MiniHunterHorseFan
Well-Known Member
I've never had a Shetland, except the pony I had when I was 5. Which do you prefer, Modern and Classic. And what makes the difference? And can you get a Modern under 38in so it can be an AMHR over?
Im sure there are some, but they would be very very rare. I local friend of mine breeds and imports Dartmoore ponies and she is importing a shetland from oversea's and i cannot wait to see it, i told her i am going to steal it and bring it home to show everyone on the forum lol! But like i said, there is most likely less then a handful of them Island shetlands here in the united states. My friend says she see's a few at the rare breed shows she does. It costs allot to import a horsebarefoot Posted Today, 09:33 PM Do they have English or British Shetland's here in the U.S.?
There are UK Shetlands in the States. There is a yahoogroup that is dedicated to the UK Shetlands and they have a registry, etc. Maybe even some shows. I am sorry I don't have all that information, but if you search yahoogroups you can probably locate it and find help from someone on that list.Im sure there are some, but they would be very very rare.barefoot Posted Today, 09:33 PM Do they have English or British Shetland's here in the U.S.?
The moderns, classics and foundations are all different 'types' of American Shetlands. The American Shetland is a breed in whole. The moderns have a mix of Hackney blood which is why they possess more extreme movement.Indian*R*A*I*N*Dance Posted Yesterday, 09:24 PM Is this modern or classic shows? Whats the difference?
I voted Modern - have loved them since I was little and read "Easter Pony" and "The Show Ring, Easter Pony Grows Up" about an orphaned Shetland Pony who was a Modern.I voted for Modern. I have three of them and I just LOVE them. They are the horse I've always aspired to own.
That said, you can't deny the beauty and kindness of the Classic. The Classic American Shetland is a beautiful pony and I am just AMAZED at the consistency of quality at Congress. They ALL are amazingly correct with wonderful toplines, upright hooky necks, and beautiful little heads. To pick the champion it seems truly comes down to the nuances of type and conformation. AND they move beautifully, too. Coming from the minis, where conformation and movement runs a huge range... I just appreciate how truly consistent in quality they are.
But the Moderns... well although they are a little more "homely" to look at than the Classic... it is their extreme motion and fiery attitude that just wins me over. I like a hot horse, and I like a horse that looks good under harness. And, they are small so a lot cheaper to feed and maintain than a Saddlebred or something! I agree with others though... unlike the Classics they do require shoes, a lot of time to work with for headsets and motion, and they require those "trade secrets" to get the most out of their action to be competitive. Getting into Moderns is daunting, but I just loooove these guys! They are smart as a whip and will give you every ounce of their energy for you at the drop of a hat. They are just plain fun.
I truly think that AMHR registered Moderns are in the future of the miniature horse... just waiting to see my prediction come true in another five years or so...
Andrea
To clarify -The classics and foundations have less movement (for the most part) and dont carry any hackney blood in the upfront pedigree.