设德兰矮种马

历史

设德兰矮种马原产自苏格兰本土东北方的设德兰群岛。 自青铜时代起，设德兰群岛上就开始驯养小型马。岛上的原住民可能随后将本地马种与诺斯人移民带来的矮种马杂交。 公元前2000年至前1000年之间被引进的凯尔特矮种马可能也对设德兰矮种马有一定的影响。由于环境恶劣、食物缺乏，当地矮种马变得极其适应恶劣环境。
设德兰矮种马最初被用于拖拉推车，拉载泥炭、煤及其他物品，耕犁农田。随后在19世纪中叶，由于工业革命大大增加了煤炭的需求量，成百上千的设德兰矮种马被运往不列颠本土，成为了矿井矮种马，在地底托运煤，通常终生如此（而且生命一般相对短暂）。 美国东部的煤矿同样也引进了一部分这类动物。美国最后一处矮种马矿井于1971年关停。
英国的The Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society于1890年成立，旨在维持物种纯正，并鼓励驯养优质动物。1957年，Shetland Islands Premium Stallion Scheme成立，为认定的优质雄马提供津贴，旨在改进种畜质量。

用途

时至今日，设得兰矮种马供孩童骑乘，驾车课程的马术表演中，供孩童与成人观看；表演场外也可供娱乐驾车用。马术表演时，孩童骑乘设得兰矮脚马；而在骑术学校葛那马厩中，也可以以娱乐目的骑乘。在集市、周游嘉年华等商业场所中，它们给游客提供骑乘。爱畜动物园中也能看到，有时它们也被用作治疗性马背骑乘用马。在英国，设得兰矮种马全国大赛上，它们也有现身，载着年轻的骑手在赛马跑道上飞奔。
青年轻驾马车赛由昆士兰的一个育种人组织创建，给予6至16岁的青少年初步接触轻驾马车产业的机会。孩子们有机会驾设得兰矮种马进行竞赛。 矮种马竞赛不设奖金，不过冠军或获得名次者都会得到奖章。
小型设得兰矮种马可受训后担任导盲马，与导盲犬功用相同。这项任务其他品种的小型马也可以承担。
位于军团队列的前方的皇家苏格兰兵团和阿盖尔萨瑟兰高地团驯养设得兰矮脚马为军团的吉祥物，并称它们为Cruachan。

特点

设得兰矮种马身体强壮，容易适应恶劣环境，部分原因是此马种为设得兰群岛的恶劣环境下培育而成的。外表上，设得兰矮种马脑袋偏小，有时面部中凹，眼间距较宽，双耳小巧而机警。原产地马种的脖子短而壮、身体敦实、四肢矮壮，相较于体型，炮骨较短。普遍背部短小而宽阔，腹部收紧，故步伐轻快有力。设得兰矮种马鬃毛和尾巴长且厚，还拥有厚重的皮毛足以抵御酷寒的天气。不同的品种认定机构指定的肩高标准不同，但是至多限定在7至11.2掌宽之间（即71至117公分）。
设得兰矮种马几乎可以为任何颜色，包括花斑色和黑白花斑色（在美国被称作白斑色），但主要呈现出黑色、栗色、枣色、灰色、金黄色、暗褐色、沙色、乳白色和大理石色。认定的设得兰矮种马不得为豹斑纹（如阿帕卢萨马），也不得携带香槟基因，不过这些毛色有时可以在一些设得兰矮种马大小的杂交种身上看见。
设得兰矮种马通常性格温顺，天生聪明。它们是同孩子们玩乐的小马的优秀选择，有时获称“勇敢胆大”之名。它们可能会很固执或“调皮”，并不耐心，急躁，有时会不愿合作。它们很容易被宠溺坏，如果待遇不佳也可能极其倔强，这与其智力及体型有一定的关系。
相对于其体型，设得兰矮种马为所有马和矮种马品种中最为强壮的。它可以拖动自身两倍重量的物体，而驮马只能拖动自身重量一半左右的物体，大多数最多拖动9英石——即59千克。设得兰矮种马分布于世界各地，不过主要位于英国及北美洲。通常英国的矮脚马倾向于保留马种原本的特点，且相比于美国的近亲要结实一些。
多数矮种马寿命很长；设得兰矮脚马活过30岁都很常见。而其偏小的体型却使得个体患心脏疾病的概率相较其他体型较大的动物更高，有时可能会造成早夭。与其他易适应恶劣环境的小型马、矮种马品种一样，如果饮食非结构性碳水化合物摄入过多，设得兰矮种马很容易罹患蹄叶炎。因此，马主人必须着重关注其营养，选取合适的喂食量及喂食种类。

美国设得兰矮种马

有记载的第一批美国的设得兰矮种马，是由伊莱·埃利奥特于1885年引入。这些矮种马便是培育美国设得兰矮种马的基础畜群，并与其它种类的矮种马——哈克尼矮种马、威尔士矮种马、驾车矮种马——杂交。矮种马的繁育主要集中在印第安纳州、伊利诺斯州和艾奥瓦州。
1888年，American Shetland Pony Club成立，而今拥有两种血统证书：A类和B类。A类中登记杂交（非设得兰）血统小于等于八分之一的矮种马，B类则向杂交血统高于八分之一的矮种马开放。对于A类畜种四代以内的矮种马，基础认证也适用。自2009年起，登记时不再区分A类、B类。

已隐藏部分未翻译部分，欢迎参与翻译。
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.

英国与美国标准

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 42英寸（10.2手距；110厘米） at maturity. ASPC Shetlands range in height from about 30英寸（76厘米） (rare) to 46英寸（120厘米） (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.