设德兰矮种马

设德兰矮种马,或称设德兰小马,是矮种马的一个品种,原产自设德兰群岛。设德兰矮脚马体型由最矮的大致71公分(7掌宽英语Hand (unit))到官方认证最高的107公分不等。认定的矮种马肩高(马肩隆到地面的高度)不得超过107公分或10.2掌宽。设德兰矮种马皮毛厚重、腿部短小而且普遍被认为智力较高。它们是一种十分强壮的矮种马,多被用作骑乘、拖车、载货等用途。

设得兰矮种马
2010年芬兰的一只设得兰矮种马
特徵高智商、体型小、敦实、皮毛厚、矮而壮。美国亚品种身体稍显精瘦,四肢偏长、皮毛更顺滑
別名设得兰
原產國苏格兰设得兰群岛
品種認定
Shetland Pony Studbook SocietyBreed standards
American Shetland Pony ClubBreed standards
Equus ferus caballus

历史

 
设德兰群岛上带着小马的两个女人:照片拍摄于1900年左右

设德兰矮种马原产自苏格兰本土东北方的设德兰群岛。 自青铜时代起,设德兰群岛上就开始驯养小型。岛上的原住民可能随后将本地马种与诺斯人移民带来的矮种马杂交。 公元前2000年至前1000年之间被引进的凯尔特矮种马英语Celtic pony可能也对设德兰矮种马有一定的影响。[1]由于环境恶劣、食物缺乏,当地矮种马变得极其适应恶劣环境。

设德兰矮种马最初被用于拖拉推车,拉载泥炭及其他物品,耕犁农田。在19世纪中叶,由于工业革命大大增加了煤炭的需求量,成百上千的设德兰矮种马被运往不列颠本土,成为了矿井矮种马英语Pit pony,在地底托运煤,通常终生如此(而且生命一般相对短暂)。 美国东部的煤矿同样也引进了一部分这类动物。美国最后一处矮种马矿井于1971年关停。[2]

英国的The Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society[3]于1890年成立,旨在维持物种纯正,并鼓励驯养优质动物。1957年,Shetland Islands Premium Stallion Scheme成立,为认定的优质雄马提供津贴,旨在改进种畜质量。

用途

 
一只戴马具的设得兰矮种马
 
英国的设得兰矮种马“全国大赛”

时至今日,设得兰矮种马供孩童骑乘,驾车英语Driving (horse)驾车 (马)课程的马术表演英语Horse show中,供孩童与成人观看;表演场外也可供娱乐驾车用。马术表演时,孩童骑乘设得兰矮脚马;而在骑术学校葛那马厩中,也可以以娱乐目的骑乘。在集市周游嘉年华英语Traveling carnival等商业场所中,它们给游客提供骑乘。爱畜动物园英语petting zoo中也能看到,有时它们也被用作治疗性马背骑乘英语马类辅助疗法用马。在英国,设得兰矮种马全国大赛上,它们也有现身,载着年轻的骑手在赛马跑道上飞奔。

青年轻驾马车赛由昆士兰的一个育种人组织创建,给予6至16岁的青少年初步接触轻驾马车产业的机会。孩子们有机会驾设得兰矮种马进行竞赛。 矮种马竞赛不设奖金,不过冠军或获得名次者都会得到奖章。[4]

小型设得兰矮种马可受训后担任导盲马,与导盲犬功用相同。[5]这项任务其他品种的小型马也可以承担。

位于军团队列的前方的皇家苏格兰兵团阿盖尔萨瑟兰高地团英语Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders驯养设得兰矮脚马为军团的吉祥物,并称它们为Cruachan英语Cruachan

特点

设得兰矮种马身体强壮,容易适应恶劣环境,部分原因是此马种为设得兰群岛的恶劣环境下培育而成的。外表上,设得兰矮种马脑袋偏小,有时面部中凹,眼间距较宽,双耳小巧而机警。原产地马种的脖子短而壮、身体敦实、四肢矮壮,相较于体型,炮骨较短。普遍背部短小而宽阔,腹部收紧,故步伐轻快有力。设得兰矮种马鬃毛和尾巴长且厚,还拥有厚重的皮毛足以抵御酷寒的天气。不同的品种认定英语breed registry机构指定的肩高标准不同,但是至多限定在7至11.2掌宽英语Hand (unit)之间(即71至117公分)。

 
1904-1926年版的《Nordisk familjebok英语Nordisk familjebok》(瑞典语百科全书)上,一幅描绘理想的设得兰矮种马的经典图画。

设得兰矮种马几乎可以为任何颜色,包括花斑色英语skewbald黑白花斑色英语Piebald(在美国被称作白斑色),但主要呈现出黑色栗色枣色灰色金黄色暗褐色沙色乳白色大理石色英语Silver dapple gene。认定的设得兰矮种马不得为豹斑纹英语Leopard complex(如阿帕卢萨马),也不得携带香槟基因英语champagne gene,不过这些毛色有时可以在一些设得兰矮种马大小的杂交种身上看见。

设得兰矮种马通常性格温顺,天生聪明。它们是同孩子们玩乐的小马的优秀选择,有时获称“勇敢胆大”之名。它们可能会很固执或“调皮”,并不耐心,急躁,有时会不愿合作。它们很容易被宠溺坏,如果待遇不佳也可能极其倔强,这与其智力及体型有一定的关系。

