The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-07-29

1T II very curious that Shetland
ponies do not become even more
popular than they are. Perfectly
bred specimens are only to be OBJ
tanned at price which few peo-
pie care to give for what Is prac-
.ically only q plaything for children.
One would think that an enterprtsing
breeder might find a good opening
here.
Away to the north of Scotland lies
the group OF islands In which the
diminutive horses commonly called
Shelties have their home. The Shet-
lands are not all Inhabited. some OF
the smaller islands being used merely
as pasturage for few sheep. There
is little to attract either the agricul-
turist or the merchant, 30 progress Is
slow: the islanders till their land by
oldfashioned methods. and many OF
them still have recourse to barter as
q means Of obtaining necessaries.
To the lover Of the beautiful and to
the artist there Is much to charm.
Some perhaps would describe the is
lands as barren-but what barrenness!
The country. though destitute Of trees,
Is so varied In the nature OF its seen
cry that their absence In no way de-
tracts from the general beauty Of the
landscape.
Countless tarns, streams and lochs
J all serve to make the coloring OF the
J heather-covered hills and the gloomy
tints OF the moors stand out In pleas
J ing contrasts. while near the sea bold
cliffs tower over the blue waters,
J whose waves dash against their rocky
sides. Overhead numerous sea birds
circle on their way to their nests on
. The lodges.
The largest island Is known as the
! mainland, with a length Of fifty-four
. miles and a width of twenty-one. The
Islands have singularly mild and
equable climate considering their ex
, posed situation and compose one ol
the most healthful districts Of Scot
land: but even the most adventurous
! tourists seldom visit them, because q
doubtful sea trip In a small steamer
| Is necessary before they can bt
. reached.
: OF the entire area Of 55l square
. miles scarcely one-sixth Is under cul
/ tivation, yet the Shetlanders manage
!. to maintain something like 100000
!, sheep, 10000 cattle and 5000 OF tn,
;. famous ponies. The Inhabitants ar
0 Of Morse origin and In their speed
and customs retain many Of the char
|. acteristics OF their forefathers. The
a support themselves chiefly by tn
Il herring and other fishing industries.
They cannot AFFORD to give muc
a feeding to their ponies. SO thes
3 hardy little animals run wild In herd
q on the hills or scatholds. picking u
4 what food they can find. When tn
bleak wintry weather comes on the
. find their way down to the seashort
where they derive a scanty living frol
the seaweed which grows upon th
autumn tides and freshened by mel
ed snow or rain. At this time Of yea
!. too, they will gather In groups nea
= the homesteads and are rewarded wit
IN occasional truss OF hay.
In spite of this precarious existenc
= the Shelties SEEM happy enough, an
y they are extremely hardy. They pc
- sess extraordinary strength for the
size, being able to carry a man .
woman with apparent ease for lor
- distances.
y The little ponies. with their roug
= shaggy coats and flowing names al
" tails, seem somehow to suit the
2. wild, rugged surroundings and Il
70 groups of them that are scatter,
40 about add the needed life to the Ian
~ scape
80 Perhaps 1t Is a question Of a 81
= vival Of the fittest that makes the
" little creatures 80 very small.
~ horses OF q larger type would be vi
less on the boEgy moors or on 4
stony hillsides. They have be
known to attain the age OF thir
70 years and more. due probably to I
On healthful mode OF life which tn
20 were forced to adopt. for they We
ii born In the fields and lived and di
he In them.
So The Shelties cannot be worked IN
&C. they are three or four years old q
L. do not reach maturity until they 1
- eight Or nine. Though occasions
~ employed In the Shetiands to dr.
Z Carts. = = = . saddle animal u