I would be interested to hear how you got on with the shetlands , great little pony's and your correct they are strong , my Grandfather had 2, Star and Bob, he used them for all sorts , carting seaweed from the beach, carting driftwood and seacoal from the beach, He had baskets that he had made and hung them over the saddles , and also used them for carting whelks up from the shoreline , i remember him with great affection walking up from the beach with his pipe hanging out his mouth, and the 2 pony's walking along behind him , time meant nothing to him , the only time i ever seen him rush was if i had arrived unexpectedly, when he would then say to Star and Bob " hurry up ! The laddie wants a hurl on yer back " , he never had a bit in their mouths , if he walked they followed , and if he went somewhere strange or wanted to work a wee bit ground he led them with a headcollar, a legand in his own time.