66 Breeds of Horses 



Another well-known stud is that at Dinarth, Llandudno, North 

 Wales, owned by Messrs. Jones & Son. Messrs. Jones & Son have 

 followed up the policy of Mr. C. W. Wilson, and have bred some 

 remarkably handsome miniature Hackneys, the ultimate founda- 

 tion in their case being Welsh ponies. 



If anyone has a wish to breed harness ponies nowadays — 

 and it is a profitable industry — there is no necessity for him to 

 grade up his foundation from any of the native breeds. This is 

 always a lengthy process and consequently an expensive one, and 

 it is one, moreover, in which there are many disappointments. 

 There are now obtainable plenty of mares of the type required. 

 No doubt if a mare is a good one and a fine mover she will cost 

 a considerable sum of money. But if the original outlay is big 

 in proportion to the original cost in the "grading up" process, 

 it must not be forgotten that the profit is in proportion, and also 

 — a very important consideration — it is immediate. 



It fills the imagination to learn that a man, commencing with 

 the foundation of a Welsh or an Exmoor or a Highland pony, 

 has in the course of a few generations bred a pony perfect in 

 type and quality and action, a Hackney in miniature, with all the 

 Hackney's good points and some that the Hackney does not 

 possess, and that he has sold him for ;^iooo or something ap- 

 proaching to that sum. That is a very pretty picture, but if the 

 cost of the production of that handsome pony is taken into 

 consideration the result scarcely appears in such glowing colours. 

 It must be clearly understood that this refers entirely to the 

 economic view of the situation. The satisfaction which a breeder 

 feels in having worked out his theories to a successful conclusion 

 is quite another matter, and can never be estimated in coin of 

 the realm. 



If a man has a fancy that way, if he is fond of a smart 

 harness horse, he might do much worse than buy a couple of pony 

 mares and try his luck at breeding ponies. The mares will do a lot 

 of odd jobs; they will run him to "kirk or market, mill or smiddie"; 

 their meat will not be missed ; if he buys them " right ones " they 

 will pick up a prize or two probably at local or district shows; and 

 they will surely pay their way, and may turn out a veritable gold 

 mine. 



In buying mares for this purpose it is essential to get them pony- 

 bred ones. By this is meant as many crosses of acknowledged 

 pony blood as possible, and then there will not be much difficulty 

 in keeping the produce small. It must be remembered that, pro- 

 vided it is a really smart mover, a small pony is the most valuable. 



