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Phoebe's Website
The Shetland Pony is thought to be developed from a cob-type pony from Southern Europe and a pony brought to the Shetland Islands by the Celtic people. (www.shetlandponystudbooksociety.co.uk)
Mammal. Relative to their size, the Shetland pony is recognized as the strongest Equid in existence. Shetlands can pull twice their own weight, giving them about twice the power of most heavy horses. They originated in the harsh climate of the Shetland Islands, far north of the Scottish mainland. For many centuries Shetland ponies lived in the open, with only their thick hair to protect them from the elements. They were domesticated around 500 B.C. and have been used all over the world for diverse purposes, from a riding horse to a plow or pack pony. The Shetland pony is one of the most popular horses in the world
When you live on a tiny, harsh island, you don’t need a giant draft to get your work done and it might be hard to keep one if grass is scarce. The Shetland Pony was the perfect size for the farmers on the isles, who used them for pulling carts, carrying peat and even plowing the farm land.
The Shetland Pony adapted well to their wildly beautiful home. They have “good conversion rates for food” and they even eat the seaweed that washes up on the beach to get nutrients such as minerals to supplement their scant diet. (Shetland.org) They also have a double coat in winter, which protects them against the harsh winds and cold.
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