142 THE PRACTICAL HOESE KEEPER. 



Welsh ponies outnumber tlie Shetland. The Scotch have the 

 lead in Northumberland, where larger ponies are required. 

 The Scotch ponies, bred chiefly in Argyllshire, Mull, and Skye, 

 and the western part of Eoss-shire, average twelve hands two 

 inches, the Iceland twelve hands, the Welsh eleven hands, and 

 the Shetland ten hands." 



Some of the best Shetlands are bred on the Balfour Estate, 

 in Orkney ; they are shifted from island to island, as the grass 

 suits, and they require careful drafting to keep them down to 

 nine hands in height (thirty-six inches). 



The Exmoor is another breed of renowned ponies, much 

 larger, but which seldom exceed thirteen hands, the best of 

 which are said to be descended from crosses made with Dongola 

 and thorough-bred stallions on the small native race. The Ex- 

 moor has a well-shaped head and small ears ; the body, round, 

 compact, and well ribbed ; good quarters and powerful hocks, 

 with straight, strong, and clean legs. The colour is usually 

 bay, brown, or grey. He is noted for his sure-footedness and 

 hardy constitution ; and those bred by Sir Thomas Acland and 

 Mr. Knight, which are to be found in October at Bampton 

 Fair, are in particular request for family use. 



Welsh ponies are also well known for their good qualities, 

 though there are many different breeds of them, some of 

 which have more breeding and are larger-sized than others, 

 though these are not so hardy. 



Ponies are also bred on Dartmoor, in the New Forest, and 

 some other parts of England ; and in Ireland — as in Kerry — 

 there are breeds of robust, privation-enduring little beasts, 

 which, when receiving anything like proper food and atten- 

 tion, prove excellent for household service. 



Iceland ponies are a good deal used in this country, par- 

 ticularly in Scotland. They generally stand about twelve 

 hands high, are said to be exceedingly hardy, and have strong 

 legs and feet, while they are also strong in the back. Their 



