PONIES 



I refer to " Welsh Flyer " (857), " Welsh Hero " (838), 

 " Welsh Flying Evans " (856), '' True Briton " (840), " Trottmg 

 Comet " (834), " Flying Comet " (286), " Eiddwen Flyer " 

 ( ), and a host of other equally celebrated but unregistered 

 Welsh sires. These horses, although in the stud book, were 

 pure Welsh. We have rehable records how faithfully and 

 correctly the old Welsh breeders kept orally the pedigree of their 

 best sires and dams for generations. 



I shall now endeavour to define the different classes. 



(i). We have the small ordinary mountain pony. 



The limited commercial value of this pony is due to its 

 common appearance and unadaptability for general use except 

 pit purposes and as a draught animal for hucksters. He is thick, 

 broad-shouldered, short in the neck, long in the back, sickle 

 hocked, and having a donkey gait, the result of generations of 

 neglect and breeding from the nonfittest, and, what is worse, 

 often from what cannot be sold. But even in his primitive 

 ugliness, he retains that fire and stamina of the breed. The 

 breeding of this pony has become so unprofitable that many hill 

 farmers have sold out their stock entirely and grazed more sheep 

 instead. And yet representatives of this class are supposed 

 by some people to be the only " pure Welsh," his qualifications 

 being his defects. These, in the opinion of some technical 

 udges, prove the ponies to be the original pure "Taffies" ; 

 and when a show is held in a district where such worthless 

 little animals abound, great efi'orts are made to elect a judge 

 whose qualification often is that he considers that quality 

 will not harmonise with purity in " pure bred Welsh ponies." 

 The size of these little ponies varies from 11 to 12 hands ; and 

 they are to be found on the poorest and most exposed hills. 



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