Horses 315 



385 pounds. Small size, of course, is desired and, for this 

 reason, the registry associations discriminate against animals 

 over a certain height. The association in Scotland will not 

 register an individual that is over 42 inches high ; in America 

 those up to 46 inches may be registered. Shetland ponies 

 have the general appearance of a very small, chunky draft 

 horse. A wide variation in color is found, bay, brown, black, 

 chestnut, and gray being rather common colors. Many have 

 white markings. Shetlands are very desirable for children, 

 being docile and easily controlled. 



Welsh ponies. This breed of ponies is a native of Wales. 

 The animals are somewhat larger than the Shetlands, ranging 

 from 11 to 13 hands. In conformation they are of the light- 

 horse type. In temperament they are more active than the 

 Shetlands and less desirable for young children. The ponies 

 are extensively used for polo purposes. 



Hackney ponies. Any small Hackney horse is known as a 

 Hackney pony, size being the only distinguishing difference 

 between the horse and the pony. A Hackney pony is shown 

 in Fig. 124. 



Bronchos and Indian ponies. The American ponies of the 

 western plains are thought to be descendants of horses that 

 were lost by the early explorers. These ponies have a remark- 

 able capacity for hard work under the saddle. Formerly 

 they were much used as cow ponies, but in recent years larger 

 horses have been preferred for this purpose. Many of the 

 pony mares have been crossed with larger stallions and the 

 offspring, which are somewhat larger than the ponies, have 

 been found useful as tough riding and driving horses. 



170. Market classes of horses and mules. At Chicago, 

 St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Buffalo, Boston, New York, 

 and some other cities, there are large horse and mule markets 

 where the "animals offered for sale are grouped in certain classes 

 based on such qualities as soundness, conformation, quality, 

 condition, action, age, color, education, and general appear- 



