The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-03-12
Our Olio.
SHETLAND PONIES.

The ponies are not an agricultural, but
a domestic necessity. In Shetland, as in
parts of Ireland, every family depends for
its supply of fuel on peat, and as peat Is
seldom found near at hand on the shore
where the houses stand, but on the hill
behind them-there is alwaysla hill inthe |
rear in Shetland, every island consisting
mainly of hill, with a patch or two OF
osmooth" land in few snug hooks by the
shore-and, as it often is alta distance OF
several steep aud stony miles, each house
REQUIRES several ponies, the number Deepen
ding on the distance and the character OF
the road. 4 family living convenient to
the peat may require only two peat car
riers, and another family may require half
dozen. The material, after it has been
dug and dried in the usual manner, IS car
ried home on the backs Of the ponies IN
baskets called "cassies. 1t is obvious
that the back which has to perform this
kind of service should be broad and strong,
The Shetland pony is a striking example
of development for generations past he
has been bred and reared and trained with
a uniformity which could not have been
secured in any other part Of the United
Kingdom. Hence his physique aud gen.
eral character, his hereditary instincts and
intelligence. his small size, aud his purity
and fxity of type. A pony belonging to
breed which has had TO pick its zigzag
way down a steep declivity during many
generations must be sure-fOoted. by the
same rule, pony whose grooms and play
mates include a dozen juveniles-the
children of the neighborhood who roll
about underneath him or upon his back
must be gentle and the same pony, living
on the seatl old on air sometimes rather
than on heritage, must be hardy. The
pony Of the Shetland Isles is, in fact, the
/ offspring Of circumstances. lie Is the pet
Of the family, gentle as the Arabs steed
under similar training. lie will follow bis
I friends in doors like dog, and lick the
plauers OF the childrens faces. He has
/ 90 more kick 10 him than cat, and
no more bite than a puppy. He Is no
/ bic example of the complete suppression OF
those vicious propeusities that some oil his
kind exhibit when they are ill.treated, and
Of the intelligence and good temper that
may be developed in horses by kindness.
There ia no precedent for his running
away. nor for his becoming frightened or
tired, even when be has carried some stout
laird from Lerwick TO bis house, many
Scotch miles across the Ellis He moves
down the rugged hillsides with admirable
circumspection, loaded pannier-iashiou
with two heavy -'eassies' Of peat picking
his way step By step, sometimes sideways.
In crossing boggy spots, where the water
IS retained, ADD green carpet Of aquatic
-Fas- tltLAt aNAEtft HRaHN 7tNN1t' So N'~+o
them headlong to grief in the sPongy trap,
he carefully smells the surface, and IS thus
enabled to eireumvent the danger. 10 the
winter the Shetland pony wears coat
: made Of felsed hair, and especially suited
for the season. His thick winter garment
is we'll adapted for protecting him against
The fogs aud damps Of the climate. 1t IS
exceedingly warm aud comfortable, hts
close to the wsaTers dapper form, and Is
not bad looking when new. But when
the coat grows old toward spring, at the
season when the new one should appear, It
becomes the shabbiest garment Of the kind
that you often see, Its very amplitude
aud the abundaacc Of the material render
Il the more conspicuous, when It Pee!s and
hangs for awhile ragged and worn out, and
then fails bit by bit till the whole Of IT
Disappears. No horse looks at his best
when losing bis old coat, aud the more
coats there may be to lose the worse iS
locks.-TAs London Field