Shetland ponies hold a special place in equestrian hearts around the world. Due to their small size and friendly nature, they are often the first pony for a young rider.

Shetland Bunny originates from the Scottish Shetland Islands, which are located 105.6 miles (170 km) northeast of the mainland. This gentle pony breed is easy to recognize by its short legs, deep girth, and springy stride.

Often called “Shetties” in the equine world, they can be of any color except spotted. The most common colors in the breed are black, bay, chestnut and pinto.

Shetland Ponies are also suitable for riding and driving and are still used as pack ponies on their native islands.

Here are ten facts about Shetland ponies:

The Shetland Pony breed is thousands of years old

Researchers believe that the ancestors of Shetland ponies have roamed the Shetland Islands since the Bronze Age (3300 BC – 1200 BC).

Shetland ponies are believed to be descended from endemic Celtic and Scandinavian ponies that were brought to the Shetland Islands between 2000 and 1000 BC. This makes it one of the oldest horse breeds in the world.

Because of the relative isolation of the Shetland Islands, Shetland ponies are one of the purest breeds in existence.

Shetland ponies have not affected modern horse breeds and still retain their original appearance for thousands of years.

Shetlands is the most popular pony breed in the world

Every horse lover has heard of the adorable and adorable Shetland ponies. They have been exported all over the world and are widely used as children’s riding horses.

According to current estimates, there are 100,000 Shetland ponies in the world today. Of the entire population, 50,000 horses live in the Netherlands and 15,000 in Britain.

About 1,000 ponies live in the Shetland Islands, and they are bred by 150 Shetland ponies breeders.

Did you know that Shetland ponies are allowed to roam freely on some islands? However, this does not mean that they are wild, as the ponies belong to the local landowners or “crofters” who look after them.

Maximum height of Shetland ponies 42 inches (107 cm)

The Shetland Pony Society book limits the height of registered Shetland Ponies to 42 inches (107 cm). This makes the Shetland Pony one of the smallest horse breeds in the world.

In the United States, Shetland ponies can be up to 46 inches (117 cm) long. However, American Shetlands differ from the original Shetland Pony in that they were influenced by many horse and pony breeds.

Shetland ponies are very strong for their size

Shetland ponies are small but powerful. These small, compact horses can pull up to twice their body weight, which ranges from 400 to 450 pounds (181.4 to 204.1 kg) on ​​average. (Source: Animal World)

Because of their remarkable strength and ability to travel over rugged terrain, Shetland Bunnies used to carry peat in large saddle bags, an abundant fuel source in the Shetland Islands. Today, islanders mainly keep them as riding and driving ponies.

Shetland ponies are very tough

The Shetland Islands are not a welcoming place for horses. The climate here is cold and windy most of the year, winters are harsh, and the landscape is rugged with rare plants.

All the native animals that live here must be very tough and resilient to survive, like the Shetland Pony.

Over the past millennia, ponies have perfectly adapted to their hostile environment. They became young, strong, and developed thick double winter coats. Its long manes and tail also keep it warm when the temperature drops.

The other great strength of Shetland ponies is that they can survive on very little fodder. They are the ultimate in top performers and have excellent food conversion rates. Ponies also feed on seaweed that washes up on beaches, which is an excellent source of minerals to supplement their diet. (Source: Shetland.org)

Shetland Ponies used to work in the mines

Shetland ponies were originally used for farming, driving wagons, and carrying peat and other materials. Their strength, good work ethic, and economic patronage made dowries a valuable workforce for the local islanders.

Since the 1840s, a new law in Great Britain has prohibited the employment of women and children in coal mines. As an alternative, miners used the Shetland bunny which can easily transport coal through small underground tunnels.

As the demand for “baby ponies” increased, thousands of Shetland Islands traveled to mainland Britain. The United States also imported Shetland ponies to work in coal mines on the East Coast. This new role cemented the breed’s popularity and increased the number of Shetland ponies worldwide.

