Shetland pony aims to make Christmas jumpers cool

Socks dances past a bemused horse. Picture: Contributed

THE world’s first moonwalking Shetland pony has returned to our screens in a bid to make Christmas jumpers cool.

Socks, who found himself catapulted into the limelight after featuring in a television advert for mobile phone network Three, is set to return to Shetland’s beaches in a new advert that will be seen by millions in cinemas, online and on TV.

The campaign, titled ‘The Knitwear Before Christmas’, sees VisitScotland, Promote Shetland and Three UK join forces for a competition offering two people the chance to travel to Shetland and meet Socks himself.

Running from November 29th to December 30th, the adverts will be accompanied by a print campaign featuring Socks kitted out in a specially knitted Fair Isle Christmas jumper created by Shetland-based designer Doreen Brown.

The adverts follow on from VisitScotland’s marketing campaign to launch the Year of Natural Scotland in January of this year, that saw jumper-clad Shetland ponies Fivla and Vitamin become an overnight sensation.

Steve Mathieson, VisitScotland’s Island Manager, said: “The sight of Socks strutting his stuff on Shetland captured the imagination of millions and helped thrust the Northern Isles into the global spotlight.

“We are delighted to see that he is once again showing off not just his dance moves and new Fair Isle knitwear, but also the spectacular scenery of this unique and magical part of the world.”

The social media competition, which begins on December 16th, will invite fans of Socks to tweet pictures of themselves wearing their own festive knitwear to @ThreeUK and @VisitScotland using the hashtag #KnitwearBeforeXmas.

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