THE PONT BREEDS OF HORSES 163 



Thoroughbred race horse of late years has been increas- 

 ing in height and small ones are likely to be only runts 

 whose produce is likely to exceed the limit in height. 

 The Arab in many ways is desirable, as he has the consti- 

 tution, the endurance and the strength, but not the speed. 

 The Arab, moreover, is more likely to be of the right size, 

 and by reason of his great antiquity and the fixed char- 

 acter of the breed, he impresses more certainly and more 

 markedly his likeness on his stock than any other breed. 



There is generally a good demand for ponies that 

 have been discarded from the game because of defi- 

 ciency in speed, courage or other essential qualifica- 

 tions. They make good hacks and often good saddle 

 ponies for children and young persons. The pony 

 Battledor (Fig. 23), with her fore-legs bandaged, as in 

 playing the game, is a type of light-weight western polo 

 mount. 



A polo pony stud-book has been started in England, 

 and there is every reason to suppose that one will be 

 started in this country in the near future. 



190. The Mustang. The ponies of the western states 

 of America, the Mustangs, are in the case of those of the 

 southwestern states apparently of Moorish origin, com- 

 ing into this country by way of Mexico and having 

 been brought over originally by the Spaniards. To 

 these ponies the term Bronco is often applied, which is 

 derived from the Spanish word " bronco," meaning rough 

 or wild. The pony of the northwestern states and 

 Canada, termed Indian pony, appears to be of Norman 

 origin, although often these two breeds are more or less 

 mixed. Very many of the small horses at the present 

 time in the western part of the United States have been 

 crossed more or less with the American trotter, the 



