The Shetland pony is only as tall as a child but has the pulling power of an ox and is one of the most intelligent horses in existence. They are considered by the people of Scotland as the national mascot.
The Shetland horse originated in the Shetland Islands east of present-day Scotland. Shetland horses are quite small compared to other horse breeds . It has an average height of 75cm – 107cm.
Although small, it is considered one of the most intelligent horse breeds today. Although they are quite small in size, they are very strong. So they are used to pull carts, carry peat, coal and other commodities, even plow and harrow instead of cattle.
They are easy to distinguish from other horse breeds because of their thick, long and beautiful coat. In the mid-19th century thousands of Shetland horses were brought to England to work in pits, pulling coal underground.
Today Shetland horses are used in horse racing training centers for children. Shetland is also used in children’s racecourses.
One of them is also kept in the zoo to serve visitors. They are also used as means of transport for tourists in major European cities or commercial centers.
Because it is very intelligent, it is trained like a working dog. Compared to other horse breeds of the same size, the Shetland is much stronger. The selected horses for training are managed by the Royal Scottish Regiment.
The Shetland has a long, thick mane and a coat as thick as a winter coat, which helps them withstand extreme weather. The Shetland comes in all colors from black, chestnut, gray, Palomino, brown, cremello, and silver to pink and white.
There was a rare event when a sheep breeder in Wales saw a young lamb suckling milk from a mare on a hill, this is a strange relationship during a horseback ride up Hay Bluff in the Black Mountains. The witness continued to witness the incident for about a week. Apparently the pony adopted the lamb and allowed it to suckle its milk.
The mare, a Shetland pony, had one foal. So it was a surprise that he adopted sheep. Even the mare kept watch while her foal and lamb slept side by side. The sheep imitates the suckling motion of the foal. Although the relationship between the sheep and the pony developed well, it was decided to intervene when she noticed that neither the lamb nor the foal was getting enough milk. The female pony cannot provide enough milk for both cubs. So her two children are not healthy.
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