I know SO many of you have been long awaiting this month’s winner for Breed of the Month. 

Congratulations Shetland Pony lovers - YOU DID IT! How fitting for our theme this month which is Christmas In July! Excited for another fun month! 

About

Shetland Ponies are beloved by many for their adorable size and fluffy coats. The breed has lived on the isolated hills of Shetland Isles for over 4,000 years, and is well adapted to the area and environment. Their small size and strength make them useful for coal mining in the past. Shetland ponies have been rounded up and selectively bred as domestic horses, but this export of wild Shetlands has threatened the breed. The Shetland Pony Stud Book was created in 1890 to help keep the purity of the breed. 

Categories & Prizes

🎄🏖️ Prizes For Both Mare & Stallion Categories 🏖️🎄

All prizes also come with a complimentary trophy that you can add to your page for fun and to show off your accomplishments!

🏆Lowest BV

1st: 75k bits OR 4 Horse-Friendly Chocolate Truffles and 1 2023 Winter Tack Set

2nd: 50k bits OR Winter Dye Bundle (5 of Each Winter Dye)

3rd: 25k bits + 2 Snow Backgrounds and 2 Blowing Snow Overlays

🏆Highest PS

1st: 75k bits OR 2 Sets of Gingerbread Tack (Discipline of Choice) 

2nd: 50k bits OR Winter Dye Bundle (5 of Each Winter Dye)

3rd: 25k bits + 2 Snow Backgrounds and 2 Blowing Snow Overlays

🏆Highest Level

1st: 75k bits OR 2 Winter Tack Sets of Choice (2022, 2023, or 2024)

2nd: 50k bits OR 2 Snowflake Backgrounds & 2 Blowing Snow Overlays

3rd: 25k bits OR 2 Winter Dye Sets

🏆Highest BV 

1st: 75k bits OR 2 Gingerbread Tack Sets (discipline of choice) and 2 Gift Bow

2nd: 50k bits OR 2 Snowflake Backgrounds & 2 Blowing Snow Overlays

3rd: 25k bits + 2 Winter Dye Sets

🏆Best Dressed 

1st: 75k bits OR 2 Winter Tack Sets of Choice (2022, 2023, 2024)

2nd: 50k bits OR Winter Spirit Bundle (A Winter Wreath, Winter Background, Snowflake Overlay, and White Stoat.)

3rd: 25k bits + 2 Winter Dye Sets

🏆Discipline: Hunter

1st: 75k bits OR 2 Gingerbread English Tack Sets

2nd: 50k bits OR 1 Magnifying Glass & 1 Chocolate Truffle Treat

3rd: 25k bits + 2 Winter Dye Sets

🏆Discipline: Barrel Racing 

1st: 75k bits OR 2 Gingerbread Western Tack Sets

2nd: 50k bits OR 1 Magnifying Glass & 1 Chocolate Truffle Treat

3rd: 25k bits + 2 Winter Dye Sets

BOTM X ROUNDUP COLLAB

You asked for it (no literally, you did!), so we are BACK this month with another fun collaboration between the Roundup Club and Breed of the Month! 

The town is still abuzz from the first ever Summer Classic. Yet even though the Classic is over, locals are seeing empty trailers coming from the Plains to the racetrack. 

Except, the trailers aren’t empty… 

The occupants are just… tiny. They’re Shetland ponies straightfrom the plains, gearing up for the brand new 

Jingle Pony Steeple Derby!!! 

Welcome to the  Jingle Pony Steeple Derby! 

Where we may not be able to fly reindeer (all we have seem to be reindeer calves anyways?), but we can send ponies around the course jumping and cheering them on! 

🎁🎄🏇 Jingle Pony Steeple Derby! 🏇🎄

1st: 150k bits + 2 Winter (2022, 2023, 2024) Tack Sets of choice + 2 Jingle Bells + 2 Santa Hats

2nd: 100k bits + 10 Oat Peppermint Treats + 2 Wreaths

3rd: 75k bits + 5 Winter Backgrounds + Trio of Tail Ribbons

For this month’s Round Up Collaboration, we will be doing it OLD SCHOOL. Redd & I will be raffling out wild Shetlands that have been caught by ourselves, purchased by ourselves, or donated for the cause to twenty lucky players! 

Players will indicate their interest in this month’s BOTM registration form. Once the form has closed, participants will receive a randomly assigned ticket, and fate will decide which wild Shetland they've been matched with. Once the draw is complete, the challenge begins. All players will have until July 24th to train and show their horse in Hurdle Racing events only. All wild Shetlands will be sent to their designated stables on Monday, July 6th.
 

Shetlands have been caught and frozen until they are chosen, and sent to their new homes. 

There is a cap of 20 player entries, and everyone gets to keep their given wilds after the competition is over!

