PONIES AND PONY-BREEDING 157 



constitution and be absolutely sound, but must also be as near perfec- 

 tion in his looks as can be secured. Weaknesses and faults, it must be 

 remembered, are as likely to be perpetuated as are the best and most 

 attractive points, and when imperfections are strongly rooted in a strain 

 of horses they are most difficult to eradicate. Of course, the value of 

 an inbred animal — provided always that he or she, as the case may be, 

 is sound and good-looking — as a stock pony is immense, and a breeder 

 possessing such an article may seek for an outside cross with some degree 

 of confidence, knowing tha. at all events on one side there is good 

 material to Avork upon. In ponies, however, as in all other stock, a 

 male will oftentimes nick with one female and not with another, and 

 vice versa; and therefore the breeder who may fail at first will not be 

 acting wisely if he at once makes up his mind that his sire or mare 

 is worthless, because their fii'st foal turns out to be a disappointment. 



The effect of a suitable sire upon common pony mares is extraordinary, 

 and the rapidity with which a strain has been improved by the influence 

 of a desirable stallion in the stud has upon many occasions been noted 

 with astonishment, and even by those best acquainted with the history 

 of the mares. This is a most satisfsictory circumstance, for beyond a doubt 

 many valuable strains or varieties of pony have been so long neglected 

 as to render their owners sceptical as regards the possibility of imjirove- 

 ment. Experience, however, has so amply proved the contrary that no 

 one who is associated with the raising of this class of stock should permit 

 his mares to run with a moderate stallion. A difficulty, however, exists 

 in selecting the horse pony to run on common land on which mares of 

 many and varied types are kept, for an animal that will suit some may 

 fail with others, but there is always safety in following blood. A good- 

 constitution ed Thoroughbred pony is sure to leave good results behind him, 

 and may be safely used to any class of mare; and in such cases as those 

 in which owners are either unable or unwilling to provide separate accom- 

 modation for such mares as may not be quite adapted to the stallion running 

 with the drove, he is not likely to do them more harm than many horses 

 which are permitted to be at large on common ground. It is the indifferent 

 typelesa class of horse that has done so much harm to ponies generally, and 

 it would be an excellent thing if a law were passed that no stallions should 

 be allowed to run at large amongst mares on public land unless they 

 had previously received a licence to do so; and surely no man is justified 

 in enforcing his legal rights to the detriment of the property of other 

 persons possessing similar privileges. 



Having thus attempted to explain the principles which have influenced 

 the operations of the most eminent pony-breeders of the day, it now 