相对于其体型,设得兰矮种马为所有马和矮种马品种中最为强壮的。[來源請求]它可以拖动自身两倍重量的物体,而驮马英语Draft horse只能拖动自身重量一半左右的物体,大多数最多拖动9英石——即59千克。设得兰矮种马分布于世界各地,不过主要位于英国及北美洲。通常英国的矮脚马倾向于保留马种原本的特点,且相比于美国的近亲要结实一些。

多数矮种马寿命很长;设得兰矮脚马活过30岁都很常见。而其偏小的体型却使得个体患心脏疾病的概率相较其他体型较大的动物更高,有时可能会造成早夭。与其他易适应恶劣环境的小型马、矮种马品种一样,如果饮食非结构性碳水化合物摄入过多,设得兰矮种马很容易罹患蹄叶炎英语Laminitis。因此,马主人必须着重关注其营养英语Equine nutrition,选取合适的喂食量及喂食种类。

美国设得兰矮种马

 
一只美国设得兰矮种马,骨骼更纤细,表现出更多“马”的表现型

有记载的第一批美国的设得兰矮种马,是由伊莱·埃利奥特于1885年引入。这些矮种马便是培育美国设得兰矮种马的基础畜群,并与其它种类的矮种马——哈克尼矮种马、威尔士矮种马、驾车矮种马——杂交。矮种马的繁育主要集中在印第安纳州、伊利诺斯州和艾奥瓦州。

1888年,American Shetland Pony Club成立,而今拥有两种血统证书:A类和B类。A类中登记杂交(非设得兰)血统小于等于八分之一的矮种马,B类则向杂交血统高于八分之一的矮种马开放。对于A类畜种四代以内的矮种马,基础认证也适用。自2009年起,登记时不再区分A类、B类。

 
弗吉尼亚州的设得兰矮种马和矿工
已隱藏部分未翻譯内容,歡迎參與翻譯

American Shetland Ponies are more refined than the traditional Shetland. They often have a long, thin, "hooky" neck, a more refined body, and longer legs. The breed tends to be long and narrow through the back, with broad and muscular hindquarters and high withers. The shoulder has good slope, allowing for extravagant action. These ponies are most often used for harness work and as children's ponies. They can be seen show jumping in classes for young riders, at horse shows in both Western and English riding classes, as well as many other competitive events, including gymkhana, novelty harness racing, and shown at halter, Costume.

The American Shetland Pony Club recognizes four types of Shetlands-Modern, Pleasure, Classic and Foundation. 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. Pleasure ponies have similar breeding though their action is more subdued. Classic Shetlands are the most typical type and are known for their refinement and gentle nature while lacking most of the action of the Modern ponies. Finally, Foundation ponies do not have any Hackney influence for four generations and are all under 42" tall. Their looks are most reflective of their British ancestry.

However, the compact "classic" type of Shetland is still more prevalent in overall numbers in the USA, though such ponies are not always registered.

German Classic Pony

 
Traditional Shetland pony under saddle in Europe

In 1965, German breeders began to selectively breed American Shetlands to create a "Sporty Shetland Pony." with a more elegant appearance, refined head, friendly look, better gaits, and better temperament.[6] In 2000, when the British Shetland registry refused to register ponies with American bloodlines as purebred, the German breeders formed their own registry, with the breed's official name being the "Deutsches Classic-Pony."[7] All coat colors are acceptable, but liver chestnut with a flaxen mane is particularly common and popular.[8]

英国与美国标准

There are several major registries for Shetland ponies, the Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society[3] (SPSBS) based in UK, American Shetland Pony Club[9] (ASPC), and the Shetland Pony Society of North America[10] (SPSNA), both based in the USA. Shetland ponies registered with the SPSBS cannot be taller than 42英寸(10.2手距;110厘米) at maturity. ASPC Shetlands range in height from about 30英寸(76厘米) (rare) to 46英寸(120厘米) (the ASPC measures in inches, not in hands). The Shetland Pony Society of North America was formed to honor the traditional Shetland Pony of island type. Any pony registered with other American, British, or Canadian registries can be cross-registered if it meets the pedigree and conformation standards of the SPSNA.

参见

参考文献

  1. ^ Hovens, Hans; Rijkers, Toon. On the origins of the Exmoor pony: did the wild horse survive in Britain? (PDF). Lutra. 2013, 56 (2): 134 [17 December 2017]. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2017-10-04). 
  2. ^ The Last Pony Mine, a documentary film, Les Benedict, director, Steve Knudston, producer, 1972. Available on Youtube in 3 parts part 1页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆part 2页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆part 3页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆
  3. ^ 3.0 3.1 Shetland Pony Stud Book Society. Shetland Pony Stud Book Society. [2011-12-16]. (原始内容存档于2012-01-01). 
  4. ^ Just Racing. Just Racing. [2011-12-16]. (原始内容存档于2012-01-20). 
  5. ^ Ponies to guide the blind. BBC News. 2003-06-01 [2011-12-16]. (原始内容存档于2017-08-24). 
  6. ^ Interessengemeinschaft Deutsches Classic-Pony – Die Rasse. classic-pony.com. [2018-11-25]. (原始内容存档于2013-02-01). 
  7. ^ 存档副本. [2018-11-25]. (原始内容存档于2016-03-03). 
  8. ^ Tamara Reinisch. Das Classic Pony. spezialrassen-online.de. [2018-11-25]. (原始内容存档于2013-05-02). 
  9. ^ ASPC & AMHR Website. Shetlandminiature.com. [2011-12-16]. (原始内容存档于2011-12-28). 
  10. ^ Laurie D. Shetland Pony Society of North America. Shetlandponysociety.com. 2011-06-01 [2011-12-16]. (原始内容存档于2011-12-28). 

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