CHAPTER XXII 



HORSES (continued] 



Irish Horses The Connemara Pony Irish Hunters The Polo Pony 

 Society The Polo Pony Stud Book Inclusion of Indigenous 

 Mountain Ponies Methods of Improvement North Wales Breed 

 South Wales Breed New Forest Ponies Dartmoor Breed 

 The Highland Ponies of Scotland Western Islands Riding 

 Ponies The Highland Garrons The Shetland Pony The Ass 

 The Mule and the Zebrule. 



IRISH HORSES 



IN 1888 the Imperial Government began to make a grant 

 of ,5000 a year for the improvement of Irish Live 

 Stock, and put the administration in the control of the Royal 

 Dublin Society, who allocated 3200 to horse-breeding in 

 the form of premiums for Thoroughbred stallions, which were 

 distributed according to local requirements. This went on 

 till 1902, "when the payment of premiums was discontinued, 

 and the money devoted to the provision of free, or assisted, 

 nominations for mares," which in turn continued till 1900. 

 The numbers of horses in the following table were provided 

 and maintained chiefly by private enterprise : 



Year 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 

 Horses 101 119 105 219 239 212 217 206 201 



In 1900 the Irish Board of Agriculture, with more ample 

 funds, took over the work, and they now carry it on on a 

 larger scale, guided by experts forming the " Horse-breeding 

 Committee," representing the various breeding interests. 

 Suggestions have also been invited annually from County 

 Councils. The Department has found it necessary to 

 introduce stallions, and to sell them on easy terms to 

 suitable purchasers. Clydesdale and Shire horses were 

 admitted at first, but they have not been received with 

 favour, and their use was restricted in 1903. The total 



461 



