Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-11-24
CUNNING CREATURES.
6HETLAND PONIES ARE RAISED IN
THIS COUNTRY TO SOME EXTENT.

nerd of Shetland ponies in this part OF the
country. The owner of the herd is Cap
tain Thomas T. Turner, and the IilliputiaI
horses are familiar sight to the many St
Louisans who have visited the Turner
homestead at Marietta, near Normandy.
The breeding Of the Shetland pony in the
United States has been brought about only
within recent years, and, though it pays
we'll, the breeders are not numerous, and a
collection Of the animals anywhere outside
circus Is still a curiosity. Mares are very
scarce, and buyers from the United States
come in competition with the eager search
of horsemen from Scotland, Germany,
South America and even Australia.
The entire annual pony product Of the
Shetland islands is estimated at about 600
head, and this scarcely supplies the de-
mand. However, the business in the
United States has assumed such proper
lions as justify an association of breed
ers, and Captain Turner is on the list of
local vice presidents Of the American Shet-
land Pony club.
The ponies at Marietta live in clover
figuratively. That is, they live on blue
grass, and blue grass is to the stomach Of
the shaggy Shetlander what lark s tongues
were to LuCullus. On his native heath
unless he happens TO be on terms of an
cestral equality with the Marquis of Lon
donderry's herd-the Shetlander has
hard time Of It. Like his hardy broncho
cousin OF the American prairies, he must
''rustle" in winter, and under greater dis
advantages. The barren Shetland islands
afford scant sustenance, and when snow
covers the heather on the hillsides the
native pony will not turn up his nose at
seaWeed.
The Marietta herd was started in 1875.
when Captain Turner paid more attention
to farming than he does now. In that
year his first importation-ten mares and
a staiiion-were obtained through Cana
dian, and later he purchased twenty-three
more on board ship at New York. The
stallion that accompanied this second draft !
Of mares was from Lord Londonderry /
island herd and cost $500. Though S years /
of age and tult grown, be measured hut /
thirty four inches. About two years ago /
Captain Turner, having less time than for l
merly TO devote to the raising of blooded /
live stock, put up at auction on the St. |
Louis market forty-two head of Shetland
ponies.
This sale attracted many people who
were on the lookout for bargains, and who
expected to get at auction for about
twenty-five dollars each ponies that
had either commanded several times
that sum or were not for sale
X Nj. These bargain hunters were disap-
Yr'Assss. and the owner himself was much 4
surprised at the result Buyers had come
from distance, and tie average price paid
for each pony under the auctioneer's ham
mer was 80, one spotted mare named
Queenette fetched S60', and the cheapest Of
the lot was blemisAed colt that sold for
$50.
There are now about thirty ponies roam
ing the wooded lawn at Marietta The
tarm OF some go acres IS all pasture land
but the shetiands' stamping ground Is
chiefly the seventy acres of shaded grass
the house. No lawn mower
DR. scythe is required To keep this lawn I'm
order The ponies attend to that. They I
Eat close 10 the ground. much Ia the man {
ler OF sheep, and their constant nibblinn \
xeeps the grass well trimmed. Concerning
heir care there is not much to relate,
Practically they take care Of themselves.
n summer their only food is the blue '
yrass. In winter they are allowed some I
ray, which they MUNICH at the stocks on a q
III that oveTlooks the Mississippi and Mis-
Jouis county. l
Under these conditions the Shetland
'ony yields his owner a reasonable income ,
any especial outlay beyond the
riginal Investment. These ponies are not
fiicted with the diseases that make sheen v
alsing nuisance, nor do they, like sheep. I
all prey 20 savage dogs. The mares Z
srely fail to foal, ard their offspring Z
rhfu pa4rtfrIt~s aud ~ Q 4
Forth from S55 20 500, while the spotted @
nares and horses command twice these a
rices. 4
The ponies in Captain Turner's herd. I
hough OF fine extraction, are not conven- G
Ional in appearance. Their names and I
ails are not Of that prodigious growth |,
Thich one sees pictured in the circus post .
rs, but when groomed and in working n
ondition for saddle and harness their as q
ect undergoes a change. Rounded up for g
he inspection OF visitors, they are interest r.
ng in variety Of color and size. Conspicu- /,
us In the bunch is the lord Of the herd n
n albino stallion, regarded as something
4 a freak by reason Of his unusual hue.
Re was bred by Dan Swigert, of Spring
tation, Ky, and only the brown tin OF one 1,
ar mars the prevailing pink tint The u
oloring Of The Shetland ponies varies
realty from a very light fawn to brown
nd black, and the cream aud piehald coats Il
re by some persons attributed to a sun c,
osed Arabian cross
When the Shetland pony was even more
aluable and scarce than he Is today there
Eas confusion Of facts concerning his
IDENTIFY In the mind Of the public, and O
many fanciful things found their way into \
rint about his origin, habits, cost and q
disposition. But the sturdy little fellow :;
better known now, and several herds IN ~ y
owa-already numbering from 30 10 $50 "
cad, will no doubt cheaper the price OF ID
mis- precious pet As yet his rearing ia n
I'll looked upon by some men of means AZ 6
profitable pastime. Mckee Rankin. the 8
etor, has herd on an island In New York a
tate, and Stilson Hutchins, the editor. ia =
locking an island in one OF the areat :,
skes.-St. Louis Republic.
A Timely Correction. :
Texas young lady. who had enjoyed
a. ivsar - Il. ]