The Portland daily press., 1900-04-19
oomp.ny win D. brought By RObiu'sn''
RAISING SHETLAND PONIES.
A Farm on which They are Reared and
Trained 60 be Pets for Children.


t1koM tuo Guioaso xFtDuu1sI
A shetland pony farm, where ponies
are raised and trained for their life work
10 place full Of interest to one who ad
mirss the gentle little orsaturss-and whs
does notf
From the time pony is horn until 4
reaches the age when 10 may assume the
dignity Of harness 10 rsoeises the best oI
care. There 10 farm In Wayne county,
Ind, where about two hundred Of these
little animals are produced every year.
Thers are warm barns with long row.
OF straw-littersd stalls; overhead are
mows Of sweet-smeiling hay. sand q
trough Of pure running water sparklss
and gurgles at one end OF the barn.
Every stall contains pony, and they
thoroue bag disciplined school OF children.
stranger sntsrs the barn % Is instant.
uown BY every pony there, and thsrs
urning OF heads and switching ol
Indicative Of rsstrsined curiosity.
Iere Is broad and long spaos Of clean
flooring between the two rows Of stalls.
10 walk along this floor and inspect tne
ponies from the rear recalls this remark Of
. famous man about Chinamen; "1hsy
all lnok alike until ss,n separately"
When the attendant. whose sole business
10 to walt upon these small equine afis-
tocrats, leads out one after another and
explains Its distinguishing features. the
difference is then quite psrceptibie.
Here Is one that has been especially
trained for some little girl who is nsrv-
Gus ana timjd. Its 6ainty step and In
teiIigen dark eye indicate tine style and
q tracta ble, decile disposition Its glcs.y
coat shines like sntin and Its little hoofs
are like black ivory.
Another is shown. sturdy, robust and
strong. Fully as bssufiful and intslii-
gent, It is not 80 gsr sitive ns the trsf.
1t has natural our 1iiications suitable f. r
the dispositis n and use OF n boy who Is
not at all nervous or timid and who
n ay Wish to rids or drive long distanc.
es In n osy, and uho may unthoushtedly
speak loudly or rndsIy or drop o whip
too heavily across this pony 5 pack, and
3hsre are grades between thess two ex-
tremes In which pony may b. found
suitable fer any sort OF boy or girl.
Ponies of almost any color desired may
be found, but the favorits cclora are bays
and blacks. Thsre is no demand for the
sorrsls with large cream ooiorsd spots.
such as were quite common soma years
ago. The solid ooiors are regarded as
more beautiful Rad are the only ones now
sought by fastidicus buyers.
In training the ponies kindness 10 prae-
tised under all circun ancss. When the
little pony colt. which man can take up
I'm his arms and carry about, Is strong
little halter IL put on 10 and 1t rs taught
to leap and start and stop ut the word.
when it grows stronger, but not yet
fully grown, little sst Of pun harness.
with ailyer buckles, is lifted on 1t, and
it is driven about with linas. A gentle
pressure OF the bit on the tender mouth Is
sufficient to guide IL.
Lister ON 1t Ii hitohed to littls yellow
cart and trottsd about the smooth gravel
drives that wind among stately trees In
every direction. II IL taken nlose TO
pulling locomotives and alongstde auser
hood Of shcps where there 10 the sound OF
changing iron and pounding hammsrs
and rim Sing bells. Its actions under all
these conditions nrs carefully note1 and
recorded, and its special di disqualiiications
fer particular purposes fully ascertained.
IL has been learned It this farm thas n
pony's natural charso teIistics are not
e. SLY changed, although vicious proIen-
sities may in m easure be subdued, and
q tiwid, shrinking spirit encouraged BY
kindness to assume more confidence and
aggre 3siveness.
Il Is never attempted to teach ihe
ponies any special tricks, the sole purpt So
psing to maze them useful, trRctable and
safe undsr all circumstances. When q
pony Is sold and started sway from ths
ouly home and frien IL 10 has ever known
the purchaser Ia recommended to be kind
and oonsiderats to It at all times.
The ponies In the barns are kept there
to supply Immediate dsmAnds. They are
gr3omed and trained and kept aeous-
toned to harness SO that they may be
ready to leave at any time. The greatsr
um ber OF ponies are kept out OF doors
all winter, and are taken into the barns
only In the most extreme weAther, as
were those In the barns before they were
selected for sale.
There are broad fislds where the turf
eysn In winter Is beautiful. In the win-
ter, too. great racks are kept constantly
supplied with crisp corn fodder and i'm
meuss straw stacks afford shelter from
the wind and rain. All parts Of the
premises are kept clean and healthfuL
main out all winter an astonishing
growth of hair appears. This thick coat
Of hair is heavy and long, and then the
pony Is far from beautiful. Bot when
tbe warmth Of spring comes the little
creatures theow off their winter clothing
ana appear smootn hnu s'iny IN tnelr new
spring attire.
Ihs patriarch OF this farm Is Appropri-
ately called "Tom Thumb" He was
imported from Shetland Islands ten
yesrs ago and ls now IA. He Ia coal back
and is rs dainty and viyacious as can be
imagined. Dozens OF pnnias are I'm port
ed from Shetland every year for brseuing
purposes. This Is made necessary because
THE succeeding generations OF poutss are
lerrsr than their progenitors. wnioh re-
suit Is Attrit uted 10 the sslnbrious
climate Of this oouu utry as compared with
the native home OF the ponies