The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-16
The shetland Pony.
IIIenry Evershed in Forestry. !

The native live stock of Shetland cannot
generally be commended, but the we'll
known pony OF that part OF the world Is
perfect Of it, kind. As carts would be out
of place on the steep sides Of the hills, po-
nies are kept by every family for the pur-
pose OF carrying peat for winter use. The
fuel, after being dried, is placed in baskets
called "casSIes," one Of which hangs on
each side of the animals back-a strong,
broad back, admirably adapted for the
purpose OF bearing heavy burdens. The
:. Sheltiev is an animal which for many
generations has been bred and train
ed under special and peculiar circum-
stances, and hence his physique and
general character, his hereditary instincts
and intelligence, his small size, and his
purity and 1iXity OF type. \ pony belong
ing to a breed which has had to pick its
zigzag way down steep dccliviiy during
many generations must be sure-footed. By
the same rule a pony whose grooms and
playmates include a dozen iuyeniles-the
children of the neIghbOrh00d, who roll
about underneath him, or upon his back
must be gentle, and the same pony, living
on the scqthold on air sometimes, rather
than on heritage, must be hardy. The pony
OF the shetland Isles is in fact the off,
spring Of circumstances. He is the pet OF
the family, gentle as the Arabs steed
under similar training. He will follow his
friends indoors like dog, and lick the
platters or the childrcn's faces. He has no
more kick in him than a cat, and no more
bite than puppy. He is noble example
of the complete suppression Of those vicious
propensites that some OF his kind exhibit
when they are ill-treated, and of the intel
lipence and good temper that may be de-
no precedent for his running away, nor
for his becoming frightened or tired,
even when he has carried some stout
laird from Lerwick to his house,
many Scotch miles across the hills
He moves down the rugged hillsides
with admirable circumspection, loaded
manifestation with two heavy casses y
of peat. picking his way step by step, some
times sideways. In crossing DOGGY spots
where the water is retained, and greer
carpet OF aquatic grass might deceive some
steeds and bring them headlong to grie
in the spongy trap, he carefully smells The
surface. and is thus enabled TO circumven
the danger. In the winter the SHETLAND
pony wears coat made OF feIted hair
and specially suited for the occasion. Hi
thick winter garment is well adapted fol
protecting him against the fogs and damps
of the climate. II is exceedingly warn
and comfortable, fits close TO the wearer''
dapper form. and is not bad-looking wher
new. But when the coat grows old toward
spring, at the season when the new on
should appear, it becomes the shabbies
garment OF the kind that you often see. 1t
very amplitude and the abundance OF tn
material render it more conspicuous whel
it peels and hangs for awhile ragged ant
worn out, and then falls bit by bit till tn
whole OF it disappears. The number O
ponies bred IN different districts depend
on circumstances. A good breeding dis
trict must possess a good hill-that Is. a hill
living well for shelter, and well clothe,
with native vegetation, such as heather.