THE FAMILY PONY. 1S9 



misfortune to witness it. Scarcely anything in connection 

 with the management of horses can be more reprehensible or 

 unhorseman-like than butchers' driving. 



Tradesmen's horses usually work on the paved streets of 

 towns and cities ; therefore the legs and feet should be care- 

 fully watched, in order to keep them sound as long as possible. 

 In this regard, too much attention can scarcely be paid to the 

 management of the feet, and to shoeing. Good harness and 

 proper harnessing are essential to the satisfactory performance 

 of work and the comfort of the horse while performing it, as 

 has been insisted upon in the previous chapter ; and the value 

 of a feed in the nose-bag should never be forgotten, if the horse 

 has to be many hours away from his stable. 



As has been mentioned, the amount of food, as well as the 

 kind, will depend upon circumstances, but it should always be 

 ample and of good quality. The probable quantity we have 

 already stated ; but it may be mentioned that for omnibus and 

 cab horses in moderate or hard work, a daily allowance of from 

 eighteen to twenty- two pounds of corn — a mixture of oats and 

 maize, the proportion depending on the price in the market — 

 with chaff (meadow hay and clover) from eight to ten pounds, 

 is considered suflScient. 



THE FAMILY PONY. 



Ponies are much more in request in England than asses or 

 mules, as, though not so hardy, or easily and cheaply kept, they 

 are more docile and reliable, so far as temper is concerned, and 

 are much more manageable. Their robustness of course varies 

 with breed, climate, and mode of management. In some parts 

 of the world, ponies are nearly as good as mules for transport 

 purposes. Those from the hill districts of India, for instance, 

 small, stout, and with strong limbs and feet, are well known 

 for their endurance, vigour, and patience ; while it is notorious 

 that the ponies from over the North- Western frontier of India, 



