The Shetlands are original thinkers. Wilburn believes that ponies are more cunning than horses. He would inch forward to the escape door and turn around so he could hang his head out the door. I don't know of any horse that would have done that. He wanted to see what was going on.
Ponies also are curious and notorious for escaping from enclosures.
Some can learn to open latches, push open gates, or ground out electric fences. Due to their natural instincts, ponies are naturals for pasture breeding, with a stallion running with mares and foals. Dunning notes that in her herd, one mare might steal another's foal, which could possibly relate to their survival tactics used years ago on the Welsh hills. A stallion may take over a foal on the Welsh hills. Although they're tough, ponies aren't invincible.