Welsh Ponies and Cobs 79 



The Shetland, as well as being a powerful pony well suited 

 for pit work, is high-spirited and docile, a famous children's pony, 

 with a lot of pace. Mr. R. Brydon relates how Mr, R. Lacy's 

 Beauty trotted in harness ten miles on the Leeming Road in 

 39 min. 30 sec, driven by a man weighing 11 st. 4 lb., that she 

 several times trotted a mile in 3 min. 44 sec, and that she 

 trotted fourteen miles in 55 min. 45 sec driven by the same man, 

 who then weighed 11 st. 7 lb., and had it not been for a rein 

 breaking she would have covered the fifteen miles within the 

 hour with ease. There is a joint sale at Earlshall, Leuchars, 

 every year, and though all ages, including foals, are sold, con- 

 sequently the averages are not reliable as to the value of adult 

 ponies, some idea can be formed of the market from the follow- 

 ing figures: — 



Average Price. 

 Sold. Vendors. £ s. d. 



1903 57 3 16 13 4 



1904 108 9 15 4 o 



1905 Ill 16 16 II o 



1907 86 10 19 8 6 



1908 115 17 14 4 3 



1909 90 14 23 2 7 



1910 124 — 20 13 2 



1911 106 — 17 18 2 



Welsh Ponies and Cobs 



By D. D. WILLIAMS, M.R.A.S.E., F.H.A.S. 



(Plates, /cuing pf>. 176 and igi) 



The Principality of Wales has long been famous for its light 

 horses, whose merits have long been recognized also in other parts 

 of Britain. Of late years an increasing demand for exportation 

 purposes has been experienced, particularly from America and 

 Australia. Indeed, such excellent specimens have found their way 

 to South Australia that we are. assured of the continuance of the 

 breed in its purity, however much it is threatened with extinction 

 at home. 



It is a regrettable fact that so many of the farmers of Wales 

 have been crossing their mares so extensively with the Hackney. 

 The cross, it must be admitted, is a decidedly good one in the 

 majority of cases, but the question which will have to be seriously 

 faced sooner or later is that of foundation stock. The crossbreds 

 are altogether unsuitable for the country, and can only breed a 



