Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21
A SHETLAND PONY FARM
WHERE HUNDREDS OF THESE
DAINTY ANIMALS ARE TRAINED.
Are Carefully Educated for Their Life
Work and Are Always Treated
With Kindness.

A Shetland pony farm, where ponies are
raised and trained for their life work, is a
place full of interest to one who admires
the gentle little creatureS-and who does
not?
From the time pony Is born until it
reaches the age when 1t may assume the
dignity of harness it receives the best of
care. There is farm in Wayne county.
Ind, where about 200 of the little animals
are produced every year. There are warm
barns with long rows of straw-Iittered
stalls; overhead are mows of sweet-smell-
ing hay. and trough of pure running wa
ter sparkles and gurgles at one end of each
barn.
Every stall contains pony, and they are
all as quiet and well behaved as thor
oughly disciplined school of children. If a
stranger enter the barn it is instantly
known by every pony there. and there is a
turning of heads and switching of tails in
dtcative of restrained curiosity.
There is a broad and long space of clean
flooring between the two rows of stalls. To
walk along this floor and inspect the ponies
from the rear recalls the remark of a
Famous man about Cinnamon: "They all
look alike until seen separately"
When the attendant whose. sole business
is to wait upon these small equine aristo-
Gratis, leads out one after another and OK
plains its distinguishing features, the diff
~ iSANO 10 tiieu quite ptTceptlDIe.
Here is one that has been especially
trained for some little girl who Is nervous
and timid. Its dainty step and Intelligent
dark eye indicate fine style and a tractabe.
like satin and it's little hoofs are like black
ivory.
Another is shown. sturdy. robust and
strong Fully as beautiful and Intelligent.
only not so sensitive the first. It has
natural qualifications suitable for the dis
position and use Of boy who is not at all
nervous or timid and who may wish to ride
or drive long distances in day. and who
may unthoughtfully speak loudly or rudely
or drop the whip too heavily across the
pony's back. and still not really wish to
nave runaway. There are grades between
these two extremes in which a pony NAV be
found suitable for any sort of bow or girl.
Ponies of almost any color desired may be
found, but the favorite colors are BAYS and
blacks. There is no demand for the sorrels
with large cream-colored spots such as
We're quite common some years ago. The
sohd coiors are regarded as more beautiful
ana are the only ones now sought by fas-
tidious buyers.
In training the ponies kindness Is prac-
ticed under all circumstances. When the
little pony colt, which a man can take up
in his arms and carry about, is strong
enough to run and play with its mother, a
little natter is put on it and 1t Is taught to
lead and start and stop at the word When
1t grows stronger, but not yet fully grown
a little set of buff harness. with silver
buckles, is fitted on it, and it Is driven
about with lines. A gentle pressure of the
bit on the tender mouth is sufficient to
guide It,
Later on it is hitched to a little yellow
cart and trotted about the smooth gravel
drives that wind among stately trees in
every direction. 1t is taken close to putting
locomotives and alongside queer-Iooking We
hlcies, and into the nsighborhood of shops
where there is the sound of changing iron
and pounding hammers and ringing bells
1ny oil b. -1s.;-
carefully noted and recorded, and Its spe-
cial qualifications for particular purposes
fully aScertainad.
1t has been learned at this farm that a
pony natural characteristics are not easily
changed. although vicious propensities NAV
In measure be subdued and timid.
shrinking spirit encouraged by kindness to
assume more confidence and aggressiveness
IL Is never attempted to teach the ponies
any special tricks, the sole purpose being
TO make them useful, tractable and safe
under all circumstances. When a pony is
sold and started away from the only home
and friends it has ever known the pur-
chaser Is recommended to be kind and con-
Siderate to 1t at all times
me ponies in the barns are kept there to
supply immediate demands They are
groomed and trained and kept accustomed
20 harness SO that they may be ready to
leave at any time. The greater number of
ponies are kept out of doors all winter. and
are taken into the barns only in the most
extreme weather, as wers these in the
barns before they were selected for sale.
Ihere are broad fields where the turf even
IN winter is beautiful. In the winter. too.
great racks are kept constantly supnIied
with crisp corn fodder and immense straw
stacks afford shelter from the wind and
ram All parts of the premises are keat
clean and healthful.
hen the ponies are permitted to remain
out all winter an astonishing growth of
halr appears This thick coat of hair is
teaVS ana long, and then the pony is far
from beautiful. But when the warmth of
spring comes the little creatures throw off
their winter clothing and appear smooth
and shiny in their new spring attire.
The patriarch Of this farm is appron1-
ateiy called Tom Thumb" He was i'm
ported from Shetland Islands ten years ago
ana Is now fourteen. He is coal black and
Is as dainty and vivacious as can b. i'm
as1ned: Dozens of ponies are tmported
from shetland every year for breeding pur-
poses. This Is made necessary because the
succeeding generations of ponies are larger
imam their progenitors, which result is at
tributed to the salubrious climate of this
country as compared with the native home
of the ponies. --oAAe