74 Breeds of Horses 



rapidly. Rugby had become a centre, and wherever a cavalry 

 regiment was stationed there the game was played. So natu- 

 rally the demand for ponies increased, for civilian clubs were 

 formed; hunts took up the game, and the cry was for still 

 more ponies. Under such circumstances what so natural as 

 that players should say, "Let us breed our own"? So there 

 was a little talk in clubs and other places where men met, and 

 a little correspondence in The Field and Land and Water, the 

 then hunting editor of which, the late Captain Moray Brown, 

 taking an active part both in the correspondence and in the 

 subsequent formation of the Polo and Riding Pony Society, which 

 came into existence in 1893. 



Mr. John Hill, and his son, Mr. Frederick Hill, who was by 

 the way, the first secretary of the society, had much to do with 

 the formation of the society, and Mr. Hill was a member of 

 the first council. Other members were Mr. T. F. Dale, Lord 

 Arthur Cecil, Mr. Tresham Gilbey, and Lord Harrington. Now, 

 in Mr. Hill, Lord Arthur Cecil, Lord Harrington, and Mr. Dale 

 there were four of the strongest believers in the native pony to 

 be found in the length and breadth of the land, and it was 

 pretty certain what they would say in reply to the question, 

 "Where are we to go for a foundation?" Attention was thus 

 called at once to the excellent qualities inherent in the native 

 Mountain pony, who was given a trial, and with what amount 

 of success the development made by the Polo-bred pony is 

 ample testimony. 



Not only was the pony of the moors and mountains given 

 his chance in a new sphere, but he was given his chance without 

 any attempt being made, as it were, to merge his personality in 

 a new breed. Sections in the Stud Book were opened for him 

 in his different varieties, and the wise policy of improvement 

 on natural lines was emphasized from the beginning. 



But, as well as sound judgment. Polo pony breeders had 

 some good fortune when they first established their society and 

 published their Stud Book, and good fortune has followed down 

 to the present time. Reference is made to the high-class Thorough- 

 bred stallions which were under the height which admitted of 

 their being entered in the Polo Pony Stud Book. One of the 

 first was Rosewater, by Rosicrucian, out of Lady Day H, by 

 St. Mungo; then we have had Spanish Hero, by Kilwarline, out 

 of Spanish Maiden, by Merry Hampton; Othrae, by Raeburn, 

 out of Othery, by King Monmouth; Gownboy, by Montezuma, 

 out of Santa Zeta, by Galliard; Arthur D, by Pride, out of 



