CHOICE OF A HORSE. 2^ 



riding. A child's pony ought to be narrow, so that the Httle 

 legs may get a grip of his sides. If broad on the back the 

 little one has about as much hold as a man on the pad of 

 an elephant ; moreover, the short " chunky " pony is much 

 more proppy and jerky in his movements than those of 

 lighter and more " planky " build. 



Though of late years — grazing sheep having been found 

 a more paying industry — pony breeding in Wales has been 

 conducted in a very slip-shod manner, some good ponies 

 are still to be found in the Principality. There is little 

 doubt that the Welsh pony is the descendant of the horse 

 that in the days of Rome, yoked to the scythed chariots of 

 our forefathers, used to spread dismay into the serried ranks 

 of the war-worn legionaries. On the Cambrian mountains 

 the war-horse of the Angles became dwarfed, but lost none 

 of its vigour and activity. In these latter days it, on the 

 borders of Shropshire especially, has been crossed with 

 blood. The late Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., of Wynn- 

 stay, introduced the thoroughbred element, and in and about 

 Brampton Brian, Ludlow, Knighton, Corwen, Llampeter, 

 Welshpool, Newton, and Montgomery, following the banks 

 of the Severn from Pool Quay down to Llanidloes, is to be 

 found many a natty scion of the Arab Selim, of ^May Fly, 

 Underbill, Polardine, and Wandering Minstrel. The Berwyn 

 mountains, south of Corwen, on the line from Ruabon to 

 Bala, are famous for a very superior " stiff" breed of pony, 

 distinguished by peculiar white markings under the belly. 

 Some are beauties, all are active as cats, are able to go any 

 distance on very short commons, and are as hardy as the pro- 

 verbial tinker's dog. The best animals to be found in South 

 A\'ales are on the borders between Builth and Breckon. 

 Copenhagen, the Anglo-Arabian that carried the Duke of 

 Wellington at Waterloo, was foaled at Old Colwyn. Denbigh. 



