Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1881 — A Remarkable Pony. [ARTICLE]

A Remarkable Pony.

Orkney Herald. A well-authenticated and extraordinary case of the sagacity of the Shetland pony has just come under our notice. A year or two ago Mr. William Sinclair, pupil teacher,Holm,imported one of these little animals from Shetland on which to ride to and from schdol, his residence being at a considerable distanoe from the school bui.diugs. Up to that time the animal had been unshod, bat sometime afterward Mr. Sinclair had it shod by Mr. Pratt, the parish blacksmith. The other day Mr. Pratt, whose smithy is a long distance from Mr, house saw the pony, without halter or anything upon it, walking up to where ha was working. Thinking the animat had strayed from home,he drove it off, throwing stones afer the beast to make it run homeward. This'had the desired effect for a short time; but Mr. Pratt had only got fairly at work once more in the smithy when the pony’s head, again made its appearance at the door. < On proceeding a sefiotod time outride to drive the pony away,Mr. Pratt.with a blacksmith’s instinct, took a look at the pony’s feet, when he observed, that one of its shoes had been lost Having made a shoe he.put It on. and then waited to see what the aujmal would do. For a moment it locke at the blacks. whether sortable, and finally gave a pleased neigh, erected his head, and started home at a orisk trot. Tne owner was, also exceedingly surprised to find the animal at home oompletely > shod ’(be same evening, and it was on)y on call ing at the smithy some-day* afterward that he learned the full extent of his pony's sagacity. ’‘ - *