32 



Action must be true, close and springy the legs being thrown 

 well from the shoulder, and the hocks well flexed. 



General. The whole appearance should suggest vitality and 

 health, as well as perfect symmetry. 



HIGHLAND PONIES. 



The general term Highland Pony is often understood to 

 apply to the " Garron " of the central Highlands, but in all 

 probability the smaller pony of the Western Islands has a much 

 better claim to the title and represents the real Highland Pony 

 from which other types have been formed. Mr. Munro Mackenzie 

 describes the small Highland Pony of the Outer Hebrides in the 

 following lines : " Of the small Highland Pony the Barra Pony 

 might be taken as the type. Most of these ponies might be called 

 plain useful animals but here and there a very beautiful little pony 

 may be found. Their points are : a plain square head, rather long ; 

 a good prominent eye ; a rather short neck ; shoulder a bit straight 

 but very freely used ; deep at the heart ; good back ; rather a short 

 quarter and sickle hocks ; legs good, with a very good quality of 

 bone and very good open feet. Height from 12 to 13 hands on 

 ordinary Barra keep, but if well done they may grow a bit higher. 

 Many years ago there were to be seen some very beautiful little 

 ponies with a decided Arab look, on some of the small islands. 

 There is no doubt that these ponies must have had a strong Arab 

 cross at some time. Colours : dun, grey, black, brown, with some 

 bays and chestnuts." 



A larger pony very similar to the old Galloway Pony is found 

 in Mull, Skye, Uist and Tiree, though, unfortunately, the breed has 

 been crossed almost out of existence. They are characterised by 

 " a fine Arab head, long fine neck, well laid shoulder, well sprung 

 ribs with the best of legs and feet ; in their trot they go a bit wide 

 behind ; they stand from 13*2 to 14*2 hands. This is a most useful 

 type of pony and worthy of encouragement in every way. They 

 can do all the work on Western Island crofts, are good to ride on 

 the hills and make first rate deer carriers. Colours : dun, grey, 

 black, with a few bays and chestnuts." 



The Ponies of the Central Highlands, generally called "Garrons n 

 (the term is unfortunate, as while " Garron " in Gaelic originally meant 

 a stout horse or hack, the word is now usually used in the West in 

 contempt) are the largest of all the ponies in this country and stand 

 about 14*2 hands high, sometimes up to 15 hands, though at that 

 height they lose a good deal of the pony character. There is no 

 doubt that the Garron was developed by introduction of Cart Horse 

 blood into an original breed of ponies, and there is reason to believe 

 that Percherons as well as other heavy horses were used. Most 

 have nice clean heads with bold eyes, though in some cases traces of 

 the Roman nose and other features of the Cart Horse type of head 

 appear. Both horses and mares have fine strong crested necks ; 

 rather heavy shoulders, some fairly well laid ; good strong backs, 

 though in many cases rather long ; strong quarters ; the bone of 

 leg is apt to be rather round. On the whole they are strong 



