Shetland Pony

DESCRIPTION OF THE SHETLAND PONY

  • HEIGHT: Registered stock must not exceed 40 inches (102cms) at three years or under, nor 42 inches (107cms) at four years or over. Ponies are measured from the withers to the ground, by measuring stick, and a level stance, preferably concrete, should be used.
  • COLOUR: Shetland ponies may be any colour known in horses except spotted.
  • COAT: The coat changes according to the seasons: a double coat in winter with guard hairs which shed the rain and keep the pony’s skin completely dry in the worst of the weather and, by contrast, a short summer coat which should carry a beautiful silky sheen. At all times the mane and tail hair should be long, straight and profuse and the feathering of the fetlocks straight and silky.
  • HEAD: The head should be small, carried well and in proportion. Ears should be small and erect, wide set but pointing well forward. Forehead should be broad with bold, dark, intelligent eyes. Muzzle must be broad with nostrils wide and open. Teeth and jaw must be correct.
  • BODY: The neck should be properly set onto the shoulder, which in turn should be sloping, not upright, and end in a well defined wither. The body should be strong with plenty of heart room, well sprung ribs, the loin strong and muscular. The quarters should be broad and long with the tail set well up on them.
  • FORELEGS: Should be well-placed with sufficient good, flat bone. Strong forearm. Short balanced cannon bone. Springy pasterns.
  • HINDLEGS: The thighs should be strong and muscular with well-shaped strong hocks, neither hooky nor too straight. When viewed from behind, the hindlegs should not be set too widely apart, nor should the hocks be turned in.
  • FEET: Tough, round and well-shaped – not too short, narrow, contracted or thin.
  • ACTION: Straight, free action using every joint. Tracking up well.
  • GENERAL: A most salient and essential feature of the Shetland Pony is its general air of vitality (presence), stamina and robustness.
President: Mr S.J.P. Rendall
President: Mr S.J.P. Rendall
Shetland Pony Stud Book Society
Shetland House
22 York Place
Perth
Scotland
PH2 8EH
Tel: 01738 623471
Fax: 01738 442274
Website: http://www.shetlandponystudbooksociety.co.uk

RULES FOR SHOWING

  • DRESS: Must be neat, no training shoes or jeans. Where possible, ladies should wear a collar and tie or blouse with jacket and neat trousers or skirt. Tartan skirts/kilts or trousers look very smart and enhance the image of the pony. Sensible footwear is essential to allow a pony to be shown effectively. Gentlemen should wear a collar and tie and tweed jacket with neat trousers or a suit or kilt. Hats are not compulsory for either sex but, without doubt, improve the overall picture of pony and handler (and may be compulsory at some Shows). There must be no individual stud, person or pony names displayed in any way in the ring e.g. on clothing, rugs, saddle cloths. Whips or show canes carried must not exceed 30″ in length. Spurs may not be worn in ridden classes.
  • RING ETIQUETTE: The Judge should never be spoken to using his/her christian name. Listen to instructions provided by the Steward or Judge and watch exhibitors in front of you. When asked to walk/trot a pony out, ensure that the pony travels with you – do not drag it along. When turning the pony, push it away from you – do not pull it towards you. Do not ever leave the ring before the end of the class without first gaining the permission of the Judge, through the Steward.
  • TRIMMING/CLIPPING: The pony’s ears may be trimmed flat but there must be no trimming inside the ear. Trimming of whiskers on the jawline is acceptable. Manes and tails must not be pulled but tails may be rough trimmed to clear the ground if dragging. Leg feathers must not be trimmed. No false hair, artificial colouring or make-up should be used. Working ponies of four years old or over only may be clipped in the interest of welfare. Under no circumstances should foals be clipped. Ponies should always be shown in a clean condition.
  • TACK/EQUIPMENT: Colts/stallions of two years old or over must be shown bitted. Younger animals and older females may be shown in a suitable headcollar. For In-Hand showing, only plain, English-style jointed or straight bar snaffles are permitted. Chifneys or other similar bits are not acceptable. For ridden classes, no complicated snaffles with excessive cheek pieces are permitted. In the interests of safety, handlers aged 14 years or under must wear a hard hat when exhibiting in In-Hand classes. Hard hats must be worn by all ages of exhibitors in ridden classes.
  • REGISTRATION/ELIGIBILITY: In Affiliated Shows – stallions aged four years or over must hold either a Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society Licence or a Ministry of Agriculture Licence. Three year old fillies with foals at foot may not be shown. Foals must be a minimum of three weeks old on the day of the Show. Colts and stallions are not permitted in Young Handlers classes. Children aged under 14 years may not show colts (excluding foals) or stallions in In-Hand classes. Children aged under 12 years may not show stallions in ridden classes. Please ensure your pony is correctly registered in your name.
  • CHAMPIONSHIPS: Where a Shetland is eligible to go forward to a Supreme Championship involving other breeds, every effort should be made to attend. This should be considered an honour and a chance to promote and bring the Shetland breed to the attention of others. If you cannot attend a Championship for which you are eligible, please ensure you advise the Show Secretary and/or Steward as soon as possible.
  • GENERAL: Exhibitors should be aware that a Judge may not place in a class a pony, which to his/her knowledge has been bred, sold, leased or produced by the Judge or his/her immediate family or employer, nor may he/she place a pony in which he/she has a financial interest, nor may he/she place a stallion by whom he/she has had a mare stinted in that season. Should a situation arise when such a pony appears, a referee, preferably on the appropriate panel of Judges, should be appointed by the Show Secretary to place the pony in question in its position in the class. If you intend to show a pony under a Judge falling into any of the above categories, therefore, please ensure you advise the Show Secretary well in advance of the Show. Always check Show Schedules to see if a current flu vaccination certificate is required.
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