162 VARIETIES OF THE HORSE 



upon, he will make no more experiments, but will inbreed to a greater 

 or less extent until he has possessed himself of a herd of ponies of the 

 required shape and make. By this it is not intended to convey the 

 meaning that a series of first or second crosses must result in a breeder 

 getting what he wants. On the contrary, some time may he required 

 ere he can possess himself of the number of foundation stock necessary 

 to his purpose. At the same time, if it clearly appears to him that his 

 stallion does not suit his mares, and that the crossing and recrossing is 

 not advancing him much along the road he wants to travel, he will be 

 foolish to persevere in it, and if he is wise he will commence again. In 

 the case of the first foals bred from "native" mares — the term "native" 

 may be accepted as apjjlicable to the mox'e or less pure-bred mares of 

 some old established variety that have been purchased as foundation 

 stock — and the Hackney or Thoroughbred sire, it will be best to cross 

 them with their sire; but sooner or later — and probably sooner — it will 

 be necessary to find a stallion of their own breeding, else in time the 

 original pony blood will be absorbed by that of the Thoroughbred or 

 Hackney, as the case may be, and all traces of the original pony will be 

 obliterated. Consequently breeders must bear in mind that if they desire 

 to found a strain that shall make a name for itself, their stock must be 

 something diff"erent from either bantam Thoroughbreds or bantam Hack- 

 neys, though participating in the best qualities of the one or the other, 

 whichever may be used. 



The services of a " native" sire may perhaps be resorted to by some 

 owners in certain instances; but a difficulty will always exist in discover- 

 ing an animal of unimpeachable pedigree which also fulfils the requirements 

 of a breeder in other essential points. The f;ict is, as stated above, that 

 the " commoners" who have for centuries possessed the privilege of 

 grazing their ponies on common land, have not been careful in protect- 

 ing their property, the result being that many good mares have acciden- 

 tally been served by uncut two-year-olds of an indifierent character, 

 whilst many quite undesirable entire horses have been pex-mitted to roam 

 -about the land, and work destruction amongst the dift'erent herds. Of 

 late years the indigenous stock — or what remains, if any, of it — has 

 received some attention, but the assistance has come so late that many 

 reputedly pure-bred ponies of a certain variety are simply improvements 

 upon the mongrels that have been produced in the course of a long 

 period of neglect. It therefore appears that the founder of a pony- 

 breeding stud may be acting more wisely in relying upon a Thorough- 

 bred or Hackney-bred sire in the first instance — provided he cannot 

 produce a stallion of the Wilson, or some other established strain — than 



