358 THE PONIES OF CONNEMARA. 



p. 307), that for the breeding of ponies we want " cheap, rough land, a mild 

 climate, necessitating little expenditure for hand-feeding in winter, and a 

 hardy, useful type of brood mare," and further, that " grazing among rocks 

 and bogs makes the animals active, sure-footed, and clever in extricating 

 themselves from tight places, a very essential thing for mounted infantry." 

 I have endeavoured to show that all the necessary conditions for the breed- 

 ing of stout, active ponies especially exist in the West of Ireland, and I may, 

 in conclusion, add that Connemara is in a sense already a huge stud farm, 

 which annually produces a large crop of foals. 



With a little organisation, the number of foals might be considerably in- 

 creased, and arrangements made for the best of the colts running on the 

 Connemara moors and mountains until they are old enough to be trained 

 for mounted infantry. In this way remounts could be provided for a rela- 

 tively small sum, and, what is of even more importance, they would begin 

 their life-work with a constitution able to withstand all ordinary hardships. 

 The only danger would be that, by rich food, much grooming, and warm 

 stables, they would ere long be as delicate as ponies reared in the ordinary 

 way. All that healthy, hardy ponies require is shelter from wind and rain. 

 A shed completely open on one side, but with a wide roof, is sufficient ; but 

 at several centres a sort of equine Pantheon, with or without galleries, 

 might be constructed to serve as winter quarters. 



P.S. — Readers of the above article will be interested to learn that the 

 Congested Districts Board have now (February, 1902), at Lough Glynn, 

 County Roscommon, a stud of fifteen Connemara pony mares and two 

 Erris ponies. Nine of the Connemaras are in foal to an Arab, two to a 

 Connemara stallion, and the two Erris ponies to a thoroughbred. This 

 season ten of the mares will be put to the Arab, a.nd seven to a young and 

 very promising Connemara pony, and all the results will be watched and 

 carefully noted. 



