| SMHC's Ringmaster |
| Ringmaster represents the grace, elegance and power of the American Shetland never seen before in Australia. He looks like an Arabian and moves like a Hackney. He is built to move and bred to win. What is an American Shetland? When people hear the word Shetland, they immediately think of the original English Shetland that has a short, muscular neck, compact, stocky bodies, and short, strong legs and a shorter than normal cannon bone in relation to their size. The American Shetland is a more refined version of the traditional Shetland that has come about from 100 years of selective breeding in the USA. The first Shetland ponies were imported to the United States in 1885 by Eli Elliot. These ponies provided the foundation stock for the development of the American Shetland. They were crossed with ponies of other breeds, including the Hackney Pony, Welsh Pony and Harness Show Pony. The end result is a pony that is more refined than the traditional Shetland. The American Shetland often have a long, thin, "hooky" neck, a more refined body, with broad and muscular hindquarters and high withers. The shoulder has good slope, allowing for extravagant action. The ASPC and types of Shetlands The original Shetlands that arrived into the United States were not registered with any associations or clubs. In 1888, The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) was founded to preserve and protect the purity of the breed in North America and to maintain a reliable record of pedigrees and transfers. The ASPC recognizes two types of ponies, The Modern Shetland Pony and the Classic Shetland Pony. 1. Classic Shetlands are the most typical type and should look like an Arabian, with a diamond shaped dished head, large eyes, small muzzle, long slender neck, good level top line, long hip, high set tail, straight legs, well proportioned and with a well muscled substantial body. Classic Shetlands can be up to 46" at the wither. They are shown in two height categories: under 43" at the wither and 43-46" at the wither. 2. Classic Shetlands were crossed with Hackneys and Welsh Ponies to make them leaner with longer legs and have a longer neck length. This variety of pony is known as the Modern Shetland and sometimes is called the show Shetland. Modern Shetland are typically the tallest of the breed; they are shown with a high head set, ribbon braids in their manes, tail sets and have high stepping action. They combine the beauty and hardiness of the Classic Shetland and the excitement and animation of the Hackney Pony. They excel in performance classes including roadster, harness and pleasure driving. The ASPC recognizes the Classic Shetland as Division A, and the Modern Shetland as Division B. The Club has also expanded to include the American Miniature Horse Registery (AMHR) - the original miniature horse registry in the USA. The AMHR recognizes two miniature divisions: division A up to 34" at the last hair of mane, division B up to 38" at the last hair of mane. Miniature Shetlands Shetlands that measure 38" or under at the last hair of the mane can be hardshipped into AMHR if their parents aren't already AMHR registered, making them eligible to compete in Division B Miniature Horse classes in the USA. There horses are often referred to as Miniature Shetlands, double registered Shetlands or ASPC / AMHR Shetlands. They hold both ASPC Pony papers and AMHR Miniature Horse papers. The number of registered Classic Shetlands has declined over the years as a result of the crossing with Hackney Ponies, and the negligence with owners not keeping registrations current. At this point it is difficult to find a horse that is double registered, and even harder to find one of quality. What is SMHC's Ringmaster? SMHC Ringmaster is an American Classic Shetland that stands under 38" at the last mane of the hair. He is registered with AMHR and ASPC in the USA and IMHR in Australia. His beauty and animation makes him rare in the USA and one of a kind in Australia. Ringmaster's movement is 100% natural. In fact weight shoes and boots are not only unnecessary with the American Shetland, they are illegal to use. It has taken 30 years of selective breeding for Bobby and Julie Wagner of Southern Mountain Horse Company (SMHC) to produce a horse like Ringmaster. His pedigree contains only the best Shetland bloodlines. He is simply built to move and bred to win. |
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| Australian Show highlights 2010 IMHR National Show - National Champion of Champions - Liberty National Champion - Supreme Senior Exhibit Double Shot 2010 IMHR Queensland State Show - Supreme of Supremes - Supreme Small Horse - Grand Champion Small Horse Stallion - Liberty Champion 2010 SE Qld Pinto Championships - Supreme Pinto Exhibit 2010 Mt Gravat Show - Supreme Pinto Exhibit - Champion Pinto Stallion - Supreme Small Horse - Champion Small Horse Stallion - Best True to Type - Best Presented 2010 Gatton Show - Supreme Pinto Exhibit - Champion Pinto Stallion Ringmaster is proudly owned by Sam Dummett of King Park American Shetlands & Miniature Horses. |