The UK Shetland Pony

The UK Shetland Pony is a very special breed. These ponies are docile and kind, intelligent, sensitive, and capable of doing hard work. But they are definitely NOT world class beauties! Quite to the contrary, mostly they look like sturdy little trolls—wide, round and low to the ground with shaggy coats and thick manes and tails. And the truth is, we chose them precisely because they are not at all like sleek, slim-legged, high-spirited show ponies. Our ponies have far more important work to do than jumping fences and prancing in show rings!

The UK Shetland has an amazing temperament. Steady of mind and great of heart, they were originally bred to haul peat and do farm work. In the late nineteenth century they were used extensively in the coal mines of Scotland and Wales and in the mines of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Their patient, quiet, and kind ways were ideal for the work of pulling coal carts through the narrow mine shafts.

Because our ponies are often very small (as small as 30") and seldom very tall at all (usually not more than 39"), they are the ideal pony to do the work we ask of them—to be the personal companions of children with special needs.

Why we chose the UK type Shetland

The decision to breed the UK type Shetland began quite by accident when our founder, Marianne Alexander, purchased two "Miniature Horses," the stallion, Casey, and a broodmare, Cupcake (pictured here with her foal, Spring Meadow The Ritz). Though Marianne had been a breeder of Connemara Ponies and Irish Sporthorses for thirty years, she was enchanted by these tiny ponies and amazed by their kind ways and sensitivity to small children.

Curious about their lineage, she began to research their bloodlines. She discovered that they could be traced to the first UK Shetlands imported to the US in 1884 from the stud of the Lord of Londonderry. Thus, though they were registered as Miniature Horses, Casey and Cupcake were really UK Shetlands! Intrigued by her discovery, Marianne then visited England, Scotland and Wales to see the Shetland in its homeland and to study the UK studbooks.

Convinced that these ponies were the ideal companions for children with disabilities, Marianne began to assemble a breeding herd of UK type Shetlands here in the US and established The Shetland Register (TSR). Today, there are 800 ponies in this registry, 45 breeding stallions, and about 200 broodmares.

Breed Standards

Temperament is the first standard of excellence in our breeding stock. A pony with a kind attitude and the innate ability to relate to children and be a loving companion is the number one requirement!

This photograph is of our imported stallion, HIGHFIELDS CUPID. CUPID was donated to us by UK Shetland breeder, Melissa Warren, Mirkwood Ponies, Scotland. This is the true UK Shetland, with all the bone, substance and amazing temperament that this breed is known for.

We like our ponies to stay in the mini-to-midi range, 28"-38", with the goal of breeding towards the midi-size range of 32"-38". However, regardless of size, all ponies must maintain the bone, substance, and temperament of the UK Shetland.

What do our ponies DO?

Lots of people ask us what our ponies must be able to DO. The only thing our ponies MUST be able to do is to be fine companions for small children. Most ponies are too small to be ridden (except minimally by a child of thirty pounds or less). Very often, however, they make very fine driving ponies if trained. But ALL of our ponies must love to be hugged and petted and kissed, to stand patiently while a child in braces or on crutches or in a wheel chair brushes and combs, feeds or caresses them. THAT is the work our ponies do!

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Where do they come from?

By now you are probably wondering where our ponies come from. Building a quality herd of UK Shetlands is hard work—and VERY expensive. We are always looking in the US for suitable ponies and now and then we find some, but mostly they must be imported from the UK. We import stallions and mares for the breeding program as well as individuals intended for placement directly into the program.

How you can help

Without funds to purchase quality breeding stock and individual ponies for the program, we can't possibly keep up with the demand. Importing a mature (2 year old) stallion or broodmare is both an expensive and complex undertaking. Beyond the cost of the pony (usually $3,000-$4000), we have to add air-fare, trucking, veterinary approvals, as well as extensive quarantines and testing. All of this means that the cost of a mature individual of breeding quality is about $10,000-$12,000. Ponies that are purchased for immediate placement in the program and not intended for breeding purposes are considerably less expensive to import. If imported in groups of six ponies of the same gender, we can save substantially on shipping and bring the average cost of each individual to about $4500.

To keep our herd growing, we depend on the generous hearts of the many people who make financial contributions. Without funds, we cannot continue to add quality breeding stock in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the hundreds of disabled children throughout this country who are waiting for them. Today our list of families waiting for their very own Personal Pony is about 200. Tomorrow it will be even longer...

If you think our work is important to the lives of disabled children, please help us with your charitable contribution today. A pony often lives for thirty years and during a lifetime may serve many children. Your gift will help us help special needs children for a very long time.

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