The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-11
eGnr he Children.
Shetland Ponies.

Shetland is rather remote quarter of
the world, and I should not wonder if the
majority of the boys knew very little
about it. Many of you have no doubt
heard of Odin, the old Scandinavian god.
Well, it is supposed that when he and his
followers travelled up from the Caucasian
Mountains northward to Norway and
Sweden, they took with them a number
of small Cossack horses, and that some of
these found their way to Shetland, for
the Shetland ponies very closely resemble
the small horses of certain parts of
Norway.
Shetland ponies are chiefly remarkable
for their small size and their wonderful
pluck, strength and hardness. In his
native home Shetland pony rarely has
the snug quarters which he usually finds
when he is taken South and becomes the
riding-horse of some little boy or girl.
He has frequently to endure cold, hun
and cherries country. He has need,
therefore. for his rough, shaggy coat, and
his hardy little frame. They enable him
to endure privation and hardship which
would speedily overcome animals that are
much larger and stronger in appear ance.
Almost every family in Shetland owns
two, three, or more ponies, which are used
for all purposes of draught and carriage,
for bringing in the farm produce-corn,
hay, potatoes, and the rest-as we'll as for
riding. Ii Shetlander has no cart, he
sings couple of baskets over
his pony's back, in which baskets he
places his marketing, or his load of peat,
or clods of dried tuft, which form so large
part Of his winter fuel.
We call these little animals ponies, and
rightly, but the Shetanders always speak
of them as horses, for the good reason,
| suppose, that they are almost the only
horses they know. They are often great
pets in the family. A writer on Shetland,
native of the island, in speaking of the
ponies, says: GAIL sorts of pretty aud
uncommon names are chosen for them.
Some of them develop great fondness
for sweetmeats, for which they will seek
the hand that caresses them. One of
these animals, when on a journey, will
every quarter of an hour or so turn his
head around to his rider, seeking the bit
of biscuit which is always provided for
him"
Altogether the Shetlanders would do
very badly without their sturdy, useful
little horses, and when the ponies are
taken far south to England, or to coun.
tries much farther away still, their value
by no means diminishes. They find
homes among the rich of the land, become
the pets on many home-farm and country
house, and boys and girls, whatever their
condition OF circumstances, think them
selves fortunate in possessing Shetland
pony.
In America we have large numbers of
Shetland ponies, and at the horse show
recently held in New York city, thousands
OF visitors hocked to the stalls where
these cunning little animals were placed
on exhibition. The special prize offered
for the best and smallest Shetland pony
was awarded to Midget, beautiful little
creature, black as a coal and only thirty.
eight inches in height, or about as large
as some OF the Newfoundland dogs with
which we are familiar. Roxie and her
cunning piebald colt were visited and ad-
mired by hundreds of boys and girls, who
played with the little creature, while the
proud mother stood cycling them with
delight.
Boy reader, value your pony, and make
the most of him as long as you can
Treat him well and wisely, and in after
life the delight you had in him will re-
main with you as a most pleasant mem
DRY. For my part, can never see pony
in the street, whether being led by q
groom or with young rider on his back
without strange feeling-half pleasure
and half some other kind of feeling thai
is more like sadness-while my memory
travels swiftly back to the days when ]
was boy, and spent so many happy
hours in company with Tiny, my beloved
Shetland pony.-Selected.