58 THE HORSE. 



times more , of a bright bay, or brown, with black legs, small head and 

 neck, and peculiarly deep and clean legs. Its qualities were speed, stout- 

 ness, and sure-footedness over a very rugged and mountainous country. 



Dr. Anderson thus describes the galloway : *' There was once a breed 

 of small elegant horses ii* Scotland, similar to those of Iceland and 

 Sweden, and which were known by the name of galloways ; the best of 

 which sometimes reached the height of fourteen hands and a half. One 

 of this description I possessed, it having been bought for my use when a 

 boy. In point of elegance of shape it was a perfect picture ; and in dis- 

 position was gentle and compliant. It moved almost with a wish, and 

 never tired. I rode this little creature for twenty-five years, and, twice in 

 that time, I rode a hundred and fifty miles at a stretch, without stopping, 

 except to bait, and that not for above an hour at a time. It came in at 

 tlie last stage with as much ease and alacrity as it travelled the first. I 

 could have undertaken to have performed on this beast, when it was in 

 its prime, sixty miles a-day for a twelvemonth running without any ex- 

 traordinary exertion." 



A galloway, in point of size, whether of Scotch origin or not we are 

 uncertain, performed, about the year 1814, a greater feat than Dr. 

 Anderson's favourite. It started from London with the Exeter mail, 

 and notwithstanding the numerous changes of horses, and the rapid 

 driving of that vehicle, it arrived at Exeter (one hundred and seventy- 

 two miles) a quarter of an hour before the mail. We saw him about a 

 twelvemonth afterwards, wind-galled, spavined, ring-boned, and a lament- 

 able picture of the ingratitude of some human brutes towards a willing 

 and faithful servant. 



In 1754 Mr. Corker's galloway went one hundred miles a-day for three 

 successive days, over the Newmarket course, and without the slightest 

 distress. 



A galloway belonging to Mr. Sinclair, of Kirby-Lonsdale, performed at 

 (Jarlisle the extraordinary feat of one thousand miles in a thousand hours. 



Many of the galloways now in use are procured either from Wales or 

 the New Forest, but they have materially diminished in number : there are 

 scarcely sufficient to supply even the neighbouring districts, and they are 

 still more materially deteriorated in form and value. Both the Welsh and 

 the Hampshire galloways and ponies claim, however, some noble blood. 



Old Marsk, before his value was known, contributed to the improvement 

 of the Hampshire breed ; and the Welsh ponies are said to be indebted to 

 the celebrated Merlin for their form and qualities. 



The Wehh Pony is one of the most beautiful little animals that can be 

 imagined. He has a small head, high withers, deep yet round barrel, 

 short joints, flat legs, and good round feet. He will live on any fare, and 

 can never be tired out. 



The New -foresters, no' withstanding their Marsk-blood, are generally 

 ill-made, large-headed, short-necked, ragged hipped, but hardy, safe, and 

 useful ; with much of their ancient spirit and speed, and all their old 

 paces. The catching of these ponies is as great a trial of skill, as tlie 

 hunting of the wild-horse on the Pampas of South America, and a greater 

 one of patience. 



A great many ponies, of little value, used to be reared in Lincolnshire, 

 in the neighbourhood of Boston, but the breed has been neglected for some 

 years, and the inclosure of the fens will render it extinct. 



The Exmoor Ponies, although generally ugly enough, are hardy ana 

 useliil. A well-known sportsman says, that he rode one of them half » 



