THE PONY BREEDS OF HORSES 165 



is met by crossing with Standardbred and Thoroughbred 

 sires. The Bronco in the wild state can be ridden down 

 and captured without much difficulty by good, domestic 

 horses, even when carrying the weight of a rider, if 

 it can be approached sufficiently close to allow any- 

 thing like equality in the start. 



192. The Indian pony. The pony of the northern 

 states and northwest Canada is a better animal than 

 that of the southern states, although often they are inter- 

 bred. The northern pony rarely exceeds thirteen hands, 

 almost never fourteen, unless he is cross-bred, and is 

 more compact, better ribbed up and a better boned pony 

 than the Bronco. He is short in barrel and strong in 

 limb, has very good feet, heavy mane and tail, and 

 often considerable hair on his legs, all of which would 

 seem to indicate his Norman origin. These ponies are 

 very hardy, and, while not fast, will cover long distances 

 with ease. They are, moreover, more intelligent, have 

 better dispositions and display more courage than the 

 Bronco. 



193. Use of Broncos and Indian ponies. In the 

 West these ponies are used for saddle purposes, espe- 

 cially for cow-herding, although they are fast being re- 

 placed by better horses. Ponies of both types are brought 

 East and used in cities in delivery wagons and for light 

 driving purposes, or as saddle ponies. The best of them 

 are sometimes used as polo mounts. They are not bred, 

 as a rule, except in the western states on large ranches, 

 it being more profitable to raise other breeds of horses 

 or ponies in the eastern states, where the cost of feed 

 is high. These ponies are used as foundation stock 

 from which to breed a more improved type of pony or 

 horse, the mares being bred to Hackneys, trotting, car- 



