The Horse Tribe 



205 



[ irishair, X.B. 



POLO-PONY. 



Various breeds of ponies are used in this game, but the most esteemed at the 

 present day are the English-bred Xew Forest, Dartmoor, or Exmoor, or Welsh 

 ponies. 



than trotting. The record time stands 

 at one mile in 1 minute 39 seconds, as 

 against the trotting record of one mile 

 in 2 minutes 3| seconds. 



THE HUNTER. 



This also is not a distinct breed, as 

 some suppose. Any good riding-horse 

 may be used as a hunter. " Hunters " 

 have been made by infusing the blood 

 of the race-horse with native breeds. 

 The chief requirements are a muscular 

 neck and chest, with a rather short 

 body, and shorter and stouter legs than 

 the race-horse. 



From the half-bred hunter we pass 

 by insensible gradation to the ordinary 

 saddle- and carriage-horses. The ideal 

 carriage-horse, however, is more of a 

 distinct breed than the hunter, and 

 known as the CLEVELAND BAY. It has 

 been produced by mingling the blood 

 of the thoroughbred with that of a 

 horse of stouter make than that of the 

 hunter type. 



The record broad jump for the hunter, we might mention in passing, is variously stated 

 to be from 33 to 37 feet! 



THE SHETLAND PONY. 



This is a native of the Shetland 

 Islands, and remarkable for its small 

 size, docility, and hardihood. It is 

 allowed to run nearly wild, and made to 

 forage almost entirely for itself. In the 

 winter it grows a coat of great length, 

 which, soon becoming matted, forms a 

 most effective protection against cold and 

 wet. The DARTMOOR, EXMOOR, and NEW 

 FOREST are likewise small breeds, but 

 lack the symmetry and beauty of the 

 Shetland. 



CART-HORSES. 



Under this head are included all 

 the large, heavily built draught-horses. 

 These are of European origin, and 

 without intermixture of foreign Asiatic 

 or African blood. In England the most 

 important breeds are the BLACK or SHIRE 



Photo by T. Fall] [Baker Street. HORSE, the CLYDESDALE, and the SUFFOLK 



DONKEY. PUNCH. These are wonderful instances 



Uhis is a typical English coster s dockey, and won the first prize at the Southwark 



show. of the results of selective breeding 



