352 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



hounds is gaining in popularity in this country and is an influential force 

 in the development of the horse market. 



THE THOROUGHBRED. 



The breeding of thoroughbreds is rapidly assuming large proportions 

 Many of the sales that have been held during the past year have aver- 

 aged $1,000, even for yearlings, and fabulous sums have been paid for 

 mature breeding animals, the large prices brought by the aged mares 

 showing the strong demand that exists. The thoroughbred bears to some 

 extent the same relation to the hunter that the standard-bred horse does 

 to the roadster; that is, he is largely the producer of the hunter, the prin- 

 cipal difference being that the hunter usually lacks the speed of a racer, 

 and is not recorded in the stud-book. 



POLO PONIES. 



The three essentials of a polo pony are (1) weight carrying ability, 

 with small size, (2) agility, and (3) speed. 



Size and weight. — The maximum height is 14.2 hands. The weight 

 for such a height will be about 850 pounds. 



Conformation. — Good bone and compact conformation are requisite, 

 with as much muscle as possible. "Get quarters on him like a cart horse, 

 if you can," said a polo authority. Short cannon bones, especially in the 

 hind legs, give the horse a control of himself that enables him to turn 

 with speed and agility. Perfect soundness and extreme quality are in- 

 dispensable, for the strain of the game and the demands made on the 

 pony's endurance are usually severe. 



Intelligence and training. — Courage and intelligence are prime re- 

 quisites with a polo pony. Quickness of sight and a keen enjoyment of 

 the game make an animal still more valuable. Along this line it must 

 be remembered that all ponies will not learn the game. Horses are dif- 

 ferently constituted in this respect, and such things must be expected. 



Action. — The principal requirement in action is agility. The pony 

 must always have himself well under control, with the ability to come to 

 a dead stop almost instantly from a run, and quickness that enables him 

 to "turn on a dollar," as a Westerner puts it. Speed is also necessary, 

 but agility first of all. 



Demand. — Like the preceding class, the growth of a fascinating sport 

 is rapidly opening up a market for another class of horses, and, like the 

 hunters, polo ponies bring long prices when suitable for such work, and 

 are sound. Most players have four or five horses constantly on hand, and 

 some have twenty or thirty in their stables. 



It is an interesting fact that no better polo ponies are found in the 

 United States than Western "cow ponies" that are sound and well set up. 

 with a few months' education in the rudiments of the game as a finishing 

 school. 



