3i6 POLO 



first produce out of English mares were AH Baba and Jenny, 

 who both have the highest character as polo ponies. Then for 

 a few years Lord Harrington left off breeding ponies and crossed 

 Awfully Jolly with big mares, getting some rare hunters, one 

 or two amongst them being up to 14 stone. About four 

 years ago, however, he embarked in pony-breeding again, and 

 the paddocks at Elvaston show some wonderful stock got by 

 the Barb, Ally Sloper and Aunt Sally being two very smart 

 ones. Awfully Jolly mast have over a hundred of his get in 

 Cheshire and Derbyshire alone, and to not one of them can the 

 term ' bad ' be applied, nor have any of his foals died from 

 disease. This speaks volumes for the Barb cross. Standing 

 14 hands \\ inch, a dark chestnut with a blood-like head, 

 wonderful shoulders, which slope back and are strong at the 

 top without being heavy, the length in front of the saddle is 

 marvellous when you look at Awfully Jolly. Nearly all his 

 stock inherit these points, as well as his low wither, which is 

 not only a great advantage for measuring, but enables them to 

 turn quickly. His back is short and strong, loins and quarters 

 are muscular, though the latter droop rather and have the low 

 set on tail that distinguishes a Barb from an Arab. Deep back 

 ribs, great depth in front and through the heart, and fresh, clean, 

 flat legs, that a two-year-old might envy, with extraordinary 

 bone, complete the picture of what a pony sire should be ; and 

 when it is remembered that Awfully Jolly was foaled in 1875, it 

 must be admitted that he carries his years bravely. 



In my remarks about Barbs it must be understood that I 

 am talking of the Barb horses, not ponies. These latter vary 

 from 12 to 13 hands 2 inches, and do much the same work in 

 Morocco as the ' tattoo ' does in India. Their size, conse- 

 quently, makes them too small for polo. The Barb horse, on 

 the contrary, varies from 14, to 14 hands 3 inches, and is some- 1 

 what difficult to procure of a good stamp, for in that country, 

 which is a hotbed of despotism, the Sultan and the unscru- 

 pulous myrmidons who constitute his court will not allow a 

 poorer subject to retain a really good animal. Directly one is 



