104 THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF ENGLISH HORSES. 



They were applied to very inferior purposes even on the fens, and were 

 unequal to hard and flinty and hilly roads. The breed became generally 

 neglected, and, at no very distant time, will be almost extinct. 



The Exmoor ponies^ although generally ugly enough, are hardy and useful. 

 A well-known sportsman says, that he rode one of them half-a-dozen miles, 

 and never felt such power and action in so small a compass before. To show 

 his accomplishments, he was turned over a gate at least eight inches higher 

 than his back ; and his owner, who rides fourteen stone, travelled on him from 

 Bristol to South Molton, eighty-six miles, beating the coach which runs the 

 same road. 



The horses which are still used in Devonshire, and particularly in the 

 western and southern districts, under the denomination of PACK-HORSES, are 

 a larger variety of the Exmoor or Dartmoor breed. The saddle-horses of 

 Devonshire are mostly procured from the more eastern counties. 



There are still some farms in the secluded districts in that beautiful part of 

 the kingdom on which there is not a pair of wheels. Hay, corn, straw, fuel, 

 stories, dung, lime, are carried on horseback ; and in harvest, sledges drawn by 

 oxen and horses are employed. This was probably, in early times, the mode of 

 conveyance throughout the kingdom ; but it is now rapidly getting into disuse 

 even in Devonshire. 



There is on Dartmoor a race of ponies much in request in that vicinity, 

 being sure-footed and hardy, and admirably calculated to scramble over the 

 rough roads and dreary wilds of that mountainous district. The Dartmoor pony 

 is larger than the Exmoor, and, if possible, uglier. He exists there almost in a 

 state of nature. The late Captain Colgrave, governor of the prison, had agreat desire 

 to possess one of them of somewhat superior figure to its fellows ; and, having 

 several men to assist him, they separated it from the herd. They drove it on 

 some rocks by the side of a tor (an abrupt pointed hill). A man followed on 

 horseback, while the captain stood below watching the chase. The little 

 animal being driven into a corner, leaped, completely over the man and horse, 

 and escaped. 



The Highland pony is far inferior to the galloway. The head is large ; he 

 is low before, long in the back, short in the legs, upright in the pasterns, rather 

 slow in his paces, and not pleasant to ride, except in the canter. His habits 

 make him hardy ; for he is rarely housed in the summer or the winter. The 

 Rev. Mr. Hall, hi his u Travels in Scotland" says, " that when these animals 

 come to any boggy piece of ground, they first put their nose to it, and then 

 pat on it in a peculiar way with one of their fore-feet ; and from the sound 

 and feel of the ground, they know whether it will bear them. They do the 

 same with ice, and determine in a minute whether they will proceed." 



The Shetland pony, called in Scotland sheltie, an inhabitant of the extremest 

 northern Scottish Isles, is a very diminutive animal sometimes not more than 

 seven hands and a half in height, and rarely exceeding nine and a half. 



He is often exceedingly beautiful, with a small head, good-tempered coun- 

 tenance, a short neck, fine towards the throttle, shoulders low and thick in so 

 little a creature far from being a blemish back short, quarters expanded and 

 powerful, legs flat and fine, and pretty round feet. These ponies possess immense 

 strength for their size ; will fatten upon almost anything ; and are perfectly 

 docile. One of them, nine hands (or three feet) in height, carried a man of 

 twelve stone forty miles in one day. 



A friend of the author was, not long ago, presented with one of these elegant 

 little animals. He was several miles from home, and puzzled how to convey 

 his newly-acquired property. The Shetlander was scarcely more than seven 

 hands high, and as docile as he was beautiful. u Can we not carry him in your 



