BRINDISTER

The animal most synonymous with the Shetland Islands is surely the Shetland Pony. Shetland Ponies are bred all over, but the Shetlands are their true home, and Brindister is one of the bloodlines commonly found in studs where the ponies are reared. The cute appearance of the ponies, with their long shaggy 'fringes' and their short, stubby legs belies the fact that they are among the hardiest of ponies, no doubt due to their origins in the harsh environment of these islands. These little horses have been kept on the islands since the Bronze Age, with some crossover from incoming Nordic and Celtic ponies, and because of their strength and hardiness they were traditionally used for pulling carts and ploughing farmland. Visitors to the Shetlands who are hoping for an encounter with these charming, intelligent creatures should head to Brindister Loch, where the ponies often hang out. Brindister Loch has a small island in it with the remains of a broch (Iron Age drystone tower).

Map of the area.

Loch of Brindister - geograph.org.uk - 1702720. Photo by Mike Pennington, via Wikimedia Commons.