American Shetland Pony facts for kids
Harnessed to a sulky, Great Falls, Montana
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| Country of origin | United States |
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| Distribution | United States |
| Use | riding, driving |
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| Color | any color but spotted |
The American Shetland Pony is a popular type of pony that comes from the United States. It was developed from the traditional Shetland pony found in the Shetland Isles of Scotland. However, the American Shetland Pony is taller and more graceful. This is because it was bred with other horse and pony breeds. Unlike the traditional Shetland, it doesn't have a super thick coat. It looks more like a Hackney pony and has some features from Arabian horses. This pony is the most common pony breed in the U.S. In 1994, there were over 50,000 of them.
How the American Shetland Pony Came to Be
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The first time Shetland Ponies were officially brought to the United States was in 1885. A person named Eli Elliot imported 75 of them. Soon after, in 1888, a group called the American Shetland Pony Club was started. This club helps keep track of the ponies.
The original Shetland ponies were bred with other types of horses and ponies. The main one was the Hackney pony. Arabian horses, Harness Show Ponies, and Welsh ponies were also used. This mixing of breeds created a pony that was taller and more elegant. It had longer legs and finer bones. It also had high withers (the part of a horse's back between the shoulder blades) and sloping shoulders. These features made it great for pulling carts.
Even though it looks different, the American Shetland Pony is said to be as tough and strong as the traditional Shetland. It's the most common pony breed in the United States. Another American pony breed that came from the traditional Shetland is the Pony of the Americas. The American Shetland Pony also helped create the German Classic Pony.
Different Types of American Shetland Ponies
American Shetland Ponies can be registered in different groups by the American Shetland Pony Club. There are four main types:
- Foundation: These are the smallest and look most like the American Shetlands from the 1950s.
- Classic:
- Modern:
- Modern Pleasure:
These types have small differences in how they look. In the past, American Shetlands were in section B of the club's records, and traditional Shetlands were in section A.
What American Shetland Ponies Are Used For
The American Shetland Pony is very good at pulling things. They are often used as roadsters to pull small, two-wheeled carts called sulkies. They can also be used in "fine harness" shows, pulling fancy two-wheeled or four-wheeled carts.
These ponies can also be ridden. They are ridden with both Western saddles and English saddles. They are also shown in "Halter" classes, where judges look at the pony's body shape and how well it stands.
