetland and the Icelanders behave when they are embarked or disembarked on a voyage.
The Icelandic ponies are as hard to get in and out of a ship as so many swine. The
Shetlander pricks up his ears, cocks his tail, and mounts or dismounts the
gangway with a succession of springs, as if he had been accustomed to getting up
and down stairs all his life.”
These diminutive horses have always been remarkable for the
wonderful amount of strength they possess considering their small size,
and the greatest amount of fatigue they are capable of enduring. Their hardihood
and sure-footedness may be accounted for by the manner of their life, and
probably to the same cause may be ascribed their sagacity, spirit, and activity.
Though left untamed, and perhaps unhandled for years, these sharp, little
animals are easily tamed and rendered docile, and, under kindly treatment, show
no signs of vice.
“The Shetland pony is the most lovable of animals in the wide
creation. To see it at it’s best, it should be seen with it’s foot on it’s native heath,
unencumbered with shoes, grazing and roaming wild over the breezy hills. They
are sprightly and active as terriers, sure-footed as mules, and patient as
donkeys. The horses accredited as the nobles of the lower animals, and the
Shetland pony stands at the head of the noblest race, as the most intelligent
and faithful of them all. I should like to have the explanation of the fact from
the comparative anatomists, it cannot be the climate, for the Icelandic ponies,
which are further Nort, are stupid brutes in comparison. Just look at the way the
Shetland and the Icelanders behave when they are embarked or disembarked on a voyage.
The Icelandic ponies are as hard to get in and out of a ship as so many swine. The
Shetlander pricks up his ears, cocks his tail, and mounts or dismounts the
gangway with a succession of springs, as if he had been accustomed to getting up
and down stairs all his life.”
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The Pit Pony
Only a few ponies were shipped off the Islands on the small sailing vessels prior to 1847, but this changed when an Act of Parliament
was passed prohibiting the use of children in coal mines who had been employed pulling coal tubs along the seams, many of which were too low, even for a child to stand upright. The small size of the Shetland, without any compromise on strength, made them a popular choice for the mines. They were more easily
trained than some of their counterparts, taking days, rather than weeks, to learn the role.
Their work was hard and required a high level of endurance, travelling over 3,000 miles in the course of a year, and shifting as many tonnes of coal, but they
were well fed and the even temperatures of the mines kept them cold free, and, as a rule their coats and condition were said to be comparable with well kept
hunters. Whilst their treatment may have been harsh, it was not unkind and the Shetland was a favourite with many drivers who were said to weep at the loss of their Shetland friend through accident or illness.
Only a few ponies were shipped off the Islands on the small sailing vessels prior to 1847, but this changed when an Act of Parliament
was passed prohibiting the use of children in coal mines who had been employed pulling coal tubs along the seams, many of which were too low, even for a child to stand upright. The small size of the Shetland, without any compromise on strength, made them a popular choice for the mines. They were more easily
trained than some of their counterparts, taking days, rather than weeks, to learn the role.
Their work was hard and required a high level of endurance, travelling over 3,000 miles in the course of a year, and shifting as many tonnes of coal, but they
were well fed and the even temperatures of the mines kept them cold free, and, as a rule their coats and condition were said to be comparable with well kept
hunters. Whilst their treatment may have been harsh, it was not unkind and the Shetland was a favourite with many drivers who were said to weep at the loss of their Shetland friend through accident or illness.
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The Shetland Overseas
For logistical reasons only geldings or stallions were worked down the mines, which did leave a surplus of mares on the Islands, however in the late 1880's a large demand for the breed came from America, which enabled breeders to clear out their surplus at at good prices. There are reports that up to a thousand ponies a year were exported from the islands during this period.
For logistical reasons only geldings or stallions were worked down the mines, which did leave a surplus of mares on the Islands, however in the late 1880's a large demand for the breed came from America, which enabled breeders to clear out their surplus at at good prices. There are reports that up to a thousand ponies a year were exported from the islands during this period.
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During this time many ponies were also exported into Europe. The photograph on the left shows ponies more recently in Aalborg Zoo, Denmark 1953, and on the right Budapest Zoo, Hungary. |
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The Mother Stud Book
The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was founded in 1890, and is the oldest Native Pony Society in Great Britain, as well as being one of the oldest in the world. The first volume contained entries of 409 mares, and 48 stallions, all having been inspected by the Committee for correctness of type and conformation. It was at this time that the height limit was set at 42" as some pure bred ponies were, at this time, larger than this. The limit of 42" was set to ensure the breed remained unique and could not be confused with the larger native Welsh ponies, of which some crosses had been bred during the mining years. Contrary to popular belief the 'miniature Shetland', as we now call it, is not simply as product of downsize breeding over recent years as in this first volume a few mares, and two stallions were under the stick at less than 34". Recorded were 152 black mares, 11 skewbald, 85 brown, 32 bay, 19 piebald, 32 dun, 22 chestnut, 30 grey, 21 roan and 5 cream.
