Paper short abstract:

In this paper I will explore how certain ways of living in weather make some Shetland ponies particularly “Shetland” and consider the way breeders understand weather and landscape to encourage, shape and develop this type of pony.

Paper long abstract:

During my PhD fieldwork it has become apparent that relationships between people and ponies in Shetland cannot be fully appreciated without paying attention to the roles of weather.

Pony breeders who keep their animals on large expanses of hill park know where their animals will be based on weather conditions. Any deviation from the expected leads to speculation about the reasons for this: has the herd listened to the wrong pony? Is the weather about to change? Are there other unknown factors leading to their presence in the wrong place?

The ability to find good areas of shelter where there are no human-made structures is a highly valued characteristic in a Shetland pony. The breed is celebrated for being hardy, independent and intelligent, characteristics attributed to their evolution in a place with poor grazing and little shelter from year round gale force winds. Many breeders emphasise the importance of continuing to provide ponies with this type of environment to maintain these traits.

Ponies bred away from the islands, who have grown used to milder weather and indoor shelter, are often described as becoming different from island bred ponies. When ponies are bought from "south" their behaviour in weather is carefully observed and plays a significant part in deciding which ponies belong in Shetland.

In this paper I will explore how certain ways of living in weather make some Shetland ponies particularly "Shetland" and consider the way breeders understand weather and landscape to encourage, shape and develop this type of pony.