Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-11-07
CLOSE Of CONTEST
CONTESTANTS FOR PONY OUT
FIT MAKING THINGS HUM
PONY & COMPLETE OUTFIT HERE
VIII Be the Property of Some Happy
Younaster Next Wednesday

The Dunlap Pony Contest conduct
ed by Ladysmith business men will
end at O'Clock next Tuesday even
| ing, Nov. IL, and the winner will be
announced as soon as the votes are
all counted the next day. The fol-
lowing gentlemen have kindly con-
sented to officiate as Judges O.
J. Falge, J. A. Michaelson and Rev.
c. l.. Hooking.
The fine Shetland pony arrived
here by express yesterday and can
now be seen at Nate Hands livery
barn with the outfit, which arrived
some time ago. 1t is a splendid out
fit, as all will testify who have seen
it.
A Few Facts About Shetiands
The Shetland is one of the oldest
varieties of the equine race existent
in the British Isles and can claim
longer and purer pedigree than any
other breed. For centuries the ami
mails were bred pure in their native
habitat due to it's isolation and the
fact that no outside crosses could
materially improve thes Sc staunch-
hearted, strong bodied little animals.
As one authority puts it, THE Shet-
land is the smallest of ponies, rang
ing from thirty-six to forty-four
inches in height and on account OF
his low stature and docile disposition
is by far the best child's pony. His
disposition, wonderfully good style
and action, economy of maintenance
and docility A boy Or girl can OBJ
tain more fun, physical development,
and ruddy health to the square inch
out of Shetland pony than in any
other way, and more unalloyed hap
piness than he or she is apt to get
out of fortune in after life
In the land of their nativity the
ShetlandS are owned by crofterS or
small farmers who own one or two
of the ponies per man. The ponies
are identified by marks on their
names, hoofs or tails and run to-
gether on commons and over the
steep hillsides. 1t is but rarely that
the animals are fed any grain and
during. the periods Of drought they
often come down to the shore and
feed on the seaweed. In a word the
animals are natural rustlers that are
developed purely on natural princi-
pies without being pampered in the
least. Under such conditions is it
any wonder that the little beasts are
rugged and robust and the possessors
of stamina and endurance?
The Shetland is really a type Of
small draft horse Of blocky, rotund
conformation showing heavy although
in no respect coarse bone. The small
est ponies are about thirty-four
inches high and weigh in the neigh
borhood of two hundred pounds.
Shetlands are variable in color
ranging from bay and brown to black,
gray, roam, chestnut and piebald No
breed of horses naturally supports SO
much hair as do the Shetlands. Po-
MES of this breed should exhibit
strong, drafty shoulders, prominent,
full breasts, short-coupled bodies Of
considerable depth, wide backs,
straight top lines, plenty of spring
Of rib, high set tails, short, we'll
5oned legs and dark hoofs that in
dicate fine bone
Shetlands have long been popular
in America as pets for children. The
children should be taught to care
for the little beasts and they should
always be made to feel that they
are responsible for the welfare Of
the ponies. Rapidly the child learns
to love the pony and the pony learns
to care for the child as his mas
ter. The intimate association is bene-
ficial to both The child i'll riding
and driving the pony not only de-
rives beneficial exercise but he also
develops presence of mind and learr
to control his temper.
The gentle nature of the Shetland
makes it a simple matter to break
these animals to the saddle or har-
ness Often it is possible to take
pony that has not even been brok-
en- to the halter directly from the
field and to hitch him up double with
some old, experienced pony and. to
break the youngster to the harness
in a few hours. 1t is quite easy>to
introduce the pony to the mysteries
Of the saddle.