The
Modern Shetland Pony is elegance in motion. This pony combines the historic hardiness
of the Classic Shetland Pony with an outcross of an animated and superiorly refined
breed. This cross-produced a long shapely neck and fine boned sophisticated pony
with extreme action and a spirited personality that lends itself well to the show
ring. Like all Shetlands, Moderns are not to exceed 46" and they come in
any color.
The Modern Shetland Pony is shown in two height divisions, under
43" and 43" to 46". They are shown in breeding/halter classes and
performance classes, which include roadster, harness and pleasure driving.
A
well-trained Modern Shetland makes an agile, quick thinking mount for a child
and can be used for everything from gymkhana ponies to hunter/jumpers. A good
headset, superb carriage and high action most often define a great Modern Shetland
performance pony. This is an elegant animal with all the pomp and sophistication
of a carriage horse and the hardiness of a pony.
Modern Shetlands will thrill
you with that high-stepping action, the fire of energy and style they bring to
the show ring, the
fun and fast thinking of an event horse or the elegance they bring to a carriage
ride down the lane. Let yourself be carried away by the beauty and majesty
of The Modern American Shetland Pony.
Yearling Filly Wins Vetrolin Grooming Award Chasta Harrison and her Miniature Horse
From Farnam at National Championships Chasta Harrison and her Miniature Horse Curry’s Saturday Night Special proved they were special at the National Championship Show when Harrison’s filly won the Vetrolin Grooming Award, sponsored by Farnam. Winning the title of “Best Groomed” horse at the show earned Curry’s Saturday Night Special and Harrison a year’s supply of Vetrolin® Grooming Products provided by Farnam. “My mom and I do all our own grooming so it is really exciting to win the Vetrolin Grooming Award,” Harrison said. “We are perfectionists when it comes to grooming.” Harrison recently graduated from Arkansas Tech University and is hoping to attend vet school. “We already use Vetrolin® shampoo and conditioner on our minis and I am really looking forward to trying the other Vetrolin® products,” Harrison said. “I have heard so many great things about the detangler and I can’t wait to try it.”
A Celebration of Miniature Horses and Shetland Ponies By Johnny Robb and Jan Westmark
At last the Big Book of the Small Equine A Celebration of Miniature Horses and Shetland Ponies is available for purchase. We sold every copy we brought to Convention and now we are offering this amazing coffee table book for sale. It is the one book small equine lovers can’t live without. Simply order your copy from the club by calling the home office at 309-263-4040. The books retail for $29.95 and are the perfect gift for small equine enthusiasts. You can purchase the books through the ASPC for $25.00 which includes shipping. Order a copy for yourself, your loved ones and maybe even your local library or school library. Help spread the word on our amazing small equines
Congratulations to our Three Essay Contest Winners at Nationals
Three deserving youth fulfilled their dreams of owning their own mini by winning the Essay Contest at the National Championships. Jennifer Wippler, Mackenzie Schulte and Kevin Byers all entered the contest at the show and took home an adorable donated mini. Wippler won a 2008 yearling named Cross Country Made in America, donated by Belinda Bagby. Wippler who has Cartilage Hair Hyperplasia, otherwise known as dwarfism, said she likes riding because they help improve her balance. “I have owned several big horses over the past few years, but sadly none worked out due to the size difference between me and them.” Wippler wrote in her essay. Bagby has donated a mini for the Essay Contest for the past five years. "There have been times when I have been judging a show and wished I could just give all the youth competitors a horse," Bagby said. "Through this program I can do that and also know that when the youth compete they will have high quality horses.” Schulte also won a mini donated by Bagby, a 2008 yearling filly named Cross Country Mr. Downtown. Schulte. Schulte wrote, “The reason I want this mini is so I can train him myself. I plan to train him to drive, jump and do obstacles.” Cathy Buehrer, of Amazing Sonrise Miniature Horses, donated Byers winning mini, a two-year-old silver buckskin gelding named Amazing Sonrise Call Him Majestic. “Donating a mini is a great way for me to support our youth and encourage them to show,” Buehrer said. “Majestic was shown as a yearling, and we sent his show halter along with him as an added encouragement to show. This is also a great way to emphasis to the youth that they are being offered quality show animals for their essay efforts.”
Michelle Callahan and “Stylish” Win Year’s Supply of Vetrolin!
Michelle Callahan and her Shetland Pony SMHC’s Freedom Stylish One, also known as “Stylish,” won the Vetrolin Grooming Award at Congress, sponsored by Farnam. Winning the title of “Best Groomed” pony, earned Stylish and Callahan a year’s supply of Vetrolin® Grooming Products provided by Farnam. “I am so excited that I won this wonderful award, especially since the judges voted on it,” Callahan said. “I can’t wait to try all of the Vetrolin® products. Callahan, who lives in Warrenton, Missouri, purchased Stylish at the beginning of July. Although she only had a short time to prepare Stylish for the show, she said bathing and clipping are always part of her regime. Stylish proved he was more than just a pretty face by spending plenty of time in the winner’s circle. The stunning Shetland earned a first in Classic Model Gelding, a first in Classic Gelding 2 Years Old Over and was Classic Gelding Junior Champion. His flashy coat also earned him first in the Classic Gelding Multi-Color class and Reserve Grand Champion in the Classic Gelding Grand Champion Over class.
Lucky Sixth Grader Wins Dream Pony in ASPC Congress Youth Essay Contest
Eleven-year-old Kelsey Vann had always dreamed of owning her own American Shetland Pony, and Vann’s dream came true at the 121st Shetland Pony Congress Show when she wrote the winning essay for the American Shetland Pony Congress Youth Essay Contest. Vann’s essay earned her the title of “owner” of an adorable Classic Shetland yearling gelding named Captivating Carl EGF, donated by Jackie Tyler of Emerald Glenn Farm. “We were all moved to tears at how excited Kelsey was when she found out she won,” said Tyler, whose Emerald Glenn Farm is in Woodville, Wisconsin. “After the award presentation Kelsey led her new pony all around the show grounds, talking and petting and playing with him. He nuzzled her like she’d had him his whole life. It made my day and the whole experience was very moving.” Vann, who lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, will enter the sixth grade this year as the happy owner of a new pony. “I’m really proud of her. She’s been entering the youth essay contest for several years and she finally succeeded,” said Carmen Vann, Kelsey’s mother. Tyler said she was pleased to donate the pony to the ASPC youth contest.
_____________________
“The folks at the American Shetland Pony Club are so loving and dedicated to these kids and I really think our youth program ranks among the best,” Tyler said. “I’ve had Shetlands for 50 years and there wasn’t a youth program when I was young. I think the ASPC can really be proud of this effort.” Tyler added this was her first time to donate a pony to the program, and she did so in an effort to help the club’s youth and act as a mentor. “The impact my pony mentors made on me as a child is something that makes me a better person today,” Tyler said. “With that in mind I asked to sign up as a donor. Vann has been showing ponies at Congress for six years, but has always showed them for other people. “Kelsey has always wanted to show her own pony,” her mother said. “And now she will be able to.” The ASPC Congress show was held at the Crossroads Arena in Cloverdale, Indiana, and over 500 ponies turned out to compete.