Sumac Farms

It is difficult to imagine the severity of the winter storms and the hazards of the rugged, boggy heath and rock strewn hills. It is these conditions which have, over countless centuries, moulded the animal we know today - both physically and mentally. The final product, with flowing mane and tail, designer winter coat and uncanny intelligence is no accident, for weakness of any part meant certain death.

The Shetland pony has gone on to prosper world-wide. From a trickle of ponies from the islands, across the North Sea with the Hanseatic traders [q.v.] and Dutch fishermen, to a present global population of some one hundred thousand, is a success story that speaks for itself.

Perhaps adaptability is one of the Shetland pony's greatest assets. An animal that can thrive in the tropical heat of Queensland, or the sub zero temperatures of Northern Scandinavia, or could keep its cool in the noisy depths of a coal mine is a remarkable one indeed.     The "American Shetland", has been cross bred with lighter and taller breeds for many years and cannot in any way be mistaken for the genuine native stock.