178 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



207. The Connemara, or pony of Ireland. The Con- 

 nemara, or pony of Ireland, is found chiefly in the County 

 Galway, Ireland. It is an extremely wiry pony, showing 

 a great deal of the Barb or Arab blood. It stands twelve 

 to fourteen hands in height, sometimes more. Like 

 other breeds that run practically wild in a hilly country, 

 it is hardy, active and sure-footed. It has a thick and 

 shaggy coat in response to the climatic condition of its 

 habitat. In color, it is black, brown or bay and sometimes 

 chestnut, betraying its descent. Often individuals are 

 pacers. Since the middle of the last century it has been 

 allowed to deteriorate, but for some years past systematic 

 endeavors to improve the breed by introduction of Thor- 

 oughbred and Hackney pony stallions have been in 

 progress. 



OTHER PONIES 



208. The Celtic, or pony of Iceland. The Celtic, or 

 pony of Iceland, the Hebrides, north of Ireland, and the 

 Faroes, is a small-headed pony with prominent eyes, 

 slender limbs and small joints. A typical Celtic pony is 

 generally of yellowish dun color, with a dark dorsal band 

 and with some indication of stripes on the shoulders and 

 in the region of the knees and hocks. These ponies have 

 a close resemblance to the Scandinavian pony, and it is 

 probable that they have a common origin. The Shet- 

 land, Welsh, New Forest and other ponies of the British 

 Isles probably have a certain amount of Celtic blood, as 

 ponies are frequently found of the former breeds with 

 strong characteristics of the Celtic pony. 



The ponies of the Hebrides, the Faroes and the north 

 of Ireland are little known in this country, but the Ice- 

 land ponies are sometimes imported into America, although 



