The resilient Shetland Pony's legacy at Abbotsrule

Their remarkable strength, versatility and resilience make them a cherished choice for in-hand showing, riding, driving and companionship, proving that good things do indeed come in small packages.

John's granddaughter Ella also has a passion for Shetlands with this piebald miniature (image: Isla Campbell) Shetland ponies have roamed the Shetland Isles for over 4000 years. Archaeological findings reveal small pony bones from the Bronze Age, indicating a long history of domestic use. The pony’s lineage is thought to stem from a mix of the Tundra Cob and Southern European Mountain Pony, which migrated to Shetland via ancient ice fields. Later, Celtic settlers brought in ponies, further enriching the breed’s lineage by blending traits from the Oriental horse.

Over centuries of isolation, the Shetland pony developed unique characteristics that enabled it to thrive in the islands’ challenging climate, fostering two distinct types: a heavier-boned variety with a long head, and a lighter type with a high tail carriage and a refined head.

Shetland ponies cope well throughout Scotland's toughest seasons (image: Isla Campbell) The Shetland pony’s endurance is eminent. In the harsh Shetland winters, where fodder for even sheep and cattle was scarce, only the toughest ponies survived, often foraging on seaweed along the shores when grazing was limited. They are the only ponies known to have adapted to eating seaweed. Their small stature wasn’t just a by-product of limited resources but an advantage in survival, as larger animals couldn’t withstand the sparse conditions as well.

Throughout history, Shetland ponies were invaluable to island life. Stronger pound for pound than other horse breeds, they hauled peat, carried seaweed and transported people. Their significance grew in the mid-19th century when Britain’s new labour laws banned child labour in coal mines, creating demand for Shetland ponies in the pits. These ponies adapted well to underground work, leading many owners to form breeding studs to ensure the ponies were sturdy enough for such tasks.

Abbotsrule Snowdrop, a rising star at Abbotsrule Stud (image: Isla Campbell) Today, Shetlands have found their place as children’s ponies and beloved companions, both in and out of the showring. A true stalwart of the breed is John Watson, who has represented the Shetlands for over 30 years and is now joined by his partner Sally and daughter Emma. The team presents an 18-pony herd based at Abbotsrule Stud, founded in 2019, near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders.

John’s granddaughter Ella, at just four years old, shares his passion for horses, following in his footsteps.

Shetland ponies beloved for their hardiness and charm remain a breed for all ages (image: Isla Campbell) John recalls his early years: “I used to sit on anything. I did a lot of show jumping as a kid with coloured cobs among the mix. But after a nasty accident that left me black and blue from head to toe, my attention turned to the humble Shetland. What started as a hobby has now become a lifestyle.”

John works as a freelance garden landscaper and chairs the National Stallion Show and the Central Scotland Shetland Pony Group, while Sally, a care home nurse, has also embraced the pony life.

Abbotsrule Snowdrop crowned standard junior champion at the Royal Highland Show (image: Isla Campbell) She says: “When I met John he introduced me to his stallion Shetland, Kerloch Rupert, and I remember standing behind John, terrified. Fast-forward three years and here I am underneath Rupert picking out his hooves.”

John believes in managing his Shetlands with a traditional approach, quoting ‘don’t kill them with kindness’.

From show rings to sale rings, John's dedication to Shetland ponies is clear (image: Isla Campbell) The herd, which includes ponies aged from six months to 18 years, consists mainly of standard-sized ponies with a maximum height of 42 inches at the withers, alongside four miniatures reaching up to 34 inches.

One of the miniatures, a piebald named Lunespring Merlin, belongs to Ella, following John’s difficult but undefeated search for her specifically requested colour. The rest of the herd are mostly black with an additional bay mare.

A champion legacy, Kerloch Rupert wins the supreme standard title at the Royal Highland Show 2024 (image: Isla Campbell) It is also noted that Shetlands come in any colour known in horses except spotted.

The herd grows year on year as John, a familiar face at sale rings from Inverurie to Worcester, also makes dedicated trips to the Shetland Isles for private sales. John aims to expand the Abbotsrule prefix.

Standing tall, Kerloch Rupert showcases the beauty of the Shetland pony breed (image: Isla Campbell) “When it comes to selecting breeding stock, we are looking into values including how they are bred, while offering plenty of bone and eye-catching movement,” he says.

John also believes that ponies bought directly from the island have a strong resistance to sweet itch, which is an allergic reaction to the protein in the saliva of biting midges and other blood-sucking flies, likely due to the proximity of saltwater.

Abbotsrule Stud, near Jedburgh, grows year on year as the team commit to breeding quality Shetlands (image: Isla Campbell) Once the mares reach full maturity at four years, John aims to breed five or six mares each year. Following an 11-month gestation period, they foal outside from late March through until May.

“In the run-up to foaling, we utilise the Shetlands’ ability to thrive on minimal fodder, providing only hay or haylage, to reduce the risk of foals becoming too large before birth.”

Proud champion Kerloch Rupert enjoying his well-earned retirement at Abbotsrule Stud (image: Isla Campbell) From day one to 20 weeks, when John weans the foals, he describes the mares’ mothering instincts as ‘strong, hardy and brilliant’. As the team at Abbotsrule winds down following a phenomenal show season, John reflects on what has been a year to remember.

“We start showing from February until September, attending events like the Great Yorkshire Show, Kinross Show, Dumfries Show and the Border Union Show, to name a few. But the crown jewel for us this year was the Royal Highland Show. After 10 years without a first-place rosette, we were thrilled to win supreme standard with our 18-year-old stallion Kerloch Rupert, and our home-bred yearling Abbotsrule Snowdrop claimed the standard junior champion title. It was surreal. When we returned to the stables, friends and fellow competitors stood and gave us a round of applause. The community really does make the breed so enjoyable.”

John and Sally's dedication to the Abbotsrule Stud shines as they work together (image: Isla Campbell) Notably, Kerloch Rupert has been a star at Abbotsrule, winning the Shetland champion title at the National Stallion Show in Fenwick six times from 2014 to 2022, with three consecutive wins. He also achieved the unique feat of winning the equine section at the Cumberland Show twice in a row. Now, after proving his worth, he’s set to retire from the large show rings. Purchased in 2014, he is a son of Stow Review and out of Burnbank Veda.

In terms of the most influential mare, Heidrun Av Bergli has been one to remember, proving a great influence on the herd’s breeding including being the dam to the uprising Abbotsrule Snowdrop. She was second at the Royal Highland Show and first at the Great Yorkshire Show during 2023.

John and Sally bring their Shetlands to top shows across the country (image: Isla Campbell) The stud also provides a small breeding service, where mares can be brought to Abbotsrule.

“We aim to bring in a new breeding stallion every few years to keep the bloodlines fresh and maintain two main breeding stallions.”

Looking ahead, the Abbotsrule team is shifting focus towards producing a purely home-bred herd that upholds the high standards they’ve established.

John says: “A lot has changed in 30 years, with rising costs in feeding, transportation, farrier and vet services, but I’m optimistic about the future of the breed. It’s fantastic to see so many young handlers involved at events.

“It’s important these brilliant ponies retain their natural hardiness and efficiency, traits they’ve developed over thousands of years. And, personally, I remember being told ‘When do you know to give up? – When you don’t get the buzz’.”