設德蘭矮種馬

設德蘭矮種馬，或稱設德蘭小馬，是矮種馬的一個品種，原產自設德蘭群島。設德蘭矮腳馬體型由最矮的大致71公分不得超過107公分或10.2掌寬。設德蘭矮種馬皮毛厚重、腿部短小而且普遍被認為智力較高。它們是一種十分強壯的矮種馬，多被用作騎乘、拖車、載貨等用途。歷史.設德蘭矮種馬原產自蘇格蘭本土東北方的設德蘭群島。 自青銅時代起，設德蘭群島上就開始馴養小型馬。島上的原住民可能隨後將本地馬種與諾斯人移民帶來的矮種馬雜交。 公元前2000年至前1000年之間被引進的可能也對設德蘭矮種馬有一定的影響。由於環境惡劣、食物缺乏，當地矮種馬變得極其適應惡劣環境。設德蘭矮種馬最初被用於拖拉推車，拉載泥炭、煤及其他物品，耕犁農田。在19世紀中葉，由於工業革命大大增加了煤炭的需求量，成百上千的設德蘭矮種馬被運往不列顛本土，成為了，在地底託運煤，通常終生如此。 美國東部的煤礦同樣也引進了一部分這類動物。美國最後一處矮種馬礦井於1971年關停。英國的The Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society於1890年成立，旨在維持物種純正，並鼓勵馴養優質動物。1957年，Shetland Islands Premium Stallion Scheme成立，為認定的優質雄馬提供津貼，旨在改進種畜質量。用途.時至今日，設得蘭矮種馬供孩童騎乘，課程的中，供孩童與成人觀看；表演場外也可供娛樂駕車用。馬術表演時，孩童騎乘設得蘭矮腳馬；而在騎術學校葛那馬廄中，也可以以娛樂目的騎乘。在集市、等商業場所中，它們給遊客提供騎乘。中也能看到，有時它們也被用作用馬。在英國，設得蘭矮種馬全國大賽上，它們也有現身，載著年輕的騎手在賽馬跑道上飛奔。青年輕駕馬車賽由昆士蘭的一個育種人組織建立，給予6至16歲的青少年初步接觸輕駕馬車產業的機會。孩子們有機會駕設得蘭矮種馬進行競賽。 矮種馬競賽不設獎金，不過冠軍或獲得名次者都會得到獎章。小型設得蘭矮種馬可受訓後擔任導盲馬，與導盲犬功用相同。這項任務其他品種的也可以承擔。位於軍團佇列的前方的皇家蘇格蘭兵團和馴養設得蘭矮腳馬為軍團的吉祥物，並稱它們為。特點.設得蘭矮種馬身體強壯，容易適應惡劣環境，部分原因是此馬種為設得蘭群島的惡劣環境下培育而成的。外表上，設得蘭矮種馬腦袋偏小，有時面部中凹，眼間距較寬，雙耳小巧而機警。原產地馬種的脖子短而壯、身體敦實、四肢矮壯，相較於體型，炮骨較短。普遍背部短小而寬闊，腹部收緊，故步伐輕快有力。設得蘭矮種馬鬃毛和尾巴長且厚，還擁有厚重的皮毛足以抵禦酷寒的天氣。不同的機構指定的肩高標準不同，但是至多限定在7至11.2之間。設得蘭矮種馬幾乎可以為任何顏色，包括和，也不得攜帶，不過這些毛色有時可以在一些設得蘭矮種馬大小的雜交種身上看見。設得蘭矮種馬通常性格溫順，天生聰明。它們是同孩子們玩樂的小馬的優秀選擇，有時獲稱“勇敢膽大”之名。它們可能會很固執或“調皮”，並不耐心，急躁，有時會不願合作。它們很容易被寵溺壞，如果待遇不佳也可能極其倔強，這與其智力及體型有一定的關係。相對於其體型，設得蘭矮種馬為所有馬和矮種馬品種中最為強壯的。它可以拖動自身兩倍重量的物體，而只能拖動自身重量一半左右的物體，大多數最多拖動9英石——即59千克。設得蘭矮種馬分佈於世界各地，不過主要位於英國及北美洲。通常英國的矮腳馬傾向於保留馬種原本的特點，且相比於美國的近親要結實一些。多數矮種馬壽命很長；設得蘭矮腳馬活過30歲都很常見。而其偏小的體型卻使得個體患心臟疾病的機率相較其他體型較大的動物更高，有時可能會造成早夭。與其他易適應惡劣環境的小型馬、矮種馬品種一樣，如果飲食非結構性碳水化合物攝入過多，設得蘭矮種馬很容易罹患。因此，馬主人必須著重關注，選取合適的餵食量及餵食種類。美國設得蘭矮種馬.有記載的第一批美國的設得蘭矮種馬，是由伊萊·埃利奧特於1885年引入。這些矮種馬便是培育美國設得蘭矮種馬的基礎畜群，並與其它種類的矮種馬——哈克尼矮種馬、威爾士矮種馬、駕車矮種馬——雜交。矮種馬的繁育主要集中在印第安納州、伊利諾斯州和艾奧瓦州。1888年，American Shetland Pony Club成立，而今擁有兩種血統證書：A類和B類。A類中登記雜交血統小於等於八分之一的矮種馬，B類則向雜交血統高於八分之一的矮種馬開放。對於A類畜種四代以內的矮種馬，基礎認證也適用。自2009年起，登記時不再區分A類、B類。已隱藏部分未翻譯內容，歡迎參與[ 翻譯]。American Shetland Ponies are more refined than the traditional Shetland. They often have a long, thin, "hooky" neck, a more refined body, and longer legs. The breed tends to be long and narrow through the back, with broad and muscular hindquarters and high withers. The shoulder has good slope, allowing for extravagant action. These ponies are most often used for harness work and as children's ponies. They can be seen show jumping in classes for young riders, at horse shows in both Western and English riding classes, as well as many other competitive events, including gymkhana, novelty harness racing, and shown at halter, Costume.The American Shetland Pony Club recognizes four types of Shetlands-Modern, Pleasure, Classic and Foundation. Modern Shetland are typically the tallest of the breed; they are shown with a high head set, ribbon braids in their manes, tail sets and have high stepping action. Pleasure ponies have similar breeding though their action is more subdued. Classic Shetlands are the most typical type and are known for their refinement and gentle nature while lacking most of the action of the Modern ponies. Finally, Foundation ponies do not have any Hackney influence for four generations and are all under 42" tall. Their looks are most reflective of their British ancestry.However, the compact "classic" type of Shetland is still more prevalent in overall numbers in the USA, though such ponies are not always registered.German Classic Pony.In 1965, German breeders began to selectively breed American Shetlands to create a "Sporty Shetland Pony." with a more elegant appearance, refined head, friendly look, better gaits, and better temperament. In 2000, when the British Shetland registry refused to register ponies with American bloodlines as purebred, the German breeders formed their own registry, with the breed's official name being the "Deutsches Classic-Pony." All coat colors are acceptable, but liver chestnut with a flaxen mane is particularly common and popular.英國與美國標準.There are several major registries for Shetland ponies, the Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society (SPSBS) based in UK, American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC), and the Shetland Pony Society of North America (SPSNA), both based in the USA. Shetland ponies registered with the SPSBS cannot be taller than at maturity. ASPC Shetlands range in height from about (rare) to (the ASPC measures in inches, not in hands). The Shetland Pony Society of North America was formed to honor the traditional Shetland Pony of island type. Any pony registered with other American, British, or Canadian registries can be cross-registered if it meets the pedigree and conformation standards of the SPSNA.