28 



and Arab blood. The large proportion of greys, many of them 

 flea-bitten, among a great variety of colours, is traced to the latter 

 origin. There are not many duns, and but few piebalds left. 



The New Forest Pony is below the level of the Dartmoor and 

 Exmoor in the quality of its head and shoulders. Its hocks and feet 

 are, however, both good. In height, the different types, in different 

 sections of the Forest, range from about 12-2 to 13 '2 hands, 

 although, when one is removed at weaning, and well attended to 

 during the first two winters, it may rise to 14' I and make an 

 excellent trapper. " It is a great characteristic of the New Forest 

 Ponies to be always gay and alert, and, though they are extremely 

 good-tempered and docile when fairly broken, they are quite 

 indomitable until they are completely cornered. The true Forester 

 is never sulky." 



THE DARTMOOR PONY. 



Dartmoor Ponies have been highly appreciated from very 

 early times, but, like many moorland and mountain ponies, they 

 have suffered from want of attention in breeding. Until recently 

 selection was left largely to nature, while some of the introductions 

 of fresh blood have been of doubtful value. In common with other 

 pony breeds there is a tendency to drooping quarters and cow hocks, 

 but of late years the work of the various local associations, which 

 are well supported by the pony owners, has resulted in great 

 improvement. 



When pure, Dartmoor Ponies are as a rule about 12 hands 

 2 inches in height, and for hardiness and endurance under a load 

 they are unsurpassed. The square, clean-cut, intelligent head, 

 strikes an observer at once : they have firm hard bone, almost 

 invariably excellent feet, short back well ribbed-up and powerful 

 loins. In the past they have been crossed with Thoroughbred, 

 Arab, and Hackney horses, but the best results have been obtained 

 by careful selection of the best Dartmoor stallions, while for 

 an out cross, which becomes necessary sooner or later, one of the 

 kindred breeds of ponies proves most valuable. Both Exmoor and 

 Welsh have have been used with success but the former is generally 

 preferred. The prevailing colours brown or bark bay are similar 

 to those of the Exmoor, and probably there is a close relationship 

 between the two breeds. 



THE EXMOOR PONY. 



There is considerable resemblance between Exmoor ponies and 

 those of Dartmoor, though, as a rule, the former show more quality 

 while the Dartmoor have more weight and substance and are slightly 

 taller Exmoor ponies running on the rnoor average from 11 hands 

 2 inches to 12 hands. A good deal of crossing to produce small 

 active horses of the hunter and polo pony types, is practised on the 

 borders of Exmoor, but the stock actually on the moor is probably of 

 purer descent than most other breeds of native ponies. Two in- 

 troductions of Eastern blood which had a considerable influence on the 

 breed can, however, be traced Katerfelto, the hero of many local 

 legends, was a half-bred Barb, as was also Bobby, a well known sire 



