History

The Shettland –Pony of today traces back to ist origins from more than 5000 years, that was mostly at home in north western Europe. One assumes that they are the direct descendants of the primitive Celtic Ponys. According to records from 1568 the first references were made of small robust ponys that were to be found on the Shetland islands. They are not bigger than a donkey and showed great robustness and stamina.

The original Shetland Ponys were influenced by life on the from Storm swept scottish islands of Shetland and Orkney. The half wild ponys with limited food on offer survived with little grass and moss but also seaweed, Dune grass and rubbish from the fishing activities. It was a continuous battle against the cold and hunger.

 

When in Great Britain in 1847 the employment of women and children in the mines was banned and men were too expensive, an alternative was looked for. Around this time a dark age for the ponys began. They were lowered on ropes down narrow shafts where they had to pull heavy wagons full of coal. Some of them never saw daylight again. It was only at the start of the 20th century that laws were passed which lightened the working conditions of the ponys.

 

The marquess of Londonderry began in 1871 with planned and qualitative breeding. In 1890 the Shetland Stud Book Society (SPSBS) was founded, which issues the stub book since 1891. According to entries, the first over 400 registered Studs all measured under 86 cm the smallest even between 71 and 76 cm. At that time it was the first stud book for a race of ponys. The breeding of Shetland Ponys in Germany began in 1900.