474 HORSES SHETLAND PONIES 



and the strong resemblance in general appearance to the 

 Percheron breed, affords strong presumptive evidence that the 

 " large horses," which were crossed many years ago to form 

 the Garron breed, were Percherons. That a breed of Garrons 

 could now be produced by a similar combination, even if the 

 real type of Highland pony could be found, is highly improb- 

 able, as the existing breed has been subjected to a long 

 period of acclimatising and to the natural selection of the 

 survival of the fittest. They are not usually housed in 

 winter, with the exception, as at Blair Atholl, of a shelter 

 shed to which they have access at will ; but formerly, when 

 the numbers were greater, no shed was provided for the 

 young unbroken stock, and no food supplied but a short 

 allowance of straw while snow covered the ground, or frost 

 remained unusually long. They became very lean in spring, 

 but picked up rapidly when grass came. This seems to be a 

 breed which a unique combination of circumstances has 

 admirably formed in shape, size, and constitution, for a 

 special purpose, and any attempt to " improve it," as it is 

 called, by crossing, is practically certain to ruin it in one or 

 other of its essential characteristics. 



The Atholl stud is said to be probably the most typically 

 pure strain. Wm. Dalziel Mackenzie, of Farr and Newbie, 

 Daviot, Inverness, has another pure stud, but not of the Atholl 

 blood. The stud of Donald Stewart, Drumchorry, Pitlochry, 

 has been bred on the male side from " Herd Laddie" (Plate 

 CXXX.), the famous Atholl sire, to whom and his progeny 

 many mares of a pony type are sent from all parts of the country. 

 Some good mares, but not for breeding, are in the possession 

 of Lord Willoughby de Eresby, near Comrie ; and of Edward 

 Ormiston, keeper, Gaick Forest, Kingussie. The value of 

 a good Garron is from 4.0 to 45. They are said to be able 

 to do well on one-third less food than a Clydesdale. The 

 Clydesdale-Garron cross is quite a success. The Garron gives 

 the form and the Clydesdale greater size. The polo pony cross 

 is far from satisfactory. 



The Shetland Pony or " Sheltie " l is one of the oldest 



1 From "Hjaltland," the original form of Shetland. Seethe Introduction 

 in Vol. I. of The Shetland Pony Stud Book^ 1891, to which indebtedness 

 is acknowledged. 