The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was founded in 1890, and is the oldest Native Pony Society in Great Britain, as well as being one of the oldest in the world. The first volume contained entries of 409 mares, and 48 stallions, all having been inspected by the Committee for correctness of type and conformation. It was at this time that the height limit was set at 42" as some pure bred ponies were, at this time, larger than this. The limit of 42" was set to ensure the breed remained unique and could not be confused with the larger native Welsh ponies, of which some crosses had been bred during the mining years. Contrary to popular belief the 'miniature Shetland', as we now call it, is not simply as product of downsize breeding over recent years as in this first volume a few mares, and two stallions were under the stick at less than 34". Recorded were 152 black mares, 11 skewbald, 85 brown, 32 bay, 19 piebald, 32 dun, 22 chestnut, 30 grey, 21 roan and 5 cream.
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Founder President was large coal mine owner, the Marquis of Londonderry who had his own stud, formed in the 1870's on the islands of Bressay and Noss, to supply his own stock to his collieries in County Durham. He, amongst the other founders recognised that the mining trade had had an impact on the number of good stallions available for use within the Islands.The Society was formed with a view to solve this problem, and improve the breed generally.
Ponies of the best conformation were selected and stallions bred closely to them. The most famous being 'Jack' registered as number 16 in the first stud book. Jack sired 49 direct descendants (including Odin, above right), out of the 58 mares recorded in the first two stud books.
Our mare Matilda of Quimper traces back to Jack in the first stud book and is the image of Odin.
Ponies of the best conformation were selected and stallions bred closely to them. The most famous being 'Jack' registered as number 16 in the first stud book. Jack sired 49 direct descendants (including Odin, above right), out of the 58 mares recorded in the first two stud books.
Our mare Matilda of Quimper traces back to Jack in the first stud book and is the image of Odin.
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In 1899 the Bressay stud of Lord Londonderry was sold by public auction which was attended by the Ladies Hope. Here they bought many of the best mares and stallions and brought them South to their then home in Sussex. These ponies included Odin (32) born in 1880, (son of Jack), who had 90 registered progeny, and Bretta (811), born 1888, a famous prize winning mare by Odin The ladies Hope continued to become more and more involved with breeding, showing and driving Shetlands. In 1901 they sold fifteen foals to H.I.M The Empress of Russia, and Cara (1894) to H.M Queen Victoria just before her death. Lady Estella was Vice President of the Stud Book Society in 1901 and President in 1902. In 1952 Lady Estella died and the South Park Stud was inherited by Lady Joan Gore-Langton, great niece of the ladies Hope. In 1989, following the death of Lady Joan, the ponies were passed to her niece by marriage, the Countess De La Warr. The stud today is the oldest registered herd of Shetlands in existence and also the only stud, then, and now, to carry no prefix to the names of their ponies. |
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Until 1973 the Stud Book was open at certain times to inspected mares who had failed to be previously registered. To qualify these mares were both inspected, and required to have a foal at foot by a registered stallion. The foal was also subject to inspection to prove that the mare was breeding ponies that were true to type. It was measures like these by the early studs, and the Society, that allow the Shetland to claim to be one of the purest bred native ponies.
The Island Stallion Scheme
During the second world war there was a dramatic drop in the registration of ponies, particularly from the Shetland Islands, and the quality of the ponies on the Isles was becoming inferior. Crofters had the right to run any ponies on the common grazings, the once high demand for colts had dropped and many were left to their own devices running wild on these lands, mating with any mares who crossed their paths. It was great cause for concern, but neither the Scottish Department of Agriculture, nor Mrs Maurice Cox, Vice-President of the Society, could see a way to solve this issue. Then, in 1955 the Crofters Act was passed which had powers to make regulations regarding the common grazings. A successful regulation was made which prohibited all but registered stallions from running on these grazings.
The Island Stallion Scheme
During the second world war there was a dramatic drop in the registration of ponies, particularly from the Shetland Islands, and the quality of the ponies on the Isles was becoming inferior. Crofters had the right to run any ponies on the common grazings, the once high demand for colts had dropped and many were left to their own devices running wild on these lands, mating with any mares who crossed their paths. It was great cause for concern, but neither the Scottish Department of Agriculture, nor Mrs Maurice Cox, Vice-President of the Society, could see a way to solve this issue. Then, in 1955 the Crofters Act was passed which had powers to make regulations regarding the common grazings. A successful regulation was made which prohibited all but registered stallions from running on these grazings.