In the event there are more than 20 players who indicate interest, any players who did NOT receive a Shetland will have the chance to catch their very own Shetland to enter the race to be on the “Also Eligible” list. If any entries scratch due to not meeting level requirements, you will be IN. We will reach out to you to let you know if you were put on the Also Eligible list! 

If there is an 8+ overflow of entrants, we will create a new race to accommodate those entries. 

Also Eligible List Requirements

IF you have indicated interest on the registration form AND either myself or Redd reach out to you…

You must message myself or reddRookk by July 8th with your entry meeting the following qualifications: 

Wild Shetland Pony caught by YOU. No purchasing wilds from other players, rescues, foundation, or lined Shetlands. 

If you use an alt account to catch the Shetland, you must notify us. Otherwise, the entry will be null.

The horse must be registered with the Shetland Registry, vetted, and personality tested. 

The horse must be at least 2 years old. 

ETA: The Shetlands will come from myself or reddrookk - the only event in which a player would need to catch their own Shetland would be if the category has MORE than 20 players indicating interest, therefore creating an also eligible list. Also eligible participants would be notified ASAP. You may go ahead and catch a wild Shetland just in case you end up on the AE list, but of course, that is not required and your discretion! 

The raffle will be randomized and is NOT based on first come, first serve. So if you register on July 5th, you have as much of a chance to secure a spot in the Steeple Derby as someone who registered on July 1st. 

Rules & Registration

• Please read the rules carefully as failure to do so may result in an automatic disqualification when results are being reviewed.

• You may only use foundation horses that YOU have purchased (under the player name you put in this form).

• The horses must show a purchase date between the 1st and the 5th of July.

• You may have up to 1 mare and 1 stallion entered.

• The horses must be registered via the Google form linked below.

• All horses must be registered in the Shetland Pony Registry and also have a name. IE not just BOTM or New Horse.

• All entries are automatically entered for Lowest Breed Value, Highest PS, Highest Level, and Highest Breed Value categories. Other categories you must opt into in order to be participate. 

• Best Dressed: Horses will be judged by staff for the best dressed. Judging includes tack and companion coordination and creativity. Please have them dressed by Saturday July 28th to give staff adequate time for judging. If you have marked your entry to be submitted for Best Dressed and they are not dressed by the 28th, they will be submitted to the team as is.

• Discipline Categories: If you mark that you ARE entering a discipline category, you MUST only show that horse within the selected discipline. If you have a mix of disciplines, halter, or career, your entry will be disqualified.

• Giddy Up Jingle Pony Steeple Derby: Please indicate your interest in this category when registering your foundation horses for the contest. Derby ponies can ONLY be trained in Hurdle Racing and should not have any shows past July 24th, 2026. If an entrant has shows past the 24th, they will be scratched from the race. A race simulation will be posted on the 25th of July - intended post time is 6 pm Game Time. Entrants must reach at least level 10 to ensure trainers are training their entries. Also Eligible entrants have until July 8th, 11:59 pm game time to catch their entry and message either Calistra (Cali) or reddrookk with their entry. Also Eligible entrants may begin training and showing their catches immediately upon catching their wild in Hurdle Racing as OF July 6th. If showed or trained prior to this date, the entry, should they be eligible, will be scratched. Any entrants will be scratched from the race if they have any non-Hurdle Racing shows including halter or careers. Scores will be a weighted factor of level, performance stats, personality, and post position. 

• Regular BOTM entries: Due to show running times, it is recommended players to enter the last of their shows on July 30th to give wiggle room for possible show running delays. If you enter shows on the 30th you accept risk of disqualification if any shows run after rollover. The competition will end on Friday (July 31st) 11:59 pm Game Time.

Register your Shetland Ponies HERE - Closes July 5th @ 11:59 pm game time.

Updates

Hey HoFa community!

I have mapped out a loose schedule for each month so you know what to expect and when to expect it for breed of the month. Of course, this schedule is subject to change, so you should ALWAYS read the main posts to make sure there are no changes or updates. 

Unless stated otherwise, this is the general schedule BOTM follows: 

1st of the Month: Breed of the Month Winner Is Revealed! 

1st Sunday of the Month: Previous Month’s Winners Announced 

3rd Saturday of Each Month: Best Dressed Entries Are Due. 

3rd Sunday: Voting for BOTM posted and runs through Wednesday, 11:59 pm game time.

2nd to last day of the month will always be the recommended final date to show your horses. 

Moving results to the weekend will help me personally tremendously, but also gives some breathing room for our winners AND the new breed being announced as well. 

Secondly, due to the lower entries for the BOTM x Roundup Collab last month, we decided to cancel the Most Color Knab Category and save those prizes for a rainy day so we can spread the love a bit another month (or maybe this month - it IS Christmas in July after all!). 

Questions? Drop them below on this forum post! Posting them in Discord they might be seen by other players, but there is a likelihood they will not be answered and if you have a question, chances are, others do too. :) 

Thank you all! 

Cali