The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-04-28
THE SHETLAND PONY.

much attention wherever they appear, es
pccially among youth, that they general,
Iorm pare Of all the menageries that trav.
el through the country. No wonder thai,
tbey are great favorites with The girls and
boys: for their smli size, beautiful shape,
aud gentle, p'a fuI disposition, seem 10 fl
them ex1c,ly 10 be plsymates for young
people, aud The little horses ara always
fea5y g Join ln their pleasure excursions
.ud ifGlcs.
Egs pt was the or ginal country of horses
out as they are now found in all parts OF
the world, they differ greatly, each kind o.
horse being adapted 10 the climate and pro
luctons Of the country he inhabts. The
shetland pony is just the animal required
IN Scotland, the Shetland Islands, from
which It's name is derived, and Canada.
lis dimnuliye size suits the scanty vegeta
ton Of lhese countries, which would not
supper, large animals; but if they were as
feeble as they are small, they would be oi
,nlle service. They, however, possess i'm
mense strength in proportion 10 their size
and are so tough and healthy that they can
i've among The mountains through The long
winters, and survive 10 great age, even
tilly or sixty years.
In Scotland, they are called Shellies, and
as they have 10 take chre Of themselves
they run almost wild upon the mountains.
and viii climb up sleep places, standing
with ease on The very edge of most fright
4 Ia, ka atL
always wanted to carry the families Il
church, aud they must be caught on Satur-
lay. The rogues know how 10 make This
difficult task, II is pleasing sight, on
Sunday morning, TO see one or two women
mounted upon one of these ponies, cover
ing him So completely with their large dress
es, that nothing can be seen Of the pony
but lis droll little head.
A micdling-sized man must ride with hi:
knees raised to the animals shoulders, tt
preven, his toes from touching The ground
IL is surprising to see with what speed they
will carry heavy man over broken and
zigz,g roads ia their native mountains.
A gentleman, some time ago, was pre-.
sented with one Of these handsome little
animals, which was no less doclle that ele-
CANT, and measured only seven hands, OF
twenty eight inches in height. lie was
ANXIOUS to convey his present home q:
speedily as possible, but, being at consid
erable distance, was at loss how to do 81
most easily. The friend said, "Can 20,
not carry him in your chase" lie made
the experiment, and the Shelly was liitee
into it, covered up with the apron, and some
bits OF bread given him TO keep him quiet
lie lay peacefully till he reached his des
tina,;on. thus exhibiting the novel spectacle
If horse riding in gig.
A gentleman had a white pony, which
became extremely attached to a little white
dog that lived with him in the stable; and
whenever the horse was taken out, tho dog
always ran by bis side. One day, when
the groom took out the pony for exercise
and accompanied, as usual, by his canine
friend, they met large dog, which attacked
lhc diminulive cur, upon which the horse
reared, and, to the astorishmcnt OF the BY.
stJuders, So eitectuaI'y fought his friend, ;,
Datita with his forofcet, that the aggressni
| 'opnl II ior his interest TO scanPer oil al
.utI speed, snd never again venture to as
sail The small dog.
A little girl, the daughter Of q gentleman
in Warw ickshire (England,) playing on the
banks OF canal which runs through hIs
grounds, had tho misfortune to fall in, and
would in all probability, have been drown
ed, had not little pony, which had long
been in the family, plunged into the stream
and brought the child safely ashore, w.hou
the slightest injury.
| A farmer in Canada had large number
ofponies, and among them ayery handsome
and play ful one, which was a groa, iavoritt
with little boy about ten years of age
the only child ofthe farmer. One day th'
roy was sent several miles OH an errans
tor some money, with warning to relurr
before piyht. as the country was infested
with robbers. His visit was so delightful
tina, he forgo, the command Of his parents
and did not mount his pony to return tlll !
was quite dark. His road lay through
thick forest, and il was not long before
+ Ihishwayman al, acked and dragged hr
from his horse, which ran swiftly homewarc
Meantime, his terrified parents sat tren
bling BY their fireside, awaiting their boy
return. They were just preparing to 6
in search Of him, when they heard the cla
,erjpc of hoofs, and soon after loud kicl