In 1952 Mrs Betty Myers established the Shetland Pony Stud ‘Pentland’ and joined the ‘Australian Pony Stud Book’ APSB society. The studs first Shetlands were two pregnant mares from Fenwick stud.

 

The following year the first Pentland foals registered with the APSB were two fillies:

 

10th Sep 1953 - Pentland Toppin (by Harviestoun Pat (imp) out of Fenwick Moonmist)

11th Nov 1953 - Pentland Nutty  (by Shetland Heights Gingernut out of White Petal)

 

Each year a number of foals were kept and the stud grew and grew. Starting with 52 acres on Hillview Road in Ballarat Victoria. Pentland’s original catch phrase was ’52 acres of Shetlands’. Over the life of the stud adjoining land was purchased in Brown Hill as well as another 2 properties a few km’s up the road and soon the catch phrase changed to ‘200 Acres of Shetlands’ and “I only sell what I breed” which were both very true.

 

From the beginning Betty had an interest in coloured Shetlands. Starting out with blacks and grey’s, then moving onto chestnuts, followed by broken coloured ponies and palominos.  Now the more rare colours of true roans, true duns and taffy’s have also joined the stud.

 

After breeding for 30 years Pentland stud had grown to such a size that it was becoming a large task to sell the foals each year. In 1983 the first auction was held on the first weekend in May. The sale offered a combination of foals, yearlings and mature stock. Each year the auction grew in size and so did the stud, some how Betty managed to get the numbers up over 100 mares, I think the Auction was her reason to keep so many of her beloved ponies as she needed to ‘ensure’ she had enough foals to sell the following year!   

 

Betty spent many years studying the Shetland breed and bloodlines; this enabled her to produce a high standard of Shetland pony that are useful and of good temperament. Because of this the auctions where a great success and the Pentland name was well know for producing excellent ponies; Which has been proven over and over again with many wonderful stories and updates about Pentland ponies after they left the stud.

 

Pentland ponies were also exported to New Zealand, the Philippines and were sold to every state and territory in Australia!

 

Betty was a firm believer in the importance and accuracy of pedigrees and both supported and practiced a genetically correct breeding program to produce ‘true type’ Shetlands at Pentland stud. Betty visited the homeland of the Shetland pony ‘The Shetland Isles’ twice and was a member of SPSB (Shetland Pony Stud Book).

 

• In 1992 Betty attended the SPSB conference in Scotland to be part of the 100th Anniversary of the society

• Was made a life member of the SPSB (Nominated by Maurice Cox)

• In 1996 travelled to the UK to attend the celebrations of Dougal Dick and his family as they commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the Transy stud in Scotland.

 

Where possible, Betty always supported official functions etc. of the APSB and hardly ever missed an AGM (Victorian Branch). In the 70’s she was a member of the committee for approximately 3 years. During that time she was the initiator of Maurice and Betty Cox coming out from Scotland to judge at the Royal Melbourne Show. This set a precedence (and opportunity) for other judges to come to our country to judge (i.e. Dougal Dick).

 

Betty held the title of hostess of the Victorian APSB stud show for approximately 12 years and continually visited studs around Australia – supporting the studbook, supporting and encouraging members in their own breeding efforts and always attended to questions of new breeders and guided them towards the APSB.

 

In the 80’s Pentland stud became a member of the Australian Miniature Pony (AMPS) Society, this added another dimension to the stud where the Shetland ponies where not just kept for their temperament, conformation, movement and colour but also their size.

 

The variety in Pentland ponies offered people many different options within the Shetland breed; Ponies for breeding and showing programs, or a versatile Shetland gelding – led in and riding classes or in harness for pleasure driving – one day events and marathons. A gelding may also compete in the sport of harness racing, or as a mount for children who ride just for fun.

  

In 2005 Betty suffered a stroke and after 22 auctions the last auction was held in 2006. In 2009 sadly Mrs Myers passed on, even in her last few years though very sick Betty’s daughter Annette Currie continued to join mares and produce Pentland foals for Betty to visit.

 

2009 – 2012 Pentland was reduced from its once great numbers of 100+ ponies to a smaller number of 40 of the youngest mares and stallions, which still carry the bloodlines developed by Mrs Myers. Initially Betty's daughter Annette Currie and Granddaughter Leora Gardiner took on the responsibility of running the stud as well as running their own studs. Until Betty’s other granddaughter Michelle Sutherland returned from 3 years travelling the world ready to take over the stud and endeavour to continue to breed Shetland ponies true to the breed with amazing temperaments.