Shetland Pony

Shetland pony

The Shetland pony or Sheltie is a small, hardy breed of pony from the Shetland Islands of Scotland, known for its strength, dense coat, and ability to thrive in harsh climates. It has been present on the islands since at least the Bronze Age. Historically, Shetland ponies were used for farm work, carrying peat and seaweed, and later as pit ponies in coal mines in Britain and the United States. Today they are used for driving and children's riding ponies. A few still perform traditional work on the islands. The breed is overseen by the Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society and has influenced several related pony breeds worldwide.

Shetland

Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands, is an archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands, and Norway, marking the northernmost region of the United Kingdom. The islands lie about 50 miles to the northeast of Orkney, 110 mi (170 km) from mainland Scotland, and 140 mi (220 km) west of Norway.

Pony

A pony is a type of small horse, usually under a specific height at full maturity. Ponies often have thicker coats, manes and tails, compared to larger horses, and proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bone, thicker necks and shorter heads. In modern use, breed registries and horse shows may define a pony as measuring at the withers below a certain height; height limits varying from about 14 hands to 14.3 hands. Some distinguish between horse or pony based on its breed or phenotype, regardless of its height. The word pony derives from the old French poulenet, a diminutive of poulain meaning foal, a young, immature horse. A full-sized horse may sometimes be called a pony as a term of endearment.

shetland

Noun

1. Lightweight, loosely twisted wool fabric.

pony

Noun

1. A small horse; specifically, any of several small breeds of horse under 14.2 hands at the withers.
2. A horse of any size.

Verb

1. To lead (a horse) from another horse.
2. To use a crib or cheat-sheet in translating.