However, life in the coal mine is far less than ideal for a pony. Many young ponies worked underground all their lives, never catching a glimpse of the sunlight.

Due to protests throughout the 20th century, operations using pony began to close, and the last pony mine in the United States closed in 1971.

The Shetland Bunny Writers’ Society was founded in 1890

As the demand for Shetland ponies increased from the mid-19th century, locals began breeding them in Shetland. In 1890, they founded the Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society to track the breeding processes and maintain the purity and quality of the breed.

In 1957, breeders launched the Shetland Premium Stallion System to encourage the use of high quality stallions. The purpose of the scheme was to further improve the existing breeding stock.

Shetland pony played a vital role in the establishment of many small horse and pony breeds. These include the Pony of the Americas, American Shetland Pony, German Classic Pony, American Miniature, and Falabella.

Since the late 19th century, the need for small working ponies has increased in other parts of the world. The first Shetland ponies made their way to the United States in 1885.

Three years later, the American Shetland Pony Club was formed to register Shetland ponies in the country and develop a distinct breed.

The American Shetland Pony is more refined and lighter in construction than the traditional version. This is due to crossbreeding with Welsh ponies, Hackness and Show pony.

Shetland ponies live a long life

Similar to the Haflinger and Fjord pony breeds, Shetland ponies are also famous for their long lifespan. Scientists believe that this is due to the more efficient regulation of the respiratory system during exercise and the denser bone structure. Ponies also generally live “slower” lives than horses, which contributes to their higher life expectancy.

It is customary for a Shetland Bunny to live past his 30th birthday. The oldest recorded pony was a 10 Shetland pony via Exmoor called the Sugar Puff.

Listed in the Guide  to History’s Oldest Horses , the Sugar Puff lived to 56 years old, roughly 145 in human years!!

Sugar Puff has been owned by Sally Botting of West Sussex, England, since he was 29 years old. Sally’s daughter Claire even learned to ride on it!

“  It was a safe and reliable pony – we used to teach the kids to ride on it at school events. It was also old at gymkhana and the Pony Club,” she tells Horse and Hound.

Shetlands is a popular riding school ponies

Riding schools all over the world use Shetland as the first pony for their young riders. Their small size and relaxed temperament make the breed ideal for introducing children into the world of horses. Although you might argue that Shetland ponies can be cheeky and stubborn, they are rarely dangerous.

Children under the age of 2.5 can ride ponies, according to the Shetland Pony Club in Surrey, England. By this age, most children have developed the core strength needed to sit upright on the saddle and can begin riding under close supervision. Shetland Ponies can comfortably carry babies up to 5 1 (155 cm) and 105 lb (47.6 kg).

However, Shetland ponies are not just for children. Adults can also show it at horse shows and driving competitions. Shetland can also be trained as therapeutic riding and even as guide horses!

There are Shetland pony races

Who would have thought that a Shetland could turn into a racehorse too?! In the United Kingdom, the Shetland Pony Grand National is held at several major equestrian events each year.

Shetland pony races always attract huge crowds and are the highlights of the Olympia Horse Show in London and the Liverpool International Horse Show, for example.

Young jockeys competing in the Shetland Pony Grand National must be between 8 and 14 years old and less than 5 feet (152.4 cm) in height. The Shetland Pony Grand National is the first step towards becoming a professional jockey for the many kids who make up the team.

Seb Garner, who organizes pony races across the UK, told Pony magazine that kids train hard before they even set foot on the racetrack. They must be experienced jockeys and show good control of the ponies before they can race.

“The ponies go very, very fast, so we need riders with a lot of experience who are used to riding fast and jumping and turning in tight corners on little ponies!”  Seb Garner revealed in Pony magazine.

The Shetland Pony Grand National organizes both vault and flat races for children. Furthermore, Junior Harness Racing in Queensland, Australia offers children aged 6-16 the opportunity to drive Shetland ponies under racing conditions.